NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Security: Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty to Burglary and Assault

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cody Lynn Lusk, age 34, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Burglary in the First Degree in Indian Country, and one count of Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner by Strangling, Suffocating, and Attempting to Strangle and Suffocate in Indian Country.

    The Indictment alleged that on March 22, 2024, Lusk broke into the dwelling house of an individual and entered, intending to commit a crime within.  The Indictment further alleged that Lusk then strangled and suffocated a dating partner.

    The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

    The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Muskogee Police Department.

    The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Lusk will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caila M. Cleary and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: International Community Must Keep Pushing for Permanent Ceasefire, Work towards Gaza’s Reconstruction, Secretary-General Tells Palestinian Rights Committee

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Speakers Urge Member States to Fully Support UN Palestine Refugee Agency’s Vital Work, Stress Rising Violence by Israeli Settlers in West Bank Must Stop

    The international community must keep pushing for a permanent ceasefire and work towards the reconstruction of Gaza, the UN Chief told the Palestinian Rights Committee today, highlighting the essential role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the process.

    “At its essence, the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people is about the right of Palestinians to simply live as human beings in their own land,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his remarks to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People as it opened its 2025 session.

    However, the realization of those rights steadily slips farther out of reach as the world witnesses “chilling, systematic dehumanization and demonization of an entire people”, he said.  Nearly 50,000 people — 70 per cent of them women and children — have been reported killed and most of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure — hospitals, schools and water facilities — has been destroyed.  Displacement after displacement, hunger and disease left an entire generation homeless and traumatized.

    “We cannot go back to more death and destruction,” he asserted, adding that the UN is working around the clock to reach Palestinians in need and scale up support.  That requires rapid, safe, unimpeded, expanded and sustained humanitarian access, he said, calling on Member States to fully fund humanitarian operations and support UNRWA’s vital work.

    In the search for solutions, it is crucial to stay true to the bedrock of international law and avoid any form of ethnic cleansing, he stressed, adding that a viable, sovereign Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel is “the only sustainable solution for Middle East stability”.

    Relatedly, he voiced grave concern over rising violence by Israeli settlers and other violations in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.  “The violence must stop,” he said, urging respect for international law, including the International Court of Justice orders.

    “The ceasefire was a decisive step forward in providing aid and safety,” said Coly Seck (Senegal), the elected Chair of the Committee for 2025.  He called on States to “reinvent strategies to block the way for those enemies of peace on Palestinian ground” and on the international community to defend “these people long oppressed”, adding:  “This is a key year for the Palestinian cause.”

    Permanent Observer for State of Palestine Rejects Concept of ‘Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Open Hell in the West Bank’

    Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine, said that while “we are delighted to have a ceasefire”, the agreement must become permanent and cover all parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  He rejected the concept of “a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and open hell in the West Bank”, and underscored the need to implement all the agreement’s provisions, including the reconstruction of Gaza and the safe return of the Palestinians to the areas from which they were displaced.

    Outlining his objectives for 2025, he stressed that defending UNRWA — the most successful story of multilateralism since the UN’s inception — is paramount.  Furthermore, he outlined his plan to work with all Member States towards a successful international conference in June, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, to accomplish the objectives established by the International Court of Justice. The body determined that prolonged occupation of the Palestinian Territory is unlawful and must be terminated as quickly as possible.  Echoing that, the General Assembly legislated that this illegal occupation must be terminated within one year.

    Underscoring the need to rebuild Gaza, he declared:  “It is part of our homeland, and we do not have a homeland other than the State of Palestine [nor] are we looking for other homelands or countries”.  Rejecting any idea of ethnic cleansing, he urged all countries to help Palestine’s Government in this endeavour.  Accordingly, he spotlighted “intense meetings and communications” between President Mahmoud Abbas and the leaders of Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

    “There is no power on Earth that can remove the Palestinian people from our ancestral homeland, including Gaza,” he said, adding that the return of 400,000 Palestinians to the north is “our answer for those who want us to kick us out of Gaza”.

    UNRWA Is Stabilizing Force, Committed Partner to Peace, Agency Official Says

    Greta Gunnarsdottir, Head of the UNRWA Liaison Office in New York, speaking on behalf of the Agency’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazarini, said that, although the Knesset legislation prohibiting UNRWA’s operations creates challenges, the Agency’s local staff continues to operate “at considerable personal risk” in the occupied West Bank.  While operations in Gaza continue, it is unclear how the contact prohibition with Israeli officials will constrain the Agency’s work.  Since the ceasefire, UNRWA has distributed food to 750,000 people and conducted 17,000 medical consultations; in January, 260,000 children enrolled in its online learning programmes.

    However, she emphasized curtailing UNRWA’s operations will undermine the ceasefire and sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition.  “The Government of Israel is investing significant resources to portray the Agency as a terrorist organization,” she said, adding that — as a result — donors are declining or reducing funding.  “For 75 years, UNRWA has been a stabilizing force and a committed partner for peace in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  It must be allowed to remain so until a political solution is at hand,” she stated.

    UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Calls Israel’s Starving of 2.3 Million Palestinians in Gaza ‘Fastest Starvation Campaign in Modern History’

    Michael Fakhri, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, speaking via video conference, recalled that Israel announced its intent to starve the civilians in Gaza on 6 October 2023 — before the Hamas attacks.  On the reached agreement, he said:  “This is not a ceasefire, [but] a slowing down of Israel’s genocide and starvation campaign.”

    On 6 October 2023, Gaza had been under a blockade for 23 years, with 50 per cent of its civilians already food insecure and 80 per cent dependent on humanitarian aid.  “How is it even possible for Israel to starve 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza so quickly and so completely,” he asked, citing it as “the fastest starvation campaign in modern history”.

    One of the reasons for UNRWA’s creation in 1948 was to prevent the starvation of the Palestinian people, he pointed out, stressing that “there has always been the risk of starvation”.  The International Court of Justice has recognized the risk of genocide and the occurrence of starvation, as reflected in its warrants on the crime of starvation against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

    The right of return and the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people constitute the foundation necessary for future political solutions, he continued.  Israel has been attacking Palestinians “at degrees of violence not seen before”, destroying food systems and creating conditions of hunger that will last for generations.  Moreover, it has attacked the UN itself — it shot at peacekeepers in Lebanon, killed a record number of UN staff in Gaza, mostly UNRWA, and declared the Secretary-General a persona non grata.

    Nonetheless, he emphasized that without the support of the United States and Germany — among others — Israel would be unable to implement its starvation campaign and commit genocide.  Washington, D.C., under the previous administration, exited international law, while “the current administration exited the UN” by defunding UNRWA, threatening to defund the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and withdrawing from the Human Rights Council. “What is at stake is the international legal order and the UN itself,” he warned, highlighting the importance of the Hague Group, which was created to implement the decisions of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

    Recounting Death of Relatives in Gaza Due to Israeli Bombings, UNRWA USA Philanthropy Director Stresses ‘We Will Continue’

    “My world shuttered for the first time on 24 November 2023, when Israel dropped a bomb on the family home where my brother lived,” said Hani Almadhoun, Senior Director of Philanthropy at UNRWA USA, also recalling the humiliation of his other brother, who was falsely accused of being a fighter.  “Palestinian men were paraded by the Israeli army in their underwear as if they were part of some grotesque spectacle,” he observed.  While his non-profit organization supports UNRWA’s work, he noted that individual efforts — no matter how heartfelt — cannot replace the comprehensive support of an established institution like UNRWA.  He further recalled that, in February 2024, together with his brother Mahmoud, he co-founded the Gaza Soup Kitchen, which soon became a “lifeline” serving hot meals to thousands of families.

    When hospitals were under siege, Mahmoud also created a medical clinic that provided baby formula and diapers and founded a small school for 560 children.  He said that “forcing the Palestinians out of Gaza is as unrealistic as draining the ocean”, stating:  “Whenever the world failed the Palestinian people […] the land did not.”  His concluded by citing the words of his brother Mahmoud, who was killed by an Israeli strike in November 2024: “We will continue.”

    Committee Members Highlight UNRWA’s Indispensable Role, Reject Any Attempts to Expel Palestinians from Occupied Palestinian Territory

    In the ensuing discussions, Committee members highlighted UNRWA’s indispensable role, with Cuba’s delegate stressing that “to prohibit the work of the Agency today means undermining the present and the future of the Palestinian people”.

    While Guyana’s delegate underscored that “the ceasefire must be a stepping stone towards the lasting peace”, her counterpart from Venezuela warned that the latest developments in the West Bank could threaten the agreement.

    Others, including Nicaragua’s representative, rejected the recent declarations that imply attempts to expel the Palestinian population from its territories.  A displacement plan — “even opening it for discussion” — is unacceptable, said Türkiye’s representative.

    Echoing that, Qatar’s delegate said that, during the comprehensive reconstruction process in Gaza, the international community must ensure that Palestinians remain on their land.

    For her part, Egypt’s delegate said that commemorating the Committee’s fiftieth anniversary manifests “the failure of the international community to assist the Palestinian people”.

    2025 Work Programme Adopted, Bureau Elected  

    In other business, the Committee adopted its work programme for 2025 and unanimously elected Coly Seck (Senegal) as Chair and Neville Melvin Gertze (Namibia), Jaime Hermida Castillo (Nicaragua), Ahmad Faisal Muhamad (Malaysia), Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir (Indonesia) and Ernesto Soberón Guzmán (Cuba) as Vice-Chairs.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump plans to ‘permanently resettle’ Palestinians outside Gaza – the very reason Unrwa was originally created

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Anne Irfan, Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Race, Gender and Postcolonial Studies, UCL

    Donald Trump shocked much of the world when he announced plans for the US to “take over” Gaza. Speaking at a press conference with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the US president outlined a plan to “resettle” Gaza’s population of nearly 2.2 million Palestinians elsewhere in the Arab world. Several officials later added that this resettlement would be temporary while Gaza was rebuilt.

    Governments around the world were quick to condemn the plan – with politicians and human rights advocates pointing out that it would amount to ethnic cleansing.

    Conversely, Netanyahu praised Trump for “thinking outside the box with fresh ideas”. Yet while there is no question that this plan violates international law, it is not as unprecedented as these responses suggest.

    Successive Israeli governments, often with clandestine US support, have long sought a similar “solution” for Gaza’s Palestinians, 66% of whom are already refugees from the Nakba (catastrophe) of 1948. At that time, Zionist militias and the Israeli army displaced and expelled 750,000 Palestinians before and during the First Arab-Israeli war.

    In fact, that’s the very reason the US supported the creation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Unrwa) in 1949. Though its purpose today is very different, it was originally intended as a tool to permanently resettle the Palestinians outside Palestine.

    The idea for Unrwa was inspired by the experience of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a US government agency established during the Great Depression. It promoted resource development through large public works programmes in the deep south.

    US officials considered the TVA a prototype for managing the Palestinian refugee crisis and pushed the newly established United Nations to set up an agency that would similarly create jobs and economic development.

    This was the “works” in Unrwa’s title. As they saw it, employment opportunities would encourage the Palestinians to integrate into their places of exile. Meanwhile, the resulting economic development would lessen resistance in the host state to the refugees’ permanent resettlement.

    In four of the five territories where Unrwa operates – Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and the West Bank – it spent its first few years designing large public works projects. But in Gaza, the large concentration of refugees in a tiny territory with limited natural resources did not lend itself to public works projects.

    Instead US officials pushed Unrwa to resettle Palestinians outside of the Strip, in Sinai, Libya and further afield.

    Yet Unrwa’s efforts on this front quickly ran into a major obstacle: the Palestinians themselves. The refugees clearly understood that the “integration” projects and jobs schemes were intended to make their exile permanent – despite the UN having officially recognised their right to return home.

    By the late 1950s, the refugees’ persistent refusal participate in these programmes led Unrwa to shift its focus to education.

    Repeated expulsions

    The desire to forcibly transfer Gaza’s population never really disappeared. Gaza has been home to Palestinian refugees from across the country, with a huge political significance as a result, and its demographics have repeatedly been deemed unacceptable by elements of the Israeli state.

    Soon after it began occupying Gaza and the West Bank in 1967, the Israeli military forcibly expelled 200,000 Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan. Four year later, Shimon Peres, then the Israeli minister of transport and communications, sought to forcibly transfer more Palestinians into the Sinai. And around the same time, the Israeli government looked into relocating Gaza’s population to sites as far away as Iraq, Canada and Brazil.

    Such ideas persist in Israel. Shortly after Israel began its war on Gaza in response to the Hamas attacks of October 7 2023, there was also evidence in the form of a leaked intelligence report that the government was considering forcibly transferring Palestinians to Sinai.

    More recently, the White House administration floated the possibility of transferring Gaza’s population to Indonesia. And Trump spoke in alarming terms shortly after his inauguration of “cleaning out” the Strip.

    There’s no connection between the US president’s plan, as outlined this week, and the early US-backed idea to found Unrwa as an agency to oversee resettlement of Gaza’s population. Unrwa had abandoned its resettlement policy by the mid-1950s – and, in any case, Trump has long been one of Unrwa’s most virulent opponents.

    In 2018, he became the first US president to fully defund the agency. More recently he has been a vocal supporter of the Israeli Knesset’s ban on its operations.

    In the same press conference where Trump announced his plans for ethnic cleansing in Gaza, he also confirmed that he will extend the Biden administration’s ban on funding Unrwa.

    Yet Trump’s current plan is not a million miles away from the US government’s original intention for Unrwa. His apparent ignorance of this history suggests he is also unaware of the biggest likely obstacle to “permanent resettlement”.

    But he cannot ignore the historical resistance of the Palestinian people themselves to the seemingly endless plans to displace, dispossess and deny them their homeland.

    As Unrwa officials learned decades ago, the only “solution” for the question of the future of the Gaza Strip is a just and durable political process that accounts for the Palestinian people’s rights as well as Israeli security.

    Anne Irfan has received funding from the British Academy.

    Jo Kelcey has received funding from the Spencer Foundation.

    – ref. Trump plans to ‘permanently resettle’ Palestinians outside Gaza – the very reason Unrwa was originally created – https://theconversation.com/trump-plans-to-permanently-resettle-palestinians-outside-gaza-the-very-reason-unrwa-was-originally-created-249185

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDONESIA – Possible amnesty for political prisoners in Papua: Franciscans call for “initiative for a in-depth dialogue”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    JPIC Ofm Papua

    Jayapura (Agenzia Fides) – In order to manage the armed conflict that has plagued the Indonesian region of West Papua for decades, the Indonesian government, led by the new President Prabowo Subianto, is considering an amnesty for the independence rebels in Papua. The Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Immigration, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, described the proposal as “under study” and said that the government is working out the details of the amnesty plan, which would only be granted to those who swear allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia. The measure is “intended as part of the effort to resolve the conflict” and still needs the approval of the House of Representatives. Prabowo’s amnesty proposal follows a similar initiative by former President Joko Widodo, who pardoned political prisoners from Papua in 2015.Meanwhile, among the population of Papua, there is a certain skepticism about the central government’s proposal. Father Alexandro Rangga (OFM), Friar Minor and Director of the “Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation” Commission in Papua, stressed to Fides: “It is true that the release of some prisoners imprisoned for political reasons could mean some relief for the families”. However, he recalls that “the prisoners released in the past are no longer the same: they have suffered deep trauma, some no longer speak, perhaps because of the mistreatment they suffered. It will therefore be necessary to verify the condition of the released prisoners”. In addition, there is a fundamental problem: “The government measure risks being an inadequate step if it is not embedded in a broader plan of ‘holistic’ dialogue, that is, at all levels, which fully takes into account the situation in the region and the suffering of the local population,” the Franciscan priest notes. “The people of Papua fear that this is only a consolation and that fundamental issues remain unresolved,” he notes. “We therefore call for an initiative for in-depth dialogue and the empowerment of all actors involved in order to get to the root of the problems and achieve peace,” he says.The Franciscan recalls what happened to the inhabitants of five villages in the Oksop district of central Papua, the territory of the diocese of Jayapura (see Fides, 17/1/2025). They fled to other areas at the end of November due to the deployment of military units in the area. According to the Commission of the Friars Minor, 300 people have been displaced to other villages and many others have hidden in the forest, “but according to the army and other officials, these reports are not true,” he notes. “For this reason, our Commission for Justice and Peace is now preparing a detailed report with a list of the displaced and the problems they face; we intend to present it to the Indonesian President together with the bishops and religious leaders of Papua”. According to Father Rangga, “the real problem in Papua remains open, namely the military action of the Indonesian central government to promote its policies and projects in the territory. This approach leads to suffering on the ground and a feeling of violent imposition”. Papua, the easternmost region of Indonesia, which forms the western half of the island of New Guinea, has been a place of tension since its controversial incorporation into the Republic of Indonesia by military force in 1969. Inhabited by people of Melanesian origin and rich in natural resources, the region saw a separatist uprising in the early 1970s. Despite its wealth of resources, Papua remains one of the poorest regions in Indonesia, with high rates of poverty and illiteracy. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 6/2/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Australia, Japan, Philippines, and United States Conducted Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity

    Source: United States Navy

    U.S. 7TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY — The combined defense and armed forces of Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States, demonstrating a collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, conducted a multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Feb. 5.

    This builds upon previous MCAs and our continuing operations together, which strengthen the interoperability of our defense/armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures. MCAs are conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety and navigational rights and freedoms of all nations. Participating units included the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 47; Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart (DDG 39) and an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter; the Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF 150); and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Akizuki-class destroyer JS Akizuki (DD 115) and an SH-60K helicopter. The U.S., along with our allies and partners, upholds the right to freedom of navigation and overflight and other internationally lawful uses of the sea related to those freedoms.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 5 Super Bowl commercials that deserve places in the advertising hall of shame

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matthew Pittman, Associate Professor of Advertising and Public Relations, University of Tennessee

    A true advertising face-plant happens when a commercial is both tone-deaf and completely forgettable. spxChrome/iStock via Getty Images

    What makes something a flop?

    Not the kind of flop that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is prone to do, but a flop in the world of advertising?

    Brands airing Super Bowl ads have a lot riding on their investments – roughly US$7 million for a 30-second spot for the 2025 big game. So there’s a lot of pressure to get things right.

    In my advertising classes, I often tell students that a commercial that’s controversial or disliked in the moment shouldn’t necessarily be considered a failure. In fact, enragement drives engagement. So if one of the goals of advertising is to keep the brand top of mind for consumers, a hated Super Bowl ad still accomplishes at least one goal. Think of the now-infamous Pepsi ad where Kendall Jenner “solves racism” with a can of Pepsi. Or all those raunchy GoDaddy ads that everyone rolled their eyes at, but the company kept running, year after year.

    Instead, a true advertising face-plant is an ad that’s both tone-deaf and completely forgettable – so dull, off-putting or confusing that when a brand completely switches up its strategy, you almost don’t remember the massive blunder that compelled it to change course in the first place. Almost.

    So with this definition in mind, here are my submissions for five of the biggest Super Bowl advertising flops.

    1. General Motors, 2007

    Should viewers care about a ‘depressed’ robot?

    A GM robot gets so depressed after getting fired that it jumps off a bridge to end its own existence.

    How endearing.

    The ad for the then-struggling automaker, which aired during Super Bowl 41 between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, features a robot that struggles with depression and existential angst after learning its services are no longer needed on the assembly line.

    The robot questions its meaning and purpose and tries to combine dark humor and social commentary about the monotony of work and the inevitability of technological progress. But it ends up missing the mark for a few reasons.

    Suicide is pretty bleak for a Super Bowl spot, and mental health, in general, is a sensitive topic. There was little effort made to connect the spot to core GM brand values, which include inspiring “passion and loyalty” and “serving and improving communities.”

    Furthermore, the idea of robots having human emotions can be off-putting for many consumers – particularly at a time when many automotive and factory workers in the U.S. were rightly concerned about robots taking their jobs.

    2. Groupon, 2011

    The bizarre ad wasn’t funny and didn’t make much sense, either.

    Sometimes I try to imagine the meetings at ad agencies where ideas for clients are batted around:

    “We need to promote this new app that lets families get products like smoothies at slightly discounted prices.”

    “OK, how about this: It starts as a Tibetan tourism ad. Then it takes a dark turn and suggests that Tibet is about to be wiped off the map. That’s when our client’s product gets introduced: We tell viewers that before Tibetan culture goes extinct, they should try fish curry, like these 200 people in Chicago who saved $15 at a Himalayan restaurant using Groupon.”

    “Excuse me?”

    “Oh – and let’s have the narrator be a white guy with long sideburns.”

    I have no idea how this one avoided the cutting-room floor.

    3. Nationwide Insurance, 2015

    Another death on the docket.

    The insurance company used a strange mix of heartbreak and guilt-tripping to try to entice viewers to buy its policies during Super Bowl 49.

    The ad features a young boy narrating in a somber tone, listing all of the milestones he’ll miss because he’s dead: learning to ride a bike, travel the world, get married.

    The twist is that the cause of his death is an accident. That’s where Nationwide comes in: They offer life insurance to help offset tragedies. But wait – insurance doesn’t prevent tragedies. It merely provides compensation to “replace” what you lost. Both the morbid tone and twist were bizarre.

    Exploiting tragedies in advertisements is generally not going to win people over. I can’t imagine how it would feel to be a parent who’s lost a child and see this TV ad.

    4. Audi, 2020

    Everything everywhere all at once.

    Can a “Game of Thrones” star join forces with Disney while highlighting the importance of sustainability to create an ad for … Audi?

    In the minute-long spot, Masie Williams, who plays Arya Stark on “Game of Thrones,” belts out the lyrics to “Let It Go,” the hit single from Disney’s “Frozen.” As she drives, pedestrians join her in song. At the end of the ad, Audi announces that they are finally making an electric car.

    The ad seems to be about “letting go” of fossil fuel dependence – the gas sign yells it, car dealership yells it, mechanics yell it – almost two decades after the first major electric car hit the market.

    Was it meant to be empowering? Funny? Inspirational? It tried to do a little bit of everything, leaving viewers grasping and gasping. Not to mention the song “Let It Go” had come out seven years prior, which made the whole production seem even more dated.

    5. Just For Feet, 1999

    A company-cratering advertisement.

    Close your eyes.

    Imagine an ad that’s racist and confusing.

    Imagine an ad in which the main character is disappointed to receive the product being advertised.

    Imagine an ad so bad that the company sues the agency responsible for the ad because it destroyed their reputation and bankrupted them.

    Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Just For Feet’s “Kenyan Runner” Super Bowl ad.

    The ad depicts a barefoot Kenyan runner sprinting across a rugged landscape as a group of white men in military SUVs tracks him down as if on a hunting expedition.

    After they eventually catch him, they forcibly drug him by offering a mysterious beverage. The runner drinks it, collapses and wakes up to find that he is now wearing a pair of Just For Feet sneakers. He looks confused and distressed, as if he’d been violated.

    Bizarre and unsettling, indeed. Just For Feet filed for bankruptcy less than a year later.

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

    – ref. 5 Super Bowl commercials that deserve places in the advertising hall of shame – https://theconversation.com/5-super-bowl-commercials-that-deserve-places-in-the-advertising-hall-of-shame-247756

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Religious freedom is routinely curbed in Central Asia – but you won’t often see it making international news

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Eric Freedman, Professor of Journalism and Chair, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University

    A majority of citizens in Central Asian countries practice Islam, but Muslims still face restrictions on religious expression. AP Photo/Theodore Kaye

    Freedom of worship is tenuous around the globe. The Pew Research Center’s latest annual report found “high” or “very high” levels of government constraints on religion in 59 of the 198 countries and territories it analyzed – a new record. When Pew began releasing reports on the issue in 2007, just 40 countries’ restrictions on religion were classified that way.

    And trampling of religious practices is a taboo subject for domestic news media in many, if not most, of such countries.

    As a journalism professor, I’ve studied international press practices and obstacles to fair, balanced, ethical and independent reporting for more than two decades. Much of my work is about press rights in “repressitarian” countries, meaning repressive in human rights practices and authoritarian in governance. I see overlaps among a range of human rights abuses – of freedom of expression, of religion, of political affiliation – and how the absence of press freedom shields those abuses from public scrutiny.

    The latest study I did with my undergraduate research assistant, Eleanor Pugh, examined how one news organization, Forum 18, covers constraints on religion in the five post-Soviet countries of remote but strategically important Central Asia. Based in Norway, the independent site is named after Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes a fundamental right to “freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”

    Forum 18 appears to be the only news outlet that specializes in coverage of the rights of diverse faiths across the former Soviet Union. Its journalism demonstrates the challenges media outlets have in covering and influencing treatment of religious affiliations and observances in the region.

    Taboo topic

    The five countries of Central Asia – Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan – pursue harsh policies and practices that frequently curtail freedom of faith. This is especially true for minority religions and sects, but even for practitioners of Islam, the region’s predominant faith. All are rated “Not Free” in the 2024 annual report on global political rights and civil liberties issued by Freedom House, a democracy advocacy group based in Washington.

    Government tactics include censorship and seizure of religious materials, trumped-up charges and prison terms for believers, prohibiting schoolchildren from wearing hijabs or attending worship services, and imprisoning Jehovah’s Witnesses who refuse compulsory military service. One recent law in Kyrgyzstan, which took effect Feb. 1, 2025, prohibits faith communities with fewer than 500 adult members and bans unregistered religious activities or places of worship.

    International news outlets generally devote little attention to religious freedom almost anywhere around the world, except for large-scale tragedies such as the repression of Muslim Uyghurs in western China and the genocidal suppression of Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar.

    Foreign journalists find it tough, sometimes impossible, to report on religious issues from inside authoritarian countries.

    Peter Leonard, the former Central Asia editor of the news outlet Eurasianet, told me in March 2024 that officials’ willingness to even talk with international journalists varies from country to country. At best, journalists are “greeted with a little bit of suspicion” in a capital city, while in rural areas and villages they “can expect to be booted out or harassed,” he said, adding, “Religion is a minefield area.”

    Ethnic Russian Kyrgyz citizens wait for a Sunday service at the Church of Archistrategos of God Mikhail – Archangel Michael of God Orthodox Church – in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, in 2010.
    AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

    When limits on worship do make domestic news, they’re often presented as part of a fight against “terrorism” – a common way authoritarian regimes masquerade crackdowns on religious freedoms.

    Darkhan Umirbekov, an editor at Radio Fee Europe/Radio Liberty, told me that in Kazakhstan – where most media are owned, controlled or financially dependent on the regime and its allies – most such coverage is “in the context of extremism,” as when “security forces detain members of a religious sect or group.”

    Protecting sources

    We chose to study Forum 18 because its reporting follows traditional journalistic values such as fairness and balance, seeking comments and information from government and nongovernmental sources. One of the outlet’s key underlying motives, however, is advocacy in support of religious freedom.

    Although founded by a group of Christians, its coverage spans a wide spectrum of faiths. Recent topics included police raids on Jehovah’s Witnesses meetings in Kyrgyzstan, threats to punish a Muslim actor in Kazakhstan for quoting from the Quran in a video about Islam posted on Instagram, and the demolition of a mosque and Baptist church in Uzbekistan.

    Our analysis, which we presented at a 2024 conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, found that almost two-thirds of Central Asian stories in 2023 focused on broad topics such as fines, government policies and jail terms for believers. The remainder focused on one-off events such as particular arrests, raids or seizures of religious books.

    We also found that nonofficial news sources – frequently anonymous – outnumber named sources. Many of the site’s reporters’ sources have been developed over the years from the ranks of religious leaders, human rights activists, dissidents and legal scholars. Some live in the region, and others in exile.

    In light of the serious risk of retaliation, it is unsurprising that so many sources require anonymity. While their identities are known to reporters and editors, their names are not disclosed to audiences for protection from threats, attacks and intimidation. Sometimes these sources are described generically, such as “one Protestant” or “independent religious expert” or “local resident.”

    Forum 18 editor and co-founder Felix Corley told me in an interview: “What we’re concerned about is people that we talk to, that we don’t land them in trouble, so we have to be very careful to do everything we can to avoid endangering anyone by clumsy behavior on our part.”

    In addition, the site’s stories detail names and titles of officials responsible for anti-faith policies and practices – among them prosecutors, judges and agency heads, most of whom refuse to comment or even respond to media inquiries.

    Astana Grand Mosque in Kazakhstan, the largest mosque in Central Asia.
    Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images

    Small but significant

    Forum 18’s audience is primarily outside the region. It includes Central Asians living abroad, human rights activists, nongovernmental organizations, foreign governments, faith leaders and other news organizations that may cite or re-report its stories.

    For example, a 2019 U.S. State Department human rights report on Uzbekistan makes references to a Forum 18 story on the torture of a “prisoner of conscience” incarcerated for meeting with fellow Muslims and participating in religious activities without government permission.

    Religious freedom advocates hope such coverage can inform and influence world opinion. Reporting abroad can spotlight otherwise-unaccountable officials, especially when censorship, self-censorship and threats of prosecution preclude domestic media from reporting.

    Realistically, we recognize that external media coverage is unlikely to prompt meaningful protections of religious freedom in authoritarian countries.

    Even so, such journalism may be seen as a step – albeit a small, symbolic one – toward holding individuals, governments, social groups and other enablers accountable for violations of a fundamental human right.

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

    – ref. Religious freedom is routinely curbed in Central Asia – but you won’t often see it making international news – https://theconversation.com/religious-freedom-is-routinely-curbed-in-central-asia-but-you-wont-often-see-it-making-international-news-248740

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: France, Japan, U.S. Partner in Multi-Large Deck Event in Philippine Sea

    Source: United States Navy

    This MLDE is designed to advance coordination and cooperation between French, Japanese and U.S. maritime forces while simultaneously demonstrating capabilities in multi-domain operations, promoting a shared dedication to regional stability, and highlighting the U.S. Navy’s enduring power projection capability.

    “Pacific Steller 2025 allows us to practice seamless integration with our French and Japanese allies in a multi-domain environment,” said Rear Adm. Michael Wosje, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1. “Coordinated operations between USS Carl Vinson, FS Charles De Gaulle, and JS Kaga strengthen our alliances and deter our adversaries. Together, we seek to maintain an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, free of all forms of coercion, and we’re excited to work alongside our allies and partners who share that vision.”

    The U.S.-France alliance is built on a legacy of shared interests, values, and a commitment to freedom and human rights.

    “It is a great opportunity for the French Carrier Strike Group to cooperate with our partners in the Indo-Pacific during the whole deployment. While France is a resident nation of the Indo-Pacific, it has not deployed its CSG to this part of the world for a long time,” said Rear Adm. Jacques Mallard, commander, French CSG. “Since January 14, the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, based in Toulon more than 6000 miles from here, is sailing in a different area. There is no doubt that PACIFIC STELLER will ramp up to a new level of interoperability for our three navies and represents a challenge that we are more than eager to take up alongside Japanese and US partners.”

    The most recent MLDE in the Indo-Pacific occurred in August 2024 between the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and the Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550). The event marked the first MLDE conducted between the U.S. and Italian navies in the Indo-Pacific region.

    “Our routine integration aims to showcase our partnership and demonstrate our ability to work together with our French and Japanese allies,” said Capt. Matthew Thomas, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). “Pacific Steller 2025 is one of many exercises with the goal to enhance the maritime security of the Indo-Pacific region. As the flagship of CSG-1, Carl Vinson stands ready and looks forward to participating alongside Charles De Gaulle and Kaga.”

    MLDEs are conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states.

    Participating large-deck ships include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the French carrier FS Charles De Gaulle, and Japan’s Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184).

    CSG-1 consists of Carl Vinson, embarked staffs of CSG-1 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) one, Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW) 2, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110).

    CVW-2 is composed of nine squadrons flying the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, CMV-22 Osprey and MH-60R/S Seahawks.

    French Carrier Strike Group consists of Charles De Gaulle, its embarked French Strike Force staff and carrier air wing, an air-defense destroyer, multi-mission frigates, a supply ship, an attack submarine, and a detachment of Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.

    The French carrier air wing flies the Rafale Marine (F4) fighter aircraft, E-2C Hawkeye, and Dauphin, Caiman Marine, and Panther helicopters.

    The French Carrier Strike Group is currently engaged in Mission CLEMENCEAU 25, sailing alongside its allies and strategic partners to promote a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific space for the benefit of French populations, interests, and those of their regional partners, within the framework of international law.

    The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

    For more news from CSG-1 and Carl Vinson visit: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CSG1, https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CVN70

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Turning ice and snow into gold

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

    HARBIN, Feb. 6 — In Harbin, the capital city of China’s northernmost Heilongjiang Province, there is a mesmerizing winter wonderland.

    Here, towering ice structures mimicking landmarks from across Asia, cheers from super-long ice slides, and the breathtaking view from a giant Ferris wheel attracted over 610,000 visitors during this year’s eight-day Spring Festival holiday, which ended Tuesday.

    Near the entrance of the Harbin Ice-Snow World, an iconic winter attraction, a row of giant red characters stands out: “Snow and ice are also valuable assets.”

    This statement, first made by Chinese President Xi Jinping about nine years ago, has reshaped the country’s ice-and-snow sector and spurred the stellar growth of related industries.

    In March 2016, when taking part in a group discussion with Heilongjiang lawmakers at the annual national legislative session, Xi stressed the importance of leveraging the province’s winter resources. “Clear waters and green mountains are valuable assets, and so are Heilongjiang’s ice and snow,” he said.

    Bordering frigid Siberia, Heilongjiang is known for its freezing temperatures and ample snowfall in winter. With winter temperatures sometimes dropping below minus 30 degrees Celsius, the provincial capital Harbin is dubbed China’s “ice city.”

    Guided by Xi’s vision, the province has made sustained efforts to turn itself into a world-class winter tourist destination. Last year, Harbin alone welcomed 179 million visitors, with tourism revenue reaching 231.42 billion yuan (about 32 billion U.S. dollars), both rising over 30 percent year on year.

    The 9th Asian Winter Games, set to open here on Friday, presents the latest opportunity to cement Harbin’s “ice city” reputation. Notably, winter sports and tourism are also gaining momentum across China.

    Driven by policy support and increased demand, the number of ice-and-snow tourists in China is expected to reach 520 million in the 2024-2025 winter season, with revenue likely to exceed 630 billion yuan, according to the latest report by the China Tourism Academy.

    300 MILLION PEOPLE IN WINTER SPORTS

    Xi has identified China’s ice-and-snow sector as both a key economic driver and a vital means of promoting public fitness. A passionate sports enthusiast, he closely follows the development of winter sports.

    The primary goal of hosting the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics was to “engage 300 million people in ice-and-snow sports” and promote the leapfrog development of winter sports in the country, Xi told International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach in 2014.

    Before Beijing 2022, he conducted five on-site inspections across different competition zones in Beijing and the adjacent Hebei Province, meeting with athletes, construction workers and venue operators.

    “The ultimate goal of building a sporting powerhouse and a healthy China is to strengthen the people’s fitness, which is also an essential part of China’s endeavors to build a modern socialist country in all respects,” Xi said.

    The goal of “300 million people in winter sports” is now a reality, thanks to the promotion and popularization of ice-and-snow sports.

    “This year, our facility has seen a greater number of people hitting the ice, with a year-on-year growth of about 15 percent,” said Meng Qingyou, who teaches skating at a winter sports center in Harbin.

    Across the province, well-equipped facilities and professional coaching at ski resorts have drawn in new entrants from across the country.

    In the city of Shuangyashan, a popular ski resort offers 14 trails of varying difficulty levels, catering to both novices and seasoned ski enthusiasts.

    “This is my first time skiing,” said Zhao Dezhou, a tourist from east China’s Jiangsu Province. “At first, I was really nervous, but with the coach’s patient guidance, I can now glide freely across the snow and fully enjoy the thrill of this winter sport!”

    Even in snow-scarce regions of the country, more people are embracing indoor ice-and-snow sports. According to a recent industry report, six of the world’s top 10 indoor ski resorts are in China, located in cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.

    ICE-AND-SNOW ECONOMY

    Beiji Village is nestled at the northernmost tip of China in the city of Mohe, Heilongjiang. As one of the coldest villages in China, Beiji endures an average temperature of below zero for over seven months a year.

    This agricultural and fishing village was named a national top-level scenic spot in 2015, attracting an increasing number of visitors to experience its unique scenery and extreme cold.

    “The tourism resources here are truly exceptional,” said Xi at the village during an inspection tour in September 2023. He stepped into villager Shi Ruijuan’s homestay and talked with the locals.

    Noting the importance of the tourism sector in achieving high-quality development, Xi urged policy support to ensure that the distinctive snow-and-ice resources generate more income for local people.

    In the past, the harsh cold and remote location drove many locals to leave Beiji. Nowadays, however, the very same factors are drawing tourists from far and wide. With ice-and-snow tourism gaining popularity in recent years, ice skating, skiing and fun activities like splashing water to create ice crystals have become big draws of the village.

    “Tourists used to come mainly in summer, but now we get plenty of visitors in winter too,” said Shi, adding that she had never expected the bitter cold to become a major tourism attraction.

    Shi has run the homestay business for more than a decade. “Previously, it was hard to make even 10,000 yuan a year. Now, we have visitors all year round, and during peak season I can earn over 10,000 yuan in just a week,” she said.

    With its booming ice-and-snow tourism, northeast China as a whole has gained fresh appeal. Once known as the country’s rustbelt, the region has long struggled with a painful economic transition and talent outflows.

    “Revitalizing northeast China” has been a recurring theme evident in Xi’s multiple inspection tours. In 2023, he stressed efforts to focus on developing the ice-and-snow economy as a new growth driver by promoting a full industrial chain of ice-and-snow sports, culture, equipment and tourism.

    Under Xi’s guidance, the ice-and-snow boom has spread from northeast China to the entire country, fostering a new national growth engine.

    Located in northwest China’s Xinjiang, Altay Prefecture is developing its reputation as a top skiing destination. In the 2023-2024 snow season, Altay welcomed about 4.89 million tourist visits, with tourism revenue totaling 5.1 billion yuan. It drove about half of the growth in terms of both tourist visits and revenue in Xinjiang last season.

    Southwestern provinces, such as Yunnan and Sichuan, are also leveraging their unique plateau ice-and-snow resources, as well as their proximity to Southeast Asia, to attract tourists.

    Peng Fuwei, a senior official of the National Development and Reform Commission, noted that the sector has formed a “dual-engine” structure, with winter manufacturing and services leading the way.

    “China now produces a comprehensive range of winter sports equipment, from personal gear to high-end snowmaking machines and snow groomers. In 2023, winter equipment sales reached about 22 billion yuan,” he said.

    The country aims to boost its ice-and-snow economy as a new source of growth, targeting an economic scale of 1.2 trillion yuan by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030, according to guidelines released by the State Council last year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign visitors experience China’s improved mobile payment environment over Spring Festival

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

    Foreign visitors experience China’s improved mobile payment environment over Spring Festival

    BEIJING, Feb. 6 — Foreign visitors in China experienced a smoother, more convenient travel environment during this year’s Spring Festival, thanks to improvements to the country’s mobile payment systems.

    The latest data from the People’s Bank of China shows that the volume of transactions made by international tourists during the Chinese New Year holiday, which ran from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 this year, surged significantly from last year. The total number of cross-border transactions processed by China UnionPay and NetsUnion Clearing Corporation increased 124.54 percent, and the total transaction value grew 90.49 percent.

    This jump in payment activity reflects not only the growing appeal of China as a travel destination but also the seamless integration of mobile payment systems for foreign visitors.

    In cities like Shanghai, foreign tourists can now use international credit cards or mobile payment apps such as Alipay for shopping, dining and sightseeing, which allowed tourists to enjoy the cultural experiences on offer fully during the Chinese New Year.

    German tourist Carla Uhrmacher, who visited the famous Yuyuan Garden in the eastern Chinese metropolis of Shanghai, was impressed by the ease with which she could use her mobile payment app to buy traditional Chinese crafts and souvenirs. “Whether using Visa or Mastercard, or mobile payment systems, it’s all very seamless,” she noted, highlighting how accessible these payment methods are for international visitors.

    This Spring Festival saw an increase in payment transactions and a significant rise in the number of foreign visitors to China. Inbound arrivals during this year’s Spring Festival hit a record high, with a 150 percent year-on-year leap reported, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, told a press conference on Wednesday, citing data from third-party platforms.

    While popular destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou continued to attract large numbers of foreign travelers during the holiday, cities like Suzhou, Xi’an, Chengdu and Xiamen emerged as new favorites for international tourists using mobile payment services, Alipay data shows.

    This surge in international visitors can be largely attributed to China’s ongoing efforts to enhance its payment services for foreigners. The country has made it easier for international travelers to use their foreign credit cards by allowing them to link these cards directly to popular Chinese mobile payment platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay.

    An increasing number of international e-wallets are now also supported for use in China. Alipay, for example, now allows users to link 13 different overseas e-wallets from countries like the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore.

    Though cashless payment services have improved significantly, foreign tourists can also take advantage of a network of nearly 70,000 bank branches, 320,000 ATMs, and currency exchange facilities across the country.

    This year’s Spring Festival also saw a notable increase in foreigner spending, particularly in cities like Beijing, where tourists from various countries flocked to shopping areas such as Qianmen Street to purchase souvenirs, local teas and trendy clothing.

    This spending boom is backed by figures, with the number of transactions made by foreign visitors on WeChat increasing 134 percent compared to last year’s Spring Festival, and with the total spent via Alipay rising 150 percent during the first five days of the holiday. These figures reflect not only the convenience of mobile payments but also the growing enthusiasm of foreign tourists to purchase Chinese goods and immerse themselves in local culture.

    An increasingly open China is becoming an even more attractive destination for international tourists as Chinese New Year is celebrated globally, and as payment services continue to improve, analysts in China have noted. And these improved payment experiences will make China travel even smoother and more enjoyable for international visitors.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AFN Broadcasts Super Bowl LIX to U.S. Military Audiences Worldwide

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    The Defense Media Activity (DMA) and the American Forces Network (AFN) invite overseas audiences to enjoy the military network’s full-day coverage of America’s most watched sporting event, the Super Bowl, beginning this Sunday, February 9. 

    With the generous support of the National Football League (NFL), AFN will air Super Bowl LIX, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, live on its global television and radio services for U.S. military audiences serving around the world and at sea.

    AFN will live-stream the Super Bowl on its video streaming platform, AFN Now®. The game will also be available as video-on-demand shortly after the live broadcast.

    AFN Super Bowl events and pregame coverage begin Sunday, Feb. 9, at 9 a.m., Central European Time (CET), and at 5 p.m., Japan/Korea Time (JKT), all on AFN|sports.

    AFN live coverage of Super Bowl LIX begins Monday, Feb. 10, at 12:30 a.m., CET, and 8:30 a.m., JKT, on AFN|sports.

    AFN radio will provide extensive live and pre-game coverage on AFN Fans, available on your satellite decoder, and streaming on AFN Go.

    Viewers are invited to have fun and interact during the game using #SB59AFN and #SuperBowlAFN on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

    AFN|sports will repeat the Super Bowl on Feb. 10, in Europe, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., CET.  In Japan/Korea, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m., JKT, and again, Feb. 11, at 3 a.m., JKT.

    For overseas military audiences who may have missed the 2025 NFC and AFC Championship Games, AFN will also rebroadcast the Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs games on Saturday, Feb. 8, starting at 9 a.m., CET, and 5 p.m., JKT. 

    The AFN|family channel will be airing an annual family favorite, Puppy Bowl XXI, Feb. 10, at 4 p.m., CET/JKT.  Returning for its 21st year, the beloved Puppy Bowl is TV’s original and longest running call-to-adoption event.  Puppy players from Team Ruff and Team Fluff take to the Puppy Bowl stadium to win the “Lombarky” trophy.

    AFN audiences are encouraged to prepare for the Super Bowl by downloading the AFN Now app ahead of the game and registering so they can enjoy the experience from kick off to the trophy presentation.  The AFN Now app is available from the Google Play or Apple App store and is available to service members, families, and retirees living overseas.  It is available on Google and Apple devices, Amazon Fire, Roku, and select smart TVs with app functionality. 

    It is recommended that those who have AFN Now get ready for the big game by ensuring it is up to date with the latest version.

    Since launching two years ago, AFN Now has proven to be highly innovative and has seen record-breaking growth. The military streaming service now has more than 100,000 subscribers worldwide and has seen over one million hours watched.  AFN Now continues to be popular with military audiences worldwide for its extensive content and flexible viewing schedules.  Sports enthusiasts say they appreciate the option of watching live events or at their convenience as video-on-demand.

    The AFN Now app is free to download and provides audiences with convenient access to their favorite AFN entertainment, news, and sports programming.  The app is easy to download, and users can register at https://afn-now.myafn.mil/.  The AFN Now Help Desk is manned around the clock to provide support. They can be reached at DMA.AFNnow.Help@mail.mil.

    For a full listing of all Super Bowl themed shows airing on AFN TV, go to “MyAFN” for television schedules, which is located at https://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil. Or, for any additional questions, please contact the American Forces Network at dma.march.afn.list.affrel@mail.mil.

    AFN’s broadcast of Super Bowl LIX builds on its eight decades of service to U.S. forces worldwide, dating back to 1943, and further underscores the military network’s dedication to its motto, “We Bring You Home.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: These 5 Super Bowl commercials deserve places in the advertising hall of shame

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matthew Pittman, Associate Professor of Advertising and Public Relations, University of Tennessee

    A true advertising face-plant happens when a commercial is both tone-deaf and completely forgettable. spxChrome/iStock via Getty Images

    What makes something a flop?

    Not the kind of flop that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is prone to do, but a flop in the world of advertising?

    Brands airing Super Bowl ads have a lot riding on their investments – roughly US$7 million for a 30-second spot for the 2025 big game. So there’s a lot of pressure to get things right.

    In my advertising classes, I often tell students that a commercial that’s controversial or disliked in the moment shouldn’t necessarily be considered a failure. In fact, enragement drives engagement. So if one of the goals of advertising is to keep the brand top of mind for consumers, a hated Super Bowl ad still accomplishes at least one goal. Think of the now-infamous Pepsi ad where Kendall Jenner “solves racism” with a can of Pepsi. Or all those raunchy GoDaddy ads that everyone rolled their eyes at, but the company kept running, year after year.

    Instead, a true advertising face-plant is an ad that’s both tone-deaf and completely forgettable – so dull, off-putting or confusing that when a brand completely switches up its strategy, you almost don’t remember the massive blunder that compelled it to change course in the first place. Almost.

    So with this definition in mind, here are my submissions for five of the biggest Super Bowl advertising flops.

    1. General Motors, 2007

    Should viewers care about a ‘depressed’ robot?

    A GM robot gets so depressed after getting fired that it jumps off a bridge to end its own existence.

    How endearing.

    The ad for the then-struggling automaker, which aired during Super Bowl 41 between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, features a robot that struggles with depression and existential angst after learning its services are no longer needed on the assembly line.

    The robot questions its meaning and purpose and tries to combine dark humor and social commentary about the monotony of work and the inevitability of technological progress. But it ends up missing the mark for a few reasons.

    Suicide is pretty bleak for a Super Bowl spot, and mental health, in general, is a sensitive topic. There was little effort made to connect the spot to core GM brand values, which include inspiring “passion and loyalty” and “serving and improving communities.”

    Furthermore, the idea of robots having human emotions can be off-putting for many consumers – particularly at a time when many automotive and factory workers in the U.S. were rightly concerned about robots taking their jobs.

    2. Groupon, 2011

    The bizarre ad wasn’t funny and didn’t make much sense, either.

    Sometimes I try to imagine the meetings at ad agencies where ideas for clients are batted around:

    “We need to promote this new app that lets families get products like smoothies at slightly discounted prices.”

    “OK, how about this: It starts as a Tibetan tourism ad. Then it takes a dark turn and suggests that Tibet is about to be wiped off the map. That’s when our client’s product gets introduced: We tell viewers that before Tibetan culture goes extinct, they should try fish curry, like these 200 people in Chicago who saved $15 at a Himalayan restaurant using Groupon.”

    “Excuse me?”

    “Oh – and let’s have the narrator be a white guy with long sideburns.”

    I have no idea how this one avoided the cutting-room floor.

    3. Nationwide Insurance, 2015

    Another death on the docket.

    The insurance company used a strange mix of heartbreak and guilt-tripping to try to entice viewers to buy its policies during Super Bowl 49.

    The ad features a young boy narrating in a somber tone, listing all of the milestones he’ll miss because he’s dead: learning to ride a bike, travel the world, get married.

    The twist is that the cause of his death is an accident. That’s where Nationwide comes in: They offer life insurance to help offset tragedies. But wait – insurance doesn’t prevent tragedies. It merely provides compensation to “replace” what you lost. Both the morbid tone and twist were bizarre.

    Exploiting tragedies in advertisements is generally not going to win people over. I can’t imagine how it would feel to be a parent who’s lost a child and see this TV ad.

    4. Audi, 2020

    Everything everywhere all at once.

    Can a “Game of Thrones” star join forces with Disney while highlighting the importance of sustainability to create an ad for … Audi?

    In the minute-long spot, Masie Williams, who plays Arya Stark on “Game of Thrones,” belts out the lyrics to “Let It Go,” the hit single from Disney’s “Frozen.” As she drives, pedestrians join her in song. At the end of the ad, Audi announces that they are finally making an electric car.

    The ad seems to be about “letting go” of fossil fuel dependence – the gas sign yells it, car dealership yells it, mechanics yell it – almost two decades after the first major electric car hit the market.

    Was it meant to be empowering? Funny? Inspirational? It tried to do a little bit of everything, leaving viewers grasping and gasping. Not to mention the song “Let It Go” had come out seven years prior, which made the whole production seem even more dated.

    5. Just For Feet, 1999

    A company-cratering advertisement.

    Close your eyes.

    Imagine an ad that’s racist and confusing.

    Imagine an ad in which the main character is disappointed to receive the product being advertised.

    Imagine an ad so bad that the company sues the agency responsible for the ad because it destroyed their reputation and bankrupted them.

    Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Just For Feet’s “Kenyan Runner” Super Bowl ad.

    The ad depicts a barefoot Kenyan runner sprinting across a rugged landscape as a group of white men in military SUVs tracks him down as if on a hunting expedition.

    After they eventually catch him, they forcibly drug him by offering a mysterious beverage. The runner drinks it, collapses and wakes up to find that he is now wearing a pair of Just For Feet sneakers. He looks confused and distressed, as if he’d been violated.

    Bizarre and unsettling, indeed. Just For Feet filed for bankruptcy less than a year later.

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

    – ref. These 5 Super Bowl commercials deserve places in the advertising hall of shame – https://theconversation.com/these-5-super-bowl-commercials-deserve-places-in-the-advertising-hall-of-shame-247756

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s offshore wind energy freeze: What states lose if the executive order remains in place

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Barbara Kates-Garnick, Professor of Practice in Energy Policy, Tufts University

    The offshore wind industry brings jobs and economic development. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

    A single wind turbine spinning off the U.S. Northeast coast today can power thousands of homes – without the pollution that comes from fossil fuel power plants. A dozen of those turbines together can produce enough electricity for an entire community.

    The opportunity to tap into such a powerful source of locally produced clean energy – and the jobs and economic growth that come with it – is why states from Maine to Virginia have invested in building a U.S. offshore wind industry.

    But much of that progress may now be at a standstill.

    One of Donald Trump’s first acts as president in January 2025 was to order a freeze on both leasing federal areas for new offshore wind projects and issuing federal permits for projects that are in progress.

    The U.S. Northeast and Northern California have the nation’s strongest offshore winds.
    NREL

    The order and Trump’s long-held antipathy toward wind power are creating massive uncertainty for a renewable energy industry at its nascent stage of development in the U.S., and ceding leadership and offshore wind technology to Europe and China.

    As a professor of energy policy and former undersecretary of energy for Massachusetts, I’ve seen the potential for offshore wind power, and what the Northeast, New York and New Jersey, as well as the U.S. wind industry, stand to lose if that growth is shut down for the next four years.

    Expectations fall from 30 gigawatts by 2030

    The Northeast’s coastal states are at the end of the fossil fuel energy pipeline. But they have an abundant local resource that, when built to scale, could provide significant clean energy, jobs and supply chain manufacturing. It could also help the states achieve their ambitious goals to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on climate change.

    The Biden administration set a national offshore wind goal of 30 gigawatts of capacity in 2030 and 110 gigawatts by 2050. It envisioned an industry supporting 77,000 jobs and powering 10 million homes while cutting emissions. As recently as 2021, at least 28 gigawatts of offshore wind power projects were in the development or planning pipeline.

    With the Trump order, I believe the U.S. will have, optimistically, less than 5 gigawatts in operation by 2030.

    That level of offshore wind is certainly not enough to create a viable manufacturing supply chain, provide lasting jobs or deliver the clean energy that the grid requires. In comparison, Europe’s offshore wind capacity in 2023 was 34 gigawatts, up from 5 gigawatts in 2012, and China’s is now at 34 gigawatts.

    What the states stand to lose

    Offshore wind is already a proven and operating renewable power source, not an untested technology. Denmark has been receiving power from offshore wind farms since the 1990s.

    The lost opportunity to the coastal U.S. states is significant in multiple areas.

    Trump’s order adds deep uncertainty in a developing market. Delays are likely to raise project costs for both future and existing projects, which face an environment of volatile interest rates and tariffs that can raise turbine component costs. It is energy consumers who ultimately pay through their utility bills when resource costs rise.

    The potential losses to states can run deeper. The energy company Ørsted had estimated in early 2024 that its proposed Starboard Offshore Wind project would bring Connecticut nearly US$420 million in direct investment and spending, along with employment equivalent to 800 full-time positions and improved energy system reliability.

    Massachusetts created an Offshore Wind Energy Investment Trust Fund to support redevelopment projects, including corporate tax credits up to $35 million. A company planning to build a high-voltage cable manufacturing facility there pulled out in January 2025 over the shift in support for offshore wind power. On top of that, power grid upgrades to bring offshore wind energy inland – critical to reliability for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from electricity – will be deferred.

    Atlantic Coast wind-energy leases as of July 2024. Others wind energy lease areas are in the Gulf of Mexico, off the Pacific coast and off Hawaii.
    U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

    Technology innovation in offshore wind will also likely move abroad, as Maine experienced in 2013 after the state’s Republican governor tried to void a contract with Statoil. The Norwegian company, now known as Equinor, shifted its plans for the world’s first commercial-scale floating wind farm from Maine to Scotland and Scandinavia.

    Sand in the gears of a complex process

    Development of energy projects, whether fossil or renewable, is extremely complex, involving multiple actors in the public and private spheres. Uncertainty anywhere along the regulatory chain raises costs.

    In the U.S., jurisdiction over energy projects often involves both state and federal decision-makers that interact in a complex dance of permitting, studies, legal regulations, community engagement and finance. At each stage in this process, a critical set of decisions determines whether projects will move forward.

    The federal government, through the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Offshore Energy Management, plays an initial role in identifying, auctioning and permitting the offshore wind areas located in federal waters. States then issue requests for proposals from companies wishing to sell wind power to the grid. Developers who win bureau auctions are eligible to respond. But these agreements are only the beginning. Developers need approval for site, design and construction plans, and several state and federal environmental and regulatory permits are required before the project can begin construction.

    Trump targeted these critical points in the chain with his indefinite but “temporary” withdrawal of any offshore wind tracts for new leases and a review of any permits still required from federal agencies.

    Jobs and opportunity delayed

    A thriving offshore wind industry has the potential to bring jobs, as well as energy and economic growth. In addition to short-term construction, estimates for supply chain jobs range from 12,300 to 49,000 workers annually for subassemblies, parts and materials. The industry needs cables and steel, as well as the turbine parts and blades. It requires jobs in shipping and the movement of cargo.

    To deliver offshore wind power to the onshore grid will also require grid upgrades, which in turn would improve reliability and promote the growth of other technologies, including batteries.

    The U.S. has offshore wind farms operating off Virginia, Rhode Island and New York. Three more are under construction.
    AP Photo/Steve Helber

    Taken all together, an offshore wind energy transition would build over time. Costs would come down as domestic manufacturing took hold, and clean power would grow.

    While environmental goals drove initial investments in clean energy, the positive benefits of jobs, technology and infrastructure all became important drivers of offshore wind for the states. Tax incentives, including from the Inflation Reduction Act, now in doubt, have supported the initial financing for projects and helped to lower costs.

    It’s a long-term investment, but once clear of the regulatory processes, with infrastructure built out and manufacturing in place, the U.S. offshore wind industry would be able to grow more price competitive over time, and states would be able to meet their long-term goals.

    The Trump order creates uncertainty, delays and likely higher costs in the future.

    Barbara Kates-Garnick receives funding as an Outside Director for Anbaric Transmission, which has no operating projects related to offshore wind. She has received funding for a research project through Tufts University jointly funded by NOWRDC and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. She serves on the board of several nonprofits that are not politically active organizations.

    – ref. Trump’s offshore wind energy freeze: What states lose if the executive order remains in place – https://theconversation.com/trumps-offshore-wind-energy-freeze-what-states-lose-if-the-executive-order-remains-in-place-249125

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US dodged a bird flu pandemic in 1957 thanks to eggs and dumb luck – with a new strain spreading fast, will Americans get lucky again?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Alexandra M. Lord, Chair and Curator of Medicine and Science, Smithsonian Institution

    Eggs have been crucial to vaccine production for decades. Bettmann/Getty Images

    In recent months, Americans looking for eggs have faced empty shelves in their grocery stores. The escalating threat of avian flu has forced farmers to kill millions of chickens to prevent its spread.

    Nearly 70 years ago, Maurice Hilleman, an expert in influenza, also worried about finding eggs. Hilleman, however, needed eggs not for his breakfast, but to make the vaccines that were key to stopping a potential influenza pandemic.

    Hilleman was born a year after the notorious 1918 influenza pandemic swept the world, killing 20 million to 100 million people. By 1957, when Hilleman began worrying about the egg supply, scientists had a significantly more sophisticated understanding of influenza than they had previously. This knowledge led them to fear that a pandemic similar to that of 1918 could easily erupt, killing millions again.

    As a historian of medicine, I have always been fascinated by the key moments that halt an epidemic. Studying these moments provides some insight into how and why one outbreak may become a deadly pandemic, while another does not.

    Anticipating a pandemic

    Influenza is one of the most unpredictable of diseases. Each year, the virus mutates slightly in a process called antigenic drift. The greater the mutation, the less likely that your immune system will recognize and fight back against the disease.

    Every now and then, the virus changes dramatically in a process called antigenic shift. When this occurs, people become even less immune, and the likelihood of disease spread dramatically increases. Hilleman knew that it was just a matter of time before the influenza virus shifted and caused a pandemic similar to the one in 1918. Exactly when that shift would occur was anyone’s guess.

    In April 1957, Hilleman opened his newspaper and saw an article about “glassy-eyed” patients overwhelming clinics in Hong Kong.

    The article was just eight sentences long. But Hilleman needed only the four words of the headline to become alarmed: “Hong Kong Battling Influenza.”

    Within a month of learning about Hong Kong’s influenza epidemic, Hilleman had requested, obtained and tested a sample of the virus from colleagues in Asia. By May, Hilleman and his colleagues knew that Americans lacked immunity against this new version of the virus. A potential pandemic loomed.

    The U.S. prioritized vaccinating military personnel over the public in 1957. Here, members of a West German Navy vessel hand over a jar of vaccine to the U.S. transport ship General Patch for 134 people sick with flu.
    Henry Brueggemann/AP Photo

    Getting to know influenza

    During the 1920s and 1930s, the American government had poured millions of dollars into influenza research. By 1944, scientists not only understood that influenza was caused by a shape-shifting virus – something they had not known in 1918 – but they had also developed a vaccine.

    Antigenic drift rendered this vaccine ineffective in the 1946 flu season. Unlike the polio or smallpox vaccine, which could be administered once for lifelong protection, the influenza vaccine needed to be continually updated to be effective against an ever-changing virus.

    However, Americans were not accustomed to the idea of signing up for a yearly flu shot. In fact, they were not accustomed to signing up for a flu shot, period. After seeing the devastating impact of the 1918 pandemic on the nation’s soldiers and sailors, officials prioritized protecting the military from influenza. During and after World War II, the government used the influenza vaccine for the military, not the general public.

    Stopping a pandemic

    In the spring of 1957, the government called for vaccine manufacturers to accelerate production of a new influenza vaccine for all Americans.

    Traditionally, farmers have often culled roosters and unwanted chickens to keep their costs low. Hilleman, however, asked farmers to not cull their roosters, because vaccine manufacturers would need a huge supply of eggs to produce the vaccine before the virus fully hit the United States.

    But in early June, the virus was already circulating in the U.S. The good news was that the new virus was not the killer its 1918 predecessor had been.

    Hoping to create an “alert but not an alarmed public,” Surgeon General Leroy Burney and other experts discussed influenza and the need for vaccination in a widely distributed television show. The government also created short public service announcements and worked with local health organizations to encourage vaccination.

    A 1957 film informing Americans how the U.S. was responding to an influenza outbreak.

    Vaccination rates were, however, only “moderate” – not because Americans saw vaccination as problematic, but because they did not see influenza as a threat. Nearly 40 years had dulled memories of the 1918 pandemic, while the development of antibiotics had lessened the threat of the deadly pneumonia that can accompany influenza.

    Learning from a lucky reprieve

    If death and devastation defined the 1918 pandemic, luck defined the 1957 pandemic.

    It was luck that Hilleman saw an article about rising rates of influenza in Asia in the popular press. It was luck that Hilleman made an early call to increase production of fertilized eggs. And it was luck that the 1957 virus did not mirror its 1918 relative’s ability to kill.

    Recognizing that they had dodged a bullet in 1957, public health experts intensified their monitoring of the influenza virus during the 1960s. They also worked to improve influenza vaccines and to promote yearly vaccination. Multiple factors, such as the development of the polio vaccine as well as a growing recognition of the role vaccines played in controlling diseases, shaped the creation of an immunization-focused bureaucracy in the federal government during the 1960s.

    Inoculating eggs with live virus was the first step to producing a vaccine.
    AP Photo

    Over the past 60 years, the influenza virus has continued to drift and shift. In 1968, a shift once again caused a pandemic. In 1976 and 2009, concerns that the virus had shifted led to [fears that a new pandemic loomed]. But Americans were lucky once again.

    Today, few Americans remember the 1957 pandemic – the one that sputtered out before it did real damage. Yet that event left a lasting legacy in how public health experts think about and plan for future outbreaks. Assuming that the U.S. uses the medical and public health advances at its disposal, Americans are now more prepared for an influenza pandemic than our ancestors were in 1918 and in 1957.

    But the virus’s unpredictability makes it impossible to know even today how it will mutate and when a pandemic will emerge.

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

    – ref. US dodged a bird flu pandemic in 1957 thanks to eggs and dumb luck – with a new strain spreading fast, will Americans get lucky again? – https://theconversation.com/us-dodged-a-bird-flu-pandemic-in-1957-thanks-to-eggs-and-dumb-luck-with-a-new-strain-spreading-fast-will-americans-get-lucky-again-247157

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How populist leaders like Trump use ‘common sense’ as an ideological weapon to undermine facts

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Dannagal G. Young, Professor of Communication and Political Science, University of Delaware

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, left, is part of a ‘revolution of common sense’ led by President Donald Trump. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

    It’s “the revolution of common sense,” President Donald Trump announced in his second inaugural address.

    And so it is. The latest installment of that assertion came in his Jan. 30, 2025, press conference about the Potomac plane crash. When asked how he had concluded that diversity policies were responsible for a crash that was still under investigation, Trump responded, “Because I have common sense, OK?”

    “Common sense” is what’s known to scholars as a “lay epistemology,” or how regular people make sense of the world. We don’t rely on statistical evidence or expert research while we’re buying lettuce or driving in traffic. Instead, we’re guided by direct experience, emotions and intuition.

    Because it comes from regular people and not institutions that some people deem to be “corrupt,” champions of common sense suggest it leads to a purer form of truth.

    President Donald Trump is asked how he could conclude that DEI policies caused the Potomac plane crash.

    Yet it is precisely because it comes from personal observations and intuition that research shows common sense is steeped in bias and often leads us astray.

    Populist leaders like Trump commonly celebrate common sense and attack expertise and evidence. Populism is less about being liberal or conservative than it is a way of appealing to the public. These appeals are based on a moral separation between the corrupt, bad people with cultural power and the good, pure people who hold the right values – like faith in common sense over expertise and evidence.

    And with the new Trump administration, the elevation of common sense as a virtue has been quick and broad.

    Dusty boots vs. elite credentials

    In his confirmation hearing for the position of secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth pointed to “dust on his boots” as evidence of his qualifications, in contrast to the elite credentials of past defense secretaries, who have often been Washington insiders.

    Hegseth couldn’t name members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an alliance of countries playing a crucial role in global security. But he did show that he knew the diameter of the rounds that fit in the magazine of an M4 rifle.

    That was evidence that he was, in his words, “a change agent. Someone with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives.”

    Even Meta’s announcement that it would roll back expert fact-checking on its U.S. social media platforms reflects a “lay epistemic” shift.

    Meta explained that fact-checkers, “like everyone else, have their own biases and perspectives” and that these biases had made fact-checking “a tool to censor.”

    Instead, the company would embrace a community notes model where users could provide additional information on posts, which Meta argued would be “less prone to bias.”

    “We’ve seen this approach work on X,” wrote Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan, “where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context, and people across a diverse range of perspectives decide what sort of context is helpful for other users to see.”

    This policy change is probably less of a shift in Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s principles than a change made out of necessity. Given Trump’s penchant for falsehoods, I imagine Meta’s previous policy would soon have proved financially and politically inconvenient.

    Regardless, the result is a populist’s dream: the demotion of formal expertise in favor of “common sense.”

    When asked whether he knew the members of a regional security alliance, defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was stumped.

    Common sense is ideological

    For the past two decades, the rise in social media, combined with declining trust in formal news organizations, has democratized knowledge: the sense that no one person or institution has special access to truth – not scholars with many degrees, not experts armed with scientific evidence or data, and definitely not journalists.

    In a 2020 study of public sentiment across 20 countries, Pew Research Center found that the overwhelming majority of those surveyed, 66%, reported trusting people with “practical experience” to solve problems over experts. Only 28% trusted the experts to solve problems.

    If institutions and experts are perceived as corrupt and ideological, the only truth that we can trust is what comes from our own eyes and our own minds.

    But does common sense bring us to truth? Sometimes, yes. It’s also appealing: Since our observations of the world are informed by our values and beliefs, we often see what we want – such as diversity-hiring initiatives known as “DEI” causing a plane crash, for example.

    And our intuition rarely tells us we’re wrong. This helps account for the existence of confirmation bias, which is our tendency to see and remember things that tell us we’re right. This is also why, even in those rare instances when facts change minds, they rarely change hearts. If we do update our knowledge with correct information, research has shown that our gut will still tell us our overall view of the world was right.

    Ironically, studies also show that the more a person trusts common sense, the more likely they are to be wrong.

    My research has shown that the people most likely to believe misinformation about COVID-19 and the 2020 election were those who placed more trust in intuition and emotion, and less trust in evidence and data. In addition, the more people liked Donald Trump, the more they valued intuition and emotion – and rejected evidence and data.

    So, common sense is ideological.

    When our pathway to knowledge is limited by our experiences and intuition, we’re not actually looking for truth. We’re happy with whatever answers are available, including conspiracy theories or explanations that make us feel good and right.

    We blame individuals – especially people we don’t like or identify with – for their own misfortune. We tend to think “those people should be better and try harder” instead of looking for public policy solutions to problems such as poverty or drug addiction. Without evidence and data summarizing large trends – such as cancer rates tracked through National Institutes of Health funding or ocean temperatures tracked by National Science Foundation funding – we are limited to what we can see through our own eyes and biases.

    And our limited observations merely reinforce our underlying beliefs: “My neighbor probably has breast cancer from taking that medicine I don’t like” or “Today is probably just a randomly hot day.” We’ll either overgeneralize from or downplay these limited examples depending on what our “common sense” says.

    So, when populists elevate common sense as a virtue, it’s not just to celebrate how regular people understand the world. It’s to promote a worldview that rejects verifiable facts, exaggerates our biases, and paves the way for even more propaganda to come.

    Dannagal G. Young was a co-investigator on an NIH grant that provided funding for one of the studies referenced in this piece.

    – ref. How populist leaders like Trump use ‘common sense’ as an ideological weapon to undermine facts – https://theconversation.com/how-populist-leaders-like-trump-use-common-sense-as-an-ideological-weapon-to-undermine-facts-248608

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Market is Substantially Growing, Morphing into a Billion Dollar Opportunity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The mixed martial arts (MMA) equipment market has been substantially growing over the past several years and is projected to continue in the coming years. The increasing public participation, easy availability of advanced training facilities, and the integration of advanced technologies represent some of the key factors driving the market. A report from IMARC Group projected that the global mixed martial arts equipment market size reached USD 1.39 Billion in 2024 and is looking forward to reach USD 2.13 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.64% during 2025-2033. The report said: “Mixed martial arts (MMA) refer to a hybrid combat sport that employs various fighting skills and techniques. It is performed using various equipment to facilitate the training or fight, such as a mouth and groin guard, punching bag, gloves, shorts, shin guards, hand wraps, ankle, elbow, and knee pads, and headgear. Amongst these, hand wraps help protect hands during training and fighting competitively, while the headgear is used for sparring to shield the skull from harsh strikes. At present, leading players operating worldwide are launching MMA equipment in various materials, types, and designs. These players are offering customizations to meet the requirements of the consumers and expanding their product portfolio.” Active Companies in the markets today include Mixed Martial Arts Group Limited (NYSE: MMA), Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR), Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META), Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV), Peloton Interactive, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTON).

    IMARC Group continued: “Presently, the increasing participation of individuals in recreational sports and fitness and athletic activities represents one of the major factors driving the demand for MMA equipment around the world. Moreover, the rising awareness about the health benefits associated with MMA, such as improving heart health, reducing stress, and enhancing the overall strength, and the surging prevalence of chronic diseases on account of sedentary lifestyles, are favoring the market growth. In addition, the growing number of professional training camps and the easy availability of advanced training facilities for fighters are influencing the market positively. Apart from this, the increasing number of fitness centers that offer MMA training is also contributing to the market growth. Furthermore, key players are financing advertising campaigns, such as celebrity and social media influencer endorsements, for improving their profitability. Besides this, the expansion of the e-commerce sector is resulting in the increasing sales of MMA equipment on account of easy equipment availability, flexible payment options, secure transactions, and convenient return policies.”

    Mixed Martial Arts Group Limited (NYSE American:MMA) – MMA.inc on Track to Achieve US$0.75 Million in Warrior Training Program Gross Sales for the March 25 Quarter, Driven by Record-Breaking 200% YoY Growth – Key Highlights:

    • Explosive Growth: Sales have surged 200% year-over-year and are on track to achieve $0.75 Million in Warrior Training Program Gross Sales which is above total gross sales for FY24.
    • Record-Breaking Quarter: With over 750 confirmed sales in Q1 alone, MMA.inc is on the cusp of exceeding its quarterly target of 800 participants, with 7 weeks remaining in the quarter to achieve the target.
    • Revenue Per Participant: Consistent with prior fiscal year averages, each participant has historically generated an average of US$1,004 in gross revenue, reinforcing the program’s strong unit economics.
    • Strategic Expansion: In 2025 the Warrior Training Program is live across 30 gyms spanning the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, with new gym partnerships fueling expansion.
    • Additional Revenue Streams: SaaS subscriptions and monthly transaction revenue from the recently acquired Hype and BJJLink platforms are not included in the above Warrior Training Program sales numbers, delivering further upside to MMA.inc revenue over the year.
    • Growing Ecosystem: MMA.inc continues to scale its platform with 5 million social media followers, 530,000 user profiles, 50,000 active students, and 802 active gym partners across 16 countries.

    Mixed Martial Arts Group Limited (“MMA.inc” or the “Company”), a leading technology company at the forefront of combat sports participation, today announced 200% year-over-year growth in Warrior Training Program sales, with over 750 participants confirmed in Q1 alone. This sales surge underscores MMA.inc’s ability to convert global MMA fandom into active participation while delivering substantial revenue growth for partner gyms.

    This milestone marks the most successful quarter in the program’s history, reflecting both the rising global demand for MMA training experiences and the strength of MMA.inc’s platform driven approach. By providing participants with a 20 week training subscription, designed by the world’s best MMA coaches, and culminating in a fully sanctioned amateur MMA bout, MMA.inc continues to redefine the combat sports landscape for participants, gym owners and coaches.

    “Our ability to achieve 200% growth year over year speaks volumes about the strength of our platform and the demand for authentic MMA training experiences,” said Nick Langton, Founder and CEO of MMA.inc. “With over 750 confirmed participants in Q1 alone, we’re not just selling training programs, we’re building an ecosystem that empowers over 640 million MMA fans to step into a gym to learn and train martial arts.”

    “The success of the UFC and other professional combat sports leagues has driven fanbase growth, which has in turn led to unprecedented interest in learning martial arts. At MMA.Inc we are building a platform to make the participation “on ramp” easily accessible for all MMA fans and fitness consumers who want to find a great gym where they can start their training journey.” Continued… Read the MMA full press release and supporting notes by going to:   https://ir.mma.inc/news-events/press-releases

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) has recently appointed three new members to its board of directors, including Dana White, the president and CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a familiar figure in the orbit of the incoming president, Donald Trump.

    The social media company, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is also adding the auto tycoon John Elkann and the tech investor Charlie Songhurst, Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, said in a Facebook post.

    Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV) – Hard Rock® recently announced that it was named #1 and #5 in the Newsweek Top 10 Readers’ Choice Best Casinos with Live Entertainment in the U.S. Newsweek describes this award as “…some of the best live entertainment options at casinos from around the country for when you need a break from the gambling floor.”

    “We are humbled that the public voted for Hard Rock Live Sacramento to take the #1 spot in this year’s Top 10,” explained Randy Maddocks, Director of Entertainment for Hard Rock Live Sacramento. “We dedicate our programming to reaching the largest audience with diverse shows that represent all genres.”

    Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR) recently announced that Glenn Derry, an Academy Award winning technologist with over 30 years of industry-defining entertainment technology experience, has joined the Company as Executive Vice President of MSG Ventures.

    In this role, Mr. Derry will oversee a wide range of technology initiatives across MSG Ventures, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sphere Entertainment focused on developing advanced technologies for live entertainment. MSG Ventures also supports Sphere Studios, the immersive content studio dedicated to creating multi-sensory entertainment experiences exclusively for Sphere, and the Sphere platform overall, including future Sphere venues. Mr. Derry will work across the organization to deploy both new and existing technologies that enhance Sphere’s live entertainment and experiential content, which has been redefining immersive experiences since the first Sphere opened in Las Vegas in September 2023.

    Peloton Interactive, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTON) recently announced that it will release its second quarter 2025 financial results before the U.S. stock market opens on Thursday, February 6, 2025. The company will host a conference call and live audio webcast to discuss the financial results at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) that day.   To access the conference call by phone, please visit this phone registration link to receive dial-in details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to register a day in advance or at least 15 minutes before the start of the call.

    A live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available on the company’s investor relations website at https://investor.onepeloton.com/news-and-events/events.   For those unable to participate in the conference call live, a replay will be available on the investor relations page of the company’s website for 30 days.

    About FN Media Group:

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    DISCLAIMER:  FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels.  FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein.  FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.  FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks.  All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers.  Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated twenty five hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by Mixed Martial Arts Group Limited by a non-affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Byrna Expands Retail Footprint with Nashville Store Opening

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Byrna Technologies Inc. (“Byrna” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BYRN), a personal defense technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions, today announced the opening of its second company-owned retail store, located in Franklin, Tennessee, part of the Greater Nashville Area. This new location advances Byrna’s vision of normalizing less-lethal solutions as a mainstream personal safety choice, establishing a broader physical presence, and amplifying brand recognition in key markets.

    The Nashville store builds on the success of Byrna’s Las Vegas location, which validated the potential of company-owned retail with an annual run rate exceeding $1 million and gross profit margins over 60%. The Nashville store features an in-store shooting range where customers can experience Byrna’s less-lethal launchers firsthand. In the Las Vegas store, conversion rates are approximately 80%, compared to approximately 1% online. Byrna expects the hands-on and interactive experience of its new stores to deliver similarly high conversion rates, foster deeper customer trust, and reinforce the company’s reputation as a leader in the less-lethal market.

    “The Nashville store represents an important step in Byrna’s strategic retail expansion,” said Byrna CEO Bryan Ganz. “Our retail store rollout is designed to strengthen customer connections, provide unique hands-on experiences, and expand overall brand awareness. Positioned in a vibrant retail hub, the Nashville store is well-suited to drive strong demand and further the adoption of Byrna’s less-lethal solutions. While we recognize new stores take time to reach their optimal performance, we are confident in the potential of our brick-and-mortar strategy and look forward to tracking the impact of our future locations.”

    Byrna’s retail strategy reflects a deliberate, phased approach to scaling its store model. The Nashville store is one of four new locations planned in the first part of 2025, with additional stores in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Scottsdale, Arizona, and Salem, New Hampshire set to open in coming weeks. These initial locations will provide valuable insights to refine store operations, finalize employee training programs, and optimize marketing strategies ahead of a potential broader rollout.

    Luan Pham, Byrna Chief Revenue Marketing Officer, added: “Our retail expansion is a transformational step in making less-lethal solutions accessible and mainstream. These new stores enable us to build stronger, more personal connections with our customers through workshops and in-store events, ensuring they are confident in using our products when it matters most.”

    The grand opening of the Nashville store featured local officials, law enforcement representatives, and media. Byrna will continue prioritizing community engagement and education as it expands its physical footprint across the United States.

    Byrna Nashville
    330 Mayfield Dr.
    D-3
    Franklin, TN 37067

    About Byrna Technologies Inc.
    Byrna is a technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions. For more information on the Company, please visit the corporate website here or the Company’s investor relations site here. The Company is the manufacturer of the Byrna® SD personal security device, a state-of-the-art handheld CO2 powered launcher designed to provide a less-lethal alternative to a firearm for the consumer, private security, and law enforcement markets. To purchase Byrna products, visit the Company’s e-commerce store.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of current and historical fact, are forward-looking. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” and “believes” and statements that certain actions, events or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “might,” “occur,” “be achieved,” or “will be taken.” Forward-looking statements include descriptions of currently occurring matters which may continue in the future. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, our statements related to preliminary revenue results for the fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year 2024, the timing of the release of full financial results for the quarter, trends regarding brand recognition and future sales potential, sales during the holiday season and during 2025, and the Company’s plans to open Company-owned retail stores. Forward-looking statements are not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking statements are based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates, and analyses that, while considered reasonable by the Company at the date the forward-looking information is provided, inherently are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies, and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expressed or implied.

    Any number of risk factors could affect our actual results and cause them to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this news release, including, but not limited to, disappointing market responses to current or future products or services; prolonged, new, or exacerbated disruption of the Company’s supply chain; the further or prolonged disruption of new product development; production or distribution or delays in entry or penetration of sales channels due to inventory constraints, competitive factors, increased shipping costs or freight interruptions; prototype, parts and material shortages, particularly of parts sourced from limited or sole source providers; determinations by third party controlled distribution channels not to carry or reduce inventory of the Company’s products; determinations by advertisers to prohibit marketing of some or all Byrna products; the loss of marketing partners; potential cancellations of existing or future orders including as a result of any fulfillment delays, introduction of competing products, negative publicity, or other factors; product design defects or recalls; litigation, enforcement proceedings or other regulatory or legal developments; changes in consumer or political sentiment affecting product demand; regulatory factors including the impact of commerce and trade laws and regulations; import-export related matters or sanctions or embargos that could affect the Company’s supply chain or markets; delays in planned operations related to licensing, registration or permit requirements; and future restrictions on the Company’s cash resources, increased costs and other events that could potentially reduce demand for the Company’s products or result in order cancellations. The order in which these factors appear should not be construed to indicate their relative importance or priority. We caution that these factors may not be exhaustive; accordingly, any forward-looking statements contained herein should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. Investors should carefully consider these and other relevant factors, including those risk factors in Part I, Item 1A, (“Risk Factors”) in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, should understand it is impossible to predict or identify all such factors or risks, should not consider the foregoing list, or the risks identified in the Company’s SEC filings, to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties, and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

    Investor Contact:
    Tom Colton and Alec Wilson
    Gateway Group, Inc.
    949-574-3860
    BYRN@gateway-grp.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5feb5941-b01f-4175-941b-5c3ad99702ee

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Ice, snow fervor invigorates host city of Asian Winter Games

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

    HARBIN, Feb. 6 — Inside a sprawling souvenir shop in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin, the tiger mascots of the upcoming Asian Winter Games — “Binbin” and “Nini” — are demonstrating the changing images of the heavily industrial city.

    One toy series puts the tigers on board China’s first helicopter and satellite, a reference to Harbin’s glorious status as an industrialization forerunner in the 20th century, while others feature the two as skaters, skiers and ice sculptures to showcase the city’s more recent boom in winter sports and tourism.

    Dubbed China’s Winterfell by netizens, Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang Province, has long been seen as an industrial city with frigid, harsh winters. Today, the city buzzes with winter tourists, many of whom have traveled all the way from the tropical south.

    Lin Wenxin, a tourist from the southeastern province of Fujian, was awestruck by the glittering structures made of ice blocks in Harbin Ice-Snow World. The otherworldly landscape, filled with towering ice sculptures, has led netizens to compare Harbin to the fictional city of Winterfell from the fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire.

    “It’s the first time I’ve seen such a massive amount of ice and snow, and it’s stunning,” Lin exclaimed in the theme park. Despite her cold hands, she took off her gloves to share photos with her friends on her mobile phone.

    As the city’s iconic tourist magnet, Harbin Ice-Snow World draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every day. During the eight-day Spring Festival holiday that ended Tuesday, over 610,000 trips were made to the park. Trips on Saturday alone exceeded 100,000, setting a new record for single-day attendance.

    The success of the Harbin Ice-Snow World is believed to have been due to the city’s profound heritage of ice lantern artistry.

    Harbin is located at 45 degrees north latitude, where winter temperatures can drop below minus 30 degrees Celsius. More than 60 years ago, to brighten the frigid winter nights, people filled buckets with water and allowed them to freeze into ice blocks. They then removed the unfrozen water to create a hollow space and placed lamps inside. This is how the first ice lanterns were made.

    Since the latter half of the 20th century, the city has become more significant in its heavy industries, contributing to China’s development of helicopters, satellites, and carrier rockets. In recent years, the city, like others in northeast China, has been striving to upgrade its industries and find new growth engines in the service sector.

    Against this backdrop, tapping into its ice culture to attract tourists becomes Harbin’s one answer to its economic transition. The city shot to nationwide prominence around the start of 2024 for going the extra mile to welcome tourists from South China. Its hosting of the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games has further cemented its allure as a winter destination.

    In Harbin’s touristy Central Street, the two tiger mascots and winter sports-themed lights are omnipresent, impressing Thai tourist Shiv Dechasakphan, who was shopping in a retail store featuring official merchandise for Harbin 2025.

    “The vibe is amazing — we can see Games-themed decorations all over the city. I know Harbin is a fantastic place for ice and snow activities,” said Shiv Dechasakphan, who previously traveled to ski at the Yabuli ski resort, located 200 kilometers from downtown Harbin. The resort, which will also host the snow events of the Asian Winter Games, welcomed over 1.17 million visitors in 2024.

    As the event approached, domestic and international tourists visited the official merchandise store in droves, raising its sales, according to Su Zhe, manager of the store.

    The surge in popularity of winter sports in recent years has created business opportunities for not just the tourism industry. Since the start of this snow season, Zhuang Yu, deputy manager of a Harbin-based cableway engineering company, has traveled extensively with co-workers to various cities to install, maintain, and repair cable systems.

    As ski resorts proliferate across the country, the company’s ski conveyor belts and cableways are experiencing strong sales, with revenue in 2024 projected to increase by about 20 percent compared to the previous year, Zhuang noted. He emphasized that the ongoing enthusiasm for winter sports drives the growth of both upstream and downstream industries and encourages businesses to innovate.

    Across the country, China is seeking to leverage its vast ice and snow resources to drive economic growth, with the government integrating winter sports and tourism into its national development plans.

    The sector has already reached a trillion yuan (one yuan equals about 0.14 U.S. dollars) scale, and the country aims to grow it to 1.2 trillion yuan by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030, according to an official guideline released in 2024.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – Pope’s Message for World Mission Day 2025: The Church prolongs the mission of Christ by offering life for all

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 6 February 2025

    Vatican Media

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “The Church, a community of Christ’s missionary disciples”, is today “sent to revive hope in a world over which dark shadows”. “Despite facing persecutions, tribulations and difficulties, as well as her own imperfections and failures due to the weakness of her members, the Church is constantly impelled by the love of Christ to persevere, “prolongs” the mission of Jesus” offering her life for all in the midst of the nations”.This is the essence of Pope Francis’ message for World Mission Sunday 2025, which will be celebrated on October 19.The Document is dated January 25, the Feast of the Conversion of the Apostle Paul, and is published today, February 6, the liturgical memorial of Saints Paul Miki and his companions, a group of 25 Japanese martyrs, eight of whom were priests and religious of the Society of Jesus and the Order of Friars Minor, European missionaries or those born in Japan, and seventeen lay people. All of them were arrested and, as the Roman Martyrology reports, “seriously mistreated and sentenced to death. All of them, including the young ones, were crucified because they were Christians.”These dates are not accidental, considering the themes addressed in the message entitled “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples”At the heart of the message, divided into three paragraphs, is the theme of hope, the theological virtue that is also at the heart of the Ordinary Jubilee that the Catholic Church is currently celebrating. The theme – explains the Pope – was chosen because it “reminds individual Christians and the entire Church, the community of the baptized, of our fundamental vocation to be, in the footsteps of Christ, messengers and builders of hope”.Hence “the desire” of the Bishop of Rome to “recall some relevant aspects of our Christian missionary identity, so that we can let ourselves be guided by the Spirit of God and burn with holy zeal for a new evangelizing season in the Church”. And first of all to “keep our gaze fixed on Christ, the centre of history”, “the fullness of salvation for all”, as well as “the supreme model of all those down the centuries who carry out their own God-given mission, even amid extreme trials”.“Through his disciples, sent to all peoples and mystically accompanied by him, the Lord Jesus continues his ministry of hope for humanity”, bending over “all those who are poor, afflicted, despairing and oppressed, and pours «upon their wounds the balm of consolation and the wine of hope»”, writes the Pope, quoting the Preface “Jesus the Good Samaritan”.The Pope’s thoughts also go to the missionaries ad gentes who “following the Lord’s call”, “have gone forth to other nations to make known the love of God in Christ. For this, I thank you most heartily! Your lives are a clear response to the command of the risen Christ, who sent his disciples to evangelize all peoples. In this way, you are signs of the universal vocation of the baptized to become, by the power of the Spirit and daily effort, missionaries among the nations and witnesses to the great hope given us by the Lord Jesus”.The horizon of this hope, the Pope points out, “transcends the passing things of this world and opens up to those divine realities in which we share even now.” The Bishop of Rome then cites Paul VI, who fifty years ago, in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntandi (n. 27), wrote that the salvation offered by Christ is not only “immanent, meeting material or even spiritual needs… completely caught up in temporal desires, hopes, affairs, and struggles. Rather, it exceeds all such limits in order to reach fulfilment in a communion with the one Absolute, which is God. It is a salvation both transcendent and eschatological, which indeed has its beginning in this life, but is fulfilled in eternity.”Hence the invitation to put into practice the actions suggested in the Bull Spes Non Confundit, living above all in “personal contact” with brothers and sisters, “with particular attention to the poorest and weakest, the sick, the elderly and those excluded from materialistic and consumerist society. They are the ones who teach us how to live in hope. Through personal contact, we will also convey the love of the compassionate heart of the Lord”. In fact, all the baptized, continues the Pontiff, quoting the speech he himself gave in June two years ago to the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies, are “have been sent to continue this mission: to be signs of the heart of Christ and the love of the Father, embracing the whole world”.To this end, Pope Francis stresses, “we need to be renewed in the Easter spirituality experienced at every Eucharistic celebration and especially during the Easter Triduum, the centre and culmination of the liturgical year”. Moreover, “missionaries of hope are men and women of prayer, for “the person who hopes is a person who prays”, in the words of Venerable Cardinal François-Xavier Van Thuan, who was himself sustained in hope throughout his lengthy imprisonment thanks to the strength he received from faithful prayer and the Eucharist (cf. The Road of Hope, Boston, 2001, 963). Let us not forget that prayer is the primary missionary activity and at the same time the first strength of hope”.“So,” urges the Pope, “let us renew the mission of hope, starting from prayer, especially prayer based on the word of God and particularly the Psalms, that great symphony of prayer whose composer is the Holy Spirit. The Psalms train us to hope amid adversity, to discern the signs of hope around us, and to have the constant “missionary” desire that God be praised by all peoples”.In the third and final paragraph, the Bishop of Rome describes evangelization as a “communitarian process,” which “does not end with the initial preaching of the Gospel and with Baptism, but continues with the building up of Christian communities through the accompaniment of each of the baptized along the path of the Gospel. In modern society, membership in the Church is never something achieved once for all. Therefore, the missionary activity of handing down and shaping a mature faith in Christ is “paradigmatic for all the Church’s activity,” he adds (Evangelii Gaudium, 15).“I would emphasize once more the importance of this missionary synodality of the Church, as well as the service rendered by the Pontifical Mission Societies in promoting the missionary responsibility of the baptized and supporting new Particular Churches. And I urge all of you, children, young people, adults and the elderly, to participate actively in the common evangelizing mission of the Church by your witness of life and prayer, by your sacrifices and by your generosity,” concludes Pope Francis. (F.B.) (6/2/2025)

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN has bilateral meeting with Ambassador of Chile to ASEAN

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Ambassador of Chile to ASEAN, H.E. Mario Ignacio Artaza, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. They exchanged views on the ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership and ways to further substantiate cooperation, including the implementation of the ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership: Practical Cooperation Areas and Chile’s interest to accede to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) Agreement.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN has bilateral meeting with Ambassador of Chile to ASEAN appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN receives visit by EU–ASEAN Business Council delegation

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a visit by a delegation from the EU-ASEAN Business Council, who are on a business mission to Indonesia, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The meeting exchanged perspectives and discussed the role of private sectors in fostering the digital economy and accelerating sustainability within the ASEAN region. They underscored the critical role of private sector innovation and investment in driving these agendas, while exploring actionable pathways to deepen cooperation between ASEAN and European stakeholders.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN receives visit by EU–ASEAN Business Council delegation appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rainy, Stormy Days in Queensland

    Source: NASA

    Starting in late January 2025, a slow-moving summer storm dropped copious rain along the northeastern coast of Queensland, Australia. A week later, rainfall totals totaled more than 100 centimeters (39 inches) in some areas, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
    The rainfall was especially intense for several days along several hundred kilometers of the coast between Cairns and Ayr. The map above shows rainfall accumulation in a period of just over four days ending on February 4, 2025. The reddest areas are where rainfall totals during this period were the highest.
    These data are remotely sensed estimates that come from IMERG (the Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals for GPM), a product of the GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) mission, and may differ from ground-based measurements. For instance, IMERG data are averaged across each pixel, meaning that rain-gauge measurements within a given pixel can be significantly higher or lower than the average.
    Ground-based measurements indicate that the city of Townsville saw the equivalent of six months of rain in just three days, according to BoM Queensland. The largest weekly rainfall total was measured at a gauge in the Cardwell Range, southwest of Tully, where almost 170 centimeters (67 inches) fell.
    Thousands of people evacuated as flooding threatened the region, according to news reports. The deluge isolated some communities, caused rivers and reservoirs to spill over their banks, and destroyed parts of a main highway. As of the morning of February 6, a major flood warning persisted along the Herbert River, meaning large areas were inundated. Watches and warnings remained in effect for more than a dozen other rivers.
    Tropical lows are common in northern Australia in February, during the region’s wet season. But this storm was especially slow and productive in terms of rain, with many areas breaking records for daily or multi-day totals.
    NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using IMERG data from the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) at NASA/GSFC. Story by Kathryn Hansen.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reminder: Rental Requirement Begins March 1st for Direct Housing Participants

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Reminder: Rental Requirement Begins March 1st for Direct Housing Participants

    Reminder: Rental Requirement Begins March 1st for Direct Housing Participants

    LAHAINA, Maui – Wildfire survivors currently in FEMA’s Direct Housing Program will be required to begin paying rent on March 1, 2025. The rental requirement will be in effect for the remainder of FEMA’s housing assistance program, which has been extended through Feb. 10, 2026.  Participants in the program have received their 90-day, 60-day and 30-day notification letters regarding upcoming rent collection.The rental rate is based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2025 Fair Market Rent on Maui along with the household’s ability to pay. HUD Portal: FY 2025 Final Fair Market Rents Documentation System — Select GeographyHouseholds are encouraged to remain in touch with their recertification advisor who will work with them to determine a feasible rental rate. Occupants can appeal FEMA’s decision on their ability to pay rent. Although occupants have 60 days to appeal for rent reduction from the date they received the hand delivered 30-day notice of the rental requirement, it is highly encouraged to submit their appeal and supporting documents as soon as possible.FEMA strongly suggests that households submit their appeal as soon as possible in order to process the request prior to the March 1 start date. A delay in submitting appeal paperwork may prolong the rental decision process. In this case, households awaiting a final decision on their rental rate would be required to pay the full amount in rent until a decision is made. Once the decision has been made FEMA would refund the difference. FEMA remains committed to the continued recovery on Maui and will support wildfire survivors as they work towards their permanent housing solution.For the latest information on the Maui wildfire recovery efforts, visit mauicounty.gov, mauirecovers.org, fema.gov/disaster/4724 and Hawaii Wildfires – YouTube. Follow FEMA on social media: @FEMARegion9 and facebook.com/fema. 
    shannon.carley
    Wed, 02/05/2025 – 20:43

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS RELEASE – Proof-of-Concept Study Report Completed on Proposed New Oʻahu Community Correctional Center

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    NEWS RELEASE – Proof-of-Concept Study Report Completed on Proposed New Oʻahu Community Correctional Center

    Posted on Feb 5, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

         KA ‘OIHANA HOʻOMALU KALAIMA A HOʻOPONOPONO OLA

         JOSH GREEN, M.D.

         GOVERNOR

         KE KIAʻĀINA

         TOMMY JOHNSON

         DIRECTOR

         KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

    PROOF-OF-CONCEPT STUDY REPORT COMPLETED ON PROPOSED

    NEW OʻAHU COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    February 5, 2025

    HONOLULU — The University of Hawaiʻi Community Design Center (UHCDC) has completed its final proof-of-concept study report, “Breaking Cycles: Alternative Models for Rehabilitation and Restorative Justice on Oʻahu,” on the proposed new Oʻahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC).

    The report presents community visions and aspirations for the new jail and provides recommendations to improve the criminal justice system. The concepts are based on

    a multilayered collaboration with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR), the Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission, Office of the Governor, residents, multiple community organizations and stakeholders.

    The DCR had contracted UHCDC to conduct wide-reaching independent research, community engagement and a design study on the proposed new jail.

    Built in 1916, the OCCC is the state’s largest jail. The jail in Kalihi is outdated and is not designed to provide programs. The facility is deteriorating, as parts of the jail are 111 years old.

    The planning process for a new jail started in 2016. The property where the existing animal quarantine station is situated in Hālawa is the proposed site for the new OCCC.

    Over a two-year period, UHCDC hosted numerous in-person and virtual community engagement events that include symposia, talk-story sessions, listening and co-design workshops. The group also attended ʻAiea Neighborhood Board and ʻAiea Community Association meetings, hosted listening workshops at Hālawa Correctional Facilty and participated in prison reform hui meetings.

    The 268-page report is an in-depth study that includes key concepts on system reform, facility planning and design elements for the new jail. Part of UHCDC’s extensive research included connecting with various counties in Arizona, California and Florida to gain insight into their reform processes to rehabilitate individuals, reduce recidivism, provide a continuum of care, inside and outside of corrections.

    UHCDC stated the report “outlines aspirations and visions that are crucial for inspiring and enabling transformation. We present this work as a contribution to that change, with gratitude, hope, and a firm belief that such transformation is not only possible but essential to our collective well-being.”

    Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Director Tommy Johnson said, “We express our sincere gratitude to UHCDC for its excellent work on this report. The report will be an effective tool to help DCR complete the planning and design for the new OCCC, develop request for proposals and select a contractor to design the proposed new jail.”

    The DCR envisions the new jail to have multipurpose rooms for programs, use of natural light, outdoor recreation yard, wall murals and space for treatment rooms to support rehabilitative services for inmates. A new facility to include a gym, courtyard, dining room and lounge for staff to promote health and wellness is also part of that vision.

    DCR will be engaging with the feedback in the report to further guide the rehabilitation aims of the new facility.

    Cathi Ho Schar, director of the University of Hawaiʻi Community Design Center, said, “We thank the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for sponsoring this work and inviting us to lead this effort. We also offer our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who linked elbows with us and who shared their time and manaʻo with our team.”

    UHCDC’s work is an independent addition to the planning and design of the new OCCC. The purpose of the report is to help DCR with the development of the Request for Proposals (RFP) and to select a team to design and construct the new jail. UHCDC is not responsible for the development of the RFP.

    Please click on the following link to access the report: https://www.breaking-cycles-symposium.org.

    # # #

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Media Contacts:

    Rosemarie Bernardo

    Public Information Officer

    Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

    Office: 808-587-1358

    Cell: 808-683-5507

    Email: [email protected]

    Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov

     

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025-15 AG NEWS RELEASE – ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ AND 13 OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON PROTECTING ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    2025-15 AG NEWS RELEASE – ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ AND 13 OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON PROTECTING ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE

    Posted on Feb 5, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    ANNE LOPEZ

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    LOIO KUHINA

     

     

    ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ AND 13 OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON PROTECTING ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE

     

    News Release 2025-15

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       

    February 4, 2025

     

    HONOLULU –Attorney General Anne Lopez today joined a coalition of 14 attorneys general to reaffirm their commitment to protecting access to gender-affirming care in the face of the Trump Administration’s recent Executive Order. The coalition released the following statement: 

     

    “As state attorneys general, we stand firmly in support of healthcare policies that respect the dignity and rights of all people. Health care decisions should be made by patients, families and doctors, not by a politician trying to restrict freedoms. Gender-affirming care is essential, lifesaving medical treatment that supports individuals in living as their authentic selves.

     

    The Trump Administration’s recent Executive Order is wrong on the science and the law. Despite what the Trump Administration has suggested, there is no connection between “female genital mutilation” and gender-affirming care, and no federal law makes gender-affirming care unlawful. President Trump cannot change that by Executive Order.  

     

    Last week, attorneys general secured a critical win from a federal court that directed the federal government to resume funding that had been frozen by the Trump Administration. In response to the court’s order, the Department of Justice has sent a notice stating that “federal agencies cannot pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate any awards or obligations on the basis of the OMB memo, or on the basis of the President’s recently issued Executive Orders.” This means that federal funding to institutions that provide gender-affirming care continues to be available, irrespective of President Trump’s recent Executive Order. If the federal administration takes additional action to impede this critical funding, we will not hesitate to take further legal action. 

     

    State attorneys general will continue to enforce state laws that provide access to gender-affirming care, in states where such enforcement authority exists, and we will challenge any unlawful effort by the Trump Administration to restrict access to it in our jurisdictions.” 

     

    Joining Attorney General Lopez in issuing this statement are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.

     

    # # #

     

    Media contacts:

    Dave Day

    Special Assistant to the Attorney General

    Office: 808-586-1284                                                  

    Email: [email protected]        

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

     

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

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – HAWAI‘I WILDLIFE CONSERVATION/GAME BIRD STAMP CONTEST OPENS, Feb. 5, 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release – HAWAI‘I WILDLIFE CONSERVATION/GAME BIRD STAMP CONTEST OPENS, Feb. 5, 2025

    Posted on Feb 5, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR

     

    DAWN CHANG
     CHAIRPERSON

     

    HAWAI‘I WILDLIFE CONSERVATION/GAME BIRD STAMP CONTEST OPENS

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Feb. 5, 2025

     

    HONOLULU – Artists are invited to submit entries to the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) for the 2025-26 Hawaiʻi Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp annual art contest. The wildlife conservation stamp is a requirement for Hawai‘i state hunting licenses and the game bird stamp is required for anyone intending to hunt game birds. Both stamps will also be available to stamp collectors.

    Game Bird Stamp – Erckel’s Francolin (Pternistis erckelii). Native to Ethiopia and Sudan, the Erckel’s spurfowl was introduced to Hawaiʻi in 1957 as a game bird. At about 16 inches long, they are brown with white streaky spots and distinct chestnut-colored feathers on the top of their heads, with white throats. Often in upland dry grasslands, they scare easily and hide from view and prefer running away rather than flushing. Listen for their loud laughing cackle, especially in the morning. They are located on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Lānaʻi, Oʻahu, and Kaua‘i.

    Wildlife Conservation Stamp – Manu-o-Kū (White “Fairy” Tern) (Gygis alba), a Hawaiian urban-community forest bird. 2025 is the Year of Our Community Forests, collections of trees in the wao kanaka, or inland region where people  live, learn and play. Community forests include trees in our neighborhoods, yards, parks, schools and along our streets. They give us gathering places, shade, air to breathe, food to eat, wood for carving, leaves for weaving and flowers for lei.

    The Manu-o-Kū is a perfect representation of our native wildlife that utilizes the urban-community forests for habitat, breeding, nesting and rearing their young. Manu-o-Kū breed on oceanic islands, both on low-lying coralline sand islands and high volcanic islands. They do not build nests; eggs are laid on whatever suitable depression is found. Nest sites include volcanic pinnacles, cliffs, rocky slopes, large bushes or trees, as well as man-made structures.

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

     

    SETTING: Hawai‘i habitat

     

    SIZE: Completed painting with a maximum of 24” by 36” and unframed (to be reduced to 1” X 1.5” stamp)

     

    MEDIUM: Oil or acrylic preferred

     

    ENTRY: Completed oil or acrylic painting or an 8.5” X 11” photo/print/photocopy of a completed painting.

     

    DEADLINE: All entries must be received by April 05, 2025. Notification of the winner will be made later in April.

     

    SHIPPING FEE: All paintings sent must be accompanied by a $35.00 fee to cover the cost of returning the artwork. You must visit the Administration office to pick up your artwork if a check is not included. Checks are to be made payable to the DLNR. Otherwise, a photo, print, or photocopy of an original painting may be sent without fee (see application form).

    PAYMENTS: The winner will receive a maximum award of $1,000.

    Funds from Hawai‘i Wildlife Conservation Stamp sales go into the state Wildlife Revolving Fund to support wildlife populations and habitats and to manage the state’s hunting and non-game programs.

    Last year, revenues from both stamps were used to cover some of the costs of maintaining hunting units and to add game bird and game mammal hunting opportunities where possible. Proceeds from the sale of wildlife conservation stamps will also provide funds for salaries, the annual lease rental of the Lānaʻi Cooperative Game Management Area, and support wildlife diversity programs.

    # # #

     

    RESOURCES

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR)

     

    HD video – Small Game Birds Put and Take, web feature (Nov. 24, 2021):

    https://vimeo.com/650077788?share=copy

     

    HD video – Small game birds put and take, media clips (Nov. 24, 2021):

    https://vimeo.com/649777485?share=copy

    Photographs – Small game bird releases Kuaokala Game Management Area (Nov. 24, 2021):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/i5naci5zakhg1r8rw6acd/h?rlkey=7psw5565bo4oib3pgve1yrwqo&dl=0

    Information on the contest and application forms:

    DOFAW, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813 or at:

    https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/files/2025/01/FY25-26-Artist-Application.pdf

    Contest contacts:

    [email protected], 808-226-7757.

    [email protected], 808-347-6869.

     

    2025: Year of Our Community Forests

    https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/trees/

     

     

    Media Contact: 

    Ryan Aguilar

    Communications Specialist

    Hawaiʻi Dept. of Land and Natural Resources

    Communications Office: 808-587-0396

    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: AMG Reports Financial and Operating Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company reports EPS of $4.92, Economic EPS of $6.53 in the fourth quarter of 2024
    EPS of $15.13, Economic EPS of $21.36 for the full year 2024

    • New partnership with NorthBridge Partners, a private markets manager specializing in industrial logistics real estate assets
    • Net income (controlling interest) of $512 million, Economic Net Income (controlling interest) of $702 million
    • 10% full-year Economic Earnings per share growth reflects AMG’s ongoing strategic evolution and disciplined capital allocation strategy
    • Repurchased $700 million in common stock or approximately 13% of shares outstanding in 2024

    WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AMG, a strategic partner to leading independent investment management firms globally, today reported its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.

    Jay C. Horgen, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMG, said:
    “AMG delivered record Economic Earnings per share in 2024; growth of 10% relative to the prior year reflected the ongoing evolution of our business and the positive impact of our disciplined capital allocation strategy.

    “In 2024, we continued to strategically evolve our business, increasing our exposure to alternatives, which further enhances our long-term growth prospects. AMG’s private markets Affiliates raised approximately $24 billion during the year, reflecting the ongoing demand for our Affiliates’ specialized strategies. Throughout the year we continued to invest our capital and resources alongside our Affiliates to develop new products for the U.S. wealth marketplace, including additional innovative alternative solutions across private markets and liquid alternatives.

    “This morning, we announced our investment in NorthBridge Partners, a leading vertically integrated real estate manager with excellent forward prospects, given its deep expertise and targeted investment strategy in last-mile logistics, a high-growth sector benefiting from the expanding digital economy and evolving supply chain dynamics. Our partnership with NorthBridge broadens AMG’s participation in private markets and underscores our focus on investing in areas of secular growth. AMG’s proven ability to magnify the competitive advantages of partner-owned firms, while also preserving their independence, continues to differentiate AMG’s partnership model and is highly valued by prospective Affiliates.

    “Our execution across each element of our growth strategy, including investing in new Affiliate partnerships, investing in our existing Affiliates, and investing in AMG’s capabilities to magnify our Affiliates’ success, is driving the evolution of our distinctive business profile. Given AMG’s proven strategic capabilities and 30-year track record of successful partnerships, our opportunities to invest in growth are expanding. With our ample financial flexibility and disciplined capital allocation framework, we enter 2025 in an excellent position to continue executing on our strategy, and create meaningful incremental shareholder value over time.”

    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Three Months Ended   Years Ended
    (in millions, except as noted and per share data) 12/31/2023   12/31/2024   12/31/2023   12/31/2024
    Operating Performance Measures              
    AUM (at period end, in billions) $ 672.7     $ 707.9     $ 672.7     $ 707.9  
    Average AUM (in billions)   648.1       717.3       660.3       700.5  
    Net client cash flows (in billions)   (6.1 )     (8.3 )     (29.2 )     (13.9 )
    Aggregate fees   1,560.9       1,509.2       5,066.6       5,236.0  
    Financial Performance Measures              
    Net income (controlling interest) $ 196.2     $ 162.1     $ 672.9     $ 511.6  
    Earnings per share (diluted)(1)   5.15       4.92       17.42       15.13  
    Supplemental Performance Measures(2)              
    Adjusted EBITDA (controlling interest) $ 296.2     $ 281.7     $ 935.7     $ 973.1  
    Economic net income (controlling interest)   242.9       205.8       717.8       701.6  
    Economic earnings per share   6.86       6.53       19.48       21.36  
                                   

    For additional information on our Supplemental Performance Measures, including reconciliations to GAAP, see the Financial Tables and Notes.

    Capital Management
    During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company repurchased approximately $120 million in common stock, bringing full-year share repurchases to approximately $700 million. The Company also announced a fourth-quarter cash dividend of $0.01 per share of common stock, payable March 4, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 18, 2025.

    About AMG
    AMG (NYSE: AMG) is a strategic partner to leading independent investment management firms globally. AMG’s strategy is to generate long‐term value by investing in high-quality independent partner-owned firms, through a proven partnership approach, and allocating resources across AMG’s unique opportunity set to the areas of highest growth and return. Through its distinctive approach, AMG magnifies its Affiliates’ existing advantages and actively supports their independence and ownership culture. As of December 31, 2024, AMG’s aggregate assets under management were approximately $708 billion across a diverse range of private markets, liquid alternative, and differentiated long-only investment strategies. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.amg.com.

             

    Conference Call, Replay and Presentation Information
    A conference call will be held with AMG’s management at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time today. Parties interested in listening to the conference call should dial 1-877-407-8291 (U.S. calls) or 1-201-689-8345 (non-U.S. calls) shortly before the call begins.

    The conference call will also be available for replay beginning approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call. To hear a replay of the call, please dial 1-877-660-6853 (U.S. calls) or 1-201-612-7415 (non-U.S. calls) and provide conference ID 13750674. The live call and replay of the session and a presentation highlighting the Company’s performance can also be accessed via AMG’s website at https://ir.amg.com/.

    Financial Tables Follow

    ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT – STATEMENTS OF CHANGES (in billions)
     
      Alternatives   Differentiated Long-Only  
    BY STRATEGY – QUARTER TO DATE Private Markets
    		   Liquid
    Alternatives
    		     Equities
    		   Multi-Asset &
    Fixed Income
    		   Total
    		  
    AUM, September 30, 2024 $ 131.2   $ 135.3     $ 345.9   $ 116.0   $ 728.4  
    Client cash inflows and commitments   5.6     8.9       10.2     5.2     29.9  
    Client cash outflows   (0.1 )   (7.3 )     (25.8 )   (5.0 )   (38.2 )
    Net client cash flows   5.5     1.6       (15.6 )   0.2     (8.3 )
    Market changes   (0.2 )   3.5       (2.5 )   0.4     1.2  
    Foreign exchange   (0.5 )   (3.1 )     (6.3 )   (1.3 )   (11.2 )
    Realizations and distributions (net)   (0.7 )   (0.2 )     (1.3 )   (0.1 )   (2.3 )
    Other   0.1     3.6       (4.0 )   0.4     0.1  
    AUM, December 31, 2024 $ 135.4   $ 140.7     $ 316.2   $ 115.6   $ 707.9  
      Alternatives   Differentiated Long-Only  
    BY STRATEGY – YEAR TO DATE Private Markets
    		   Liquid
    Alternatives
    		     Equities
    		   Multi-Asset &
    Fixed Income
    		   Total
    		  
    AUM, December 31, 2023 $ 114.8   $ 124.0     $ 329.4   $ 104.5   $ 672.7  
    Client cash inflows and commitments   23.7     27.5       38.1     22.1     111.4  
    Client cash outflows   (0.2 )   (25.6 )     (80.2 )   (19.3 )   (125.3 )
    Net client cash flows   23.5     1.9       (42.1 )   2.8     (13.9 )
    New investments   0.7     —       —     0.7     1.4  
    Market changes   0.4     10.6       41.4     8.7     61.1  
    Foreign exchange   (0.3 )   (0.8 )     (4.6 )   (1.2 )   (6.9 )
    Realizations and distributions (net)   (4.4 )   (0.5 )     (1.4 )   (0.3 )   (6.6 )
    Other   0.7     5.5       (6.5 )   0.4     0.1  
    AUM, December 31, 2024 $ 135.4   $ 140.7     $ 316.2   $ 115.6   $ 707.9  
     
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
     
        Three Months Ended
    (in millions, except per share data)   12/31/2023   12/31/2024
    Consolidated revenue   $ 502.7     $ 524.2  
             
    Consolidated expenses:        
    Compensation and related expenses     244.5       238.8  
    Selling, general and administrative     84.8       98.4  
    Intangible amortization and impairments     10.8       7.3  
    Interest expense     31.4       35.2  
    Depreciation and other amortization     3.0       4.0  
    Other expenses (net)     9.6       8.8  
    Total consolidated expenses     384.1       392.5  
             
    Equity method income (net)(3)     125.7       124.5  
    Affiliate Transaction gains(4)     —       —  
    Investment and other income     29.8       17.5  
    Income before income taxes     274.1       273.7  
             
    Income tax expense     29.8       52.6  
    Net income     244.3       221.1  
             
    Net income (non-controlling interests)     (48.1 )     (59.0 )
    Net income (controlling interest)   $ 196.2     $ 162.1  
             
    Average shares outstanding (basic)     33.7       30.1  
    Average shares outstanding (diluted)     41.3       36.0  
             
    Earnings per share (basic)   $ 5.83     $ 5.39  
    Earnings per share (diluted)(1)   $ 5.15     $ 4.92  
     
    RECONCILIATIONS OF SUPPLEMENTAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES(2)
     
        Three Months Ended
    (in millions, except per share data)   12/31/2023   12/31/2024
    Net income (controlling interest)   $ 196.2     $ 162.1  
    Intangible amortization and impairments     39.9       30.5  
    Intangible-related deferred taxes     12.8       15.3  
    Affiliate Transactions(4)     —       —  
    Other economic items     (6.0 )     (2.1 )
    Economic net income (controlling interest)   $ 242.9     $ 205.8  
             
    Average shares outstanding (adjusted diluted)     35.4       31.5  
    Economic earnings per share   $ 6.86     $ 6.53  
             
    Net income (controlling interest)   $ 196.2     $ 162.1  
    Interest expense     31.4       35.2  
    Income taxes     34.5       54.9  
    Intangible amortization and impairments     39.9       30.5  
    Affiliate Transactions(4)     —       —  
    Other items     (5.8 )     (1.0 )
    Adjusted EBITDA (controlling interest)   $ 296.2     $ 281.7  
     
    See Notes for additional information.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
     
        Years Ended
    (in millions, except per share data)   12/31/2023   12/31/2024
    Consolidated revenue   $ 2,057.8     $ 2,040.9  
             
    Consolidated expenses:        
    Compensation and related expenses     907.5       915.3  
    Selling, general and administrative     358.2       376.5  
    Intangible amortization and impairments     48.3       29.0  
    Interest expense     123.8       133.3  
    Depreciation and other amortization     13.0       13.4  
    Other expenses (net)     45.8       40.3  
    Total consolidated expenses     1,496.6       1,507.8  
             
    Equity method income (net)(3)     280.0       312.7  
    Affiliate Transaction gains(4)     133.1       —  
    Investment and other income     117.1       77.4  
    Income before income taxes     1,091.4       923.2  
             
    Income tax expense     185.3       182.6  
    Net income     906.1       740.6  
             
    Net income (non-controlling interests)     (233.2 )     (229.0 )
    Net income (controlling interest)   $ 672.9     $ 511.6  
             
    Average shares outstanding (basic)     35.1       31.1  
    Average shares outstanding (diluted)     42.2       36.1  
             
    Earnings per share (basic)   $ 19.18     $ 16.45  
    Earnings per share (diluted)(1)   $ 17.42     $ 15.13  
     
    RECONCILIATIONS OF SUPPLEMENTAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES(2)
     
        Years Ended
    (in millions, except per share data)   12/31/2023   12/31/2024
    Net income (controlling interest)   $ 672.9     $ 511.6  
    Intangible amortization and impairments     128.5       149.2  
    Intangible-related deferred taxes     57.3       61.9  
    Affiliate Transactions(4)     (122.1 )     —  
    Other economic items     (18.8 )     (21.1 )
    Economic net income (controlling interest)   $ 717.8     $ 701.6  
             
    Average shares outstanding (adjusted diluted)     36.8       32.8  
    Economic earnings per share   $ 19.48     $ 21.36  
             
    Net income (controlling interest)   $ 672.9     $ 511.6  
    Interest expense     123.8       133.3  
    Income taxes     185.2       187.9  
    Intangible amortization and impairments     128.5       149.2  
    Affiliate Transactions(4)     (162.7 )     —  
    Other items     (12.0 )     (8.9 )
    Adjusted EBITDA (controlling interest)   $ 935.7     $ 973.1  
     
    See Notes for additional information.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
     
        Years Ended
    (in millions)   12/31/2023   12/31/2024
    Assets        
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 813.6     $ 950.0  
    Receivables     368.4       409.7  
    Investments     941.9       595.6  
    Goodwill     2,523.6       2,504.9  
    Acquired client relationships (net)     1,812.4       1,777.8  
    Equity method investments in Affiliates (net)     2,288.5       2,246.6  
    Fixed assets (net)     67.3       57.6  
    Other assets     243.9       288.7  
    Total assets   $ 9,059.6     $ 8,830.9  
             
    Liabilities and Equity        
    Payables and accrued liabilities   $ 628.5     $ 639.1  
    Debt     2,537.5       2,620.2  
    Deferred tax liability (net)     463.8       520.5  
    Other liabilities     466.3       402.4  
    Total liabilities     4,096.1       4,182.2  
             
    Redeemable non-controlling interests     393.4       350.5  
    Equity:        
    Common stock     0.6       0.6  
    Additional paid-in capital     741.4       733.1  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (167.6 )     (163.6 )
    Retained earnings     6,389.6       6,899.8  
          6,964.0       7,469.9  
    Less: treasury stock, at cost     (3,376.1 )     (4,124.6 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     3,587.9       3,345.3  
    Non-controlling interests     982.2       952.9  
    Total equity     4,570.1       4,298.2  
    Total liabilities and equity   $ 9,059.6     $ 8,830.9  
    Notes
       
    (1) Earnings per share (diluted) adjusts for the dilutive effect of the potential issuance of incremental shares of our common stock.
       
      We assume the settlement of all of our Redeemable non-controlling interests using the maximum number of shares permitted under our arrangements. The issuance of shares and the related income acquired are excluded from the calculation if an assumed purchase of Redeemable non-controlling interests would be anti-dilutive to diluted earnings per share.
       
      We are required to apply the if-converted method to our outstanding junior convertible securities when calculating Earnings per share (diluted). Under the if-converted method, shares that are issuable upon conversion are deemed outstanding, regardless of whether the securities are contractually convertible into our common stock at that time. For this calculation, the interest expense (net of tax) attributable to these dilutive securities is added back to Net income (controlling interest), reflecting the assumption that the securities have been converted. Issuable shares for these securities and related interest expense are excluded from the calculation if an assumed conversion would be anti-dilutive to diluted earnings per share.
       
      The following table provides a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
          Three Months Ended   Years Ended
      (in millions)   12/31/2023   12/31/2024   12/31/2023   12/31/2024
      Numerator                
      Net income (controlling interest)   $ 196.2   $ 162.1   $ 672.9   $ 511.6
      Income from hypothetical settlement of Redeemable non-controlling interests, net of taxes     12.9     11.7     49.0     20.5
      Interest expense on junior convertible securities, net of taxes     3.4     3.4     13.4     13.4
      Net income (controlling interest), as adjusted   $ 212.5   $ 177.2   $ 735.3   $ 545.5
      Denominator                
      Average shares outstanding (basic)     33.7     30.1     35.1     31.1
      Effect of dilutive instruments:                
      Stock options and restricted stock units     1.7     1.4     1.7     1.7
      Hypothetical issuance of shares to settle Redeemable non-controlling interests     4.2     2.8     3.7     1.6
      Junior convertible securities     1.7     1.7     1.7     1.7
      Average shares outstanding (diluted)     41.3     36.0     42.2     36.1
    (2) As supplemental information, we provide non-GAAP performance measures of Adjusted EBITDA (controlling interest), Economic net income (controlling interest), and Economic earnings per share. We believe that many investors use our Adjusted EBITDA (controlling interest) when comparing our financial performance to other companies in the investment management industry. Management utilizes these non-GAAP performance measures to assess our performance before our share of certain non-cash GAAP expenses primarily related to the acquisition of interests in Affiliates and to improve comparability between periods. Economic net income (controlling interest) and Economic earnings per share are used by management and our Board of Directors as our principal performance benchmarks, including as one of the measures for determining executive compensation. These non-GAAP performance measures are provided in addition to, but not as a substitute for, Net income (controlling interest), Earnings per share, or other GAAP performance measures. For additional information on our non-GAAP measures, see our most recent Annual and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q, respectively, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
       
      Adjusted EBITDA (controlling interest) represents our performance before our share of interest expense, income and certain non-income based taxes, depreciation, amortization, impairments, gains and losses related to Affiliate Transactions, and non-cash items such as certain Affiliate equity activity, gains and losses on our contingent payment obligations, and unrealized gains and losses on seed capital, general partner commitments, and other strategic investments. Adjusted EBITDA (controlling interest) is also adjusted to include realized economic gains and losses related to these seed capital, general partner commitments, and other strategic investments.
       
      Under our Economic net income (controlling interest) definition, we adjust Net income (controlling interest) for our share of pre-tax intangible amortization and impairments related to intangible assets (including the portion attributable to equity method investments in Affiliates) because these expenses do not correspond to the changes in the value of these assets, which do not diminish predictably over time. We also adjust for deferred taxes attributable to intangible assets because we believe it is unlikely these accruals will be used to settle material tax obligations. Further, we adjust for gains and losses related to Affiliate Transactions, net of tax, and other economic items. Other economic items include certain Affiliate equity activity, gains and losses related to contingent payment obligations, tax windfalls and shortfalls from share-based compensation, unrealized gains and losses on seed capital, general partner commitments, and other strategic investments, and realized economic gains and losses related to these seed capital, general partner commitments, and other strategic investments.
       
      Economic earnings per share represents Economic net income (controlling interest) divided by the Average shares outstanding (adjusted diluted). In this calculation, we exclude the potential shares issued upon settlement of Redeemable non-controlling interests from Average shares outstanding (adjusted diluted) because we intend to settle those obligations without issuing shares, consistent with all prior Affiliate equity purchase transactions. The potential share issuance in connection with our junior convertible securities is measured using a “treasury stock” method. Under this method, only the net number of shares of common stock equal to the value of the junior convertible securities in excess of par, if any, are deemed to be outstanding. We believe the inclusion of net shares under a treasury stock method best reflects the benefit of the increase in available capital resources (which could be used to repurchase shares of our common stock) that occurs when these securities are converted and we are relieved of our debt obligation.
       
      The following table provides a reconciliation of Average shares outstanding (adjusted diluted):
          Three Months Ended   Years Ended
      (in millions)   12/31/2023     12/31/2024     12/31/2023     12/31/2024  
      Average shares outstanding (diluted)   41.3     36.0     42.2     36.1  
      Hypothetical issuance of shares to settle Redeemable non-controlling interests   (4.2 )   (2.8 )   (3.7 )   (1.6 )
      Junior convertible securities   (1.7 )   (1.7 )   (1.7 )   (1.7 )
      Average shares outstanding (adjusted diluted)   35.4     31.5     36.8     32.8  
    (3) The following table presents equity method earnings and equity method intangible amortization and impairments, which in aggregate form Equity method income (net):
       
          Three Months Ended   Years Ended
      (in millions)   12/31/2023   12/31/2024   12/31/2023   12/31/2024
      Equity method earnings   $ 158.3     $ 150.1     $ 375.6     $ 442.7  
      Equity method intangible amortization and impairments     (32.6 )     (25.6 )     (95.6 )     (130.0 )
      Equity method income (net)   $ 125.7     $ 124.5     $ 280.0     $ 312.7  
    (4) The following table presents the impact of the completion of our previously announced sales of our equity interests in Veritable, LP to a third party in the third quarter of 2023, and Baring Private Equity Asia to EQT AB (“EQT”), a public company listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (EQT ST), in the fourth quarter of 2022, pursuant to which we received ordinary shares of EQT:
     
          Three Months Ended   Years Ended
      (in millions)   12/31/2023   12/31/2024   12/31/2023   12/31/2024  
      Affiliate Transaction gain   $ —     $ —     $ 133.1     $ —  
      Investment and other income – Realized gains on EQT shares     —       —       29.6       —  
      Affiliate Transactions, pre-tax     —       —       162.7       —  
      Income taxes     —       —       (40.6 )     —  
      Affiliate Transactions, after-tax   $ —     $ —     $ 122.1     $ —  
     

    Forward-Looking Statements and Other Matters

    Certain matters discussed in this press release issued by Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (“AMG” or the “Company”) may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding the performance of our business, our financial results, our liquidity and capital resources, and other non-historical statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “guidance,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “preliminary,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “predicts,” “projects,” “positioned,” “prospects,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “pending investments,” “anticipates,” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including changes in the securities or financial markets or in general economic conditions, the availability of equity and debt financing, competition for acquisitions of interests in investment management firms, uncertainties relating to closing of pending investments or transactions and potential changes in the anticipated benefits thereof, the investment performance and growth rates of our Affiliates and their ability to effectively market their investment strategies, the mix of Affiliate contributions to our earnings, and other risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Such factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in our filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

    This release does not constitute an offer of any products, investment vehicles, or services of any AMG Affiliate.

    From time to time, AMG may use its website as a distribution channel of material Company information. AMG routinely posts financial and other important information regarding the Company in the Investor Relations section of its website at www.amg.com and encourages investors to consult that section regularly.

    Investor and Media Relations
    Patricia Figueroa
    +1 (617) 747-3300
    ir@amg.com
    pr@amg.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Descartes Showcases Global Trade Intelligence Technology Innovations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, is scheduled to showcase numerous technology innovations to its global trade intelligence software suite at Descartes’ Innovation Forum event, which takes place in Washington, DC from February 11-12, 2025. Innovations to Descartes’ solution suite help companies in diverse industries manage the cross-border trade of merchandise, commodities and services more securely and efficiently in the face of expanding compliance requirements, geopolitical volatility, and evolving tariffs and trade barriers.

    “The current environment of ever-changing and complex trade regulations is challenging to manage. Our solutions and trade data help simplify how our customers’ teams conduct business while helping them mitigate risk,” said Brian Hodgson, General Manager, Trade Intelligence at Descartes. “Our technology innovations are focused on helping companies build more agile, intelligent and resilient supply chain networks that allow them to keep pace with frequent and complex tariff and regulatory changes, secure better sources of supply, and acquire high quality competitive intelligence.”

    Descartes’ global trade intelligence innovation and enhancements include:

    • Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled screening and classification to scale compliance operations. AI-driven screening for restricted, sanctioned and denied parties quarantines low-quality false positives and identifies when additional due diligence is required. AI-driven import/export classification accelerates product lookup capabilities in combination with other features such as regulations cross-referencing and landed cost calculations. Both innovations help companies more efficiently access and manage high volume, repetitive tasks without overloading existing compliance resources or adding new staff.
    • AI-based agent to speed complex global trade intelligence queries. Converse in multiple languages with an AI-based agent to answer common questions; quickly identify historical trade patterns, emerging trends, or specific data needs (e.g., commodities, companies, products); and receive text- and/or graph-based responses. This helps users define searches more precisely, ensuring they extract the most relevant global trade data and that it’s presented effectively. It makes global trade data content more accessible and actionable, while minimizing the training time required to build proficiency in developing optimal queries.
    • Expanded global trade content offerings to simplify more wholistic risk assessments. Combining traditional Harmonized System (HS)-based trade data content with both optional experience-based content, such as previously classified products, and timely innovative-based content, such as legislation and/or regulations, provides companies with a broader content ecosystem to facilitate efficient and effective risk assessment associated with product, party or shipment compliance.
    • Enhanced analytics to generate insights and inform strategic, evidence-based decision making. Advanced Microsoft Power BI-based analytics aggregates data from screening applications and other sources (e.g., visitor management, license management, other operational systems) to provide a single reporting view. Companies no longer need to rely on complicated integrations between applications to access sophisticated analytics that provide useful insight into their compliance activities, particularly in large enterprises.
    • Expanded capabilities to manage increasing export controls and complexities around export license management. Expanded set of East Asian countries for compliance checks and license determinations, in addition to enhanced workflows and data sharing capabilities for very complex controlled goods businesses (e.g., aerospace and defense), which help companies better manage compliance with local laws, international agreements and security protocols.

    Learn more about Descartes’ Global Trade Intelligence solutions.

    Descartes’ Innovation Forum events offer a unique opportunity for Descartes customers and United by Design partners worldwide to connect with the Descartes team. These forums aim to share best practices in using Descartes’ technologies, explore ways to enhance operations with Descartes’ expanding solutions, and gather valuable feedback on product development. More information on the Global Trade Intelligence event is available here.

    About Descartes

    Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, security and sustainability of logistics-intensive businesses. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, track and help improve the safety, performance and compliance of delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; access global trade data; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world’s largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at www.descartes.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

    Global Media Contact
    Cara Strohack                                                                     
    Tel: 226-750-8050                                 
    cstrohack@descartes.com  

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”) that relate to Descartes’ global trade intelligence solution offerings and potential benefits derived therefrom; and other matters. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, “Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results” in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities commissions across Canada including Descartes’ most recently filed management’s discussion and analysis. If any such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, perhaps materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of providing information about management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitmaster Revolutionizes Crypto Trading with AI and MCS Token Integration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitmaster, an advanced cryptocurrency trading platform, is transforming digital asset trading through AI-driven automation and MCS token integration. By combining real-time analytics with automated trading strategies, Bitmaster provides a more efficient, secure, and accessible trading environment for both beginners and professional traders.

    Bitmaster leverages AI-based trading signals to analyze the market and execute automated trades, allowing users to seize real-time opportunities while minimizing risks. Additionally, MCS tokens offer benefits such as reduced transaction fees, automated trading functionality, staking rewards, and access to premium trading tools, enhancing the overall user experience.

    New users can enjoy a 3-day free premium membership trial and receive 10 MCS tokens, allowing them to explore the platform’s various features. Premium features include Signal Master and Auto Master, which enhance trading precision. Signal Master provides trading signals for Bitcoin futures, supporting users with accurate trading strategies. Auto Master, which is currently under development, will enable automated trading based on Signal Master’s insights. Additionally, within the app, users can participate in the Up & Down Prediction Game, where they predict Bitcoin futures price movements (UP or DOWN). Successful predictions reward users with 1.9 times the MCS amount wagered. The 10 MCS tokens received can also be sent to LBank for trading or converted to USDT for withdrawal.

    Bitmaster is focusing on enhancing liquidity, improving market accessibility, and strengthening its presence in the global cryptocurrency ecosystem. To achieve this, the company is expanding strategic partnerships and collaborating with leading global exchanges to provide diverse fiat on-ramp options and region-specific trading solutions. Additionally, Bitmaster is increasing accessibility by offering multi-language support and localized customer service to better serve its global user base. These initiatives ensure that users can trade in a seamless and secure environment through trusted exchange partnerships.

    Bitmaster operates various user-centric incentive programs to encourage active participation and trading. MCS airdrops provide additional benefits to both new and existing users, driving engagement within the platform. This encourages continuous trading activity, allowing users to earn more rewards within the Bitmaster ecosystem. Additionally, promotional campaigns offer extra benefits, ensuring long-term user retention. Incentives such as MCS airdrops, referral programs with up to 30% commission, and ICO bonuses of up to 40% play a crucial role in increasing user engagement and supporting the platform’s sustained growth.

    Bitmaster continues to set new standards in AI-driven innovation and blockchain technology, driving automation and data-driven trading. As the platform evolves, it aims to deliver an intuitive, efficient, and rewarding trading experience for global users, solidifying its leadership in the cryptocurrency trading industry.

    For more details: https://buly.kr/Ezi4D52

    Contact Information

    Company Name: Bitmaster
    Contact Person: Evelyn
    Contact Person Title: Contents Manager
    Email: mr.mcs@bitmaster.pro
    Phone Number: +82 1039824189
    Company Website: https://bitmaster.pro/

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Bitmaster. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in cloud mining and related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/efe81893-9e0b-4e13-8c27-8d4e63bce156

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3288772b-ccfb-4ab2-aff0-17d97f476168

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5f212ffe-9120-4f2e-aa45-9eed813dcb99

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Reducing air pollution could increase methane emissions from wetlands – here’s what needs to be done

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Vincent Gauci, Professorial Fellow, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham

    Sampling in a Pantanal lake, Brazil. Vincent Gauci, CC BY-NC-ND

    What if well-meaning policies that reduce one atmospheric pollutant could also increase natural emissions of powerful greenhouse gases?

    Our findings, just published in the journal Science Advances, advance an earlier discovery of one such unfortunate interaction. This means that we need to work much harder than we thought to stay within the safe climate limits of the Paris agreement.

    The atmospheric pollutant in question is sulphur. Its current and projected decline from clean air policies aimed at reducing acid rain and fine particles, coupled with direct effects of increasing atmospheric CO₂ and warming, will lead to larger natural wetland methane emissions than expected.

    This is because sulphur has a very specific effect in natural wetlands that reduces methane emissions. On the other hand, CO₂ boosts methane production by increasing growth in plants that make the food for methane-producing microbes.

    Put simply, sulphur provides the conditions for one set of bacteria to outmuscle another set of microbes that produce methane over limited available food in wetlands. Under the conditions of acid rain sulphur pollution during the past century, this was enough to reduce wetland methane emissions by up to 8%.

    If we lift this sulphur “lid” on wetland methane production and increase CO₂, we have a double whammy effect that pushes wetland emissions much higher.

    We first discovered this effect in the early 2000s with field experiments that simulated acid rain sulphur pollution in the peatlands of North America, Scotland and Scandinavia. Further similar experiments took place on methane-emitting rice.

    Now, more than 20 years on, we have better modelling approaches that allow us to use improved estimates of the future of sulphur pollution and CO₂ for a range of scenarios. This allows us to link these back to methane emissions.

    A water hyacinth meadow in the Pantanal, Brazil.
    Vincent Gauci, CC BY-NC-ND

    The effect is substantial and we estimate that these different factors, in combination, will mean that policy instruments like the global methane pledge, which addresses anthropogenic emissions of methane, may need to work much harder.

    More than 150 nations signed up to the global methane pledge at the UN climate summit, Cop26, in Glasgow. The pledge seeks to reduce emissions of anthropogenic methane by 30% on a 2020 baseline by 2030.

    If successful, the climate benefit can be substantial (methane is around 30-80 times more potent than CO₂ as a greenhouse gas) and fast-acting. This is because methane only lasts in the atmosphere for around 10 years, leading to a rapid 0.2°C climate dividend by 2050.



    Read more:
    Methane is pitched as a climate villain – could changing how we think about it make it a saviour?

    However, our findings show that between 8% and 15% of the allowable space for these human-made emissions is disappearing. This is due to the climate, CO₂ fertilisation, and sulphur unmasking effects. So, larger cuts are needed to achieve the same Paris climate targets.

    This isn’t the first time that the loss of an apparent broad climate-cooling action of atmospheric sulphur has been implicated in driving warming at a faster rate than anticipated.

    Drainage canal in the Kampar peat swamp forest, Sumatra, Indonesia.
    Vincent Gauci, CC BY-NC-ND

    In 2020, shipping pollution controls were introduced globally to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide and fine particles that are harmful to human health. This reduction in atmospheric sulphur over the oceans has been implicated in larger warming effects than expected in what has come to be known as “termination shock”.

    Part of the warming effect of emitted CO₂ is effectively masked by cooling sulphate particles in the atmosphere. If the source of the sulphate is stopped, the remaining sulphur in the atmosphere drops out rapidly, unmasking the warming effect of the CO₂ which lasts over 100 years in the atmosphere. For natural wetlands the unmasking effect on methane emissions can take a little longer, more a “termination rebound” than shock – but it soon catches up.

    Intentional interventions?

    So what can be done? In another paper recently published in Global Change Biology, scientists propose direct intervention in natural wetland methane emissions through adding sulphate to these ecosystems, essentially – and this time deliberately – replacing the sulphate lid on the wetland methane source. This raises questions about what a natural wetland actually is.

    Acacia plantation on former peat swamp forest after harvest, Sumatra, Indonesia.
    Vincent Gauci, CC BY-NC-ND

    What are the environmental ethics of deliberately intervening in this manner for ecosystems that are only just recovering from past incidental pollution effects? In emitting methane, they are, ultimately, just performing their natural function and should be protected for the vast carbon stores they contain and the valuable biodiversity that makes these ecosystems their home.

    So, we need to go back to the framework set up by the global methane pledge which is prompting much innovation to reduce human emissions from fossil fuel industries, waste and agriculture. We need to work harder on emissions first and foremost while also considering technologies to actively remove methane from the atmosphere.

    Atmospheric methane removal technologies are a new and under-investigated approach to managing atmospheric methane and they could be as simple as growing more trees.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Vincent Gauci receives funding from or has received funding from the Natural Environment Research Council, The Royal Society, Spark Climate Solutions, Axa Research Fund, Defra.

    Lu Shen receives funding from National Natural Science Foundation of China.

    – ref. Reducing air pollution could increase methane emissions from wetlands – here’s what needs to be done – https://theconversation.com/reducing-air-pollution-could-increase-methane-emissions-from-wetlands-heres-what-needs-to-be-done-246723

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –