NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-Evening Report: Greenpeace slams deep sea mining bid as ‘rogue’ disregard for global law

    By Reza Azam

    Greenpeace has condemned an announcement by The Metals Company to submit the first application to commercially mine the seabed.

    “The first application to commercially mine the seabed will be remembered as an act of total disregard for international law and scientific consensus,” said Greenpeace International senior campaigner Louisa Casson.

    “This unilateral US effort to carve up the Pacific Ocean already faces fierce international opposition. Governments around the world must now step up to defend international rules and cooperation against rogue deep sea mining.

    “Leaders will be meeting at the UN Oceans Conference in Nice in June where they must speak with one voice in support of a moratorium on this reckless industry.”

    Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Juressa Lee said: “The disastrous effects of deep sea mining recognise no international borders in the ocean.

    “This will be another case of short-term profits for a very few, from the Global North, with the Pacific bearing the destructive impacts for generations to come.”

    The Metals Company announcement follows President Donald Trump’s Executive Order fast-tracking deep sea mining in US and international waters, which Greenpeace says threatens Pacific sovereignty.

    Bypassed ISA rules
    Trump’s action bypasses the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the regulatory body which protects the deep sea and decides whether deep sea mining can take place in international waters.

    “The Metals Company and Donald Trump are wilfully ignoring the rules-based international order and the science that deep sea mining will wreak havoc on the oceans,”said Lee.

    “Pacific Peoples have deep cultural ties to the ocean, and we regard ‘home’ as more ocean than land. Our ancestors were wayfarers and ocean custodians who have traversed the Pacific and protected our livelihoods for future generations.

    “This is the Indigenous knowledge we should be led by, to safeguard our planet and our environment. Deep sea mining is not the answer to the green transition away from carbon-based fossil fuels — it’s another false solution.”

    President Trump’s order follows negotiations in March at the ISA, at which governments refused to give wannabe miners The Metals Company a clear pathway to an approved mining application via the ISA.

    Thirty two countries around the world publicly support a moratorium on deep sea mining.

    Millions of people have spoken out against this dangerous emerging industry.

    Republished from Greenpeace Aotearoa News.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Ranger’s dream to protect an ancient kānuka ‘island’

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  30 April 2025

    The 13-hectare forest near Eyrewell in North Canterbury is in the Motu Kānuka Scientific Reserve, which sits within a vast sea of privately owned farmland.

    DOC Biodiversity Ranger Christina Stet says when she’s sitting in the middle of the kānuka forest island or motu on the flat expanse of the plains, she feels like she’s travelled back hundreds of years.

    “Everything around it has been cleared, and yet amazingly this motu has remained. It’s an incredibly special ecosystem and provides a home for many threatened and at-risk species, shrubs, lichen, moss, insects, lizards, and birds. I feel very passionate about protecting it as many of these species are extremely rare on the Canterbury Plains.”

    DOC purchased the forest through the Nature Heritage Fund in 2019. There were many threats to contend with including introduced grasses, gorse, broom, and pests, which impact the native plants and animals. It was pure luck the native kānuka forest had survived for so long.

    Christina and DOC’s biodiversity team had a challenge. How could they protect the existing forest and increase its size by encouraging more kānuka to grow?

    “We heard ECAN (Environment Canterbury) was trialling a new technique of reforestation in kānuka reserves. The idea was to try and create a giant ‘seed tray’. With help from their biodiversity fund, we cleared the invasive grasses near the adult trees and hoped the kānuka seeds would be blown across and land on the cleared soil and grow. The famous Canterbury nor’ wester blew and suddenly, these little seedlings started sprouting. I was so stoked to see how they’ve thrived.”

    Christina says they hope to create a ‘seed tray’ on another side of Motu Kānuka.

    “The bigger the buffer we can make, the more resilient the forest will be. What I love is being able to make a difference. We’ve proven in many parts of the country that when we remove or manage the threats to nature or restore habitats, they come back and thrive. Every individual action counts,” she says.

    “We want to make sure this little ancient island stays this way for generations to come as once it disappears, it’s gone for good. This is part of our heritage and a wonderful snapshot of the past. This motu is a reminder of the resilience of nature, but more often now, it needs a helping hand.”

    The Motu Kānuka Scientific Reserve requires a permit to visit.

    Watch a video of Christina Stet in the Motu Kānuka.

    A second video of Christina explaining how her giant ‘seed tray’ works is also available via DOC’s social media channels.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: McAlester Resident Sentenced To Eleven Years For Maiming In Indian Country

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced Cody Ray McFadden, age 36, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 132 months in prison for one count of Maiming in Indian Country.

    The charge arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    On December 16, 2024, McFadden pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 16, 2022, McFadden invited a visitor to his residence. Once inside, McFadden beat the victim, forced the victim into a cage, and padlocked the door.  During the next 36 hours, McFadden proceeded to assault and torture the victim, threatening to kill the victim with a cross bow and intentionally striking at the victim with an axe.  The victim, who sustained a head laceration, burns, bruises, and a broken arm, managed to break free, escape through a window, and run to a neighbor’s home.  Law enforcement responding to the neighbor’s emergency call took McFadden into custody after a brief standoff.  The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

    “This defendant demonstrated a complete lack of humanity, subjecting the victim to an extended period of violence resulting in unimaginable physical and mental trauma,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater.  “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to rooting out violent offenders through aggressive investigations and prosecutions.”

    “This is the stuff of nightmares, but unfortunately, it was sickeningly real,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “I commend the bravery of this survivor, the quick work of law enforcement in securing an end to this horrifying ordeal, and the steadfastness of investigators and prosecutors who ensured that McFadden spends the next decade in prison answering for his ruthless crimes.”

    The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  McFadden will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Porcupine Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for the Shooting Death of Pregnant Girlfriend

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The sentencing took place on April 25, 2025.

    McKenzie Big Crow, age 20, was sentenced to a total of 12 years in federal prison for Involuntary Manslaughter, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Big Crow was also ordered to pay $300 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    A federal grand jury indicted Big Crow in June 2024. In January 2025, he was found guilty following a federal jury trial.

    On August 20, 2023, near Porcupine, Big Crow was illegally in possession of a Savage Arms Model 62, semiautomatic rifle. The barrel had been sawed off, and the defendant had taped components of an Airsoft rifle to the gun to make it appear like an AK-47. Big Crow claimed he put the rifle in a backpack and that the gun discharged when he bumped the bag against a door. The gunshot struck 19-year-old Ashton Provost in the chest, killing her and her unborn child within minutes. The gun was later found hidden under Big Crow’s bed. On the day of the shooting, Big Crow had drugs in his system including marijuana, cocaine, MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy) and methamphetamine.

    “We commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of South Dakota for its decision to pursue charges under the Unborn Victims of Violence Act — recognizing the value of every life lost as a result of this crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis. “This case highlights our shared commitment to justice for the most vulnerable and to holding violent offenders accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

    This case was investigated by the FBI, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.

    Big Crow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, SH3, Awakino

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are responding to a serious crash that has blocked State Highway 3 at Awakino, in the Waitomo district.

    The crash was reported about 9.50am, between Papakauri and Awakau roads, and is understood to involve a car and truck.

    At least one person has been injured.

    Traffic management is being arranged, and motorists should expect delays of several hours while the scene is cleared. Police advise motorists to take alternative routes.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Te Pāti Māori: Denying the Right to Vote is a Breach of Te Tiriti and Human Rights

    Source: Te Pati Maori

    The National Party’s announcement to reinstate a total ban on prisoner voting is a shameful step backwards. Denying the right to vote does not strengthen society — it weakens our democracy and breaches Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

    Voting is not a privilege to be taken away — it is a fundamental human right. Stripping whānau of their right to participate in democracy only deepens the cycles of marginalisation and injustice that our people have been subjected to for generations.

    This govt is locking people up for what they wear, increasing sentences across the board, and now they are telling those people that they have no right to participate in the system that has incarcerated them.

    Te Pāti Māori is clear:

    • We will reinstate the right for all whānau in Corrections facilities to vote.

    • We reject a justice system that punishes instead of heals.

    •True justice is about restoration, not exclusion.

    Once again, National is showing that their vision for Aotearoa is not one of transformation, healing, or fairness — it is one of punishment, control, and division.

    Te Pāti Māori will continue to fight for a justice system that restores whānau, not destroys them and we will continue to advocate for those who are being left behind.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Transforming financial education in schools

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Financial education will be embedded as a core element of the refreshed social sciences curriculum for Year 1-10 students, set to be available for use from 2026, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today. 

    “Embedding essential skills into the curriculum will ensure our young people are better prepared to make informed financial decisions in a complex financial world. This will positively impact their lives and the broader economy,” says Minister Stanford. 

    For younger students the curriculum will cover key financial skills, such as identifying needs versus wants, having a bank account, earning, spending and saving. Older students will gain the knowledge needed to understand more complex concepts, such as budgeting, investment, interest, taxes, and insurance to help to build lifelong financial skills. We have already included financial maths in the new maths curriculum, which is being delivered this year.   

    To support the implementation of financial education in the new curriculum, a variety of tools and resources, developed in collaboration with financial organisations, banks, and charitable trusts, will be available to schools, ensuring they can effectively deliver the curriculum.

    A new partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Retirement Commission will map the offerings from financial education providers against the updated curriculum.  The Retirement Commission’s work with providers will ensure consistent curriculum-aligned supports and resources, giving schools confidence in their delivery. 

    This resource map will be extended into senior secondary years with guidance and resources for Year 11-13 students, supporting schools to flexibly deliver ongoing financial education to their students. 

    “As the Minister responsible for the Retirement Commission, I absolutely believe that strengthening financial education is crucial to our Government’s focus on economic growth. We are all consumers, and financial literacy can set young Kiwis up to be savvy consumers – whether it’s knowing how to invest wisely, choose the best loan at a bank, or even identify a scam,” Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson says.  

    “We know that New Zealand parents have long called for financial education to be a priority. This curriculum update answers those calls, ensuring students are equipped with the knowledge to thrive in both personal and financial aspects of their lives,” says Minister Stanford. 

    This initiative marks a significant step forward in New Zealand’s education system, placing a strong emphasis on real-world skills that will empower students to take control of their financial futures. 

    Notes to Editor: 

    Providers working with the Retirement Commission include:  

    • Sorted in Schools (Retirement Commission) 
    • Banqer
    • MoneyTime
    • Life Education
    • Young Enterprise Trust
    • Savvy
    • Westpac
    • ASB
    • Kiwi bank
    • BNZ

    A draft of the updated social sciences learning area will be available in Term 4, 2025 for feedback. An updated version will be available for schools to use in 2026, and is planned to be required from 2027.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Social workers urged to embed Aboriginal cultural practices in First Nations communities

    Source:

    30 April 2025

    Social workers in First Nations communities need to incorporate Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing at the heart of their supervision practices on Country.

    That’s the recommendation from University of South Australia (UniSA) researchers in a new study published in Australian Social Work.

    First author Jamie Sorby – a Kamilaroi woman, qualified social worker and UniSA lecturer – says that current supervision practices in social work are centred on Western practices that overlook a community-grounded approach that is valued in First Nations culture.

    “Western models of supervision often focus on managerial oversight, risk aversion and clinical outcomes, and are disconnected from the lived realities of both workers and clients in Aboriginal communities,” Sorby says.

    “They tend to favour formal, hierarchical structures and overlook cultural values, emotional safety and relational trust.

    “For Aboriginal workers, this can feel alienating and unsafe. Supervision should be a space of support, growth and cultural reflection, but often it’s not. This is why culturally responsive models are urgently needed,” she says.

    The authors argue that traditional Western approaches to supervision often fail to acknowledge the lived experience of Aboriginal workers or the intergenerational trauma stemming from colonisation. As a result, these approaches contribute to staff burnout, mistrust, and poor retention of First Nations workers in social services.

    The study introduces a suite of conceptual maps and visual artefacts that guide supervisors and practitioners to embed cultural safety into their practice.

    The work was born out of conversations on Country between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal practitioners who wanted to challenge the status quo and embed Indigenous knowledges into professional development.

    “For decades, Aboriginal communities have expressed concerns about social work practices often operating from individualistic models that don’t reflect our collectivist values or ways of being,” Sorby says.

    “The issue is not new, it’s just that it hasn’t been listened to or acted on at a systemic level and we want that to change.”

    Sorby says the impact on First Nations communities would be “transformative” if social workers were guided by Aboriginal perspectives, working with communities, not on them.

    Notes for editors

    “Supervision on Country: Enhancing Culturally Safe Social Work Supervision Through First Nations Knowledges” is published in Australian Social Work. DOI: 10.1080/0312407X.2025.2462304

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contact for interview: Jamie Sorby E: Jamie.Sorby@unisa.edu.au

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Europe Subcommittee Chairman Self Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing on Future of Cyber Diplomacy

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-226-8467

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Europe Subcommittee Chairman Keith Self delivered opening remarks at a full committee hearing titled, “Shaping the Future of Cyber Diplomacy: Review for State Department Reauthorization.”

    Watch Here

    -Remarks- 

    Today the subcommittee will be exploring the role of the State Department in cyber and technology matters, and how such policies might align with U.S. national security interests and foreign policy objectives. In particular, we will be examining the work of the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, or CDP. Across the globe, malicious cyber attacks are conducted by state and non-state actors against the United States and its allies, including from the People’s Republic of China.

    From cyber criminals scamming individuals out of their savings to large-scale state-sponsored attacks from America’s adversaries, U.S. government entities and citizens are increasingly under siege. For years, PRC-supported hackers have buried deep into critical infrastructure, including water, transportation networks, and energy systems.

    According to the 2025 Annual Worldwide Threats Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community, the PRC remains the most active and persistent cyber threat to U.S. government, private sector, and critical infrastructure networks. Beijing’s campaign to preposition access on critical infrastructure for attacks during crisis or conflict—tracked publicly as Volt Typhoon—or its more recently identified compromise of U.S. telecommunications infrastructure, also referred to as Salt Typhoon, demonstrates the growing breadth and depth of the PRC’s capability to compromise U.S. infrastructure.

    Russia also poses a significant cyber threat, with its efforts to compromise sensitive targets for intelligence collection and to preposition access to U.S. critical infrastructure. In addition to Beijing and Moscow, Tehran has demonstrated an increasing willingness to carry out aggressive cyber operations targeting the security of U.S. networks and data. Furthermore, Pyongyang’s cyber program presents a highly capable and maturing threat, including an approach to launder and cash out cryptocurrency from the United States and other victims to fund its nefarious activities.

    As cyber becomes a growing battlefield for criminal networks and malign actors, the State Department must be ready to meet the challenge. The U.S. is not facing these real and growing threats alone. Through cooperation with our allies and partners, the U.S. will continue to work to combat malign cyber activities from the PRC, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

    Since the recent establishment of CDP, it’s played a role in the U.S. response to a major ransomware campaign in Costa Rica that disrupted critical services. In particular, CDP, alongside other federal partners, worked to strengthen Costa Rica’s cyber defenses against attacks from malicious actors threatening the security of both our countries. It has also worked to identify strategic opportunities to leverage partner resources to further U.S. strategic objectives through subsea cable projects in the Pacific Islands. Such efforts ensured that the Pacific Islands rely on trusted, primarily American businesses for their internet connectivity while also countering the PRC’s influence in the strategically important region.

    The Department of State agreement on a cybercrime UN treaty that conflicted with CDP policy lead and recommendations begs the question of the actual authority wielded by CDP. This hearing should lead us toward conclusions on how to improve CDP efficiency and effectiveness in this vital area of national interest and security. As we move through this reauthorization process, the experience and insights from today’s witnesses will help inform this subcommittee on the State Department’s cyber diplomacy role in addressing these increasingly important challenges.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pilot project delivers promising results for sustainable urban design

    Source: Auckland Council

    Advocates for living roofs, those lush, plant-covered patches of green on our city buildings, have long championed these slices of eco-paradise in our urban jungle. Now, thanks to a pioneering project between Auckland Council and the University of Auckland, we have the data to prove their value.

    The Living Roof Monitoring project was launched to assess how well these verdant rooftops perform compared to conventional ones. After months of careful monitoring, the results highlight their effectiveness as a sustainable urban solution.

    Stormwater superstars

    Auckland Council’s Senior Healthy Waters Specialist Rachel Devine highlights the global success of integrating nature into urban infrastructure. She explains that planting vegetation on rooftops is one of the ways that cities can effectively absorb rainfall, reduce flooding and mitigate the stormwater network from becoming overwhelmed.

    “But now, having the local data to back this up gives us context that is relevant to Auckland’s climate and environment,” Ms Devine says.

    University of Auckland Professor Asaad Shamseldin who leads the research with Dr Kilisimasi Latu and Dr Conrad Zorn, is pleased with the robust dataset collected by the team’s PhD students Aung Naing Soe and Sihui Dong, which focuses on assessing the benefits of plants over conventional coverings on rooftops.

    Their findings show living roofs significantly reduce stormwater runoff, with some substrate types retaining nearly 80 per cent of rainfall, even during heavy downpours. And that almost every drop is retained in light rainfall, demonstrating the excellent absorption potential of these gardens.

    Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee Councillor Richard Hills says the findings of this research are very promising for roof gardens, helping to prevent flooding and water pollution in built-up urban areas like the inner city. 

    “This preliminary research indicates that if we could retrofit roof gardens all over Auckland’s city centre it would not only enhance our place as a clean green city on the global stage but would also be a viable aid in reducing heat and help prevent or reduce flooding in parts of the city centre.

    “It would also make the city look more beautiful for residents in high rise apartments, staying in hotels or working in offices and provide tangible environmental benefits, including providing habitats for native plants and birds.

    “Stormwater run-off in the city centre also contributes to the pollution of the Waitematā and the Hauraki Gulf, and these findings point to roof gardens curtailing much of this run-off into our precious oceans and harbours.

    Nature’s air conditioner: cooling our concrete jungles

    Professor Shamseldin adds it is important to remember living roofs aren’t just about stormwater management; they are also very effective at keeping things cool.

    “When urban temperatures rise, green roofs act like nature’s air conditioners,” says Professor Shamseldin.

    In Auckland’s hottest months, when temperatures can exceed 25°C, the data shows living roofs lower rooftop surface temperatures by an impressive 32 per to 56 per cent. The research even uncovered a surprising ally in urban cooling: the wind.

    “During the day, sea breezes help cool green roofs and delay peak temperatures, while at night, city-to-sea winds help reduce the temperature difference between green and conventional rooftops,” explains Associate Professor Shamseldin.

    This translates to tangible energy savings for buildings and a potential reduction in the Urban Heat Island effect – truly, a breath of fresh air from above.

    A living legacy: onshore islands

    The pilot study was inspired by Auckland’s Central City Library living roof, a project developed in partnership with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei that was launched five years ago.

    Featuring over 2,000 hardy native plants, the roof reflects a shared commitment to enhance urban biodiversity and live in harmony with te taiao (the natural world).

    Native grasses flourishing in the Auckland Central Library living roof.

    “Kaupapa like this green roof are examples of cultural infrastructure, they integrate nature into our cities and allow us to actively elevate the mauri of our taiao,” says Etienne Neho of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

    Greener cities, smarter cities: a vision for the future

    This collaboration already has the potential to influence Auckland’s future. By providing policymakers and urban planners with data, the project can inform smarter, greener development decisions that enhance urban environments.

    “If we want to create a sustainable, healthy city, one that future generations can enjoy – working with nature is a must,” adds Ms. Devine.

    “These results prove what we’ve long suspected: nature-based solutions can help our journey towards becoming a more sustainable and resilient city.”

    The research team continues to monitor additional biodiversity benefits, and more updates will follow as the data flourishes. Although urbanisation and climate change present numerous challenges, one thing is certain, working with nature is a positive step towards a healthier urban environment.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: We want to be here long-term: A 20-year journey towards sustainable dairy farming

    Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council

    Reducing nitrate in the water

    And slowly but surely, it’s paid off. The 221ha property with 630 cows, located on the outskirts of Culverden in the Amuri Basin, had seen a significant reduction in nitrate in the water and a dramatic improvement to the health of its ecosystem. But those results didn’t come overnight.

    The team at Pukatea Dairy Farm had spent the last two decades investing in:

    • draining systems
    • sediment traps
    • riparian planting, particularly around the wetlands.

    Water testing showed that the level of nitrogen that came into the farm was reduced by 95 per cent after it was filtered through the drains and wetland.

    Stuart said they wanted to be sustainable, resilient and offer a meaningful experience for everyone involved in the operation.

    “I think sometimes there’s a bit too much focus on short-term profit in farming and I get that, I used to be a sharemilker, but what we’ve learnt is you can forgo a little profit to make yourself more resilient later.”

    In the last few years, the weather demonstrated that. The farm produced results even in years with challenging conditions.

    The farm was fortunate to have heavier soils than other parts of the basin, which meant they had greater drought resilience. But heavier soils meant keeping a careful balance with soil moisture monitoring.

    “We worked out that our pasture doesn’t like being wet all the time,” Stuart said.

    Reducing the farm’s carbon emissions

    Another significant change was steering away from a more intensive farm system. This move was driven by a desire to prioritise animal welfare and create a more enjoyable work environment. In return, it has improved both the herd’s health and the farm’s overall sustainability.

    Stuart said one of the big issues with dairy farming was intensity, which translated to how many cows and how much brought-in feed you had in your system.

    “[It’s] about your carbon footprint, your environmental effects and what we are trying to do is run within the capacity of the land. I think the data is showing that we are not far away.”

    Over the last ten years, Stuart reduced the number of cows in his paddock from 700 to 630. Three years ago, he took deintensification further by decreasing the number of weekly milkings from 14 to ten.  

    In turn, this decreased his replacement rate (the number of cows he kept as a buffer to replace the cows that couldn’t get pregnant) from 25 to 18 per cent and halved the farm’s empty cow rate. 

    Recognition for sustainable and ethical farming

    Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) judges commended Stuart and his team for creating an outstanding operation that consistently chose the right path over the easy one.

    The judges said the farm’s long-term environmental initiatives, strategic grazing practices, and unwavering commitment to ethical, sustainable farming served as an inspiration to others in the industry.

    Stuart also took home:

    • The Environment Canterbury Water Quality Award
    • The Dairynz Sustainability and Stewardship Award
    • The FMG Risk Management Award.

    Our Water and Land Northern Team Leader, Andrew Arps, said what stood out to him was the enduring nature of their efforts, as it hadn’t been a quick or easy journey.

    “It’s been about consistent, thoughtful improvements, with a focus on sustainable land management that goes well beyond regulatory requirements.”

    “One of the powerful things about Stuart’s approach is that it recognises how small actions, when done collectively and consistently, can make a real and lasting difference for water quality and land health. It’s a mindset that doesn’t chase short-term fixes but looks at the bigger picture, and it’s clear that this way of working is paying off.”

    Award winner Stuart Neill, Water and Land Northern Team Leader Andrew Arps, Mike Hennessy from Amuri Irrigation and Ross Bishop from DairyNZ at the Pukatea Dairy Farm

    Andrew said Stuart’s success reflected the input of those around him as he was open to advice, willing to consider different perspectives, and not afraid of robust discussions to find the best way forward.

    “That kind of leadership and collaboration is exactly what we need more of across the region.

    “All of this made Stuart a very deserving recipient of our water quality award. His work sets a great example for others.”

    Further reading

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Right-Wing Government Strips Māori Health Safeguards and Pretends Colonisation Never Happened

    Source: Te Pati Maori

    Right‑wing ministers are waging a campaign to erase Māori health equity by tearing out its very foundations. ACT’s Todd Stephenson dismisses Treaty‑based nursing standards as “off‑track distractions” and insists nurses only need “skill and a kind heart,” despite clear evidence that cultural competence saves lives. 

    Health Minister Simeon Brown’s funding cuts, hiring freeze and “rightsizing” of hospitals have gutted kaiāwhina and other vital support roles that communities rely on. It’s indefensible to scrap proven Whānau Ora initiatives, like the Winter Preparedness vaccination programme while underperforming mainstream services such as Plunket continue.

    Rather than bolster Whānau Ora’s decade‑proven model, that serviced at least 4 million whānau, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka defended re-tendering that puts hundreds of community jobs, and hard work they did on the chopping block.

    “By pretending colonisation never happened and framing equity as separatism, this government is abandoning its Treaty obligations and sacrificing our whānau and the future of Māori,” said Te Pāti Māori Co‑leader and Health spokesperson Debbie Ngarewa‑Packer, “we will not stand by as essential safeguards are stripped away.”

    The Government must stop weaponising culture-war rhetoric against Māori and stop hiding behind the fact, they have no solutions to offer to the ongoing causes of inequity in Aotearoa.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man sentenced after Operation Barber cuts at West Coast drug supply

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attributable to Detective Constable Mat Wood:

    Police acknowledge the sentencing handed down in the Christchurch District Court this week in relation to the supply of drugs on the West Coast.

    Leo Smith, aged 22, was on Tuesday (29 April) sentenced to 10 months home detention.

    Operation Barber started in 2023 after Police received information relating to the supply of class B drugs across the wider region.

    Smith was identified as a person of interest, and Police conducted search warrants on 8 March 2024 at two addresses he was connected to.

    Police located and seized drugs, instruments, and cash, as well as his mobile devices.

    The operation has been hugely successful thanks to the dedication of the West Coast Tactical Crime Unit who were greatly assisted over the last 18 months by Christchurch Criminal Investigations Branch.

    As a result of our investigations, we have been able to uncover a number of associates working with Smith.

    Several other people were involved in the supply chain and supplying class A-C illicit drugs across the Greymouth and Canterbury regions.

    These offenders were unidentified previously, with little to no criminal history. They have now been convicted and more than $90,000 in cash has been forfeited across the wider operation.

    Police will continue to hold people to account who are supplying drugs and causing harm to our community.

    If you have concerns about illegal drug use in your community, please call 111 if there is an immediate public safety risk, or contact us via 105 online, or by phone, to make a report.

    You can also report information anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government to reinstate prisoner voting ban

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government has agreed to reinstate a total ban on prisoner voting, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
    “Cabinet’s decision will reverse the changes made by the previous government in 2020, which allowed prisoners serving sentences of less than three years to vote.
    “Restoring prisoner voting was typical of the previous government’s soft-on-crime approach; we don’t agree with it.
    “Citizenship brings rights and responsibilities. People who breach those responsibilities to the extent that they are sentenced to jail temporarily lose some of their rights, including the right to vote.
    “The proposed change will establish a consistent approach to prisoner voting, regardless of the length of sentence.
    “The Government is committed to restoring law and order, and part of the response is to place a greater emphasis on personal responsibility and accountability. 
    “A total prison voting ban for all sentenced prisoners underlines the importance that New Zealanders afford to the rule of law, and the civic responsibility that goes hand-in-hand with the right to participate in our democracy through voting.
    “The voting ban will be progressed as part of an electoral amendment bill announced in April and set for introduction later this year. 
    “When prisoners have served their time, they will enjoy the full restoration of electoral rights. The Department of Corrections and the Electoral Commission currently coordinate to support prisoners with re-enrolment upon their release, and this work will continue.”
    The ban will not be retrospective, meaning prisoners already serving sentences of less than three years at the time the ban comes into force before the 2026 General Election will retain the ability to vote. 
    The voting ban will not apply to people detained on remand or serving sentences of home detention.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Protecting New Zealand’s energy infrastructure

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Improving the current system to better protect power lines from falling trees will protect the security of New Zealand’s electricity infrastructure, says Energy Minister Simon Watts. 
    “Secure electricity lines are critical to electrifying New Zealand’s economy and delivering the resilient and reliable electricity supply we need to power economic growth,” Mr Watts says.
    “Cyclone Gabrielle and Cyclone Tam highlighted the vulnerability of our infrastructure to severe weather events like storms and floods. During Cyclone Gabrielle alone, trees outside the Growth Limit Zone caused power outages that left 68,000 households without heating, lighting, internet, and access to essential appliances.”
    The Government has now agreed to amendments to the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003, that will lower the risk to power lines from trees that are close to but aren’t immediately beside the line. 
    “We’re taking action to deal with the increasing risk of damaged infrastructure and support our adaptation to the changing climate,” Mr Watts says.
    The amendments introduce two key measures:

    Enabling lines owners to assess the likelihood and potential impact of a fall for trees they consider could be a risk to lines, then issue a Treefall Hazard Notice for moderate- and high-risk trees.
    Restricting the planting of new trees on land that is not already forested outside of urban areas.

    “We have worked closely with lines owners and other impacted stakeholders to ensure we struck the right balance between security of our electricity supply, protecting property rights, and making sure the forestry sector’s Emissions Trading Scheme-related revenues are not unduly impacted,” Mr Watts says.
    “This Government has made it clear that we are committed to unleashing transmission and distribution infrastructure on our mission to electrify the New Zealand economy. Ensuring the security of our network infrastructure is essential to delivering reliable electricity to all New Zealanders.”
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New commercial fish-landing rules come into force

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Common sense new rules allowing certain species of live fish to be legally returned to the sea will reduce unnecessary red tape and support sustainability, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says.
    Under the Quota Management System most fish caught by commercial fishers must be kept and taken to shore unless there is an exception in place.
    The new rules exempt southern bluefin tuna, legal-sized pāua and Bluff oysters from this requirement as long as they are alive and likely to survive being returned to sea.
    “Returning these species to their fisheries in circumstances when they are likely to survive benefits the sustainability of fish stocks as returned fish will remain part of the spawning population,” Mr Jones says.
    “Commercial fishers have been allowed to return southern bluefin tuna since 2004 but these new rules set out the conditions in which they are likely to survive.
    Under the new exception, commercial fishers can return southern bluefin tuna only if it has been caught by surface longline or troll, is confirmed to be alive, without major injury, and is returned to the sea as soon as possible. 
    “Commercial pāua fishers have put in place voluntary minimum harvest sizes, which are larger than the minimum legal size. These voluntary measures from industry support sustainability of pāua fisheries by maintaining a larger amount of spawning pāua in the fishery,” Mr Jones says. 
    “The exception will allow commercial pāua fishers to return pāua that are larger than the legal size, but smaller than the voluntary harvest size, which supports efforts to look after the fisheries they depend on.”
    The change allowing oysters to be returned to the sea is a practical response to how they grow, Mr Jones says.
    “Oysters grow in clumps, which can include both legal and undersized oysters. Without the exception, undersized oysters must be removed from the legal-sized ones and returned to the sea.
    The exception requires legal-sized oysters, if attached to such a clump, to be returned to the water quickly as possible as well.
    “Bluff oysters need to be returned to the sea quickly for them to have the best chance of surviving, so the handling time needed to separate the undersized oysters hurts their chances of surviving to grow and spawn more oysters.”
    “My thanks to everyone who provided feedback as part of the consultation on these changes,” Mr Jones says.
    The commercial landing exceptions come into force on 1 May 2025.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Shionogi’s cefiderocol shows improved outcomes with early use in treating gram-negative infections, reports GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Shionogi’s cefiderocol shows improved outcomes with early use in treating gram-negative infections, reports GlobalData

    Posted in Pharma

    Japan-based Shionogi has shared new real-world evidence showing its antibiotic cefiderocol leads to better outcomes when used early to treat serious gram-negative bacterial infections. Presented at European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global 2025 conference in Vienna, the Retrospective Cefiderocol Chart Review (PROVE) study found that earlier use of cefiderocol, rather than as a last resort, improves cure rates—offering hope in the ongoing fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    AMR and the development of new antimicrobials to help combat AMR were the key themes at the ESCMID Global 2025 conference. There were over 100 presentations on these topics, one of which was the noteworthy results of the PROVE study.

    Shionogi’s cefiderocol, a cephalosporin that acts as a penicillin binding protein inhibitor, is marketed in the US, EU, and Japan under the brand names Fetcroja/Fetroja for the treatment of various gram-negative bacterial infections.

    The PROVE study analyzed over 560 patients in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, who had serious gram-negative bacterial infections and were treated with cefiderocol for the first time for at least 72 hours.

    The PROVE study showed a 65.3% overall clinical cure rate and the 30-day all-cause mortality (ACM) rate was 25.7%. Cure rates peaked in urinary tract infections (90.4%) and Pseudomonas infections (73.1%) and were lowest in respiratory tract infections (59.2%) and Acinetobacter cases (50.6%). Early use, empiric or targeted, yielded better outcomes than salvage therapy.

    Stephanie Kurdach, Infectious Disease Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The data presented by Shionogi at ESCMID Global 2025 demonstrates that cefiderocol is associated with better clinical outcomes when used earlier in treatment. This also suggests that cefiderocol has the potential to be a new and effective first-line therapy option, which could be particularly useful given the acceleration of AMR and the lack of effective treatment options for severe infections.”

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bacterial pathogens of utmost public health importance to prevent and control AMR include Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacterales, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, among others, all of which were analyzed in the PROVE study and are highly susceptible to cefiderocol.

    Kurdach concludes: “With rising AMR threats and limited treatment options, Shionogi’s data highlights cefiderocol’s potential as a frontline therapy—underscoring the urgency for global stewardship strategies that prioritize early intervention with effective antimicrobials.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 100 Days, 100 Stories

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson released a list of 100 American citizens who have felt the benefits from President Trump’s historic first 100 days in office. Speaker Johnson highlighted citizens who were unjustly detained abroad, business owners who will benefit from new apprenticeship opportunities, and families devastated by previous open borders policies, among many others. 

    Click here to read the full list

    “President Donald J. Trump entered the White House with the most decisive mandate in modern history. In just 100 days, he’s done more for America than Joe Biden managed in four years,” Speaker Johnson said. “The American people can feel the tangible impact of President Trump’s swift and decisive action. From coast to coast, North to South, the American First agenda is helping Americans from across our great country.

    “Republicans in Congress are proud to stand with the President as he secures our border, restores accountability in government, fights for common sense, and defends the liberty and prosperity of generations of Americans to come,” Speaker Johnson continued. “Today, as we mark 100 historic days, we celebrate the many ways President Trump has delivered for the American people.”

    Since his inauguration on January 20th, President Trump has taken bold action to secure the border, drive down inflation, restore American strength on the world stage, clean up our communities, secure trillions of dollars in new investments and jobs, and return common sense to Washington. These 100 American stories illustrate that.  

    Read 20 stories below, and the full list here.

    Alexis Nungaray, Angel Mother – Alexis Nungaray is the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl who was tragically murdered by illegal aliens in June of 2024. Jocelyn’s life was tragically cut short because of the Biden Administration’s failure to close our borders and protect American citizens from dangerous illegal aliens. On March 5, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order honoring her life by renaming Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to Jocelyn Nungaray Wildlife Refuge in Anahuac, Texas. Since Jocelyn’s murder, her mother Alexis has been advocating alongside the Trump Administration and Senator Ted Cruz for stronger immigration laws.

    Marianna Montoya, Florida Resident – During President Trump’s first 100 days, Marianna was able to open up her very first Roth IRA and begin contributing on a monthly basis. President Trump’s work to reverse the devastating consequences of Bidenomics has given her hope that she and her husband will be able to retire peacefully.

    Frank Windsor, Rinnai America President – In late 2024, the Biden Administration issued a rule that effectively banned an entire niche of American manufacturing: non-condensing tankless water heaters. The rule specifically targeted Rinnai America Corporation, the only U.S. facility producing these water heaters. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the House passed a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the rule, keeping Rinnai’s doors open and protecting nearly 300 American jobs.

    Sarah Taylor, Iowa Parent – Sarah and her husband, Dan, both attended private Catholic elementary schools and knew they wanted the same faith-based education for their daughters, Hannah and Millie. Thanks to expanding educational freedom and school choice, the Taylors were empowered to choose the school that best fit their family’s values. For the Taylor family, school choice has meant more than access. It’s meant opportunity. Their story is one of many that show the power of giving parents the freedom to choose what’s best for their children.

    Kelly Wilson, Small Business Owner – Kelly Wilson’s family has owned and operated a small business in Colorado for 80 years, but after mass flows of illegal aliens began arriving in Denver under the Biden Administration, her family discussed moving to another state. In the face of budget cuts to Denver’s police force and sanctuary city policies that have failed Denver families, Kelly began speaking out for her community. Since day one, the Trump Administration has made cracking down on sanctuary cities and states a top priority. Today, communities like Kelly’s are safer, thanks to President Trump’s work to restore the rule of law.

    Jim Chilton, Rancher – The Chilton Ranch has been operated within the Chilton family for generations, a family legacy that Jim and Sue Chilton have preserved mere miles away from the Southern Border. However, under the Biden Administration, they were forced to shoulder the consequences of President Biden’s border crisis. During April of 2024 alone, the Chiltons experienced 5,640 immigrant encounters on their ranch. The last time they checked with the Border Patrol, in April of this year, there were zero crossers over the course of three weeks. Thanks to President Trump’s work to reverse the Biden administration’s radical open-border policies, the Chilton family’s beloved ranch and livelihood are no longer under threat.

    Ben Paulding, CPA – Ben hosts South Dakota’s first federally subsidized CPA Apprenticeship Program. After navigating months of red tape under the Biden Administration, he can finally onboard his first interns. Thankfully, President Trump has ended burdensome mandates on programs like Ben’s, enabling him to refocus his attention on merit-based, equal opportunity hiring without the DEI red tape.

    George Glezmann, Former Hostage – George Glezmann, a Georgia native and Delta Airlines mechanic, was arrested by the Taliban in 2022 during a planned tourist visit. Despite no formal charges being filed, Glezmann was held for over 2 years in an Afghanistan prison. On March 20, 2025, he was released as a gesture of “goodwill” by the Taliban following trilateral negotiations between Qatar, the U.S., and the Taliban. Upon returning to the U.S., he said, “I feel like I’m born again, I’m in debt to President Trump. Thank God he’s in the White House and thank God he got me out.”

    Michelle Root, Angel Mother – Michelle Root is the mother of Sarah Root, a 21-year-old Iowan who was killed by an illegal alien drunk driving in 2016. Instead of answering for his crimes, the illegal alien posted bail, was released from jail, and was never seen again. Fortunately, this criminal was found in Honduras and the Trump Administration worked with Honduran authorities to extradite him to the United States to face justice. President Trump also signed the Laken Riley Act, which included Sarah’s Law – introduced by Congressman Randy Feenstra from Iowa – to ensure that any illegal alien who harms or kills an American citizen is swiftly detained and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Root Family is grateful to President Trump and Congressman Feenstra for honoring their precious daughter’s memory.

    Marc Fogel, Schoolteacher/Former Hostage – Marc Fogel, an American schoolteacher, was wrongfully detained by Russian authorities in 2021 after being arrested on drug charges related to medical marijuana. Despite having a valid prescription in the U.S., he was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison. However, on February 11, 2025, Fogel was released and returned to the United States through a diplomatic deal negotiated by President Trump. He was warmly greeted by the President upon his arrival back to the United States and expressed his gratitude, saying, “I feel like the luckiest man alive.”

    Tony Campbell, East KY Power Cooperative CEO – Tony Campbell serves as the CEO and President of East Kentucky Power Cooperative. He and his colleagues have faced significant challenges under burdensome regulations that targeted the coal industry—an industry that has powered American homes and cities for generations. Through executive action, President Trump strengthened the reliability and affordability of American energy, safeguarded American jobs, and preserved critical coal plants, delivering on his promise to create jobs and uphold America’s energy independence.

    Joseph Knowles, Detroit Autoworker – Joseph Knowles is a Detroit autoworker for Stellantis who was laid off during the Biden Administration and later reinstated after President Trump’s election victory. After attending President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress, Knowles declared he had left the Democratic Party for good. “I got very good hope for the Republican Party,” Knowles said, “More and more people are seeing the true colors of the Democrats.”

    Lawrence Rosen, Cra-Z-Art Founder – Lawrence Rosen is the owner of Cra-Z-Art, the largest toy maker in the United States. Since Liberation Day, Lawrence has seen the benefits of President Trump’s tariffs firsthand on domestic manufacturing. Because of President Trump’s decisive action in the first 100 days, Rosen is expanding their domestic production by 50% and investing millions of dollars into factories across the country.

    Elliston Berry, Texas High School Student – Elliston Berry was only 14-years-old when one of her classmates took an innocent selfie of her and ran it through AI to make a deep-fake pornographic image, which was later circulated throughout her school. Her painful experience motivated her to become an advocate against deepfake pornography, with her efforts leading to legislative action by Senator Ted Cruz. The “Take it Down Act”, which First Lady Melania Trump has championed, protects victims, enhances protections for users, and introduces accountability for AI platforms passed the House in April.

    Kirk Davis, Bob Davis Electric CEO – Kirk Davis, owner of Bob Davis Electric, is one of many business leaders benefiting from President Trump’s action to tackle America’s workforce challenges. Thanks to the President’s Executive Order on apprenticeships, Kirk has been able to recruit, train, and retrain the skilled electricians needed to meet rising power demands and grow his business.

    Dakota Meyer, U.S. Marine – President Trump’s Department of Defense has championed a warrior culture in America’s armed forces that has generated massive results for military recruiting. In April, Secretary Hegseth announced the U.S. Army had surpassed its 2025 reenlistment goal six months early. Dakota Meyer, a Marine Corps veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, is just one of the many brave Americans who have reenlisted, deciding to reenter the Army after a 15-year hiatus. “I’m damn proud of the men and women who are standing in uniform,” said Meyer, “and I’m so proud I get to be one of them again.”

    Steven McCain, Sheriff – In Grant Parish, illegal aliens are using drones to drop off drugs and other paraphernalia at a large federal prison. It’s been a significant problem for the prison, but now that President Trump has returned to the White House, the situation has changed. Sheriff McCain has noticed a sharp increase in cooperation from ICE, the United States Attorney’s Office, and other local officials. Working together, law enforcement from all levels will be able to crack down on these drones.

    Brian Riley, CEO of Guardian Bikes – Citing his support for President Trump’s tariffs, Brian announced a $19 million investment to move Guardian’s bike production out of China and into Seymour, Indiana.

    Dino Mavrookas, CEO of Saronic – President Trump has called for the restoration of America’s maritime dominance, and Dino Mavrookas, CEO of the defense startup Saronic, has been a leader in answering this call. To help build the next-generation of autonomous vessels, Saronic acquired Gulf Craft, a Louisiana-based shipbuilder. By preserving Gulf Craft’s skilled workforce, creating hundreds of new, good-paying jobs, and investing over $2.5 billion to develop Port Alpha, Saronic is strengthening our economy, rebuilding America’s maritime strength, and supporting our national defense.

    Gary Hamrick, Senior Pastor – Senior Pastor Gary Hamrick became the target of anti-Christian bias when he and his church were charged by the IRS for so-called Johnson Amendment violations. Under President Trump, the Department of Justice has established a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias in the federal government and safeguard the religious liberty of all Americans.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 192

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL2

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 192
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    450 PM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
    Southeast Indiana
    Northern Kentucky
    Southwest Ohio

    * Effective this Tuesday afternoon from 450 PM until Midnight
    EDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    Widespread damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
    A tornado or two possible

    SUMMARY…Clusters of thunderstorms are expected to develop across
    southern Indiana and shift east into southwest Ohio through this
    evening. Damaging gusts and isolated large hail will accompany this
    activity.

    The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 65
    statute miles east and west of a line from 60 miles north northeast
    of Cincinnati OH to 50 miles southeast of Cincinnati OH. For a
    complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
    update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
    favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
    Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
    weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
    warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
    tornadoes.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 188…WW 189…WW
    190…WW 191…

    AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
    1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
    few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
    24035.

    …Leitman

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW2
    WW 192 SEVERE TSTM IN KY OH 292050Z – 300400Z
    AXIS..65 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    60NNE LUK/CINCINNATI OH/ – 50SE LUK/CINCINNATI OH/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 55NM E/W /23S ROD – 51ESE CVG/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.

    LAT…LON 39908276 38588256 38588497 39908521

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU2.

    Watch 192 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Low (20%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low (5%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    High (80%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Low (10%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (40%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Low (20%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (>95%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal, Sanders, Dingell, Hundreds of Health Care Workers Introduce Medicare for All

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (VT), and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today introduced the Medicare for All Act with hundreds of nurses, health care providers and workers from around the country at a press conference in front of the Capitol.

    In America today, despite spending twice as much per person on health care as other wealthy nations, more than 85 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured, one out of every four Americans cannot afford their prescription drugs, over half a million people go bankrupt due to medically-related debt, and more than 60,000 die because they cannot afford to go to a doctor.

    “It is a travesty when 85 million people are uninsured or underinsured and millions more are drowning in medical debt in the richest nation on Earth,” said Jayapal. “We don’t suffer from scarcity in America, we suffer from greed. That’s most clear in our broken health care system, which is why we need Medicare for All. People deserve and want comprehensive health care that covers mental health, long-term care, reproductive care, dental, vision and hearing, all without copays, private insurance premiums, sky-high deductibles or other hidden fees. Health care is a human right, that is exactly why it’s time to pass Medicare for All.”

    “The American people understand, as I do, that health care is a human right, not a privilege and that we must end the international embarrassment of the United States being the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to all of its citizens,” said Sanders. “It is not acceptable to me, nor to the American people, that over 85 million people today are either uninsured or underinsured. Today, there are millions of people who would like to go to a doctor but cannot afford to do so. This is an outrage. In America, your health and your longevity should not be dependent on your wealth. Health care is a human right that all Americans, regardless of income, are entitled to and they deserve the best health care that our country can provide.”

    “Every American has the right to health care, period. If you’re sick, you should be able to go to the doctor without being worried about the cost of treatment or prescription medicine. Too many families must decide between putting food on the table and getting medical care that they desperately need,” said Dingell. “A health care system that ties coverage to employment will always leave patients vulnerable. It’s flat-out wrong and Medicare for All would put a stop to it. We’ve been fighting this fight since the 1940s, when my father-in-law helped author the first universal health care bill. It’s time to get this done.”

    Under this legislation, Medicare would provide comprehensive health care to every American with no premiums, no co-payments and no deductibles. It would also expand Medicare to include dental, hearing, and vision care, and it would give every American the freedom to choose their doctors without endless paperwork or fighting their insurance company. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that Medicare for All would save our health care system $650 billion a year. Further, researchers at Yale University have estimated that Medicare for All would save 68,000 lives a year.

    This legislation would also create a health care system that finally puts people over profits. In fact, since 2001, the top health care companies in America spent 95 percent of their profits, $2.6 trillion, not to make Americans healthy but to make their CEOs and stockholders obscenely rich. While nearly one out of four Americans cannot afford the life-saving medicine their doctors prescribe, ten top pharma companies made $102 billion in profits in 2024. Meanwhile, the CEOs of just 4 prescription drug companies – Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, and Merck – together made over $100 million last year.

    “Nurses see the failure of our country’s profit-driven health care system every time we clock in to work,” said Nancy Hagans, President of National Nurses United. “In the richest country on earth, nobody should be forced to choose between taking their medications and putting food on the table. Yet countless families are pushed to the breaking point while greedy corporations charge astronomical, ludicrous fees for care that our patients have every right to receive. Nurses are fighting for a future in which our patients’ health is put first always and that’s why we are proud to continue our support for Medicare for All. When we guarantee health care for all, corporations and billionaires will no longer be able to deny anyone the care that they need.”

    “We are long overdue for a universal health care system that guarantees care for all — free of copays, deductibles, and job-based coverage restrictions,” said Dr. Diljeet K. Singh, M.D., Dr.P.H., and President of Physicians for a National Health Program. “With the passage of the Medicare for All Act, physicians can focus on healing patients, not battling insurers over denials and delays. Patients will finally be able to seek care without the constant fear of crushing medical bills. Physicians for a National Health Program proudly stands with our legislators in the fight to make excellent health care a reality for everyone in America.”

    “As Donald Trump, Robert Kennedy and Congressional Republicans rush to strip health care from millions of Americans, we know this: We must not only block their cruel cuts but move America to a system that provides health care to everyone as a matter of right,” said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen. “America spends much more than other wealthy countries on health care only to have the worst health outcomes. The system works for health insurers, Big Pharma, hospital chains and private equity firms – but no one else. Medicare for All would ensure everyone in America can get the care they need throughout their lives. It is the realistic, humane, just and efficient reform we need.”

    “Postal workers know the value of affordable, universal services, grounded in a commitment to putting people over profits. That’s the type of service we are committed to provide communities across the country, day in and day out,” said Mark Dimondstein, President of American Postal Workers Union. “For too long, greedy corporations and their Wall Street investors have been able to deny the people of the country the quality, affordable, universal health care working people deserve. Medicare for All, health care as a human right, will make us all healthier and financially better off. A health care system that works for working people, not the profits of the insurance companies, is long overdue. It’s time for Medicare for All.”

    “Health care should be a human right. But every time we negotiate with a boss for the right to see a doctor, they nickel and dime us until people have to choose between their health and putting food on the table,” said Shawn Fain, President of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). “We’re sick of having to go on strike just to have decent health care. We’re sick of corporate America asking us to give up raises, retirement security, or work-life balance at the bargaining table so working-class people can avoid medical bankruptcy. Our current health care system is a con job that only works for the billionaire class. Medicare for All is common sense, and it’s what the working class needs. The UAW is proud to support this bill.”

    “If you want to renew the public’s faith in our political system, pass the Medicare for All Act of 2025,” said Alan Minsky, Executive Director, Progressive Democrats of America. “This one piece of legislation will instantly end the era, which has lasted far too long, when profits and wealth accumulation are more important than human life, including yours. MFA will return the general welfare, and the well-being of every individual, to the heart of our social contract. That will renew faith in America.”

    “Health care is a right, not a privilege. The reintroduction of the Medicare for All Act is a crucial step toward ending a system that profits from people’s pain,” said Analilia Mejia and DaMareo Cooper, Co-Executive Directors of Popular Democracy. “Too many Americans are forced to choose between paying their rent and paying for life-saving medication, while corporations rake in billions. Medicare for All isn’t just a policy—it’s the lifeline working families desperately need. Our communities deserve a health care system that prioritizes people over profits. We will fight until we win the health care we deserve.”

    “Health care is a human right and a basic need. Yet instead of getting health care, Americans get delays, denials, and bills they cannot afford. Today, predatory insurance CEOs are poised to reap the windfall from the tax scam giveaways earmarked for billionaires and corporations. The oligarchs that put Donald Trump and Dr. Oz in power want everything we have. We get sicker, make impossible choices, and go broke. They boost the stock prices of corporations – like UnitedHealth – that profit off our pain, and buy more mansions and yachts. We can put an end to those warped priorities through Medicare for All,” said Sulma Arias, executive director of People’s Action Institute. “Working people have made this the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, and there is more than enough if we don’t let the corporate crooks and billionaires steal it. So it’s time to choose: Our health care or their greed?”

    The legislation has an additional 102 cosponsors in the House: Alma Adams (NC-12), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-7), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Al Green (TX-09), Josh Harder (CA-09), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), William Keating (MA-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), James P. McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).

    The legislation also has an additional 15 cosponsors in the Senate: Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

    It is also endorsed by dozens of organizations, which can be found here. 

    Issues: Health Care

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace USA’s response to TMC’s push to fast-track deep sea mining in the High Seas under the U.S. Seabed Mining Code

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Greenpeace International activists from around the world have paddled and protested around MV COCO, a specialized offshore drilling vessel currently collecting data for deep sea mining frontrunner, The Metals Company, on its last expedition before it files the world’s first ever application to mine the seabed in the Pacific Ocean. © Martin Katz / Greenpeace

    In response to The Metals Company’s push to fast-track deep-sea mining in the High Seas under the U.S. Seabed Mining Code, Arlo Hemphill, Greenpeace USA’s Deep Sea Mining Campaign Lead, stated: “Greenpeace USA condemns this reckless attempt by The Metals Company (TMC) to bypass international law and commercialize mining in the high seas and US-adjacent waters. It is nothing less than the plunder of the Pacific once again being pursued without the consent of Pacific Peoples. We cannot allow another dangerous extension of corporate greed and neo-colonialism, sacrificing ocean health, Indigenous rights, and future generations for the short-term gain of a few corporations to repeat itself in the deep sea.” 

    TMC’s application comes as Congress meets today, Tuesday, April 29, in a hearing requested by the House Natural Resources Committee, to explore the Potential of Deep-Sea Mining to expand American Mineral production. The application for mining TMC USA-A_2 in the Clarion Clipperton Zone attempts to exploit the U.S. legal system to advance mining operations in areas it was already licensed to explore under Nauru’s sponsorship through the International Seabed Authority processes. It disregards the multilateral process agreed upon by 170 countries and the European Union under UNCLOS. The company has faced opposition in that body from 32 countries and several Indigenous Pacific groups that have called for a ban, pause, or moratorium on deep sea mining. 

    Solomon P. Kaho’ohalahala, chair of the Pacific Island Heritage Coalition, said: “The people of the Pacific have a cultural connection to the deep sea.  It is the birthplace of our ancestors, and of all life. Deep sea mining is an assault on our cultural heritage, and it is being rushed forward without our consultation.  We call on Congress to stop this assault on the ocean we know as home, and to respect the values of Hawaiians and people from across the Pacific who will be on the frontlines should this industry take hold.”

    Hemphill continued: “We urge congressional leaders to defend democratic oversight, reject corporate shortcuts, and protect the deep ocean. Greenpeace USA stands with Pacific communities, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and governments worldwide calling for a moratorium on this dangerous industry. We must defend the oceans, uphold international law, and reject a broken system that gambles our planet’s future for corporate profit.”

    Louisa Casson, Greenpeace International Senior Campaigner, said: “The first application to commercially mine the seabed will be remembered as an act of total disregard for international law and scientific consensus. This unilateral US effort to carve up the Pacific Ocean already faces fierce international opposition. Governments around the world must now step up to defend international rules and cooperation against rogue deep sea mining. Leaders will be meeting at the UN Oceans Conference in Nice in June, where they must speak with one voice in support of a moratorium on this reckless industry.”

    President Trump’s recent executive order promoting U.S. plans to initiate deep-sea mining in both U.S. and international waters has faced widespread criticism from several environmental NGOs, and state actors, including France, China, and the European Commission who have condemned it as a unilateral action that undermines multilateral cooperation and the United Nations. While the U.S. never ratified UNCLOS, bypassing the international system violates global norms that safeguard the deep ocean as the “common heritage of humankind,” setting a dangerous precedent for the management of all global commons.

    Contact: Tanya Brooks, Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA, [email protected]  

    Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mark Carney won: Here are the key economic priorities for his new government

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Berhane Elfu, Lecturer in Finance, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

    The Liberal Party led by Mark Carney has secured a fourth consecutive term in government. This victory has come at a time when Canada is facing an unprecedented threat to its economic security and sovereignty from United States President Donald Trump.

    In an election defined by concerns over Trump’s erratic tariff policy and talk of making Canada a 51st state, voters decided Carney was the leader best equipped to deal with these challenges.

    Carney previously served as governor of the Bank of Canada, where he guided the country through the 2008 global financial crisis. He later became the first non-British person to head the Bank of England, helping guide the United Kingdom through Brexit, one of the biggest shocks to the British economy in decades.



    Read more:
    Game change Canadian election: Mark Carney leads Liberals to their fourth consecutive win

    Now the world is facing similar financial shocks from Trump’s trade war. The on-again, off-again nature of Trump’s tariff policy could inflict significant damage to the global economy — even more to the American economy — and cause irreparable damage to its reputation as a rational entity in international trade.

    In the face of the ill-advised and self-defeating U.S. tariffs, the new Canadian government should take prudent, urgent and bold steps to strengthen the nation’s economy. Here are major and important economic priorities for the government to reshape the economy and spur much-needed economic growth.

    Stabilize and strengthen the national economy

    As a primary act, the new government should stabilize the Canadian economy from the tariff shocks. It must continue to develop carefully calibrated retaliations to Trump’s tariffs.

    The revenue raised from the tariffs should be used to compensate those directly affected by them, using a multi-pronged mechanism that includes training, increased employment insurance benefits and additional transfers to low-income households to reduce the impact of tariffs on food costs.



    Read more:
    U.S. tariffs are about to trigger the greatest trade diversion the world has ever seen

    Currently, a series of provincial regulations restrict the goods and services that cross Canada’s provincial borders daily. The new government should urgently remove longstanding interprovincial trade barriers.

    According to a report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, removing these impediments could boost the economy by up to $200 billion annually. Similarly, a study by the International Monetary Fund indicates the effect of these barriers is equivalent to a 21 per cent tariff.

    Removing interprovincial trade barriers would significantly offset the negative effects of Trump’s tariffs on the Canadian economy, and provide a boost to the “Buy Canadian” movement.

    Carney seems to have made this a priority already, which is promising. In March, he said he aims to have “free trade by Canada Day” among provinces and territories.

    Streamlining natural resource projects

    Canada is a natural resource superpower. However, for natural resources and critical minerals to be extracted efficiently, regulatory processes need to be streamlined by cutting red tape and duplicative assessments.

    The federal government and the provinces should agree to a single environmental assessment that meets the standards of both jurisdictions.

    Additionally and importantly, respectful, genuine and meaningful consultations must be undertaken by project proponents and governments with the relevant Indigenous communities to address their concerns, respect their rights and safeguard their economic well-being in the development of the natural resources projects.

    Carney has said he will uphold the principle of free, prior and informed consent when it comes to initiating resource extraction projects and make it easier for Indigenous communities to become owners of said projects.

    A similar approach should also guide the construction of infrastructure projects such as pipelines and ports, which play a crucial role in facilitating Canada’s exports.

    Boost Canada’s productivity through innovation

    A country’s ability to raise living standards for its people mostly depends on its capacity to improve its productivity. Economist Paul Krugman once stated, “productivity is not everything, but, in the long run, it is almost everything.”

    Canada’s productivity is lagging, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.



    Read more:
    Canada is lagging in innovation, and that’s a problem for funding the programs we care about

    The new Canadian government should take steps to boost the nation’s productivity by increasing direct expenditures on research and development. Additional funding should be allocated to higher institutions of learning, and incentivizing businesses to spend more on research and development through significant tax credits.

    Although research and development spending continues to grow in Canada, as a percentage to GDP, it is the second lowest among G7 nations. Boosting investments will drive innovation, spur economic growth and ensure Canada remains competitive on the global stage.

    Dealing with U.S. tariffs

    One of the government’s primary tasks will be preparing meticulously for trade negotiations with the U.S. to address the threat of tariffs and reach a “win-win” trade deal. Given Trump’s highly unpredictable nature, negotiations will not be easy.

    Although Trump could have withdrawn from the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), he has not done so, and zero-tariffs remain in effect for products that are certified as being North American origin under the CUSMA rules. This could be a solid starting point for future trade negotiations.

    At the same time, Carney and his team must work to stabilize the Canadian economy against the unprecedented threat of Trump’s tariffs by strengthening the domestic economy, diversifying Canada’s exports and reducing the country’s dependence on the U.S.

    Pulling away from the world’s largest economy will not be easy for Canadian businesses, given the deep integration of Canada’s economy with that of the U.S.

    Still, expanding trade with the European Union, the U.K., Africa and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — and exploring other opportunities to reducing trade barriers with nations in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America — will enlarge Canada’s export market.

    By doing all this, Canada can not only prepare for a tough round of U.S. trade talks but also position itself as a stronger, more self-reliant global trading partner.

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

    – ref. Mark Carney won: Here are the key economic priorities for his new government – https://theconversation.com/mark-carney-won-here-are-the-key-economic-priorities-for-his-new-government-255477

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: ChampionX Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THE WOODLANDS, Texas, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ChampionX Corporation (NASDAQ: CHX) (“ChampionX” or the “Company”) today announced first quarter of 2025 results. Revenue was $864.5 million, net income attributable to ChampionX was $85.8 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $190.9 million. Income before income taxes margin was 12.1% and adjusted EBITDA margin was 22.1%. Cash from operating activities was $66.8 million and free cash flow was $38.6 million.

    CEO Commentary

    “The first quarter demonstrated the resilience of our ChampionX portfolio as we delivered strong adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin, and generated positive free cash flow. These results reflect the commitment of our ChampionX employees around the world who express daily an unwavering focus on delivering value-added solutions for our customers’ most important challenges. I am thankful and humbled to lead such a talented and dedicated team,” ChampionX’s President and Chief Executive Officer Sivasankaran “Soma” Somasundaram said.

    “During the first quarter of 2025, we generated revenue of $864 million, which decreased 5% sequentially, in line with our expectations, driven primarily by a typical seasonal decline in international operations. We generated net income attributable to ChampionX of $86 million, income before income taxes margin of 12.1%, and we delivered adjusted EBITDA of $191 million, representing a 22.1% adjusted EBITDA margin, our second-highest level as ChampionX, which speaks to the continued productivity and profitability focus of our team.

    “Cash flow from operating activities was $67 million during the first quarter, which represented 78% of net income attributable to ChampionX, and we generated free cash flow of $39 million, our 12th consecutive quarter of positive free cash flow. Our balance sheet and financial position remain strong, ending the first quarter with approximately $1.2 billion of liquidity, including $527 million of cash and $674 million of available capacity on our revolving credit facility.

    “As a leading global provider of production optimization solutions for the energy industry, ChampionX is uniquely well-positioned to help operators meet the objective of maximizing the value of their producing assets, particularly against the backdrop of the ongoing structural shift toward capital discipline and moderating capital spending in the upstream and midstream industries. As global oil production grows, our differentiated and resilient production-oriented portfolio drives our expectation of positive performance relative to general oil and gas market activity in 2025.

    “Amid recent changes in international trade policies, ChampionX is continuing to put its continuous improvement culture to work every day to successfully deliver products and technologies designed to improve our cost structure and drive efficiencies. We are leveraging our global and flexible supply chain footprint, long-standing supplier partnerships, pricing adjustments, and productivity initiatives to address tariff impacts, and we will continue to be there to serve our customers and deliver differentiated margin and free cash flow performance.”

    Agreement to be Acquired by SLB

    On April 2, 2024, SLB (NYSE: SLB) and ChampionX jointly announced a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) for SLB to purchase ChampionX in an all-stock transaction. The transaction was unanimously approved by the ChampionX board of directors and the transaction received the approval of the ChampionX stockholders at a special meeting held on June 18, 2024. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

    ChampionX may continue to pay its regular quarterly cash dividends with customary record and payment dates, subject to certain limitations under the Merger Agreement. Given the pending acquisition of ChampionX by SLB, ChampionX has discontinued providing quarterly guidance and will not host a conference call or webcast to discuss its first quarter 2025 results.

    Production Chemical Technologies

    Production Chemical Technologies revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was $523.4 million, a decrease of $46.3 million, or 8%, sequentially, due primarily to seasonally lower international sales volumes.

    Segment operating profit was $82.2 million and adjusted segment EBITDA was $109.1 million. Segment operating profit margin was 15.7%, a sequential decrease of 248 basis points, and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was 20.8%, a sequential decrease of 259 basis points. The sequential decrease in segment operating profit margin and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was driven by lower sales volumes.

    Production & Automation Technologies

    Production & Automation Technologies revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was $264.4 million, a decrease of $5.2 million, or 2%, sequentially, due primarily to seasonally lower international sales volumes. Revenue from digital products was $57.8 million in the first quarter of 2025, a sequential decrease of 7%, driven by seasonally lower customer activity in North America.

    Segment operating profit was $37.6 million and adjusted segment EBITDA was $70.3 million. Segment operating profit margin was 14.2%, a sequential decrease of 27 basis points, and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was 26.6%, a sequential increase of 34 basis points. The decrease in segment operating profit margin and the increase in adjusted segment EBITDA margin was driven by lower sales volumes, offset somewhat by productivity improvements.

    Drilling Technologies

    Drilling Technologies revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was $50.5 million, a decrease of $1.4 million, or 3%, sequentially, driven primarily by lower North America sales volumes.

    Segment operating profit was $8.2 million and adjusted segment EBITDA was $10.2 million. Segment operating profit margin was 16.2%, compared to 20.6% in the prior quarter, and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was 20.3%, a decrease of 346 basis points, sequentially, due primarily to lower volumes.

    Reservoir Chemical Technologies

    Reservoir Chemical Technologies revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was $26.9 million, an increase of $5.0 million, or 23%, sequentially, driven by higher sales volumes in the U.S. and internationally.

    Segment operating profit was $5.5 million and adjusted segment EBITDA was $6.3 million. Segment operating profit margin was 20.5%, an increase of 1008 basis points, sequentially, and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was 23.6%, an increase of 647 basis points, sequentially. The increase in segment operating profit margin and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was driven by higher sales volumes together with a more favorable product mix.

    Other Business Highlights: Production Chemical Technologies and Reservoir Chemical Technologies

    • Awarded several first fill contracts for new conventional and unconventional fields in the Middle East region.
    • The North America Offshore production chemicals team was awarded the contract for an upcoming major capital project in the Gulf of America. The win was the culmination of years’ worth of work developing technical solutions to address the project’s most impactful challenges.
    • Commenced the initial deliveries of a significant volume of hydrate inhibitor for a major new FPSO, supporting an independent Australian operator.
    • Awarded program of competitive process water treatment applications in Canada after performing comprehensive technical assessments and value-added recommendations.
    • Completed our second RENEWIQ® (production and reservoir chemistry delivered through one trailer) joint offering for frac treating.
    • Reservoir group was awarded RENEWIQ work for the application of our production enhancement PROE completion chemistry to improve production over the life of wells. This program, combined with our one-site PCT service expertise, continues to bring differentiated solutions to operators in the Permian Basin.
    • Started the Unconventional Water team to support North America Land Water applications.
    • Recently won four different contracts after re-entering the US Land market with our H2S scavenger program.
    • Providing chemistries supporting a Canadian customer that is scheduled to commission and start up a new thermal asset in August 2025.

    Other Business Highlights: Production & Automation Technologies

    • Awarded a multi-year contract for production optimization software by a customer in Indonesia. 4000+ wells were successfully migrated in Q1 to our XSPOC® production optimization software, delivering data-driven insights to help the customer make informed production decisions across their field for all artificial lift systems.
    • Continue to see strong market adoption of new digital technologies as operators look for cost-effective, scalable monitoring solutions. More than 450 SmartSpin® wireless rod rotator sensors have been installed in the field and 120+ of the recently launched SMARTEN™® Lite rod pump controller have been deployed.
    • ChampionX’s RMSpumptools, in partnership with our UNBRIDLED® ESP Systems team, continues to grow sales of Automatic Diverter Valves (ADV) in the Permian for a major oil company. This key technology offers customers better sand and solids management in ESP systems and acts as a safety device for ESPs featuring a PMM motor.
    • Following two 6-month trial installations, RMSpumptools has received an order for its Y-chek systems by a Middle East national oil company. This success sets the direction for expansion of this Y-chek solution.
    • Completed the first 30+ well trial with a major producer in the Permian basin of the newly offered chemical injection assurance (CIA) software module on the modern, secure, and scalable Connexia® platform. The CIA software provides fully integrated chemical measurement and delivery data as well as control and optimization capabilities.
    • The SMARTEN XE ESP control system is a leader in the ESP control market. In Q1, ChampionX secured a new customer based on the advanced capabilities of the SMARTEN XE controller. The system’s ability to deliver enhanced performance across multi-pad projects was central to the customer’s decision. Since launch, ChampionX has installed hundreds of ESPs with SMARTEN XE controls, improving the operation of customers’ ESP systems.
    • Launched newly designed LOOKOUT® optimization services to provide real-time data with full ESP system control, advanced data visualization, integrated communications, and direct access to a team of multi-disciplined artificial lift experts. Powered by a modern digital backbone, LOOKOUT optimization services enable streamlined integration of diverse data sources and control solutions. LOOKOUT also leverages the full capabilities of the SMARTEN XE ESP control system, delivering advanced automation for ESP operations.
    • ChampionX’s Integrated Production Optimization (IPO) business continues to expand. A Permian operator, following a series of acquisitions, has expanded implementation of the IPO solution across newly acquired acreage – placing all new wells and ESP replacements under the IPO program. IPO has consistently delivered measurable production uplift, enhanced equipment reliability, stabilized reservoir pressure drawdown, and optimized chemical spend for the operator.
    • ChampionX’s Norris Sucker Rods has been awarded a large contract for the supply of approximately 35,000 sucker rods for a major customer in India. ChampionX won the contract based on superior reliability and in-country technical support, according to the customer.
    • Norris Rods received a large bulk order for sucker rods from a U.S. independent producer to assure supply for future operations and to mitigate the impact of tariffs. Norris Rods are manufactured from U.S. steel at the Company’s factory in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

    About Non-GAAP Measures

    In addition to financial results determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), this news release presents non-GAAP financial measures. Management believes that adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income attributable to ChampionX and adjusted diluted earnings per share attributable to ChampionX, provide useful information to investors regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations because they reflect the core operating results of our businesses and help facilitate comparisons of operating performance across periods. In addition, free cash flow, free cash flow to adjusted EBITDA ratio, and free cash flow to revenue ratio are used by management to measure our ability to generate positive cash flow for debt reduction and to support our strategic objectives. Although management believes the aforementioned non-GAAP financial measures are good tools for internal use and the investment community in evaluating ChampionX’s overall financial performance, the foregoing non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is included in the accompanying financial tables.

    About ChampionX

    ChampionX is a global leader in chemistry solutions, artificial lift systems, and highly engineered equipment and technologies that help companies drill for and produce oil and gas safely, efficiently, and sustainably around the world. ChampionX’s expertise, innovative products, and digital technologies provide enhanced oil and gas production, transportation, and real-time emissions monitoring throughout the lifecycle of a well. To learn more about ChampionX, visit our website at www.ChampionX.com. 

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the proposed transaction between SLB and ChampionX, including statements regarding the benefits of the transaction and the anticipated timing of the transaction, and information regarding the businesses of SLB and ChampionX, including expectations regarding outlook and all underlying assumptions, SLB’s and ChampionX’s objectives, plans and strategies, information relating to operating trends in markets where SLB and ChampionX operate, statements that contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition and all other statements other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that SLB or ChampionX intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Such statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions made based on information currently available to management. All statements in this communication, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements that may be identified by the use of the words “outlook,” “guidance,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “should,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “targets,” “may,” “can,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential,” “projected,” “projections,” “precursor,” “forecast,” “ambition,” “goal,” “scheduled,” “think,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “see,” “likely,” and other similar expressions or variations, but not all forward-looking statements include such words. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and which may cause SLB’s or ChampionX’s actual results and performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors and risks that may impact future results and performance include, but are not limited to those factors and risks described in Part I, “Item 1. Business”, “Item 1A. Risk Factors”, and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in SLB’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 22, 2025 and Part 1, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in ChampionX’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on February 5, 2025, and each of their respective, subsequent Current Reports on Form 8-K. These include, but are not limited to, and in each case as a possible result of the proposed transaction on each of SLB and ChampionX: the ultimate outcome of the proposed transaction between SLB and ChampionX, including the effect of the announcement of the proposed transaction; the ability to operate the SLB and ChampionX respective businesses, including business disruptions; difficulties in retaining and hiring key personnel and employees; the ability to maintain favorable business relationships with customers, suppliers and other business partners; the terms and timing of the proposed transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the proposed transaction; the anticipated or actual tax treatment of the proposed transaction; the ability to satisfy closing conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction (including the adoption of the merger agreement in respect of the proposed transaction by ChampionX stockholders); other risks related to the completion of the proposed transaction and actions related thereto; the ability of SLB and ChampionX to integrate the business successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies and value creation from the proposed transaction; changes in demand for SLB’s or ChampionX’s products and services; global market, political and economic conditions, including in the countries in which SLB and ChampionX operate; the ability to secure government regulatory approvals on the terms expected, at all or in a timely manner; the extent of growth of the oilfield services market generally, including for chemical solutions in production and midstream operations; the global macro-economic environment, including headwinds caused by inflation, rising interest rates, unfavorable currency exchange rates, and potential recessionary or depressionary conditions; the impact of shifts in prices or margins of the products that SLB or ChampionX sells or services that SLB or ChampionX provides, including due to a shift towards lower margin products or services; cyber-attacks, information security and data privacy; the impact of public health crises, such as pandemics (including COVID-19) and epidemics and any related company or government policies and actions to protect the health and safety of individuals or government policies or actions to maintain the functioning of national or global economies and markets; trends in crude oil and natural gas prices, including trends in chemical solutions across the oil and natural gas industries, that may affect the drilling and production activity, profitability and financial stability of SLB’s and ChampionX’s customers and therefore the demand for, and profitability of, their products and services; litigation and regulatory proceedings, including any proceedings that may be instituted against SLB or ChampionX related to the proposed transaction; failure to effectively and timely address energy transitions that could adversely affect the businesses of SLB or ChampionX, results of operations, and cash flows of SLB or ChampionX; and disruptions of SLB’s or ChampionX’s information technology systems.

    These risks, as well as other risks related to the proposed transaction, are included in the Form S-4 and proxy statement/prospectus that was filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. While the list of factors presented here is, and the list of factors presented in the registration statement on Form S-4 are, considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. For additional information about other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to SLB’s and ChampionX’s respective periodic reports and other filings with the SEC, including the risk factors identified in SLB’s and ChampionX’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, respectively, and SLB’s and ChampionX’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof. Neither SLB nor ChampionX undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.

    Investor Contact: Byron Pope
    byron.pope@championx.com 
    281-602-0094

    Media Contact: John Breed
    john.breed@championx.com 
    281-403-5751

    CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (UNAUDITED)

      Three Months Ended
      March 31,   December 31,   March 31,
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)   2025       2024       2024  
    Revenue $ 864,464     $ 912,037     $ 922,141  
    Cost of goods and services   572,938       600,154       622,937  
    Gross profit   291,526       311,883       299,204  
    Costs and expenses:          
    Selling, general and administrative expense   177,045       184,722       172,414  
    (Gain) loss on sale-leaseback transaction   —       —       (29,883 )
    Interest expense, net   13,196       12,375       13,935  
    Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net   1,504       1,697       55  
    Other expense (income), net   (4,631 )     (5,026 )     2,927  
    Income before income taxes   104,412       118,115       139,756  
    Provision for income taxes   15,384       33,204       26,596  
    Net income   89,028       84,911       113,160  
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest   3,231       2,145       237  
    Net income attributable to ChampionX $ 85,797     $ 82,766     $ 112,923  
               
    Earnings per share attributable to ChampionX:          
    Basic $ 0.45     $ 0.43     $ 0.59  
    Diluted $ 0.44     $ 0.43     $ 0.58  
               
    Weighted-average shares outstanding:          
    Basic   191,143       190,586       190,803  
    Diluted   193,709       193,487       193,964  
                           

    CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (UNAUDITED)

    (in thousands) March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024
    ASSETS      
    Current Assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 526,559     $ 507,681  
    Receivables, net   417,639       466,782  
    Inventories, net   497,183       496,831  
    Assets held for sale   241,791       14,001  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   85,617       78,602  
    Total current assets   1,768,789       1,563,897  
           
    Property, plant and equipment, net   729,931       755,422  
    Goodwill   619,505       718,944  
    Intangible assets, net   247,907       258,614  
    Other non-current assets   134,258       173,375  
    Total assets $ 3,500,390     $ 3,470,252  
           
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
    Current Liabilities:      
    Current portion of long-term debt $ 6,203     $ 6,203  
    Accounts payable   498,335       455,531  
    Liabilities held for sale   61,415       —  
    Other current liabilities   218,943       324,138  
    Total current liabilities   784,896       785,872  
           
    Long-term debt   590,746       591,453  
    Other long-term liabilities   220,054       261,749  
    Stockholders’ equity:      
    ChampionX stockholders’ equity   1,916,726       1,846,437  
    Noncontrolling interest   (12,032 )     (15,259 )
    Total liabilities and equity $ 3,500,390     $ 3,470,252  
                   

    CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (UNAUDITED)

      Three Months Ended March 31,
    (in thousands)   2025       2024  
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net income $ 89,028     $ 113,160  
    Depreciation and amortization   60,056       59,580  
    (Gain) loss on sale-leaseback transaction   —       (29,883 )
    Loss on Argentina Blue Chip Swap transaction   —       4,092  
    Deferred income taxes   (10,941 )     (12,903 )
    Loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets   1,616       1,107  
    Receivables   13,937       62,915  
    Inventories   (25,569 )     (39,873 )
    Accounts payable   40,675       68,248  
    Other assets   (19,955 )     (602 )
    Leased assets   (6,665 )     (4,254 )
    Other operating items, net   (75,380 )     (48,079 )
    Net cash flows provided by operating activities   66,802       173,508  
           
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Capital expenditures   (31,250 )     (31,912 )
    Proceeds from sale of fixed assets   3,004       2,390  
    Proceeds from sale-leaseback transaction   —       44,292  
    Purchase of investments   —       (17,162 )
    Sale of investments   —       13,070  
    Acquisitions, net of cash acquired   —       (21,472 )
    Net cash used for investing activities   (28,246 )     (10,794 )
           
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Repayment of long-term debt   (1,551 )     (1,551 )
    Repurchases of common stock   —       (49,399 )
    Dividends paid   (18,110 )     (16,247 )
    Other   (488 )     3,104  
    Net cash used for financing activities   (20,149 )     (64,093 )
           
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   471       (1,161 )
           
    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   18,878       97,460  
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   507,681       288,557  
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 526,559     $ 386,017  
                   

    CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
    BUSINESS SEGMENT DATA
    (UNAUDITED)

      Three Months Ended
      March 31,   December 31,   March 31,
    (in thousands)   2025       2024       2024  
    Segment revenue:          
    Production Chemical Technologies $ 523,390     $ 569,662     $ 590,108  
    Production & Automation Technologies   264,377       269,568       252,614  
    Drilling Technologies   50,530       51,942       55,206  
    Reservoir Chemical Technologies   26,926       21,937       24,705  
    Corporate and other   (759 )     (1,072 )     (492 )
    Total revenue $ 864,464     $ 912,037     $ 922,141  
               
    Income before income taxes:        
    Segment operating profit (loss):          
    Production Chemical Technologies $ 82,172     $ 103,567     $ 87,832  
    Production & Automation Technologies   37,554       39,027       28,470  
    Drilling Technologies   8,174       10,703       44,402  
    Reservoir Chemical Technologies   5,529       2,294       3,746  
    Total segment operating profit   133,429       155,591       164,450  
    Corporate and other   15,821       25,101       10,759  
    Interest expense, net   13,196       12,375       13,935  
    Income before income taxes $ 104,412     $ 118,115     $ 139,756  
               
    Operating profit margin / income before income taxes margin:          
    Production Chemical Technologies   15.7 %     18.2 %     14.9 %
    Production & Automation Technologies   14.2 %     14.5 %     11.3 %
    Drilling Technologies   16.2 %     20.6 %     80.4 %
    Reservoir Chemical Technologies   20.5 %     10.5 %     15.2 %
    ChampionX Consolidated   12.1 %     13.0 %     15.2 %
               
    Adjusted EBITDA          
    Production Chemical Technologies $ 109,065     $ 133,475     $ 118,031  
    Production & Automation Technologies   70,269       70,739       60,340  
    Drilling Technologies   10,237       12,321       16,074  
    Reservoir Chemical Technologies   6,347       3,751       5,346  
    Corporate and other   (5,049 )     (8,021 )     (8,079 )
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 190,869     $ 212,265     $ 191,712  
               
    Adjusted EBITDA margin          
    Production Chemical Technologies   20.8 %     23.4 %     20.0 %
    Production & Automation Technologies   26.6 %     26.2 %     23.9 %
    Drilling Technologies   20.3 %     23.7 %     29.1 %
    Reservoir Chemical Technologies   23.6 %     17.1 %     21.6 %
    ChampionX Consolidated   22.1 %     23.3 %     20.8 %
                           

    CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
    RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    (UNAUDITED)

      Three Months Ended
      March 31,   December 31,   March 31,
    (in thousands)   2025       2024       2024  
    Net income attributable to ChampionX $ 85,797     $ 82,766     $ 112,923  
    Pre-tax adjustments:          
    (Gain) loss on sale leaseback transaction(1)   —       —       (29,883 )
    Russia sanctions compliance and impacts(2)   28       73       152  
    Restructuring and other related charges   1,059       2,704       1,709  
    Merger transaction costs(3)   10,232       14,434       —  
    Acquisition costs and related adjustments(4)   —       75       1,232  
    Intellectual property defense   382       158       779  
    Merger-related indemnification responsibility(5)   —       100       —  
    Tulsa, Oklahoma storm damage   —       —       305  
    Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net   1,504       1,697       55  
    Loss on Argentina Blue Chip Swap transaction   —       —       4,092  
    Tax impact of adjustments   (2,971 )     (5,565 )     5,066  
    Adjusted net income attributable to ChampionX   96,031       96,442       96,430  
    Tax impact of adjustments   2,971       5,565       (5,066 )
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest   3,231       2,145       237  
    Depreciation and amortization   60,056       62,534       59,580  
    Provision for income taxes   15,384       33,204       26,596  
    Interest expense, net   13,196       12,375       13,935  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 190,869     $ 212,265     $ 191,712  

    _______________________

    (1) Amount represents the gain on the sale and leaseback of certain buildings and land.
    (2) Includes charges incurred related to legal and professional fees to comply with, as well as additional foreign currency exchange losses associated with, the sanctions imposed in Russia.
    (3) Includes costs incurred in relation to the Merger Agreement with Schlumberger Limited, including third party legal and professional fees.
    (4) Includes costs incurred for the acquisition of businesses.
    (5) Expense related to the June 3, 2020 merger transaction with Ecolab in which we acquired the Chemical Technologies business.

      Three Months Ended
      March 31,   December 31,   March 31,
    (in thousands)   2025       2024       2024  
    Diluted earnings per share attributable to ChampionX $ 0.44     $ 0.43     $ 0.58  
    Per share adjustments:          
    (Gain) loss on sale leaseback transaction and disposal group   —       —       (0.15 )
    Russia sanctions compliance and impacts   —       —       —  
    Restructuring and other related charges   0.01       0.01       0.01  
    Merger transaction costs   0.05       0.07       —  
    Acquisition costs and related adjustments   —       —       0.01  
    Intellectual property defense   —       —       —  
    Merger-related indemnification responsibility   —       —       —  
    Tulsa, Oklahoma storm damage   —       —       —  
    Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net   0.01       0.01       —  
    Loss on Argentina Blue Chip Swap transaction   —       —       0.02  
    Tax impact of adjustments   (0.01 )     (0.02 )     0.03  
    Adjusted diluted earnings per share attributable to ChampionX $ 0.50     $ 0.50     $ 0.50  
                           

    CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
    RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES BY SEGMENT
    (UNAUDITED)

      Three Months Ended
      March 31,   December 31,   March 31,
    (in thousands)   2025       2024       2024  
    Production Chemical Technologies          
    Segment operating profit $ 82,172     $ 103,567     $ 87,832  
    Non-GAAP adjustments   1,658       2,251       3,933  
    Depreciation and amortization   25,235       27,657       26,266  
    Segment adjusted EBITDA $ 109,065     $ 133,475     $ 118,031  
               
    Production & Automation Technologies          
    Segment operating profit $ 37,554     $ 39,027     $ 28,470  
    Non-GAAP adjustments   764       75       2,076  
    Depreciation and amortization   31,951       31,637       29,794  
    Segment adjusted EBITDA $ 70,269     $ 70,739     $ 60,340  
               
    Drilling Technologies          
    Segment operating profit $ 8,174     $ 10,703     $ 44,402  
    Non-GAAP adjustments   766       306       (29,883 )
    Depreciation and amortization   1,297       1,312       1,555  
    Segment adjusted EBITDA $ 10,237     $ 12,321     $ 16,074  
               
    Reservoir Chemical Technologies          
    Segment operating profit $ 5,529     $ 2,294     $ 3,746  
    Non-GAAP adjustments   (278 )     39       16  
    Depreciation and amortization   1,096       1,418       1,584  
    Segment adjusted EBITDA $ 6,347     $ 3,751     $ 5,346  
               
    Corporate and other          
    Segment operating profit $ (29,017 )   $ (37,476 )   $ (24,694 )
    Non-GAAP adjustments   10,295       16,570       2,299  
    Depreciation and amortization   477       510       381  
    Interest expense, net   13,196       12,375       13,935  
    Segment adjusted EBITDA $ (5,049 )   $ (8,021 )   $ (8,079 )
                           

    Free Cash Flow

      Three Months Ended
      March 31,   December 31,   March 31,
    (in thousands)   2025       2024       2024  
    Free Cash Flow          
    Cash flows from operating activities $ 66,802     $ 207,250     $ 173,508  
    Less: Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of fixed assets   (28,246 )     (37,117 )     (29,522 )
    Free cash flow $ 38,556     $ 170,133     $ 143,986  
               
    Cash From Operating Activities to Revenue Ratio          
    Cash flows from operating activities $ 66,802     $ 207,250     $ 173,508  
    Revenue $ 864,464     $ 912,037     $ 922,141  
               
    Cash from operating activities to revenue ratio   8 %     23 %     19 %
               
    Free Cash Flow to Revenue Ratio          
    Free cash flow $ 38,556     $ 170,133     $ 143,986  
    Revenue $ 864,464     $ 912,037     $ 922,141  
               
    Free cash flow to revenue ratio   4 %     19 %     16 %
               
    Free Cash Flow to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio          
    Free cash flow $ 38,556     $ 170,133     $ 143,986  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 190,869     $ 212,265     $ 191,712  
               
    Free cash flow to adjusted EBITDA ratio   20 %     80 %     75 %

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders, Jayapal, Dingell, Hundreds of Health Care Workers Introduce Medicare for All

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, April 29 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), alongside Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), today introduced the Medicare for All Act. Hundreds of nurses, health care providers and workers from around the nation joined the lawmakers for a press conference in front of the Capitol.
    In America today, despite spending twice as much per person on health care as other wealthy nations, more than 85 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured, one out of every four Americans cannot afford their prescription drugs, over half a million people go bankrupt due to medically-related debt, and more than 60,000 die because they cannot afford to go to a doctor.
    “The American people understand, as I do, that health care is a human right, not a privilege and that we must end the international embarrassment of the United States being the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to all of its citizens,” said Sanders. “It is not acceptable to me, nor to the American people, that over 85 million people today are either uninsured or underinsured. Today, there are millions of people who would like to go to a doctor but cannot afford to do so. This is an outrage. In America, your health and your longevity should not be dependent on your wealth. Health care is a human right that all Americans, regardless of income, are entitled to and they deserve the best health care that our country can provide.”
    “It is a travesty when 85 million people are uninsured or underinsured and millions more are drowning in medical debt in the richest nation on Earth,” said Jayapal. “We don’t suffer from scarcity in America, we suffer from greed. That’s most clear in our broken health care system, which is why we need Medicare for All. People deserve and want comprehensive health care that covers mental health, long-term care, reproductive care, dental, vision and hearing, all without copays, private insurance premiums, sky-high deductibles or other hidden fees. Health care is a human right, that is exactly why it’s time to pass Medicare for All.”
    “Every American has the right to health care, period. If you’re sick, you should be able to go to the doctor without being worried about the cost of treatment or prescription medicine. Too many families must decide between putting food on the table and getting medical care that they desperately need,” said Dingell. “A health care system that ties coverage to employment will always leave patients vulnerable. It’s flat-out wrong and Medicare for All would put a stop to it. We’ve been fighting this fight since the 1940s, when my father-in-law helped author the first universal health care bill. It’s time to get this done.”
    Under this legislation, Medicare would provide comprehensive health care to every American with no premiums, no co-payments and no deductibles. It would also expand Medicare to include dental, hearing, and vision care, and it would give every American the freedom to choose their doctors without endless paperwork or fighting their insurance company. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that Medicare for All would save our health care system $650 billion a year. Further, researchers at Yale University have estimated that Medicare for All would save 68,000 lives a year.
    This legislation would also create a health care system that finally puts people over profits. In fact, since 2001, the top health care companies in America spent 95 percent of their profits, $2.6 trillion, not to make Americans healthy but to make their CEOs and stockholders obscenely rich. While nearly one out of four Americans cannot afford the life-saving medicine their doctors prescribe, ten top pharma companies made $102 billion in profits in 2024. Meanwhile, the CEOs of just 4 prescription drug companies – Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, and Merck – together made over $100 million last year.
    The legislation has 104 cosponsors in the House and has 16 cosponsors in the Senate – an increase in the number of Senate cosponsors from last Congress – including Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
    “Nurses see the failure of our country’s profit-driven health care system every time we clock in to work,” said Nancy Hagans, President of National Nurses United. “In the richest country on earth, nobody should be forced to choose between taking their medications and putting food on the table. Yet countless families are pushed to the breaking point while greedy corporations charge astronomical, ludicrous fees for care that our patients have every right to receive. Nurses are fighting for a future in which our patients’ health is put first always and that’s why we are proud to continue our support for Medicare for All. When we guarantee health care for all, corporations and billionaires will no longer be able to deny anyone the care that they need.”
    “We are long overdue for a universal health care system that guarantees care for all — free of copays, deductibles, and job-based coverage restrictions,” said Dr. Diljeet K. Singh, M.D., Dr.P.H., and President of Physicians for a National Health Program. “With the passage of the Medicare for All Act, physicians can focus on healing patients, not battling insurers over denials and delays. Patients will finally be able to seek care without the constant fear of crushing medical bills. Physicians for a National Health Program proudly stands with our legislators in the fight to make excellent health care a reality for everyone in America.”
    “As Donald Trump, Robert Kennedy and Congressional Republicans rush to strip health care from millions of Americans, we know this: We must not only block their cruel cuts but move America to a system that provides health care to everyone as a matter of right,” said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen. “America spends much more than other wealthy countries on health care only to have the worst health outcomes. The system works for health insurers, Big Pharma, hospital chains and private equity firms – but no one else. Medicare for All would ensure everyone in America can get the care they need throughout their lives. It is the realistic, humane, just and efficient reform we need.”
    “Postal workers know the value of affordable, universal services, grounded in a commitment to putting people over profits. That’s the type of service we are committed to provide communities across the country, day in and day out,” said Mark Dimondstein, President of American Postal Workers Union. “For too long, greedy corporations and their Wall Street investors have been able to deny the people of the country the quality, affordable, universal health care working people deserve. Medicare for All, health care as a human right, will make us all healthier and financially better off. A health care system that works for working people, not the profits of the insurance companies, is long overdue. It’s time for Medicare for All.”
    “Health care should be a human right. But every time we negotiate with a boss for the right to see a doctor, they nickel and dime us until people have to choose between their health and putting food on the table,” said Shawn Fain, President of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). “We’re sick of having to go on strike just to have decent health care. We’re sick of corporate America asking us to give up raises, retirement security, or work-life balance at the bargaining table so working-class people can avoid medical bankruptcy. Our current health care system is a con job that only works for the billionaire class. Medicare for All is common sense, and it’s what the working class needs. The UAW is proud to support this bill.”
    “If you want to renew the public’s faith in our political system, pass the Medicare for All Act of 2025,” said Alan Minsky, Executive Director, Progressive Democrats of America. “This one piece of legislation will instantly end the era, which has lasted far too long, when profits and wealth accumulation are more important than human life, including yours. MFA will return the general welfare, and the well-being of every individual, to the heart of our social contract. That will renew faith in America.”
    “Health care is a right, not a privilege. The reintroduction of the Medicare for All Act is a crucial step toward ending a system that profits from people’s pain,” said Analilia Mejia and DaMareo Cooper, Co-Executive Directors of Popular Democracy. “Too many Americans are forced to choose between paying their rent and paying for life-saving medication, while corporations rake in billions. Medicare for All isn’t just a policy—it’s the lifeline working families desperately need. Our communities deserve a health care system that prioritizes people over profits. We will fight until we win the health care we deserve.”
    “Health care is a human right and a basic need. Yet instead of getting health care, Americans get delays, denials, and bills they cannot afford. Today, predatory insurance CEOs are poised to reap the windfall from the tax scam giveaways earmarked for billionaires and corporations. The oligarchs that put Donald Trump and Dr. Oz in power want everything we have. We get sicker, make impossible choices, and go broke. They boost the stock prices of corporations – like UnitedHealth – that profit off our pain, and buy more mansions and yachts. We can put an end to those warped priorities through Medicare for All,” said Sulma Arias, executive director of People’s Action Institute. “Working people have made this the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, and there is more than enough if we don’t let the corporate crooks and billionaires steal it. So it’s time to choose: Our health care or their greed?”
    Read the bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Incentivizes Domestic Automobile Production

    Source: The White House

    INCENTIVIZING DOMESTIC AUTO PRODUCTION: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation to protect national security by incentivizing domestic automobile production and reducing American reliance on imports of foreign automobiles and their parts.

    • The proclamation modifies the tariff action on automobiles and automobile parts by encouraging manufacturers to assemble their automobiles in the U.S., thereby reducing American reliance on foreign imports of automobiles and automobile parts.
    • It offers an offset to a portion of tariffs for automobile parts used in U.S.-assembled vehicles equal to 3.75% of the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of a manufacturer’s U.S. production for the next year (April 3, 2025 to April 30, 2026), and 2.5% of U.S. production the year after (May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027).
      • These percentages reflect the duty that would be owed when a 25% duty is applied to 15% of the value of a U.S.-assembled automobile in the first year, and to 10% of the value of a U.S.-assembled automobile in the second year.
      • All other automobile imports will still be subject to the 25% tariff.
      • For instance, if a manufacturer builds a car in the U.S. that has 85% U.S. or USMCA content, the manufacturer effectively will not owe tariffs on that vehicle’s production for the first year.
      • If a manufacturer builds a car in the U.S. that is 50% U.S. or USMCA content and 50% imported from elsewhere, then instead of paying the tariff on the full 50% of the imported car parts, the manufacturer effectively only pays on 35% for the first year.
    • The proclamation sets strict penalties for importers who claim tariff reduction in excess of approved amounts.
    • This modified action will more effectively address the threat to national security by reducing reliance on foreign manufacturing, strengthening U.S. vehicle assembly operations, boosting domestic R&D, and creating American jobs, all of which are essential to a strong defense industrial base.

    MAINTAINING A RESILIENT DOMESTIC INDUSTRIAL BASE: President Trump is taking further action to ensure the U.S. can sustain its domestic industrial base and meet national-security needs. 

    • The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities and choke points in global supply chains, undermining our ability to maintain a resilient domestic industrial base.
    • Legislation, pre-existing trade agreements like the USMCA, revisions to the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, and subsequent negotiations have not sufficiently mitigated the threat to national security posed by imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts.
    • Foreign automobile industries, bolstered by unfair subsidies and aggressive industrial policies, have expanded, while U.S. production has stagnated.
    • In 1985, American-owned facilities in the United States manufactured 11.0 million automobiles, representing 97% of overall domestic (American- and foreign-owned) production of automobiles.
    • In 2024, Americans bought approximately 16 million cars, SUVs, and light trucks, and 50% of these vehicles were imports (8 million).
      • Of the other 8 million vehicles assembled in America and not imported, the average domestic content is conservatively estimated at only 50% and is likely closer to 40%.
      • Therefore, of the 16 million cars bought by Americans, only 25% of the vehicle content can be categorized as Made in America.
    • The United States trade deficit in automobile parts reached $93.5 billion in 2024.
    • Currently, the U.S. automobile and automobile parts industry (American-owned and foreign-owned firms) employs approximately one million U.S. workers.
    • Employment in automotive parts manufacturing totaled approximately 553,300 jobs in 2024, a decline of 286,000 jobs or 34% since 2000.
    • In 2023, Research and Development (R&D) by American-owned automobile manufacturers amounted to only 16% of global R&D spending. R&D by American-owned firms lagged behind the EU, which controlled 53% of global R&D.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: 100 DAYS OF HOAXES: Cutting Through the Fake News

    Source: The White House

    Since President Donald J. Trump took office 100 days ago, it has been a nonstop deluge of hoaxes and lies from Democrats and their allies in the Fake News suffering from terminal cases of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

    In no particular order, here are some of the most egregious hoaxes peddled by the usual suspects so far in President Trump’s second term:

    • HOAX: Fake News CNN attempted to “fact check” President Trump’s claim that the Biden Administration spent millions on “making mice transgender.”
    • FACT: After their so-called “fact check” was thoroughly debunked, they were forced to update it in disgrace and admit the claim was, in fact, true.
    • HOAX: The Fake News claimed the Department of Defense removed Gen. Colin Powell’s name from a list of notable Americans buried at Arlington Cemetery.
    • FACT: No service members’ names were removed from that section — and Gen. Powell’s name remains among those listed.
    • HOAX: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) claimed “no president” presided over more plane crashes during their first month in office as President Trump.
    • FACT: “There were 55 aviation accidents in the U.S. between Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 21, 2021, and Feb. 17, 2021, compared to 35 during the same period for Trump,” Fox News reported.
    • HOAX: Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) and Chicago Public Schools officials claimed, without bothering to verify, that ICE agents had conducted a “raid” at an elementary school — a false claim echoed by media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune.
    • FACT: It was actually the U.S. Secret Service investigating a threat unrelated to immigration.
    • HOAX: Far-left influencers and other leftist hacks falsely claimed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk were out to “cut Social Security.”
    • FACT: They were referencing an interview in which Musk was clearly referring to the tremendous amount of waste, fraud, and abuse within entitlement programs.
    • HOAX: The media smeared DOGE as “young, inexperienced engineers” engineering a “government takeover.”
    • FACT: In reality, DOGE is led by seasoned industry professionals, including successful CEOs who paused their lives to aid in the effort of streamlining government and holding the bureaucracy accountable.
    • HOAX: NBC’s Peter Alexander peddled the lie that “constituents in some traditionally red districts” were unhappy with President Trump’s effort to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in government.
    • FACT: The same “protests” cited by the Fake News were funded and organized by far-left special interest groups.
    • HOAX: NPR claimed NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore — who were stuck on the International Space Station for more than nine months following problems with their spacecraft — were “not stranded.”
    • FACT: NPR itself had described the astronauts as stranded in prior reporting, and only seemed to take issue with the description once President Trump and Elon Musk made it a priority to bring them home.
    • HOAX: A foreign Fake News outlet reported that President Trump “shut down” the British prime minister during a news conference.
    • FACT: In reality, President Trump was simply moving on from a reporter who was trying to goad the two leaders into division.
    • HOAX: NPR falsely claimed the White House was actively searching for a new secretary of defense.
    • FACT: This lie was immediately shut down by multiple Trump Administration officials, including President Trump himself.
    • HOAX: The Fake News attempted to paint illegal immigrant gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia as an innocent “Maryland father” who was unjustly deported by the Trump Administration — and actively censored the truth about him.
    • FACT: Abrego Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador and was deported to his home country amid overwhelming evidence of his gang affiliation.
    • HOAX: Deranged “filmmaker” Michael Moore questioned whether deported illegal immigrants would go on to cure cancer or stop “that asteroid (sic) that’s gonna hit us.”
    • FACT: Moore’s statement was a strong early contender for the dumbest, most ridiculous statement of the year considering those deported illegal immigrants were violent criminals.
    • HOAX: The Fake News portrayed Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Hamas radical who led violent protests at Columbia, as an innocent graduate student with an absolute right to remain in the U.S.
    • FACT: An immigration judge ruled Khalil — who is not a U.S. citizen — can be deported.
    • HOAX: The Financial Times reported that Senior White House Counselor Peter Navarro wanted to remove Canada from the “Five Eyes” intelligence sharing network.
    • FACT: Mr. Navarro immediately shut down this fake story.
    • HOAX: A foreign Fake News reporter claimed President Trump referred to European nations as “parasites.”
    • FACT: President Trump immediately pushed back on this ridiculous claim — as did the Italian prime minister.
    • HOAX: Fake News CNN’s Brianna Keilar implied the Trump Administration was somehow wrong for stopping illegal immigrants from stealing taxpayer dollars in the form of welfare benefits.
    • FACT: Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller summarily embarrassed her with the facts: “The federal government will find EVERY illegal alien who is stealing American taxpayer dollars — and that’s what Americans expect to happen. I don’t even fathom the premise of your question.”
    • HOAX: A favorite refrain of the Fake News is that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is “anti-vaccine.”
    • FACT: Kennedy debunked the lie in his confirmation hearings: “This has been repeatedly debunked … Bringing this up right now is dishonest.”
    • HOAX: WIRED falsely claimed the Social Security Administration is “shifting its public communication exclusively to X” under President Trump.
    • FACT: Not happening.
    • HOAX: Reuters falsely reported that the Trump Administration “stalled a United Nations program in Mexico aimed at stopping imported fentanyl chemicals from reaching the country’s drug cartels.”
    • FACT: The Department of State is actually trying to expand the initiative.
    • FACT: The Fake News frequently pushed the lie that as part of the Trump administration, Secretary Kennedy would implement a national abortion ban and “restrict or even ban medication abortion without a single act of Congress.”
    • FACT: Secretary Kennedy consistently pledged to implement President Trump’s policies — which include leaving abortion to the states, ending barbaric late-term abortions, protecting conscientious objections, and ending federal funding for abortions.
    • HOAX: Fake News savant Tara Palmeri falsely reported that President Trump’s proposal for Gaza was conceived by Jared Kushner.
    • FACT: This lie was immediately and summarily debunked by the Trump Administration: “The worst reporter in America makes up fake news for clout because she has no real sources. Sit down, dummy.”
    • HOAX: Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and media outlets claimed President Trump’s directive to pause radical, wasteful government spending meant an end to Medicaid, food assistance, and other individual assistance programs.
    • FACT: Individual assistance programs — Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, etc. — were explicitly excluded, as was made clear by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and the Office of Management and Budget. Only unnecessary spending — DEI, Green New Scam, NGOs that undermine the national interest — were included in the directive.
    • HOAX: A “physicians advocacy group” was widely cited as opposing President Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
    • FACT: The “advocacy group” was really an astroturfed partisan organization funded by prominent left-wing donors — and accepted fake signatures.
    • HOAX: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and other Democrats pushed the lie that DOGE posted “classified information” on their website.
    • FACT: That alleged “classified information” was really just an employment headcount — which has been publicly available for years.
    • HOAX: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) claimed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem called all Venezuelan immigrants “dirtbags.”
    • FACT: Secretary Noem actually called illegal immigrant members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang “dirtbags,” which is true.
    • HOAX: The New York Times wrote that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., wanted to “ban fluoride in drinking water” and “reverse … one of the most important public health practices in the country’s history.”
    • FACT: New York Times made no mention of their own reporting that fluoride may be “linked to lower IQ scores in children.”
    • HOAX: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) repeatedly lied about President Trump “going after” Social Security.
    • FACT: President Trump has repeatedly pledged to protect Social Security and make it more robust for American citizens.
    • HOAX: Sen. Mark Kelley (D-AZ) attempted to scare veterans by shamelessly claiming their care was in jeopardy due to “layoffs” at VA hospitals.
    • FACT: The lie was debunked by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins: “What changes are you talking about? We’ve not had those layoffs… I put $360 million back into community care… It’s concerning to me that a veteran would actually tell stories to veterans that are not true.”
    • HOAX: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) exploited the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport plane crash tragedy by claiming President Trump “froze the hiring” of air traffic controllers.
    • FACT: Air traffic controllers were exempt from the federal hiring freeze.
    • HOAX: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) implied that “cutting” members of an aviation advisory committee was somehow a cause of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport plane crash tragedy.
    • FACT: The advisory group hadn’t met since 2023 and was comprised of business and union leaders who gave “advice” to the TSA and had nothing to do with actual air travel.
    • HOAX: A far-left writer claimed Elon Musk and DOGE staffers “illegally installed a commercial server to control federal HR databases that contain sensitive personal information, including SSNs, home addresses, and medical histories.”
    • FACT: A top official confirmed “there’s nothing illegal and no server, just more made up tall tales from uninformed career bureaucrats.”
    • HOAX: The Washington Post alleged the Trump Administration was setting “quotas” for immigration authorities — and gave the administration just four minutes to comment before publishing.
    • FACT: As usual, this was a fake story.
    • HOAX: Online liberal activists claimed President Trump “took down” President Obama’s portrait in the White House.
    • FACT: Obama’s portrait was not taken down — it was simply moved only feet away from its previous location.
    • HOAX: Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) claimed Attorney General Pam Bondi created a “weaponizing task force.”
    • FACT: It was a task force to END weaponization at the Department of Justice.
    • HOAX: CBS News reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a “makeup studio” be installed inside the Pentagon.
    • FACT: It was a “totally fake story,” and the alleged studio was really an existing green room with no frills.
    • HOAX: Politico reported the Trump Administration was debating lifting sanctions on Russian energy assets, including the Nord Stream pipeline.
    • FACT: This was debunked by both Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
    • HOAX: An illegal immigrant in U.S. custody “simply disappeared,” The New York Times reported.
    • FACT: The illegal immigrant was a confirmed member of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang. An immigration judge ordered his removal, and he was deported along with other threats to national security.
    • HOAX: The Wall Street Journal alleged that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was receiving sensitive information on a personal phone while in Moscow and that Russian Intelligence must’ve had access to the information.
    • FACT: This was a total fabrication. Special Envoy Witkoff did not even have a personal phone with him in Russia. He had only a government phone; a secure line of communication.
    • HOAX: The Wall Street Journal claimed the Trump Administration “sought to portray” deported criminal illegal immigrant gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia as “violent.”
    • FACT: Abrego Garcia’s own wife filed an order of protection against him and testified that he brutally beat her.
    • HOAX: An AP reporter claimed that FAA staff who worked on “radar, landing and navigational aid maintenance, among others” were “harassed on Facebook” by DOGE.
    • FACT: That was a total lie. DOGE doesn’t have a Facebook page and no professionals who perform critical safety functions were fired.
    • HOAX: The Daily Beast claimed Vice President JD Vance “broke one of the most notorious Vatican rules during his Easter weekend visit” by being photographed in the Sistine Chapel.
    • FACT: Buried all the way down in the 14th paragraph, The Daily Beast admitted the vice president was given special permission by the Vatican to have photographs taken inside the Sistine Chapel.
    • HOAX: Left-wing social media accounts promoted fake, AI-generated audio of Vice President Vance “disparaging Elon Musk in private.”
    • FACT: The audio was debunked as fake.
    • HOAX: The New York Times reported that funding for the Women’s Health Initiative was being slashed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
    • FACT: Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., himself declared this Fake News and recognized the project is “mission critical.”
    • HOAX: Fox News’s Jennifer Griffin gave legitimacy to a hoax from delusional Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth requested nearly $140,000 in “upgrades” to his government residence.
    • FACT: This lie was debunked by Secretary Hegseth — and it was so outrageous, even the AP was forced to admit it was completely fake.
    • HOAX: Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and many others claimed the Supreme Court ordered the return of illegal immigrant gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States.
    • FACT: Even CNN admitted that’s not what happened: “They did not order the administration to return him to the United States … they could’ve said ‘we order him returned,’ but they didn’t do that.”
    • HOAX: Joe Biden accused the Trump Administration of “taking aim at Social Security.”
    • FACT: As usual, he was lying — President Trump has repeatedly pledged to protect Social Security.
    • HOAX: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) claimed the arrest of a Milwaukee judge who helped an illegal immigrant evade arrest was “unprecedented.”
    • FACT: It wasn’t; it has happened before.
    • HOAX: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called the arrest of a Milwaukee judge who helped an illegal immigrant evade arrest a “gravely serious and drastic move.”
    • FACT: The judge violated the law by obstructing an ICE arrest of an illegal immigrant.
    • HOAX: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) claimed the arrest of the Milwaukee judge who obstructed an apprehension of a criminal illegal immigrant “threatens the rule of law.”
    • FACT: It literally does the opposite because no one is above the law.
    • HOAX: Politico claimed the Trump Administration “wipe[d] out firefighter health and safety programs.”
    • FACT: The programs remain a top priority for the administration — and will remain intact.
    • HOAX: Sen. Elizabeth Warren claimed that President Trump’s policies make it so “no one wants to make investments in the United States.”
    • FACT: President Trump has secured more than $5 trillion in investments since taking office, which is expected to create more than 451,000 new jobs — and the list is only expected to grow.
    • HOAX: NBC’s Kristen Welker peddled a Fake News hoax that the Trump Administration was deporting children.
    • FACT: Secretary of State Marco Rubio shut down her desperate attempt at a hoax by highlighting how the mother, who was in the country illegally, made that choice all on her own.
    • HOAX: The New York Times implied President Trump was alone in wearing a blue suit to the funeral of Pope Francis.
    • FACT: Photos show dozens of world leaders and other attendees — many situated near President Trump — also wearing blue clothing.
    • HOAX: Teachers’ union boss Randi Weingarten accused President Trump of taking teachers’ salaries and giving them to “billionaires” by cutting the Department of Education.
    • FACT: President Trump has repeatedly called teachers “the most important people in this country” who should be paid more, not less. The federal government does not pay the salaries of teachers; state and local governments do.
    • HOAX: The Fake News and their predictable allies ran with a story that claimed an American citizen was detained by authorities after he informed them he was, in fact, a citizen.
    • FACT: That’s not what happened. The individual “approached Border Patrol in Tucson and stated he had entered the U.S. illegally through Nogales. He said he wanted to turn himself in and completed a sworn statement identifying as a Mexican citizen who had entered unlawfully … A few days later, his family presented documents showing U.S. citizenship. The charges were dismissed, and he was released to his family.”
    • HOAX: PBS News claimed “DOGE operatives attempted to gain access to secure spaces,” implying they attempted to access classified information without approval.
    • FACT: This wasn’t even remotely true.
    • HOAX: The AP falsely claimed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said President Trump is “very good friends” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
    • FACT: The AP was humiliatingly forced to retract its story, admitting they were wrong. Stephanie Ruhle also had to issue a correction. DNI Gabbard was referencing President Trump’s relationship with Indian PM Narendra Modi.
    • HOAX: Student visa holders should have unfettered access to do whatever they want in the United States.
    • FACT: Wrong. As Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “When you apply to enter the United States and you get a visa, you are a guest… If you tell us when you apply for a visa ‘I’m coming to the U.S. to participate in pro-Hamas events,’ that runs counter to the foreign policy interest of the United States… If you had told us you were going to do that, we never would have given you the visa.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Silvaco Expands Product Offerings in Photonics and Wafer-Scale Plasma Modeling for AI Applications with Acquisition of Tech-X Corporation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silvaco Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SVCO) (“Silvaco” or the “Company”), a provider of TCAD, EDA software and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and innovation, today announced the strategic acquisition of Tech-X Corporation, a leading provider of multi-physics simulation software used in applications such as Photonics, Electromagnetics and Plasma Dynamics.

    Tech-X cutting-edge tools enable:

    • Multi-physics simulation of electromagnetic, and electrostatics in complex dielectric and metallic environments;
    • Combination of computational speed leveraging GPUs, and high-fidelity results for Photonics applications;
    • Plasma Dynamics simulation trusted by engineers and researchers in aerospace and semiconductor manufacturing; and
    • Monte Carlo simulation solution used for radiation analysis in aerospace applications.

    By combining Tech-X’s unique multi-physics simulation tools with Silvaco’s Victory TCAD platform, customers will be able to create more accurate digital twin models for photonics, semiconductor devices and wafer-scale plasma etching —accelerating innovation across the industry. Tech-X brings deep expertise to Silvaco in developing state-of-the-art algorithms that harness high-performance, multi-node GPU-based computing to significantly improve simulation speed and accuracy.

    “Bringing Tech-X’s expertise and multi-physics simulation technology into Silvaco represents a significant step forward in our growth strategy for expansion into AI applications with technologies, talent and new customers,” said Babak Taheri, CEO of Silvaco. “By leveraging our TCAD foundation, we are expanding further into fast multi-physics transistor-level simulation from device to wafer-scale geometries, for photonic components, processes, materials, and plasma modeling. We’re also thrilled to welcome Professor John Cary to the team. His 40+ years of experience in computational physics will play a key role in accelerating our innovation and expanding our presence in the rapidly growing photonics market.”

    “We are excited to join forces with Silvaco and take advantage of the many synergistic capabilities between our organizations,” said John Cary, CTO of Tech-X and Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. “By leveraging Silvaco’s global reach and strong technical team, we see tremendous opportunities to expand the application of Tech-X’s advanced photonics and plasma modeling technologies across the semiconductor and photonics industries.”

    Needham & Company acted as financial advisor to Silvaco in the transaction.

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

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding Silvaco’s acquisition of Tech-X Corporation, technologies and product offerings, business strategy, plans and opportunities, industry and market trends including TAM estimates and the expected benefits and impact of the transaction and combined business on Silvaco’s growth. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall” and variations of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside Silvaco’s control. For example, the markets for Silvaco’s products and services may develop more slowly than expected or than they have in the past; operating results and cash flows may fluctuate more than expected; Silvaco may fail to successfully integrate Tech-X Corporation; Silvaco may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition; Silvaco may incur unanticipated costs or other liabilities in connection with acquiring or integrating Tech-X Corporation; the potential impact of the announcement or consummation of the transaction on relationships with third parties, including employees, customers, partners and competitors; Silvaco may be unable to motivate and retain key personnel; changes in or failure to comply with legislation or government regulations could affect post-closing operations and results of operations; and macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions could deteriorate. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Silvaco’s views as of the date of this press release, and Silvaco disclaims any obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events.

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

    Investor Relations:
    Greg McNiff, investors@silvaco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Vietnam War ended 50 years ago today, yet films about the conflict still struggle to capture its complexities

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scarlette Nhi Do, Sessional Academic, The University of Melbourne

    Scene from Apocalypse Now (1979) Prime Video

    The Vietnam War (1955–1975) was more than just a chapter in the Cold War.

    For some, it was supposed to achieve Vietnam’s right to self-determination. For others, it was an attempt to found a nation-state independent of both capitalist and communist influences.

    In the 50 years since the war ended, the stories we’ve heard about it have struggled to convey these many different views. Cinema – in Hollywood and in Vietnam – offers some insight into this struggle, which we continue to face today.

    A war by any other name

    The war is known by many names, and each one highlights the different objectives of the forces involved.

    For the United States, “The Vietnam War” was one battleground against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. To prevent communism from spreading, the US sent resources to establish the Republic of Vietnam (known informally as South Vietnam) as its proxy. It had already used this strategy with West Germany and South Korea.

    The Communist Party of Vietnam thought of US involvement as a form of colonialism.

    By calling the conflict “the sacred resistance against the US to salvage the country” (Cuộc Kháng Chiến Chống Mỹ, Cứu Nước), or “the American war” (Chiến Tranh Mỹ) for short, the communist party encouraged the perception of the war as a stepping stone towards Vietnam’s full independence following Chinese imperialism (circa 111 BCE–939 CE), French colonialism (1862–1954) and Japanese occupation (1940-45).

    The communist objective was to “liberate” South Vietnam from the US and its puppet administration, and reunify the country. This is why, in Vietnam, April 30 is called “Reunification Day” or “Independence Day”, to commemorate the communists’ victory in capturing Saigon.

    However, former citizens of South Vietnam call April 30 the “Day of National Mourning” (Ngày Quốc Hận), as it marks the Republic’s defeat and the beginning of decades of political persecution and refugee displacement. Although the South Vietnamese were pluralistic in their political beliefs, they were united in their anti-communism.

    For them, the conflict was “the Civil War” (Nội Chiến), fought between communists and anti-communists over the future of Vietnam. After the Republic fell, many grieved (and still do) the vision of what South Vietnam could have become.

    Apocalypse then

    While the US eventually lost control over South Vietnam, it continued to influence how Vietnam was thought of in the West through Hollywood.

    Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now is loosely based on Joseph Conrad’s classic novel, Heart of Darkness.
    Shutterstock

    In the 1970-80s, Vietnam War films such as Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now (1979), Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket (1987) and Oliver Stone’s Platoon (1987) established these directors as household names.

    The films focus on US soldiers’ psyche and discontent with incompetent leadership, pushing the Vietnamese people and their struggles for independence into the background. They frame the war as something done to American society, rather than something the US orchestrated.

    This victimhood fostered what became known as “the Vietnam syndrome” – an unofficial condition in American mindset characterised by feelings of woundedness and a loss of trust in the capability of the US.

    In Vietnam, early communist-controlled cinema in the north depicted the Vietnamese as an oppressed people who must band together to defeat Western corruption. Wartime films such as Along the Same River (1959) and 17th Parallel, Days and Nights (1972) leaned into melodramatic love stories to allegorise the divided Vietnam as separated lovers who must be reunited.

    As directors in the north slowly gained some freedom from the communist party, films increasingly dealt with the war’s immense impact and questioned the party’s ability to bring about the classless society it had promised. The Girl on the River (1987) and Living in Fear (2005) are two good examples.

    Living in Fear (Sống trong sợ hãi) trailer.

    Meanwhile, filmmakers in the south were independents who occasionally collaborated with the state or military, as seen with the classic 1971 film Faceless Lover (also known as Warrior, Who Are You?).

    South Vietnamese people saw film as a medium to negotiate their fledgling national identity. For them, it was important to establish and safekeep an identity that was distinct from the “foreign ally” (the US) and the “domestic foe” (the communists).

    This is why films from the south often portrayed love triangles, where the hero must choose between the vessels of modern Vietnamese femininity and Western excess. Some examples include Afternoon Sun (1972) and Late Night’s Dew (1972).

    Apocalypse now

    New perspectives on the war are emerging as historically marginalised groups gain footing in Western media. And some of these challenge early portrayals.

    Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods (2020) was the first major production to show the war through Black American veterans’ eyes. Hollywood neglected to do this, despite the over-representation of Black soldiers in conscription, combat and casualties during wartime.

    Although Da 5 Bloods still fails to account for the Vietnamese’s fight for self-determination, it acknowledges Black Americans’ and the Vietnamese people’s mutual suffering under white supremacy.

    One independent feature from a son of refugees, Journey from the Fall (2006), conveys the resentment many exiled South Vietnamese people feel towards the communist party. It also explores the trauma of leaving Vietnam by boat and resettlement in the US.

    Most recently, the 2024 TV series The Sympathizer, adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s novel, moved the needle by probing at complex issues such as wartime loyalty, complicity and authenticity.

    Communist narratives persist

    In Vietnam today, the scale of communist party-funded movies has grown immensely, with many films resembling Hollywood blockbusters. But the messages have become more conservative.

    Films such as The Scent of Burning Grass (2012) and The Legend Makers (2013) continue to support the communist party narrative by omitting South Vietnam’s anti-communist objective. They also undermine women’s contributions to the war efforts, whereas earlier films put women at the centre of community organisation.

    A new generation of filmmakers is challenging these narratives through collaboration with international production companies and distributors. Features such as Viet and Nam (2024) experiment with film form to show the true costs of war, including the widening wealth disparity in Vietnam, and the lengths many would go to close this gap.

    Viet and Nam trailer.

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

    – ref. The Vietnam War ended 50 years ago today, yet films about the conflict still struggle to capture its complexities – https://theconversation.com/the-vietnam-war-ended-50-years-ago-today-yet-films-about-the-conflict-still-struggle-to-capture-its-complexities-253837

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Housing affordability is at the centre of this election, yet two major reforms seem all but off-limits

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer

    This federal election, both major parties have offered a “grab bag” of policy fixes for Australia’s stubborn housing affordability crisis. But there are still two big policy elephants in the room, which neither side wants to touch.

    The first is negative gearing. This can apply to business losses relating to any investment. But in the context of housing, it allows property investors to claim annual losses incurred renting out an investment property as deductions against their taxable income.

    Proponents argue this boosts the supply of rental housing by encouraging investment. Critics say it’s an unfair tax break that disproportionately benefits the wealthy while driving up house prices.

    This situation has been controversial for a long time. The Hawke government tried to implement major reforms in the 1980s but these were reversed soon afterwards.

    The second “elephant”, which some economists argue “put a rocket under” housing prices, is the 50% capital gains tax discount for assets held for longer than a year. This was introduced by the Howard government at the turn of the millennium.

    In 2019, the then Labor leader Bill Shorten learned the hard way what can happen when you bring negative gearing and capital gains tax reform to an election as part of a “big target” platform. Yet these tax concessions remain highly contentious.

    Whom do they benefit most? Are they behind the housing crisis? Is keeping them fair on the rest of us? We invited four experts to unpack this debate. Here are the elements they told us are most crucial:

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

    – ref. Housing affordability is at the centre of this election, yet two major reforms seem all but off-limits – https://theconversation.com/housing-affordability-is-at-the-centre-of-this-election-yet-two-major-reforms-seem-all-but-off-limits-241262

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump says diversity initiatives undermine merit. Decades of research show this is flawed

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paula McDonald, Professor of Work and Organisation, Queensland University of Technology

    Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

    US President Donald Trump declared earlier this year he would forge a “colour blind and merit-based society”.

    His executive order was part of a broader policy directing the US military, federal agencies and other public institutions to abandon diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

    Framing this as restoring fairness, neutrality and strength to American institutions, Trump argued DEI programs “discourage merit and leadership” and amounted to “race-based and sex-based discrimination”.

    In Australia too, debates over gender quotas and “the war on woke” have repeatedly invoked meritocracy as a rallying cry against affirmative action.

    The narrative of rewards going to the most qualified people is compelling. Yet decades of research show this is flawed. Far from being the great equaliser, an uncritical reliance on “merit” can perpetuate bias and inequality.

    The myths of meritocracy

    The merit rhetoric invokes the ideal of a neutral, objective system rewarding talent and effort, regardless of identity.

    In theory, merit-based evaluations such as exams, performance reviews, employee recruitment processes and competitive bids, should be impartial.

    In practice however, there are several myths associated with the notion of merit.

    1. Merit is purely objective or unbiased. In the employment context for example, studies show that even so-called objective and standardised cognitive or aptitude tests can systematically favour men due to the type of questions asked.

    Decision-makers may unknowingly redefine merit to fit whoever already belongs to a favoured group. A study of elite law firms, for example, found male applicants were rated as more qualified than identical resumes from women.

    This is known as “plasticity of merit”, meaning the criteria of excellence can bend to preference, all while appearing objective.

    Supposedly merit-based judgments can reflect unconscious bias, or comfort with candidates who fit a traditional mould. Over time, preference may be given to a particular type of candidate irrespective of their actual contribution. Privilege and prejudice can be baked into merit-based evaluations.

    2. Merit can be separated from social and historical context. Meritocracy or the so-called meritocratic promise assumes a level playing field, where everyone competes under the same conditions.

    In reality however, past inequalities shape present opportunities. What counts as merit is dynamic and socially shaped, not an eternal universal standard.

    For example, during the second world war there was a shortage of male workers. Qualities women brought to jobs previously held by men such as capacity for teamwork were suddenly deemed meritorious. But these same qualities were downgraded when the men returned.

    Merit is often defined in masculine terms. For example, physicality or hyper-competitive traits have long been seen as prerequisites for military service and policing.

    Merit is often defined in masculine terms commonly associated with military, policing and firefighting services.
    Charnsitr/Shutterstock

    This alignment of masculine norms with standards of merit has been termed “benchmark man”.

    Science careers too were built in an era when women were largely excluded. They were predicated on long-hours work and total availability – requirements that clash with caregiving responsibilities. The result is women in STEM careers leave or are pushed out.

    3. Outcomes are the result of personal choice or deficiencies, not structural barriers. Meritocracy carries a moral narrative: those at the top earned their place while those left behind didn’t measure up or chose not to compete.

    Research shows, for example, that when women don’t advance, it’s explained as lifestyle choices, or they lack ambition, or have opted out to prioritise caregiving.

    This narrative wilfully overlooks the structural constraints impacting choices. When a woman “chooses” a lower-paying, flexible job, it may be less about preference than inadequate social supports.

    By accepting unequal outcomes as the natural result of individual choices, institutions can conveniently obscure disadvantage and discrimination and erase responsibility to correct inequities.

    How the merit mandate undermines equality

    Trump’s vision is to remove equity initiatives and programs that monitor or encourage fair hiring and promotion, cease training that alerts employees to hidden biases, and fire or reassign DEI staff.

    This is conceptually flawed and will actually entrench the very biases and barriers that have kept institutions unequal.

    In the military, for example – an area highlighted by Trump – leaders have recognised they need to foster more inclusive cultures.

    For years, defence forces have grappled with sexual harassment, recruitment shortfalls and retention of skilled personnel. In Australia, the Australian Defence Force undertook major reviews to identify violent and sexist subcultures, understanding a more inclusive force is a more effective force.

    Yet Trump’s order bars the Pentagon from even acknowledging historical sexism in the ranks.

    Favouring the in-group

    Removing equity measures under a banner of neutrality means hiring and promotion will increasingly rely on informal networks and subjective judgements. These can tilt in favour of the in-group – usually white, male and affluent.

    DEI initiatives can increase representation of women, or people from diverse racial or cultural backgrounds, in an organisation or occupational group.

    However, without challenging the norms of merit, or without broadening the definitions of talent and leadership, people in those groups may continue to feel like outsiders.

    Australian experts and business leaders increasingly acknowledge objective merit is mythical.

    Redefining merit

    Fair rewards for effort can improve performance. However, we need to stop pitting merit against diversity. True fairness requires acknowledgement structural inequality exists and bias affects evaluations.

    Organisations need to re-imagine merit in ways that work with inclusion, rather than against it. This includes refining hiring and promotion criteria to focus on competencies that are measurable and relevant.

    Paula McDonald currently receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Trump says diversity initiatives undermine merit. Decades of research show this is flawed – https://theconversation.com/trump-says-diversity-initiatives-undermine-merit-decades-of-research-show-this-is-flawed-255100

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –