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Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Global: China plans to build the world’s largest dam – but what does this mean for India and Bangladesh downstream?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mehebub Sahana, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, Geography, University of Manchester

    The proposed dam will span the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, the world’s deepest. Biao Liu / shutterstock

    China recently approved the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam, across the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet. When fully up and running, it will be the world’s largest power plant – by some distance.

    Yet many are worried the dam will displace local people and cause huge environmental disruption. This is particularly the case in the downstream nations of India and Bangladesh, where that same river is known as the Brahmaputra.

    The proposed dam highlights some of the geopolitical issues raised by rivers that cross international borders. Who owns the river itself, and who has the right to use its water? Do countries have obligations not to pollute shared rivers, or to keep their shipping lanes open? And when a drop of rain falls on a mountain, do farmers in a different country thousands of miles downstream have a claim to use it? Ultimately, we still don’t know enough about these questions of river rights and ownership to settle disputes easily.

    The Yarlung Tsangpo begins on the Tibetan Plateau, in a region sometimes referred to as the world’s third pole as its glaciers contain the largest stores of ice outside of the Arctic and Antarctica. A series of huge rivers tumble down from the plateau and spread across south and south-east Asia. Well over a billion people depend on them, from Pakistan to Vietnam.

    Yet the region is already under immense stress as global warming melts glaciers and changes rainfall patterns. Reduced water flow in the dry season, coupled with sudden releases of water during monsoons, could intensify both water scarcity and flooding, endangering millions in India and Bangladesh.

    The construction of large dams in the Himalayas has historically disrupted river flows, displaced people, destroyed fragile ecosystems and increased risks of floods. The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Dam will likely be no exception.

    The dam will sit along the tectonic boundary where the Indian and Eurasian plates converge to form the Himalayas. This makes the region particularly vulnerable to earthquakes, landslides, and sudden floods when natural dams burst.

    Downstream, the Brahmaputra is one of south Asia’s mightiest rivers and has been integral to human civilisation for thousands of years. It’s one of the world’s most sediment-rich rivers, which helps form a huge and fertile delta.

    Yet a dam of this scale would trap massive amounts of sediment upstream, disrupting its flow downstream. This could make farming less productive, threatening food security in one of the world’s most densely populated regions.

    The Sundarbans mangrove forest, a Unesco World Heritage Site that stretches across most of coastal Bangladesh and a portion of India, is particularly vulnerable. Any disruption to the balance of sediment could accelerate coastal erosion and make the already low lying area more vulnerable to sea-level rise.

    The Brahmaputra eventually flows into a region of fertile fields and mangrove forests.
    Sk Hasan Ali / shutterstock

    Unfortunately, despite the transboundary nature of the Brahmaputra, there is no comprehensive treaty governing it. This lack of formal agreements complicates efforts to ensure China, India and Bangladesh share the water equitably and work together to prepare for disasters.

    These sorts of agreements are perfectly possible: 14 countries plus the European Union are parties to a convention on protecting the Danube, for instance. But the Brahmaputra is not alone. Many transboundary rivers in the global south face similar neglect and inadequate research.

    Researching rivers

    In our recent study, colleagues and I analysed 4,713 case studies across 286 transboundary river basins. We wanted to assess how much academic research there was on each, what themes it focused on, and how that varied depending on the type of river. We found that, while large rivers in the global north receive considerable academic attention, many equally important rivers in the global south remain overlooked.

    What research there is in the global south is predominantly led by institutions from the global north. This dynamic influences research themes and locations, often sidelining the most pressing local issues. We found that research in the global north tends to focus on technical aspects of river management and governance, whereas studies in the global south primarily examine conflicts and resource competition.

    In Asia, research is concentrated on large, geopolitically significant basins like the Mekong and Indus. Smaller rivers where water crises are most acute are often neglected. Something similar is happening in Africa, where studies focus on climate change and water-sharing disputes, yet a lack of infrastructure limits broader research efforts.

    Small and medium-sized river basins, critical to millions of people in the global south, are among the most neglected in research. This oversight has serious real-world consequences. We still don’t know enough about water scarcity, pollution, and climate change impacts in these regions, which makes it harder to develop effective governance and threatens the livelihoods of everyone who depends on these rivers.

    A more inclusive approach to research will ensure the sustainable management of transboundary rivers, safeguarding these vital resources for future generations.

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

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

    This article is based on research funded by the Leverhulme Trust.

    – ref. China plans to build the world’s largest dam – but what does this mean for India and Bangladesh downstream? – https://theconversation.com/china-plans-to-build-the-worlds-largest-dam-but-what-does-this-mean-for-india-and-bangladesh-downstream-250109

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The ‘morning shed’: a brief history of the sometimes dangerous lengths women have gone to to look beautiful

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Louise N Hanson, PhD in Social and Developmental psychology, Durham University

    An advert for the tape worm pills.

    In TikTok’s latest viral beauty trend “the morning shed,” beauty influencers “shed” hair and skin products that have been worn overnight. These include hair styling items, skin masks and creams, and physical products such as chin straps and mouth tape, which are intended to help with breathing through the night and keep away the drooping of the jaw that happens with age.

    While this trend has come under fire for alleged unsustainability and over-consumerism, it is only the latest beauty fad in a long line of time and money consuming “hacks” that women have been undertaking for centuries. From tapeworms to tuberculosis, women have taken part in a laundry list of beauty hacks in order to meet appearance ideals, many of which have been dangerous, painful and even deadly.

    As far back as the ancient Egyptians, women ground up toxic substances to make eyeliner and eye shadow. These were dangerous when inhaled as a powder (such as during the grinding process) and could cause irritation of the skin when applied. And yet somehow, heavy metal poisoning is among the least dangerous of these historic beauty trends.

    Ready to make a change? The Quarter Life Glow-up is a new, six-week newsletter course from The Conversation’s UK and Canada editions. Every week, we’ll bring you research-backed advice and tools to help improve your relationships, your career, your free time and your mental health – no supplements or skincare required. Sign up here to start your glow-up at any time.

    In China, foot binding is an example of a painful and life altering treatment first recorded around the 10th century. The feet were usually bound before the arch of the foot had developed (aged four to nine).

    The process involved forcefully curling the toes towards the sole of the foot until the arch broke then the foot would be tightly bandaged to keep it in this position. Small feel were coveted at the time. Thankfully, this practice was banned in the early 1900s after almost 200 years of opposition from both Chinese and western sources.

    A Chinese woman with bound feet.
    Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    In Europe, the Renaissance period saw a new wave of beauty hacks, from arsenic baths (which bleach the skin to a near translucent white) to Belladonna drops (literal poison) used on the eyes to induce an aroused or watery-eyed look. Many women who used these tactics ended up poisoned or blind.

    During the reign of Elizabeth I, the “English rose” look was all the rage. Women would blood let for a perfectly pale pallor, or paint their faces with “Venetian ceruse” or “Venetian white” – otherwise known as lead paint. The use of Venetian ceruse is one of the suspected causes of death of Elizabeth I.

    In the Victorian era and early 1900s, women often engaged in dangerous practices to achieve the coveted pale skin, red lip and small waist that was the height of fashion. This aesthetic could be achieved by contracting tuberculosis (a lung infection that was often fatal), taking tapeworm pills, consuming mercury to look forever young, or chewing arsenic wafers to make skin pale.

    My own research has shown that sociocultural pressures to look a certain way are experienced differently across the world. I found that white western women experience some of the highest appearance pressures, followed by east Asian women. Although these decline a little with age for white western women, they persist in Asian women and never reach the lower levels seen elsewhere. I found the lowest levels of sociocultural pressure and the highest levels of body appreciation in Nigeria.

    As the “morning shed” proves, women still go to great lengths to meet culturally shaped standards, particularly under conditions of higher economic inequality – something that is getting worse in many countries. For example, in the United States, cities which have higher economic inequality see higher spend on beauty products and services, such as beauty salons or women’s clothing.

    With the advent of social media, especially short-form content like TikTok, Reels and YouTube Shorts, the speed at which beauty trends rise and fall has been expedited and globalised. These trends range from the painful lip suction women undertook to get big lips like the celebrity Kylie Jenner, to the normalisation of botox and fillers, to laser hair removal of every unwanted follicle.

    The “morning shed” is just the latest evolution in skin care trends, which started as health-focused, with an emphasis on sun protection and moisturisation. It has since morphed into a study in over-consumption and over-commitment of time and money in the pursuit of staying ever youthful.

    Louise N Hanson 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 ‘morning shed’: a brief history of the sometimes dangerous lengths women have gone to to look beautiful – https://theconversation.com/the-morning-shed-a-brief-history-of-the-sometimes-dangerous-lengths-women-have-gone-to-to-look-beautiful-253921

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: As Canada is threatened, it’s urgent to revisit Indigenous sovereignty and nationhood

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Frank Deer, Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba

    Early in his second term as president of the United States, Donald Trump began making explicit threats about Canada becoming the 51st American state.

    In the midst of his absurd and at times disrespectful rhetoric that’s also included a proposal to acquire Greenland and the Gaza Strip, some have argued Trump’s interest in annexing Canada is an imperialistic impulse.

    As a Kanienʼkehá꞉ka educator concerned with Indigenous language education, civic education and reconciliation, I believe it’s important to explore how Canadians should think about Indigenous nationhood with Canada’s sovereignty under threat. I also believe a U.S. annexation of Canada would be devastating for Indigenous Peoples.

    Re-asserting Canadian nationhood amid threats

    Trump has stated that Canada can be annexed through economic force while others have speculated a military invasion may be part of this conquest attempt.

    Although Trump’s threats against Canada seem ludicrous, many Canadians are taking them seriously and regard the ongoing imperialist rhetoric as a threat to Canadian sovereignty.



    Read more:
    Canada, Greenland, Panama, Gaza and now Ukraine: Wake up, world, Donald Trump is coming for you

    Canadian politicians, public intellectuals and members of the public have reacted strongly to this threat in ways that assert Canadian nationhood, sovereignty and identity. Some suggest a sense of national unity has been stoked in Canada for the first time in generations.

    However, that sense of unity that many may be feeling in Canada — and could affect how Canadians cast their votes in the forthcoming federal election — conceals the realities of nationhood in Canada. There are several aspects of nationhood in Canada that may merit conversation in terms of unity and the current American threats. But I’m particularly concerned that the nationhood that exists among First Nations, Inuit and Métis may be particularly threatened by an American annexation.

    Indigenous Peoples

    Canada is a nation state that occupies the traditional territories of many Indigenous nations, representing a broad diversity of cultural and language backgrounds. The Indigenous Peoples of these nations had served as stewards of the territories of North America far longer than the European colonizers who eventually seized control of the territories.

    Many of the Canadian government’s colonial and post-colonial activities, abetted by their partners (for example, churches of various denominations), were genocidal in nature.

    These colonial actions resulted in Indigenous communities becoming constituent parts one unified nation — Canada. Very little public discourse acknowledges that Indigenous Peoples had already established their own concepts of nation and nationhood. These were displaced by those who established control of the territories.



    Read more:
    Indigenous people invented the so-called ‘American Dream’

    Indigenous nationhood

    Indigenous nations have and continue to regard their communal connections and responsibilities through Indigenous nationhood.

    There are various key aspects of Indigenous nationhood: sociologist Stephen Cornell, who has worked with Indigenous nations and organizations in North America, Australia and New Zealand, observes five of them, including connections to the land, kinship and community, narratives and history associated with the land and culture, self-governance and collective well-being.

    For example, many Anishinaabe consider nationhood as being built on stories and traditions and shaped by relationships and communities. Views like these are enriched by the diversity among Indigenous Peoples.

    The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people share many stories, traditions and language that inform their concept of nationhood and their treaty arrangements (such as the Kaswentha). But the Haudenosaunee also consist of different Indigenous nations — including my own, the Kanienʼkehá꞉ka — with each having their own unique manifestations of Indigenous knowledge, heritage and consciousness.

    These different nations functioned in tandem with one another by forming allyships and sharing land.

    Canada not a single, homogenous nation

    Colonialist incursions by French, British and, later, Canadian authorities have disrupted how Indigenous notions of nationhood may be understood by Canadians.

    In ignoring aspects of Indigenous nationhood by exploiting land, dividing families and communities, reconstructing historical narratives, stymying self-governance and emphasizing individual well-being over the collective, the notion of Indigenous nationhood has been marginalized in mainstream public consciousness in Canada.

    Instead, the prevailing notion is that Canada is a single and somewhat homogenous nation. This might sound desirable to some and even idyllic, but it’s a myth.

    Legal implications, reconciliation journey

    Why does Indigenous nationhood have to do with an American president’s threats to Canadian sovereignty?

    Indigenous nationhood has not just been a part of Indigenous consciousness and ways of life for centuries, but is now closely tied to established and developing legal and constitutional principles in Canada.

    These principles are now, after generations of oversight and subjugation, finally allowing Indigenous nations to explore and enact approaches to self-determination and self-governance.

    Trump’s threats imply that existing Canadian legal and constitutional frames would be abolished. They also suggest that the cultural and linguistic mores of Indigenous nations would be endangered even more than they have already been. The reconciliation journey — one that has been informed by the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada — would almost certainly be abandoned.

    Treaty relations and 51st state?

    More specific concerns about nationhood emerging from Trump’s threats are connected to particular Indigenous nations. For instance, many First Nations have treaty relations with the Crown.

    These treaties codify the relationship that these First Nations have with the government of Canada. There is a lot of work being done to better understand treaties in modern times. Treaty arrangements and ongoing efforts to better understand them would be terminated should Canada become the 51st American state.



    Read more:
    Revisiting the Williams Treaties of 1923: Anishinaabeg perspectives after a century

    Much has been achieved by Indigenous Peoples — sometimes in partnership with non-Indigenous people — to enhance their well-being and their place in the world to determine their way forward.

    There is, of course, a lot of work still to be done. Poverty, for example, is still widespread among Indigenous Peoples, the languages and cultures of many are endangered and Indigenous women and girls continue to be treated horrifically. But the journey of Indigenous nations toward well-being and self-determination has led to achievements that can make Indigenous Peoples can be proud.

    Would this journey continue as a 51st state? I have my doubts.

    Frank Deer has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. As Canada is threatened, it’s urgent to revisit Indigenous sovereignty and nationhood – https://theconversation.com/as-canada-is-threatened-its-urgent-to-revisit-indigenous-sovereignty-and-nationhood-253199

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of British High Commissioner to Malaysia: Ajay Sharma

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Change of British High Commissioner to Malaysia: Ajay Sharma

    Mr Ajay Sharma CMG has been appointed British High Commissioner to Malaysia in succession to Ms Ailsa Terry CMG.

    Mr Ajay Sharma CMG has been appointed British High Commissioner to Malaysia in succession to Ms Ailsa Terry CMG. Mr Sharma will take up his appointment during April 2025.

    Curriculum Vitae

    Full name: Ajay Sharma

    Year Role
    2024 to present FCDO, Director and pre-posting training
    2023 to 2024 Cabinet Office, National Security Secretariat, Director International
    2022 to 2023 Ankara, Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires
    2021 to 2022 FCDO, Cyprus Settlement Co-ordinator
    2020 to 2021 FCDO, Deputy Political Director
    2015 to 2020 Doha, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
    2013 to 2015 FCO, Iran Co-ordinator and non-resident then resident Chargé d’affaires to Iran
    2012 to 2013 FCO, Head of Iran Department
    2008 to 2012 Paris, Deputy Head of Mission
    2007 to 2008 Tehran, Deputy Head of Mission
    2005 to 2007 FCO, Deputy Head of Security Policy Department
    2003 to 2005 Ankara, First Secretary and Head of Political Section
    2002 to 2003 Moscow, First Secretary and Head of Economic/ Energy Section
    2001 to 2002 FCO, Pre-posting training (Russian)
    1997 to 2000 Ankara, Second Secretary (Political/ Press)
    1996 to 1997 FCO, Pre-posting training (Turkish)
    1995 to 1996 FCO, Central European Department
    1995 Joined FCO

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Health Board of Directors Honor the Success of World-Renowned Neurosurgeon Dr. Ketan Bulsara

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Ketan Bulsara, MD, MBA, the inaugural chair of the newly established Department of Neurosurgery at the UConn School of Medicine, has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious 2025 UConn Health Board of Directors Faculty Recognition Award. He will be formally honored during UConn Health’s 54th Commencement ceremony on May 12.

    A world-renowned figure in neurosurgery, Bulsara possesses elite expertise across an extraordinary spectrum of neurological surgical interventions. Having trained under pioneers of neurosurgery, he has contributed to both national and international guidelines and clinical standards. He is one of the initial neurosurgeons worldwide to have completed dual fellowship training in both skull base/cerebrovascular microsurgery and endovascular neurosurgery, a testament to his continued desire to advance his field.

    “It is my pleasure to celebrate and congratulate Dr. Ketan Bulsara on being prestigiously selected as the 2025 Board of Directors Faculty Recognition Award recipient,” said Dr. Bruce T. Liang, dean of the UConn School of Medicine. “His strong leadership, innovative clinical care, impactful research, excellence in teaching, and devoted service to the people of Connecticut have taken neurosurgery in our state and at UConn to new heights.”

    Dr. Ketan Bulsara in a surgical procedure in UConn Health’s high-tech hybrid operating room. (Kristin Wallace/UConn Health Photo)

    Bulsara joined UConn Health in 2017 from Yale as chief of the then Division of Neurosurgery. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to advance neurosurgery’s clinical, research, and educational initiatives.

    He conceptualized the newly created Brain and Spine Institute at UConn Health and partnered with the chairs of Neurology, Radiology, and Orthopedic Surgery. Since his arrival to UConn Health in 2017, Neurosurgery has seen unprecedented clinical growth.  In addition to that, he led the establishment of a neurosurgery residency program which is among only 2% of these elite training programs nationwide. During his UConn tenure, the medical school has successfully matched more medical students into neurosurgery residencies than in any of the previous decades combined. He also established a successful research collaboration with Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine.

    “I am humbled and grateful to receive this award.  UConn Health is a very special place where the faculty, staff, and leadership are committed to providing care second to none while also training the next generation of physicians and transforming healthcare for the future.  I am grateful to be a part of this exceptional organization,” says Bulsara. “I sincerely thank the UConn Health Board of Directors for this special honor.”

    Bulsara has published three books and more than 220 peer-reviewed articles in some of the world’s highest cited journals. His many scientific contributions include identifying the first proteins that lead to successful regeneration in the spinal cord and work on brain and spinal cord arteriovenous malformations establishing that these are not always congenital lesions.  He was inducted into Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society; elected the 43rd chair of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons Joint Section of Cerebrovascular Surgery; and elected to the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons (distinction given to top 1% of academic neurosurgeons), and the Society of Neurological Surgeons (top 1% of neurosurgeon educators). He is only one of 100 advisors in the U.S. to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee.

    Dr. Ketan Bulsara lecturing in the Academic Rotunda at UConn Health (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo).

    Born in India, Bulsara grew up in Central Africa (Zambia) and immigrated to the United States in 1983. He attended Duke Medical School, where at graduation, he was unanimously awarded the “Ideal Physician Award” by his classmates.  He completed his Neurosurgery Residency at Duke University Medical Center during which time he also did an enfolded fellowship in complex upper cervical spine disorder management at the University of Iowa.  Following graduation from residency, Bulsara did further fellowship training at the University of Arkansas whose faculty included the individual designated by organized neurosurgery as the father of microneurosurgery and Neurosurgery’s Man of the Century. Bulsara subsequently returned to Duke to train in endovascular neurosurgery, making him at the time among just a handful of neurosurgeons in the world with this dual training.  In 2017, he completed his MBA at the Yale School of Management prior to joining UConn Health.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Save the date as Vaisakhi celebration returns to West Park

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The popular cultural festival will return to West Park on Sunday 4 May between 12pm and 5pm.

    The Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Wolverhampton has promised entertainment for all the family, including a fun fair, stalls and prominent Asian musicians and singers performing live on stage.

    There will be speeches by religious leaders, a variety of local organisations will showcase their services, and free food will also be served throughout the day. Entry is also free.

    Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills said: “Vaisakhi is always hugely popular and we look forward to this year’s celebrations. With weeks to go, preparations are underway by the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Wolverhampton and people who live in the city, to ensure another fun filled family event.  

    “We are pleased that the event is returning to West Park and are looking forward to being able to celebrate the festival again as it is an extremely important event in the city’s calendar. 

    “There is limited parking around West Park, so attendees are kindly requested to park responsibly or to make use of nearby car parks on Fold Street and Clifton Street.

    “The City of Wolverhampton Council urge everyone to put the date in their diary and see West Park come alive to the sights and sounds of the Vaisakhi Festival.”

    Beforehand, there will be a parade from the Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara on Cannock Road to West Park, starting at 8:30am.

    To support the safe arrival of the parade as it makes its way into the park, maintain emergency access and reduce disruption to residents, motorists are advised a full road closure will be in place from 8am to 6pm on the roads detailed below:

    • Lansdowne Road – closed 8am to 6pm
    • Park Avenue – closed 8am to 6pm
    • Park Road East – closed between junctions with Park Road West/Southgate and Devon Road 8am to 6pm
    • Park Road West – closed between junctions with Park Road East/Southgate and Summerfield Road 8am to 6pm
    • Southgate – closed 8am to 6pm

    More details have been sent to those residents who will be affected.

    Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. It is the Sikh New Year festival, and this year marks the 326th Anniversary of the Creation of the Khalsa Order and making of Saint-Solider by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CS to depart for Beijing

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki will depart for Beijing tomorrow morning to attend a welcome ceremony on the return of the search and rescue team members of China, including those from Hong Kong, from Myanmar to the motherland.

    Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung will accompany Mr Chan to Beijing.

    The three officials, together with members of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region search and rescue team, will return to Hong Kong on the same day and are expected to arrive at night.

    The Hong Kong SAR Government will organise a welcome ceremony for the team members at Hong Kong International Airport.

    During Mr Chan and Mr Tang’s absence, Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing and Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk will be acting secretaries respectively.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Announces Latest SmartThings Update

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics today announced an update to its global connected living platform, SmartThings — further enhancing the AI Home experience. SmartThings introduces new features and improvements each quarter to deliver a more convenient and seamlessly connected lifestyle for users.
     
    The highlight of this update is the integration of SmartThings with Samsung Health, designed to improve users’ sleep environments while enabling more personalized automation experiences. The update also expands Calm Onboarding to support a wider range of devices and adds compatibility with the Matter 1.4 standard.
     
    “SmartThings’ latest update represents our ongoing efforts to make the smart home more intuitive, connected and personalized,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings at Samsung Electronics. “We’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of smart home innovation by empowering users though enhanced personalization and automation, including sleep wellness.”
     
    Samsung Newsroom outlines some of the key changes below.
     
    ▲ (Left) A sleep environment summary card displayed in Galaxy Now Briefing, (Right) a detailed sleep environment report
     
    ▲ (Left) The automation routine setup screen with Samsung TV Plus actions, (Right) a broadcasting feature using SmartThings linked speakers
    * The UI in the above image may differ from the actual app screen or may be subject to change.
     
     
    Smarter Sleep Environments With Samsung Health Integration
    Sleep environment reports1 from Samsung Health on Galaxy devices help users create optimal conditions for rest by providing detailed insights into key factors — such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels and light intensity — through connected devices and sensors. These reports summarize the previous night’s sleep conditions and offer personalized suggestions for improvement.
     
    When paired with a Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Ring, the latest update enables SmartThings to automatically adjust the environment based on the user’s actual sleep and wake times.2 For example, routines can be set to turn off lights and the TV at bedtime or to open curtains and play music in the morning.
     

    Greater Flexibility With SmartThings Routines
    With the latest update, SmartThings now supports automation routines based on recurring schedules — weekly, monthly or annual — offering added flexibility for a variety of scenarios. For instance, users can automatically change the color of smart lights to celebrate special occasions like family birthdays.
     
    In addition, SmartThings routines now integrate with Samsung TV Plus on 2025 Samsung TV models. This allows users to include entertainment preferences in their smart home routines — whether it’s setting the TV to turn on the news in the morning or switching to a favorite channel at a preset time to ensure they don’t miss a show.
     
     
    Broadcasting via SmartThings-Connected Speakers
    A new broadcasting feature allows users to send voice messages across SmartThings-connected speakers, making in-home communication more convenient. For example, if a parent is away and sends a voice message through the SmartThings app — “I’ll be home soon, but have a snack from the fridge if you’re hungry” — it will automatically play on the designated home speaker. With real-time message delivery, families can stay connected no matter where they are.
     

    Expanding Calm Onboarding to More Devices
    Samsung has offered the Calm Onboarding3 feature since late 2023, streamlining setup for Samsung home appliances purchased through Samsung.com or official Samsung stores by linking the entire product journey — from order and delivery to connection with the SmartThings app.
     
    In the latest SmartThings update, Samsung is expanding Calm Onboarding beyond its own products to include compatible third-party smart home devices for a more seamless and intuitive connectivity experience. Users who purchase SmartThings-compatible smart home devices directly from Samsung.com will now receive purchase and delivery updates within the SmartThings app. Additionally, users will receive step-by-step onboarding instructions to simplify product setup. The rollout will begin in Korea, with plans to expand to other countries.4
     

    Matter 1.4 Support
    SmartThings continues to advance the IoT landscape by expanding its support for Matter 1.4. The latest version of the standard includes a wide range of energy management devices — such as water heater, heat pump, solar power device, battery storage device, mounted on/off control switch and mounted dimmable load control device. These newly supported device categories build on existing popular device types like lights, thermostats, switches, air conditioners, air purifiers, fans, door locks and more.
     
    By integrating AI-powered routines, broadening device compatibility and adopting the latest Matter standard, SmartThings reinforces its ongoing commitment to innovation — making the connected home more intelligent, energy-efficient and seamless for users and their families.
     
     
    1 The Sleep environment report feature is available on Samsung Galaxy smartphones running One UI 7.0 or later and Samsung Health version 6.29 or later. Availability may expand in the future. For more information on compatible devices that can measure sleep environments, refer to the Sleep condition report under the “How to Use” section in the SmartThings app.2 Setting routines based on sleep conditions may not be supported in certain countries. This feature is available on Samsung Galaxy smartphones with One UI 7.0 or Samsung Health version 6.29 or later, with plans for future expansion. A connected device capable of detecting sleep and wakefulness — such as Galaxy Watch4/5/6/7, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Fit3 and Galaxy Ring — is required. For more information, refer to the “Accessories” section in the sleep tab of the Samsung Health app.3 As of April 2025, the Calm Onboarding feature for Samsung products is available in 14 countries including Korea, the United States, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Further expansion is planned throughout the year.4 This support is planned for countries where the IoT Marketplace, which sells SmartThings compatible smart home devices on Samsung.com, is available. It will be first applied in Korea and gradually expanded to other countries.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Moran Joins Colleagues in Reintroducing Legislation to Expand Telehealth Access

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined a bipartisan group of 60 senators in reintroducing the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. The CONNECT for Health Act will expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, improve health outcomes and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors. Current flexibilities are set to expire on September 30 unless Congress extends them.
    “The COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in our health care infrastructure while also demonstrating how telehealth can be an effective way to provide care to patients,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation would expand telehealth services and help make certain that Kansans, especially those in rural communities, continue to have access to the health care services they need.”
    In addition to Sen. Moran, the bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Angus King (I-Maine.), Jim Justice (R-W.V.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.).
    Telehealth provides essential access to care with nearly a quarter of Americans accessing telehealth in a month, according to the most recent available data.
    The CONNECT for Health Act would:
    Permanently remove all geographic restrictions on telehealth services and expand originating sites to the location of the patient, including homes
    Permanently allow health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services
    Allow more eligible health care professionals to utilize telehealth services
    Remove unnecessary in-person visit requirement for telemental health services
    Allow for the waiver of telehealth restrictions during public health emergencies
    Require more published data to learn more about how telehealth is being used, impacts of quality of care and how it can be improved to support patients and health care providers.
    The CONNECT for Health Act was first introduced in 2016 and is considered the most comprehensive legislation on telehealth in Congress. Since 2016, several provisions of the bill have been enacted into law or adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, including provisions to remove restrictions on telehealth services for mental health, stroke care and home dialysis.
    Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), Mike Thompson (D- Calif.) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.).
    The CONNECT for Health Act has the support of more than 150 organizations including the American Medical Association, AARP, American Hospital Association, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Rural Health Clinics and American Telemedicine Association.
    Click HERE for the full text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US v them: Trump’s tariffs and his economic vision of dominance

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy, Spécialiste de la politique américaine, Sciences Po

    US President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement of sweeping new tariffs against numerous countries isn’t just driven by (already questionable) economic reasoning. It reflects the deeply adversarial worldview embraced by the current occupant of the White House.

    Since returning to the presidency, Trump has unleashed a new wave of tariffs unprecedented in scope. Traditional allies and strategic rivals are now under the same banner, marking a radical shift in Washington’s trade policy that hardens positions taken in Trump’s first term, amplifying them with an unbridled display of power.

    Just as in 2017, when he spoke of “American carnage”, Trump paints an apocalyptic picture of the US, a country he claims has been “looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike”. This dramatic narrative is met with a double promise of “liberation” and the restoration of a new “golden age”.


    A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

    Tariffs thus become the weapons of a nationalist crusade, where every import is an attack on sovereignty, and every export a symbolic act of reconquest.

    An authoritarian vision of international trade

    Trump’s trade doctrine is part of a broader strategy defined by confrontation, centralised executive power and a neo-imperial view of the global economy. His tariff measures go far beyond protecting domestic industry: they aim to reshape the global order according to his own interpretation of national interest. This second act of the Trumpist revolution is not a rerun, but an escalation – one based on authoritarian ambitions, the rejection of multilateralism (as seen in the administration’s utter disdain for the World Trade Organization, and the glorification of raw sovereignty.

    The supposed economic logic behind these policies is as flimsy as it is revealing. The chosen calculation method – dividing the bilateral trade deficit by import volumes – is little more than a blunt instrument to go after countries the US runs a deficit with. Officially, it’s about cutting trade deficits, bringing jobs back and raising revenue. But the real agenda runs deeper: consolidating presidential power and replacing global cooperation with a doctrine of economic domination.

    Tariffs as tools of power and messaging

    Trump’s first term has shown the limits of this strategy. The trade war with China, in particular, triggered price hikes for consumers, disrupted supply chains and severely hurt US agricultural exporters. One study found that US consumers bore the brunt of these costs, with an average 1% increase in the prices of manufactured goods.

    Trump doesn’t behave like a traditional head of state operating within a multilateral framework. He acts more like a lone ruler, dispensing rewards and punishments to serve his political – or even personal – agenda. Tariffs, in this context, function as much as media stunts as they do economic instruments. Branded as “reciprocal tariffs”, they construct a simplified and powerful narrative: that of a crusader who corrects the wrongs inflicted on citizens betrayed by free trade.

    This message hits home with workers in industries like auto manufacturing. It offers up convenient villains – China, Europe, and the domestic elite who support free trade. Trade policy is no longer about negotiation; it’s about retribution. In this worldview, the spike in tariffs isn’t just an economic manoeuvre – it’s a statement of sovereignty, even of symbolic power.

    From personal obsession to state doctrine

    Trump’s protectionism is not an overnight development, but part of a long-standing obsession. As early as 1987, he railed against Japan’s trade surpluses with the US and called for steep tariffs on Tokyo. He spoke of the US being “ripped off” and showed a near-paranoid fear of national humiliation or betrayal. At its core, this reflects a deep-seated drive to reassert dominance – to “win” in a world he views as inherently hostile and conflictual. It’s one of the few constants in Trump’s worldview, given his lack of ideological consistency and frequent U-turns on other issues.

    Today, everything is reframed as a question of sovereignty: rare earths, strategic minerals, data flows, shipping lanes. This worldview echoes the imperialist pivot of the late 19th century, especially under US president William McKinley (1897–1901) – a figure Trump pointedly invoked in his second inaugural address.

    This logic also helps explain some of his most provocative gestures: stating he wants to buy Greenland, putting pressure on Canada in hopes of access to its natural resources, and eyeing Ukraine’s mining potential. The underlying idea is blunt and unmistakeable: resources are finite, and you’d better grab your share before someone else does. In this zero-sum game, where one country’s gain is another’s loss, cooperation gives way to conquest.

    The rise of techno-nationalist mercantilism?

    In this worldview, competition isn’t seen as a source of innovation – it’s a threat to be eliminated. The aim isn’t to make America more competitive, but to sabotage the competitiveness of others. The US no longer presents itself – even rhetorically – as a democratic nation playing by the rules of global markets. Instead, it acts like a corporation determined to secure monopoly power.

    This authoritarian shift resonates with key Trumpist thinkers. Peter Thiel, a mentor to US Vice President JD Vance, famously declared that “capitalism and competition are opposites”, championing monopoly as the ultimate goal. Cuts to the federal government and sweeping deregulation aren’t about unleashing free markets – they’re about consolidating control and asserting dominance.



    À lire aussi :
    Trump protectionism and tariffs: a threat to globalisation, or to democracy itself?

    The aim now is to sidestep global systems, not to integrate them – to build an imperial-style autarky where the US controls a closed sphere of influence, shielded from outside competition. This is mercantilism reimagined for the digital age: instead of gold and silver, the currency is data, infrastructure, dollars and crypto currency. Cooperation gives way to coercion.

    Toward an authoritarian international order – or a political disaster?

    The April 2 announcement is far more than an economic decision. It’s a bold political statement – a deliberate move toward a new world order rooted in strength and loyalty, rather than law and cooperation.

    There’s undeniable continuity with Trump’s first term. But this time, the scale, radicalism and concentration of power represent a decisive escalation. Trump increasingly treats the state as his personal property – or a private business – what some have aptly called “patrimonialism”. He is shaping an authoritarian model in which trade becomes a weapon in a new kind of global cold war, driven by fear of decline and an obsession with control. In this logic, prosperity is no longer a shared national goal – it’s a privilege reserved for those in power.

    This trajectory could become politically explosive, especially as Trump faces falling markets and looming inflation – both threatening a weakening of his presidency. If he doubles down despite sinking approval ratings, Republican lawmakers may be forced – under pressure from their voters and donors – to finally push back and reassert their constitutional role. Early signs of dissent within the Republican Party are already surfacing, alongside public anger that remains scattered – but is growing harder to ignore.

    Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. US v them: Trump’s tariffs and his economic vision of dominance – https://theconversation.com/us-v-them-trumps-tariffs-and-his-economic-vision-of-dominance-254096

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: President Trump’s Steel Tariffs Mean American Jobs

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum imports are a big win for American workers and manufacturing — just like they were during President Trump’s first term.
    “We’re in favor of the tariffs because we make everything in America. Our factories are in Baltimore, Indiana, and Michigan. We use American steel and American workers … Our challenge is that we’re competing against governments, like the Chinese government,” Drew Greenblatt, CEO of Baltimore-based Marlin Steel Wire Products, said on CBS Morning News. “If we have a fair and level playing field, our American factory workers will thrive and prosper. We can really pull people from poverty, bring them into the middle class.”
    “Our goal is that we’re going to sell millions more dollars so we have to hire many more people. If we do that, we’re going to hire them at very good jobs with very good pay,” Greenblatt told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “There’s going to be an overwhelming surge of hiring in America as things level out, as American factories ramp up … This is a very exciting time for the American manufacturing worker.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: CBL International Limited Announces 2024 Annual Results at Webcast

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CBL International Limited (NASDAQ: BANL), the Nasdaq-listed entity of Banle Group, today announced it will file its Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2024 on April 16, 2025, followed by a live webcast on April 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM HKT (April 16, 10:00 PM ET). Management will discuss the Group’s performance, strategic initiatives, and market developments.

    Key Attendees:

    • Dr. Teck Lim Chia, Chairman & CEO
    • Mr. Nicholas Fung, Assistant CFO
    • Ms. Venus Zhao, Investor Relations & PR Director

    Registration Links:

    About Banle Group:
    CBL International (NASDAQ: BANL) represents Banle Group, a leading Asia-Pacific marine fuel logistics provider operating in 60+ global ports, including key hubs in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The Group holds ISCC EU & ISCC Plus certifications for sustainable fuels. Learn more: www.banle-intl.com.

    Investor Contact:
    CBL International Limited
    Email: investors@banle-intl.com

    Media Inquiries:
    Strategic Financial Relations Limited
    Shelly Cheng | Tel: (852) 2864 4857
    Iris Au Yeung | Tel: (852) 2114 4913
    Email: sprg_cbl@sprg.com.hk

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: WHAT THE CLASH? joins Apple Arcade in May, among five new games

    Source: Apple

    Headline: WHAT THE CLASH? joins Apple Arcade in May, among five new games

    April 8, 2025

    UPDATE

    Five new games join Apple Arcade in May, including WHAT THE CLASH?, an exciting addition to the award-winning WHAT THE GAMES? series

    A fun mix of five games joins Apple Arcade on May 1, including WHAT THE CLASH?, a quirky, fast-paced multiplayer game that combines playful activities like table tennis, archery, racing, and tag. Launching exclusively on Apple Arcade, WHAT THE CLASH? is the follow-up to indie developer Triband’s critically acclaimed racing comedy game WHAT THE CAR?, winner of Mobile Game of Year at the 2024 D.I.C.E. Awards.

    Players can also jump into with My Buddy, a cozy simulation game where players bond with and care for virtual puppies and kittens; LEGO Friends Heartlake Rush+, a fast-paced endless racing game; the popular word search game Words of Wonders: Search+; and SUMI SUMI : Matching Puzzle+, a charming matching game featuring popular San-X characters like Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi. These new additions join Arcade’s hit collection of over 200 games, all free from ads and in-app purchases.

    WHAT THE CLASH? by Triband
    Play solo or challenge friends to one-on-one battles in this hilarious party game. Players unlock modifier cards to create absurd combos like giraffle, toasty archery, sticky tennis, milk the fish, and more. They’ll climb the leaderboards, enter tournaments, or find new card combinations to make each match a chaotic and fun surprise with quirky twists. With simple touch controls, everyone plays as The Hand, a charming and stretchy hand with legs that players can customize with hundreds of combinations of unlockable items like eye patches, dresses, and earrings. Competitors will have to outplay and outgoof their opponents as they go hand-to-hand with family and friends in some seriously silly showdowns.

    with My Buddy by Neilo Inc.
    Animal lovers will adore with My Buddy, a heartwarming game where players bond with a variety of dogs and cats, each with their own personality and appearance. Players will experience their pets’ growth, nurturing them through each stage of their lives and dressing them in unique outfits to express their individuality. With the ability to decorate their pets’ spaces and interact with them anytime, anywhere, this game brings the joy of companionship to life.

    LEGO Friends Heartlake Rush+ by StoryToys
    Race through Heartlake City with the LEGO Friends and their pets in this colorful, fast-paced adventure. Players can jump behind the wheel as Aliya, Autumn, Nova, Leo, Liann, and more, customizing their cars with unique colors, decals, tires, toppers, and trails. While speeding through vibrant streets, they must dodge obstacles and collect treasures, completing exciting missions to unlock amazing rewards.

    Words of Wonders: Search+ by Fugo Games
    In this hit word search game, players look for hidden words on the board while exploring iconic landmarks to uncover the secrets of the world. As they progress through levels themed around a variety of subjects, players will discover new words, challenge their knowledge, and strategize their way to success as they solve the mystery that words hide.

    SUMI SUMI : Matching Puzzle+ by Imagineer
    Featuring beloved characters like Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi from Japanese character manufacturing company San-X, this game invites players into the charming world of kawaii matching puzzles. With simple tap-to-match mechanics, engaging yet relaxing gameplay, and beautifully designed maps, SUMI SUMI : Matching Puzzle+ offers a perfect blend of strategy and fun for fans of cute puzzle games.

    This month, players can also look forward to content updates to their favorite Arcade games, playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro, including Hello Kitty Island Adventure, PGA TOUR Pro Golf, and WHAT THE CAR?.

    • Hello Kitty Island Adventure by Sunblink: April 16 marks the opening of the City Town Orchards, available only on Apple Arcade. Work with Keroppi, Usahana, and Wish me mell to help the city go green with rooftop fruit trees and delicious new offerings at the Imagination Cafe.
    • PGA TOUR Pro Golf by HypGames: Coinciding with the real-life tournament on April 17, players can tee off virtually at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.
    • WHAT THE CAR? by Triband: On April 10, new skins, new levels, and a new map will be added in this “suspicious” update.

    This month also brings updates to popular games like Talking Tom Blast Park, Tomb of the Mask+, Three Kingdoms HEROES, Drive Ahead! Carcade, Ridiculous Fishing EX, A Slight Chance of Sawblades+, Skate City: New York, and more.

    Pricing and Availability

    • Apple Arcade is available for $6.99 (U.S.) per month with a one-month free trial. Customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV receive three months of Apple Arcade for free.1
    • Apple Arcade is part of Apple One’s Individual ($19.95 U.S.), Family ($25.95 U.S.), and Premier ($37.95 U.S.) monthly plans, with a one-month free trial.2
    • Arcade Originals are playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. App Store Greats are available on iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro.
    • An Apple Arcade subscription gives a family of up to six unlimited access to all the games in its catalog.
    • Availability for the 200+ games across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Some content may not be available in all areas.
    1. This offer is available to new subscribers only. One subscription covers one Family Sharing group. The offer is good for three months after eligible device activation. The plan automatically renews until canceled. Restrictions and other terms apply.
    2. The Apple One free trial includes only services that are not currently used through a free trial or a subscription. The plan automatically renews after the trial until canceled. Restrictions and other terms apply.

    Press Contacts

    Peter Nguyen

    Apple

    pete_nguyen@apple.com

    Jennifer Tam

    Apple

    jennifer_tam@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Paris Blockchain Week 2025 Kicks Off with BYDFi and MoonX Stealing the Spotlight

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PARIS, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paris Blockchain Week (PBW) 2025 officially opened today at the Carrousel du Louvre, drawing global attention as Europe’s most influential gathering for blockchain and Web3 innovation. As an official sponsor, BYDFi marked its fifth anniversary with a major reveal—debuting its brand-new on-chain trading platform, MoonX, for the first time on an international stage.

    With more than 10,000 attendees on site—including industry leaders, developers, and innovators—PBW’s opening day buzzed with energy. BYDFi’s booth (#44) quickly became one of the hottest spots, with a steady stream of visitors exploring the future of Web3 trading. The timing couldn’t have been more fitting: MoonX’s unveiling aligned perfectly with BYDFi’s five-year milestone, adding an extra layer of significance to the launch.

    “Our fifth anniversary marks a new beginning,” said Michael, CMO of BYDFi. “MoonX isn’t just a trading platform—it’s our statement of intent for the future of Web3. We’re excited to unveil it here in Paris and connect with pioneers from around the world shaping the crypto economy.”


    “Crypto Travel Challenge” Sparks Global Excitement

    To celebrate its anniversary and kick off PBW with energy, BYDFi launched its “Crypto Travel Challenge”—a hybrid online-offline campaign inspired by the brand’s five-year journey. On site, attendees scanned QR codes at the booth to complete missions and claim exclusive “Crypto Voyager Backpacks” and limited-edition BYDFi merch. The prize line stretched long, as excitement spread throughout the venue.

    Meanwhile, online participants joined from around the world by following BYDFi’s official X account (@BYDFi_Official), reposting the challenge, and tagging #BYDFiPBW2025 to enter giveaways. The global crypto community responded with enthusiasm.

    One lucky winner from France said, “I got the Crypto Voyager backpack and tested out MoonX—this trip to Paris was more than worth it!”

    The campaign brought the BYDFi community closer together and turned the booth into a vibrant hub where innovation and interaction met.

    PBW 2025: A Strong Start for BYDFi

    Throughout the day, BYDFi’s booth welcomed a steady stream of crypto professionals, investors, and curious newcomers. Visitors demoed MoonX, engaged in real-time conversations about the MemeCoin market, and explored the next phase of on-chain trading. Nearby, a crypto-themed coffee bar added a relaxed touch, reinforcing BYDFi’s mission to bring warmth and personality to the digital finance space.

    The Paris Blockchain Week journey has only just begun. With more surprises and sessions scheduled from April 9–10, BYDFi promises even more to come.

    About BYDFi

    Founded in 2020, BYDFi is one of Forbes’ Top 10 Global Crypto Exchanges, serving over 1,000,000 users worldwide. The platform holds multi-national MSB licenses, is a member of Korea’s CODE VASP Alliance, and leads the industry in compliance and transparency with a 1:1 asset reserve policy and regular Proof of Reserve reports.

    Twitter( X )| LinkedIn| Facebook | Telegram| YouTube

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb274331-74f0-470e-83de-a00ae15d0488

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/339d572a-89b7-427f-998d-fe3d71150781

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rivers are increasingly being given legal rights

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    The River Ouse in East Sussex, which has been given rights by Lewes District Council

    By Oluwabusayo Wuraola, Anglia Ruskin University

    A district council in England has passed a motion to grant its local river the rights to flow freely, to be free from pollution and to enjoy its native biodiversity. The move by Lewes District Council in East Sussex to recognise the fundamental rights of the River Ouse is the first of its kind in the UK.

    The Ouse (not to be confused with larger rivers of the same name in Yorkshire and East Anglia) flows southwards for 35 miles into the English Channel and suffers from the usual problems afflicting many rivers in the UK: chemical pollution, sewage dumping and so on.

    As a legal academic who researches exactly these sorts of rights, I was excited to see the news from Lewes (even if the council’s motions ultimately can’t overrule national laws). But simply granting a river some rights isn’t enough. We now need to think about who will actually defend these rights.

    This may mean appointing someone to represent the rights of the river. Who these representatives are, and how they think about nature and conservation, can be as important as the granting of these rights in the first place.

    Appointing representatives who care about their own personal and property interests would be a grave mistake, as would appointing anyone who prioritises the rights of humans to a healthy environment over a more intrinsic right of nature (remember: the idea is that the River Ouse has rights in itself and shouldn’t need to demonstrate its worth to humans).

    As further rivers, lakes, forests and more are granted rights like the Ouse, we’ll need to train up an army of people willing to represent the rights of nature.

    Natural entities should have legal rights

    The law professor Christopher Stone pioneered the rights of nature concept back in the 1970s. He argued that natural entities, like rivers or forests, should have legal rights and that a “guardian” or representative should be appointed to defend those rights in court when they are threatened.

    Some legal systems have adopted this model. For example, in New Zealand, the Whanganui River was granted legal personhood, and two “human faces” were appointed to act and speak on its behalf. Their duties are outlined in a 2017 act, which specifies that these representatives must have the skills, knowledge and experience needed to effectively advocate for the river’s rights.

    But even as rights of nature are being considered in many countries, there is still little consideration of who will represent these rights effectively. For instance, back in 2008 Ecuador became the first country to grant the rights of nature in its constitution. However the constitution states that “all persons” are representatives of the rights of nature. This is simply impractical: we can’t expect every citizen to truly care about the rights of nature.

    Efforts to apply the rights of nature in Ecuador have often failed. Legal challenges can become highly politicised and there is little legal infrastructure beyond general constitutional principles.

    For example, in a case brought after road builders had dumped material into the Vilcabamba River, plaintiffs claimed to represent nature in court. However, they were not genuinely advocating for the river’s rights – their main concern was protecting their downstream property.

    An ecocentric perspective

    Ultimately, defending the rights of nature in court will be a struggle if the nature in question – the river, forest or lake – is not represented by someone with an ecocentric perspective. That means prioritising the intrinsic value of nature itself, rather than focusing on how it can serve human interests.

    Ecocentric advocates have proved to be the most effective defenders of the rights of nature in many court cases. For example, in lawsuits involving Ecuador’s Los Cedros cloud forest and its marine ecosystems, ecocentric arguments helped secure stronger legal protections and even inspired the courts to grant further rights of nature.

    One of the most common legal frameworks involves appointing “all persons”, “a person”, or “a resident” as representatives or protectors. For instance, Uganda’s National Environment Act 2019 states that anyone has the right to bring an action before a court “for any infringement of rights of nature”.

    Similarly, the city of Toledo, Ohio, tried to introduce the Lake Erie bill of rights which stated that the city or any resident could act on behalf of the lake’s ecosystem. (The bill was declared unconstitutional by a federal court in 2020 and did not become the law).

    Having such broad representation can make these legal protections less effective. This is what Stone, the law professor, envisioned back in the 70s: representatives should be trained to view nature as having intrinsic value – the very reason it is granted rights – and to protect it on that basis.

    There are some promising examples. Guardians were appointed to protect the Magpie River in Canada, for instance, after it was granted legal personhood in 2022. Their responsibilities include participating – on behalf of the river itself – in any consultations on projects that might affect the river.

    When the River Atrato in Colombia was also granted legal rights, the court required the formation of a commission (with representatives from the state and local communities) to train and oversee the work of the guardians.

    Moves to give rights to nature are promising. But from Colombia to Canada to Sussex, we’ll need a whole army of nature protectors to actually enforce those rights.

    Oluwabusayo Wuraola, Lecturer in Law, Anglia Ruskin University

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

    If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Breaking AI Monopolies: HolmesAI Showcases Its Fully Decentralized AI Infrastructure at HK Web3 Festival 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HolmesAI, a one-stop decentralized AI service platform, made a significant impact as the Gold Sponsor of the Hong Kong Web3 Festival 2025, held from April 6-9 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. The event, hosted by Wanxiang Blockchain Labs and HashKey Group, brought together global leaders in Web3, AI, and blockchain, like Vitalik Buterin, He Yi, Lily Liu, etc., to explore the future of decentralized technologies. HolmesAI’s Co-founder and CTO, Ken, delivered a thought-provoking keynote at the Festival’s “AI+Web3” forum, sharing his vision for decentralized AI (DeAI).

    Backed by HashKey Group and Bitrise, HolmesAI provides comprehensive AI solution for DeAI applications and developers, covering AI computing, open-source models, AI inference, AI post-training, and Blockchain-native services. These offerings lower entry barriers for developers while providing efficient tools to deploy, manage, and scale applications in decentralized environments.

    The rapid evolution of AI and decentralized technologies is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. But what will be unlocked by their convergence? HolmesAI hosted “Intelligent Chains: Shaping the AI x Web3 Future”, an exclusive luncheon attended by top-tier investors and innovators from top-tier investment organization and projects, to explore the path toward a future where AI is transparent, collaborative, and owned by its users. And the session is co-hosted by HashKey Group and Bitrise.

    As Ken outlined how decentralized technologies are transforming AI from a corporate-controlled resource into an open, community-driven force in his keynote speech, Web3 makes decentralized ownership of data, distributed computing resources, and consensus-based happen, which results to a permissionless, autonomous, and fair AI ecosystem. “The future of AI must be decentralized, transparent, and owned by the people,” declared Ken. “HolmesAI is building the infrastructure to make this vision a reality.”

    HolmesAI has envisioned a decentralized AI ecosystem where resources, ownership, and collaboration are transparently managed on-chain, enabling fair co-creation, automated revenue sharing, and seamless AI development without centralized barriers. This enables all developers to freely build and utilize AI, driving the democratization of the AI industry.

    Throughout the event, HolmesAI showcased its decentralized AI chain and the comprehensive DeAI infrastructure to make AI development more efficient, cost-effective, and open. With HolmesAI, developers will enjoy a fully distributed AI infrastructure where computational power, storage, and models are openly accessible, where blockchain-based ownership mechanisms ensure contributors retain control and receive fair value for their assets. And HolmesAI simplify AI deployment and integration by offering developer-friendly tools that accelerate AI inference, post-training, and decentralized application (Dapp) development.

    About HolmesAI
    A one-stop decentralized AI service platform providing comprehensive DeAI infrastructure to lower entry barriers for dApps developers. Backed by Hashkey Group and Bitrise, HolmesAI is committed to creating an DeAI ecosystem where protocols, data, models, computing resources are accessible and transparently managed on-chain—facilitating fair co-creation, automated revenue sharing, and frictionless AI innovation, free from centralized constraints.

    Media Contact:
    Fandine
    Head of Marketing
    HolmesAI
    Email: fang@holmesai.xyz
    Phone: +86 18801622421
    Website: https://www.holmesai.xyz/

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9bc35056-8851-476b-a58d-32d0eeea5a9f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BexBack Launches Three Exclusive Promotions and Two Innovative Tools to Revolutionize 100x Crypto Futures Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amid heightened volatility in the global cryptocurrency market, BexBack, a rapidly growing crypto derivatives exchange, today announced the launch of three major promotional offers alongside two innovative trading tools. These initiatives are designed to empower traders with greater flexibility, enhanced capital efficiency, and a superior trading experience.

    Three Exclusive Promotions to Maximize Traders’ Potential

    • 100% Deposit Bonus
      Users who deposit more than 0.001 BTC or 100 USDT per transaction are eligible for a 100% deposit bonus, instantly doubling their trading margin.
      (Note: The bonus itself cannot be withdrawn directly, but profits earned using the bonus are fully withdrawable.)
    • $50 Welcome Bonus
      New users who complete their first trade (open and close a position) will receive a $50 USDT bonus credited to their USDT-M account. The bonus can be used for trading or withdrawal, providing new traders with extra flexibility at the start of their journey.
    • No KYC Requirement
      Upholding the spirit of decentralized finance, BexBack allows users to register and trade without any identity verification, offering a faster, more private onboarding experience for traders worldwide.

    Two New Trading Tools for a Smarter Crypto Trading Experience

    • 100x Leverage Crypto Futures
       Traders can now access up to 100x leverage on Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and over 50 additional major cryptocurrencies.
      Whether the market moves up or down, traders can open long or short positions to seize opportunities in any condition, with adjustable leverage settings to suit different risk appetites.
    • Free Real-Time BTC to USDT Conversion
      BexBack introduces a zero-fee BTC/USDT conversion feature, enabling users to switch between Bitcoin and USDT instantly at real-time prices, optimizing asset allocation without incurring extra costs.

    Why Choose BexBack

    • Headquartered in Singapore, Licensed Under U.S. MSB
    • Over 50 Major Crypto Futures Available
    • Cold Wallet Custody to Protect User Funds
    • Zero Deposit Fees and Fast Withdrawals
    • 10 BTC Demo Account for Strategy Testing
    • 24/7 Multilingual Customer Support

    About BexBack?

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, and XRP futures contracts. It is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. It holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. Accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are no deposit fees, and traders can get the most thoughtful service, including 24/7 customer support.

    Start Trading Smarter Today

    Take advantage of the Double Deposit Bonus, the $50 Welcome Bonus, 100x flexible leverage, and start trading without any KYC requirements.
    Sign up now at www.bexback.com and unlock your full trading potential.

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1a4075b9-c14c-4bf3-96d7-48d29aba0a79
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e3c60ff-6424-4f29-b36f-853b5129c25f
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a7cdb68-cb0c-491b-9ba2-196ec702c477
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/17e78985-c044-449f-ac67-b204c4ce2b26

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Live! Casino & Hotel Partners With Signature Systems, Inc. For Their Newest U.S. Gaming Property

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WARMINSTER, Pa., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Signature Systems, Inc. (SSI), the multi-award-winning technology solutions provider known for their point-of-sale solutions, announced their continued partnership with Cordish Gaming. The newest casino hotel property in Bossier, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, is the first to be running entirely on SSI hardware.

    SSI has installed their point-of-sale technology suite, PDQ POS and more than 50 devices in Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana. The state-of-the-art gaming facility has purchased tablets and SSI’s exclusive 3-in-1 kiosks, ensuring the best possible guest experience. SSI has also installed their brand-new mobile ordering suite in the property, a first for the POS provider.  

    Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana marks the fourth Cordish Companies property to install PDQ POS since the partnership began more than three years ago.

    Located in Bossier City, LA, the new property opened on February 13, 2025, and is among the premier gaming properties in the region, with more than 47,000-square-feet of gaming space and 549 hotel rooms. Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana contains 10 food and beverage outlets, giving visitors to the casino a wide variety of options for meals, entertainment and much more.

    “Live! is among the most exciting brands in gaming, and our continued partnership with them has given us extra motivation to add exciting features that no other enterprise-level POS provider can compete with,” said John White, EVP/CIO at Signature Systems, Inc. “This mobile ordering experience will be the first of its kind in the nation, with more PDQ POS properties adding it soon.”

    About Signature Systems (SSI)

    With deep roots in food and beverage, SSI is a 35-year tenured technology solutions provider whose signature product is PDQ POS, a top rated, all-concept point of sale management system. SSI differentiates itself from all others by virtue of its all-in-one, custom solution sets; all-in-house, domestic teams (including development, live 24x7x365 support, and data/cyber security); and all-in accountability for prompt, accurate issue resolution. Products & services include a natively integrated enterprise reporting mobile app, natively integrated “In-Place Dining” mobile app, natively integrated online ordering, an array of guest empowerment solutions including self-serve kiosks with multiple tenders, full PCI DSS compliance, comprehensive menu management, value-added integrations via RESTful APIs, expert project management, onsite training and education, and much more. Learn more at SSIpos.com. SSI is the proud winner of the 2022 Innovation Award for Integration Services and the 2023 Partner Award from Gaming & Leisure©.

    About The Cordish Companies

    The Cordish Companies’ origins date back to 1910 and encompass four generations of privately held, family ownership. During the past ten decades, The Cordish Companies has grown into a global leader in Gaming & Entertainment; Commercial Real Estate; Entertainment Districts; Sports-Anchored Developments; Hotels; Residential Properties; Restaurants; Coworking Spaces; and Private Equity. One of the largest and most respected developers in the world, The Cordish Companies has been awarded an unprecedented seven Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence for public-private developments that are of unique significance to the cities in which they are located. The Cordish Companies has developed and operates highly acclaimed dining, entertainment and hospitality destinations throughout the United States, many falling under The Cordish Companies’ Live! Brand, highly regarded as one of the premier entertainment brands in the country. Welcoming over 55 million visitors per year, these developments are among the highest profile dining, entertainment, gaming, hotel and sports-anchored destinations in the country. In gaming, The Cordish Companies has developed among the most successful casino hotel resorts in the world, including the Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in Hollywood and Tampa, FL, Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, Live! Casino Pittsburgh and Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. Over the generations, The Cordish Companies has remained true to the family’s core values of quality, entrepreneurial spirit, long-term personal relationships and integrity. As a testimony to the long-term vision of its family leadership, The Cordish Companies still owns and manages virtually every business it has created. For more information, visit www.cordish.com or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @cordishco.

    About Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana
    On February 13, 2025, the Ark-La-Tex region welcomed a world-class gaming, hotel, dining and entertainment destination with the opening of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana. Situated along the scenic Red River in Bossier City, and adjacent to Shreveport, the $270+ million facility is a transformative development bringing economic opportunity and inclusiveness to local residents. Featuring the market’s first-ever land-side casino, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana spans over 47,000 square feet, including 1,000+ slots and electronic table games, 40+ live action table games, a sportsbook, an upscale hotel, resort pool and fitness center; and a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, multi-purpose Event Center for top name entertainment, meetings and special events. Award-winning dining and entertainment options, include the Zagat-rated #1 steakhouse, The Prime Rib®; Sports & Social, a one-of-a-kind sports restaurant, gaming venue and social lounge; PBR Cowboy Bar, offering high energy music, entertainment and a mechanical bull; Luk Fu, serving authentic Asian cuisine; Ridotto Grand Café, featuring Italian cuisine with a Venetian flair; and R Bar, featuring tapas, oysters and other shareable plates. Ample, secure parking is available. Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is owned and managed by LRGC Gaming Investors, LLC, an affiliate of The Cordish Companies, the premier developer of Live! dining, entertainment, gaming, hotel and sports-anchored destinations in the country, including Texas Live! in nearby Arlington, TX. For information, visit Louisiana.LiveCasinoHotel.com or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram @livecasinola. 

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d8f1de26-78be-426d-8d31-ef5b219a8cee

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN to participate in the Amity Circle Retreat III in Malaysia

    Source: ASEAN

    At the invitation of H.E. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia and the Founder of Amity Circle, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will participate in the Amity Circle Retreat III, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 10 to 11 April 2025.
    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN to participate in the Amity Circle Retreat III in Malaysia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Murder on the Colville Reservation

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Steven Joseph Zacherle, age 38, to 204 months in prison for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and Threats in Interstate Commerce. Judge Rice also imposed 5 years of supervised release and restitution payable to the Colville Confederated Tribes for the murder victim’s funeral expenses.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing, on the evening of October 18, 2022, Zacherle was in a domestic dispute with his intimate partner (Victim 1) near a gas station on the Colville Indian Reservation. During the dispute, Victim 1 drove away from the area without Zacherle, who had gone inside a nearby store.

    When Zacherle realized Victim 1 had left him, he began calling and texting her, demanding she return, or he was going to “kill” and “hurt people.” About the same time as Zacherle was making these threats to Victim 1, Dion Boyd, an elder within the Colville Tribe, exited the nearby gas station. Zacherle and Mr. Boyd walked the same direction for a short distance. Zacherle then attacked Mr. Boyd, striking him in the head.

    Within minutes of that attack, Zacherle called Victim 1 and referenced the assault, bragging that he had knocked someone out.  He then asked Victim 1 whether she wanted to see what Zacherle had done.  Victim 1 reported that she could hear garbled breathing and snorting on the phone line.

    Shortly after the assault, Omak Police and first responders located Mr. Boyd, who was unresponsive and face down, bleeding from his head. Medical providers later determined Mr. Boyd was braindead and that Mr. Boyd would never recover from the injuries Zacherle inflicted. Mr. Boyd’s family spent the next twenty days at Mr. Boyd’s bedside in the hospital hoping for a miracle, but Mr. Boyd ultimately died as a result of the injuries sustained in the assault.  The Medical Examiner determined Mr. Boyd suffered a severe brain hematoma and cracked skull because of the unprovoked attack.

    “My heart goes out to the Boyd family, who have suffered so much pain as a result of Mr. Zacherle’s unprovoked attack,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Barker. “My office is fully committed to working federal, state, local, and Tribal leaders to fully prosecuting violent crimes on Tribal land. The victims and survivors of these terrible crimes deserve nothing less.”

    At sentencing, MMIP AUSA Bree Black Horse explained “Mr. Boyd’s family and friends have uniformly described Mr. Boyd as a kind, generous person who helped raise his younger siblings and later his own children. Mr. Boyd also served his Tribe as an IT technician, ensuring Colville Tribal members living in rural areas could have cell service.”

    In recommending the Court impose a 17-year sentence, MMIP AUSA Black Horse explained “Mr. Boyd’s violent and senseless death at the hands of Zacherle has severely impacted the large family Mr. Boyd has left behind. And, Mr. Boyd is now among the disproportionate number of murdered Indigenous people and Mr. Boyd’s family has joined the ranks of too many other MMIP families throughout Eastern Washington and elsewhere.”

    “This appalling attack was truly senseless.” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Mr. Zacherle displayed a shocking disregard for the value of human life when he took his frustrations out on an innocent bystander, recklessly costing that person his life.  The Colville Indian Reservation is a safer place with him off the streets.”

    This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners.  The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components.  Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Colville Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker and Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse.

    2:23-cr-00007-TOR

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Orion180 Launches FLEX Home Insurance In Florida

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MELBOURNE, Fla., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orion180, a leading provider of flexible, customer-centric homeowners and flood insurance solutions, today announced the launch of its FLEX Home Insurance product in 14 coastal counties of Florida. FLEX offers highly customizable policies, allowing homeowners to choose coverage and deductibles to fit their risk tolerance and budget.

    Florida’s hurricanes, flooding, and other natural disasters have made personalized insurance coverage critical for homeowners. Homeowners in the state pay an average of $5,340 annually in insurance, according to data from Bankrate, which is the second highest in the United States. As a result, Florida is among the top 10 in states with uninsured homes at 18.1%, with Miami-Dade having the highest amount among the country’s most at-risk counties.

    “Standard home insurance policies are outdated for today’s consumer, and a lot of time do not align with the individual’s budget and interest,” said Ken Gregg, CEO of Orion180. “FLEX gives homeowners the power of choice. The policy is flexible and allows consumers to choose coverages that fit their individual needs and budget.”

    Key benefits of FLEX Home Insurance include:

    • Customizable coverage options: Homeowners can adjust a wide range of base perils and coverages to better match their risk appetite and budget.
    • Deductible and copay options: Policyholders can choose from many deductible options and copay percentages to balance upfront costs with long-term savings.
    • Claims-free bonus: Depending on the length of the claims-free period, homeowners can receive a bonus of up to 100% of their first-year premium.
    • Rate locking feature: Homeowners can extend the policy term to lock in their premium to control rising insurance costs.

    FLEX Home Insurance is available now through select Florida insurance agents in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Lee, Sarasota, Manatee, Brevard, St. Lucie, Collier, Martin, Charlotte, and Indian River counties.

    To learn more about Orion180 FLEX Home Insurance, visit https://orion180.com/flex/.

    About Orion180
    Orion180 is a customer-focused, technology-driven insurance brand that combines proprietary technology, real-time data, and straightforward underwriting practices to provide a seamless and premier insurance experience. Orion180 operates through Orion180 Insurance Co., a surplus lines insurance company serving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Colorado (Flood only), Tennessee (Flood only), Illinois (Flood only) and Arizona, and Orion180 Select Insurance Co., an admitted insurance company offering coverage in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Ohio. With its proprietary MY180 platform and third-party integrations, Orion180 offers unmatched efficiency and innovation, fulfilling its vision of becoming the global leader in insurance solutions while maintaining its mission to deliver superior customer experiences and a comprehensive suite of products. Connect with Orion180 on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. For more information, visit www.Orion180.com.

    Media Contact
    Ross Blume
    Fusion Public Relations
    orion180@fusionpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Strategic firms establish HQ in HK

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    A new batch of 18 strategic enterprises, in the presence of Financial Secretary Paul Chan, committed to establishing global headquarters, regional headquarters or research and development centres in Hong Kong during a ceremony today held by the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES).

    These firms come from high-tech industries such as advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, artificial intelligence and data science, fintech, and life and health technology.

    In his speech, Mr Chan said that Hong Kong treasures not only the investments, jobs and expertise that the strategic enterprises bring to the city, but also their products and solutions that will transform people’s way of life and inspire new innovation.

    Their presence supports Hong Kong’s vision of becoming an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, he stressed.

    “Amid rising tides of unilateralism and protectionism, Hong Kong remains steadfast in our commitment to upholding our free-port status and free trade policy; ensuring the free flow of capital, goods, information and people; maintaining our simple and low tax system; and building a dynamic and vibrant I&T ecosystem with a full range of funding support.

    “Coupled with the best connectivity and seamless access to the Mainland and Asia markets, here is the best launch pad for realising your ambition.”

    The Financial Secretary added that going forward, OASES will broaden its scope to attract cultural and creative enterprises that can fuse I&T with artistry. He also remarked that through Hong Kong’s platform, these firms can expand their businesses to various new markets.

    Together with the 66 companies previously attracted to the city, the strategic enterprises will invest about $50 billion in total in the years to come, creating over 20,000 jobs. OASES, in collaboration with government departments, provides them with comprehensive services to facilitate their business set-up and operations, thereby promoting growth in the I&T sector and contributing to Hong Kong’s economic development.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China moves swiftly to stabilize markets amid global financial turbulence

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China has unveiled a series of swift and robust measures to stabilize the capital market and restore investor confidence in the wake of the global financial turbulence triggered by U.S. tariffs levied against its trading partners.
    The Chinese stock market closed higher on Tuesday, rebounding from steep losses on the previous trading day, following a raft of measures announced by financial authorities, alongside coordinated moves by state-owned investment firms, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and insurance companies.
    On Tuesday, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.58 percent and the Shenzhen Component Index went up 0.64 percent. The ChiNext Index, tracking China’s Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, rose 1.83 percent.
    TIMELY, STRONG SIGNAL TO STABILIZE CAPITAL MARKET
    Chinese state-owned capital operation firms have moved quickly to increase their holdings of domestic equities, voicing strong confidence in the long-term outlook of the country’s capital market. The People’s Bank of China, or the central bank, also announced liquidity support through re-lending facilities on Tuesday.
    Central Huijin Investment Ltd., a Chinese state-owned investment company, said it had once again increased its holdings of exchange-traded funds and would continue to do so in the future to “resolutely safeguard” the stable operation of the capital market.
    As a controlling or participating shareholder in over 20 financial institutions, Central Huijin reaffirmed its pivotal role in stabilizing the capital markets in a statement Tuesday. Often likened to a “stabilization fund,” the company has been instrumental in bolstering market stability and resilience since 2008.
    Following the statement of Central Huijin, the central bank pledged to firmly support the company in increasing its holding of stock index funds and will provide sufficient re-lending support when necessary.
    Apart from Central Huijin, multiple state-owned investment firms also increased stock holdings or unveiled plans to accelerate share buybacks, including China Chengtong Holdings Group Ltd., China Reform Holdings Corporation Ltd., and seven listed firms under the China Merchants Group.
    CHINESE SOES EXPAND SHARE PURCHASES, BUYBACKS
    China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council said on Tuesday it fully supports central state-owned enterprises in expanding share purchases and buybacks to safeguard shareholders’ rights and consolidate market confidence.
    Multiple Chinese central SOEs have rolled out share purchase initiatives, underscoring their robust confidence in the long-term prospects of the country’s economy and capital market.
    China National Petroleum Corporation on Tuesday disclosed that it will buy A-shares and H-shares over the next 12 months, with a total investment of up to 5.6 billion yuan (about 777.37 million U.S. dollars), while China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation announced a similar 12-month purchase plan worth up to 3 billion yuan targeting shares listed in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
    China Electronics Technology Group Corporation said it had already completed over 2 billion yuan in buybacks for its listed subsidiaries and pledged to accelerate further acquisitions to strengthen sci-tech innovation synergy and safeguard shareholder interests.
    Emphasizing its commitment to driving the green transition and pledging active share purchases, China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. said that its subsidiary, Inner Mongolia MengDian HuaNeng Thermal Power Corp., Ltd., had already initiated share purchases.
    China National Coal Group detailed a multi-tiered investment strategy that included respective injections of up to 80 million yuan and 50 million yuan into its subsidiaries China Energy and Shanghai Energy, while it planned to advance ongoing repurchases for Xinji Energy.
    CONFIDENCE IN MARKET’S LONG-TERM OUTLOOK
    The National Financial Regulatory Administration on Tuesday announced measures to raise the cap on equity investments by insurance funds, with greater support for equity investments in strategic emerging industries and fostering new quality productive forces.
    Following the policy announcement, several major insurers, including China Life Insurance, China Pacific Insurance, and New China Life Insurance, voiced strong support, expressing confidence in China’s economic outlook and capital market.
    They pledged to ramp up long-term equity investments, with a focus on strategic emerging industries, contributing patient capital to market stability and the growth of new quality productive forces.
    The National Council for Social Security Fund, which handles the assets of the National Social Security Fund, said it is firmly optimistic about the development prospects of China’s capital market, adding that it has recently increased its holdings of domestic stocks, and will continue to increase the holdings in the near future.
    Analysts believe the coordinated moves sent a clear signal about China’s resolve to support the capital markets.
    In a time of heightened uncertainty in the global trade environment and dramatic fluctuations in international financial markets, the timely and decisive action of China’s state capital will effectively guide market expectations and mitigate the impact of external shocks, said Wang Qing, chief macro analyst at Golden Credit Rating. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. production of all types of coal has declined over the past two decades

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    April 8, 2025

    In 2023, the United States produced 578 million short tons (MMst) of coal, or less than half of the amount produced in 2008 when U.S. coal production peaked, according to our most recent Annual Coal Report. The production decline is spread almost evenly across each type of coal and continued in 2024. Rising mining costs, increasingly stringent environmental regulations, and competition from other sources of electric power generation have contributed to domestic coal production declines.

    The rank of coal depends on the depth at which coal deposits are buried. Deeper coal deposits have experienced more heat and pressure over time, providing those coals with higher heat capacity, higher carbon content, lower moisture, and fewer impurities. When ranked by their carbon content, the highest-ranking coal is anthracite, followed by bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite coal.

    Coal mining companies produce bituminous coal primarily from the Appalachian and Illinois Basins, both of which cover large areas in the eastern United States. Subbituminous coal is found in various parts of the western United States, especially in the Powder River Basin in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana. Mining companies produce lignite coal across several parts of the Midwest, mostly in North Dakota and Texas.

    Coal producers mine and sell the four ranks of coal mined in the United States primarily as thermal coal, which operators at power plants burn to produce steam for electricity generation. Bituminous coal, particularly from the Appalachia region, also has metallurgical characteristics, making it a critical raw material used in blast furnace steelmaking. In 2023, the United States exported 51 MMst of bituminous coal as metallurgical coal.

    Coal producers tend to sell subbituminous coal to coal-fired power plants across the United States, or, less often, export the coal to countries in Asia. Subbituminous coal’s low mining costs and relatively low heating value are partially offset by the high cost of transporting coal long distances, usually by rail. Coal producers tend to sell lignite almost exclusively to power generating plants located near mines. This proximity is a key economic factor given the low heat content of lignite coal.

    Our Annual Coal Report provides detail on U.S. coal production, mining productivity, reserves, prices, and other series. More recent information on coal production from our Quarterly Coal Reports and Weekly Coal Production Reports shows that U.S. coal production continued to decline in 2024. Our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasts U.S. coal production to decline from an estimated 512 MMst in 2024 to 483 MMst in 2025 and 467 MMst in 2026 because of coal’s continued competition with natural gas and renewables in the electric power sector.

    Principal contributor: Jonathan Church

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: US, Australian Naval Leaders Ride Submarine, Strengthening Bilateral Ties

    Source: United States Navy

    JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Apr. 3, 2025) – Director of the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Adm. Bill Houston, who completed his Submarine Command Course training on Collins-class submarine HMAS Rankin in 2007, and Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Vice Adm. Mark Hammond, a 2003 graduate of the U.S. Navy Submarine Command Course, embarked USS Montana (SSN 794) for a combined operational familiarization opportunity at sea, April 3, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Announces Collaboration with Stanford Medicine to Advance Sleep Apnea Detection and Beyond

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Stanford University today jointly announced a research project with Stanford Medicine to initiate an innovative health solution based on Samsung’s obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) feature1 which has received De Novo — the first of its kind authorization — by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In recognition of World Health Day, this project underscores the importance of sleep in overall health by taking further steps in proactive care, beginning with a pioneering study.
    Led by professor Robson Capasso as principal investigator and professor Clete Kushida as co-principal investigator, the joint study is designed to explore potential ways to further enhance Samsung’s Sleep Apnea feature to better support sleep health through timely interventions. Looking ahead, efforts will focus on going beyond detection by leveraging AI technology for daily monitoring to sleep apnea management, empowering users with the best possible sleep tools to improve their health.

    Samsung’s Sleep Apnea feature on the Galaxy Watch2, which detects signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, previously received authorization by the US FDA following approval by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). With its latest approval by Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), the feature will become available to users in Brazil in late April, increasing availability to 29 markets globally. The Sleep Apnea feature will continue to be expanded to more countries around the world, allowing more people to proactively spot symptoms earlier, which help prevent further long-term OSA health-related complications.
    “The ethical, equitable and evidence-based use of technology, after its validation through research is crucial in developing new approaches to detection and management of sleep apnea and other serious sleep-related health conditions,” said Robson Capasso, MD, FAASM, Chief of Sleep Surgery, Professor of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, former Associate Dean of Research, Stanford University School of Medicine. “We are excited about this groundbreaking collaboration and proud to be initiating a study utilizing smartwatches, a friendly and commonly accepted wearable”
    “This collaboration with Stanford Medicine will combine our deep technological expertise with Stanford’s leading research capabilities to unlock new innovation in preventive care,” said Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team, Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “Together, we aim to move beyond screening to also provide more meaningful daily support that helps people better understand and manage their sleep health.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The founder kings of Silicon Valley: Dual-class stock gives US social media company controllers nearly as much power as ByteDance has over TikTok

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gregory H. Shill, Professor of Law & Michael and Brenda Sandler Faculty Fellow in Corporate Law, University of Iowa

    When Congress passed a law in 2024 to ban TikTok unless it came under U.S. ownership, lawmakers argued that the app’s Chinese parent company posed national security concerns. The Trump administration, which had granted the viral video app a reprieve shortly after taking office in January 2025, extended that pause again on April 4 after the Chinese government reportedly scuttled a planned deal.

    Regardless of how this all shakes out, the TikTok fight underscores deeper concerns about who controls social media in the United States.

    Given that worry, it might surprise Americans to learn that nearly every social media giant is controlled by just one or two men. For example, Mark Zuckerberg controls Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, while Larry Page and Sergey Brin control Alphabet, which owns YouTube and Google.

    What does “control” mean? These companies are publicly traded – anybody can buy or sell their shares – but a legal mechanism known as dual-class stock gives founders extra votes in shareholder decisions. The dual-class structure crowns these men “corporate royalty,” as one former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission commissioner has put it, granting them near-absolute control of corporate policy and resources without requiring them to take on commensurate financial risk.

    While TikTok is unusual in many respects, the way it vests power in one man is actually quite banal. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is privately held, but it’s reportedly controlled by a co-founder, Chinese national Zhang Yiming, via a dual-class structure.

    As a professor of corporate law, I’d urge policymakers and the public to consider the societal risks of a system that allows a single person to wield full control over a major corporation through dual-class stock.

    The dual-class effect: Meta as a case study

    In a standard single-class structure – where voting power tracks the amount of company equity a shareholder owns – someone seeking total control of a company must ordinarily spend a lot of money buying up shares, which also means assuming a lot of risk. This “skin in the game” requirement limits how much influence a single person can exert on a company.

    That safeguard is informal, not mandatory, and dual-class structures do away with it. Ascendant among Silicon Valley firms since Google’s 2004 initial public offering in the U.S. and recently legalized in the U.K., the dual-class model is fiercely debated in corporate governance circles. To date, however, its downsides have been understood only as a problem for shareholders, not society, despite broad and bipartisan concern about the influence of Big Tech.

    Let’s pick on Meta as an example. Zuckerberg reportedly owns just 13.5% of the company’s equity, but because he owns 99.7% of the supervoting shares, he controls 61% of the company’s votes.

    This setup gives him a lock on corporate policy as a controlling shareholder, even though he only owns a bit over one-eighth of Meta stock by value. He has full control of the company without placing anywhere near an equivalent amount of money at risk.

    You don’t have to be the parent of an Instagram-addicted teenager to see that Meta has generated what might be described as social costs. For example, Amnesty International has alleged that Facebook algorithms “substantially contributed to the atrocities perpetrated by the Myanmar military” in 2017. Facebook has also been criticized for promoting misinformation during past U.S. elections and for suppressing embarrassing stories about Hunter Biden.

    These examples underscore broader social concerns around content moderation, privacy and tech titans’ outsized political influence. Notably, Zuckerberg – who has been associated with progressive causes in the past – has moved to embrace President Donald Trump strongly in recent months and asked for Trump’s support for Meta in a legal battle with the European Union.

    When corporate control meets the Supreme Court

    In a 2023 law journal article, I noted that recent Supreme Court decisions expanding corporate constitutional rights stand to give company founders unprecedented power to shape society. While the rise of founder-controlled social media giants with distinct political agendas has gotten a lot of attention, the widening scope of what is deemed protected corporate speech and religious exercise hasn’t been a part of that conversation.

    I think there’s a real possibility that these two streams will converge, granting constitutional protection to “founder kings” who wish to leverage company resources for private agendas. Two recent legal developments raise the stakes.

    First, the courts – and in particular the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts – have been expanding corporate constitutional rights, which could allow dual-class founders to carve out exceptions to generally applicable laws.

    Second, recent legal changes in Delaware – which despite its tiny size is the leading corporate law jurisdiction in the U.S. – could make it easier for dual-class controlling shareholders to exercise power within their companies.

    To get a sense of the potential consequences, suppose the controlling shareholder of a dual-class company were to cause it to defy a federal mandate – for example, a requirement to offer health insurance plans that cover contraception – on the grounds that complying would violate their religious beliefs. The Supreme Court in Hobby Lobby v. Burwell recognized exactly this sort of faith-based exception for a large family-owned but privately held business.

    Would it recognize such an exception for a company like Snap? The company, best known for its app Snapchat, is publicly traded, but just two men, Robert Murphy and Evan Spiegel, control 99.5% of the voting power.

    We can’t be sure. Hobby Lobby is different from Snap in many ways. Yet what they have in common is the ability of their owners to plausibly claim a unitary speech or religious exercise interest that would not characterize a typical large business. Snap’s public owners have no say at all – zero votes – in the company’s affairs. If the controllers of Snap asserted a religious basis for exempting the company from a regulation – and to be clear, this is a purely hypothetical example – the courts might well indulge the claim.

    The judicial system’s expanding view of corporate constitutional rights – seen not just in Hobby Lobby but in Citizens United v. FEC and a number of more recent and ongoing cases in state and lower federal courts – could empower founders to leverage their businesses for private agendas. Whether or not this is likely for Snap in particular, the combination of the dual-class model and changes in the law would seem to leave the door open.

    Elon Musk vs. the dual-class model

    A fitting contrast might be none other than Twitter – renamed X after Elon Musk acquired it and who recently merged it into xAI, another Musk-led venture.

    As a privately held company, xAI is not required to file public investor reports, and much about its ownership structure remains opaque. But let’s assume the company is majority-owned by Musk in a conventional single-class structure – the type Twitter had before he bought it. Given a chance to provoke, Musk has consistently proved eager to raise his hand. Couldn’t he use his control to get X or xAI – we’ll stick with “X” for simplicity – to exercise the same vast control that Murphy and Spiegel could at Snap, or Zuckerberg at Meta?

    Yes – but with a subtle yet important difference.

    There’s a certain logic to X’s key corporate decisions being vested in Musk. Quite famously, he ponied up US$44 billion to buy the entire company. Legal prohibitions on the deployment of private resources for influence are confined to a small universe of cases – antitrust, bribery, certain types of campaign contributions. Those resources include businesses, which are a form of property, that are owned by wealthy individuals or groups. With limited exceptions, people can use their own property as they wish.

    In a dual-class company, though, controllers use other people’s property as they wish. They can get the immense legal, economic and organizational power of the corporate form without having to put much skin in the game.

    Beyond TikTok: The conversation the US should be having

    Traditionally, questions of rich-guy influence have been seen through the lens of politics, taxes or public regulation. But seeing them as questions about the exercise of private corporate control makes clear the special social challenges posed by dual-class stock.

    Wall Street has mostly accepted the bargain: ironclad insulation of Zuckerberg in exchange for rock-solid Meta returns. But this debate is not only of interest for the investment community. Everyone has a stake in its outcome.

    It’s fair for the public to question the wisdom of allowing company founders to leverage the resources and newly jumbo-sized constitutional rights of large corporations in service of a special agenda – be it for a foreign government, a political party or a religious faith – that isn’t even connected to classical purposes of the corporation or advantages of the dual-class model.

    The distinctive risks posed by TikTok are mostly unrelated to its share structure. But the debate over the ban-or-sell law offers a reminder: The powers created by dual-class stock aren’t unique to Chinese control. America’s homegrown-found kings wield them, too.

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

    – ref. The founder kings of Silicon Valley: Dual-class stock gives US social media company controllers nearly as much power as ByteDance has over TikTok – https://theconversation.com/the-founder-kings-of-silicon-valley-dual-class-stock-gives-us-social-media-company-controllers-nearly-as-much-power-as-bytedance-has-over-tiktok-253671

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How racism fueled the Eaton Fire’s destruction in Altadena − a scholar explains why discrimination can raise fire risk for Black Californians

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Calvin Schermerhorn, Professor of History, Arizona State University

    Altadena is inherently prone to fire. But Black residents are the most vulnerable. Mario Tama/Getty Images

    The damage from the Eaton Fire wasn’t indiscriminate. The blaze that ravaged the city of Altadena, California, in January 2025, killing 17 people and consuming over 9,000 buildings, destroyed Black Altadenans’ homes in greatest proportion.

    About 48% of Black-owned homes sustained major damage or total destruction, compared with 37% of those owned by Asian, Latino or white Altadenans, according to a February 2025 report from the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies.

    The Eaton Fire’s uneven devastation reveals a pattern of racial discrimination previously concealed along neat blocks of mid-century, ranch-style homes and tree-lined streets.

    ‘A place for white people only’

    In the early 20th century, Altadena was a professional enclave connected to Los Angeles, 13 miles away, by the Pacific Electric Railway, or “Red Car” system.

    It was also lily-white, and that’s how homeowner groups liked it, according to research by Altadena historian Michele Zack.

    These organizations, which had lofty names such as the Great Northwest Improvement Association and West Altadena Improvement Association, urged homeowners to write language into their deeds that would bar Black, Latino or Asian tenants from buying or renting there.

    “We want our section of Pasadena and Altadena to be a place for white people only,” read one homeowners association notice sent to property owners in 1919.

    A ladies golf lesson in Altadena, Calif., 1958.
    Maryland Studio/PGA of America via Getty Images

    By the end of World War II, most properties in Altadena had racially restrictive deeds or covenants – a trend being repeated in white suburbs across the country.

    In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down such restrictions in Shelley v. Kraemer as unenforceable. Still, the 1950 census shows that Altadena had no Black residents.

    Building the new LA

    But the Los Angeles area was changing. The West Coast economy boomed after the war, and Black Americans from Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas began heading to California. Many landed in Pasadena, directly south of Altadena.

    Claiming that Americans preferred buses and automobiles to trains, a consortium of automobile, oil and tire companies persuaded Los Angeles officials to rip out the electric railway and replace it with roads.

    Los Angeles’ “Red Car” system, which had connected the region, closed for good in 1961. Altadena had already lost its rail connection to Los Angeles long before, in 1941.

    By mid-century, broader Los Angeles had become a series of homeowner-controlled enclaves connected by freeways and choked with smog.

    The construction in 1958 of Interstate 210, which connected the San Fernando Valley to the San Gabriel Valley, ran a four-lane highway through mostly Black and Latino neighborhoods of Pasadena. Following a national pattern of displacing poor minority communities in the name of urban renewal, it was part of a redevelopment spree that ultimately pushed 4,000 Black and Latino residents out of the city.

    Some relocated within Pasadena or moved to Duarte, Monrovia, Pomona or South Los Angeles. But a handful of families bought homes in Altadena, defying the illegal racial covenants still in place there.

    One new Black resident, Joseph Henry Davis, bought a home west of Lake Avenue, the main north-south artery dividing the city, in what was, as one local newspaper put it in 1964, an “all-white Altadena neighborhood.”

    When Davis moved in, the story reports, his new neighbors put up “a 40-inch white plaster cross that (read) ‘you are not welcome here.‘” The Davis family “paid it no attention.”

    Altadena embodied a paradox seen nationwide. The city integrated, but block-by-block segregation kept white and Black residents apart.

    Discrimination in new forms

    By 1970, roughly one-third of Altadena’s population was Black, and 70% of Black households in Altadena owned their homes – nearly double Los Angeles County’s Black home ownership rate of 38%.

    Black residents almost exclusively lived in West Altadena. Lots there were smaller than those on the east side of town, so they were more affordable. They were also older, which made them more vulnerable to fires because they were built with materials that were more flammable than those used in newer homes.

    As my book “The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made” shows, once Black families surmounted one obstacle, such as racial covenants, another rose in its place.

    In the 1960s and 1970s, many white Altadenans resisted school integration, opposing boundary changes and busing that would have put Black and Latino students in predominantly white Altadena schools. California passed Proposition 13 in 1978, freezing property taxes at 1% of their assessed value. Public schools lost significant funding, private schools gained affluent students, and educational segregation deepened.

    Educational discrimination feeds wealth inequality, which was severe nationwide: In 1980, for every dollar a white household owned, a Black one owned 20 cents.

    Rising home values, paradoxically, had a similarly malignant effect. In the 1980s, the Los Angeles area became one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation. Many Black Altadenans could no longer afford to live there. The share of the city’s population that was Black fell from 43% in 1980 to 38% in 1990. By the 2000s it had dropped to below 25%.

    Great Recession takes its toll

    Black homeowners who remained in Altadena were hit hard by the 2008 housing crisis. That crisis was caused in part by lenders steering borrowers, particularly borrowers of color, into subprime loans, even when they qualified for better deals.

    Between 2007 and 2009, Black households lost 48% of their wealth – nearly half their assets. White wealth dropped during the Great Recession, too, but only by about one-quarter.

    Research into this racial discrepancy later showed that because white families had more of a financial cushion, they could stem their losses.

    These and other factors have all dragged down the wealth of Black Californians over the years. In 2023, California’s task force on reparations calculated that the state’s discriminatory practices cost the average African American in California $160,931 in homeownership wealth compared with a white Californian.

    Racism fuels the fire

    Those inequities were a tinderbox that the Eaton Fire ignited.

    Altadena is inherently prone to fire because it borders the Angeles National Forest, gets Santa Ana winds that spread embers, and has highly flammable vegetation. But because Black Altadenans’ homes sit on smaller lots, with structures and landscaping located closer together, the ember fire spread more easily in Black neighborhoods.

    Altadena, Calif., March 26, 2025: A scene of ruin.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    Black Altadenans also tend to be older than their white neighbors, because most had bought into the area before the real estate boom of the 1980s. The physical and financial strains typical of an aging household may have caused hardships for removing vegetation – a best practice in protecting a structure from an ember fire.

    All these factors likely contributed to the Eaton Fire disproportionately burning Black-owned homes. All are connected to the city’s legacy of discrimination and exclusion. And they will all make fire recovery harder for Black Altadenans, too.

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

    – ref. How racism fueled the Eaton Fire’s destruction in Altadena − a scholar explains why discrimination can raise fire risk for Black Californians – https://theconversation.com/how-racism-fueled-the-eaton-fires-destruction-in-altadena-a-scholar-explains-why-discrimination-can-raise-fire-risk-for-black-californians-250582

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Update on Free Trade Agreement negotiations with South Korea

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Update on Free Trade Agreement negotiations with South Korea

    Update following round 4 of negotiations on an upgraded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea

    Negotiations took place in London between 10 and 21 March 2025. 

    The fourth round of negotiations to upgrade the existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Republic of Korea (RoK) took place in London between 10 and 21 March 2025. As with previous rounds, negotiators from both sides engaged productively across a broad range of areas in an ongoing effort to enhance and solidify the economic partnership between us. 

    Negotiations continue to centre around three key objectives: 

    1. Securing and future proofing existing arrangements: Progress was made in rules of origin discussions. Product Specific Rules were discussed for a range of important exporting sectors. Negotiators will continue to seek a chapter which accounts for both existing and future supply chains. 

    2. Capturing recent advances in Trade Policy: Negotiations on a new and comprehensive Digital Trade chapter progressed positively, with commitments on data, trade digitisation and business safeguards under discussion this round. 

    3. Supporting our strategic relationship with the Republic of Korea: During the round good progress was made towards agreeing new cooperation commitments covering areas such as the Environment, Trade and Gender Equality and Supply Chains. 

    Economic growth is the core mission of this government, and this FTA has an important role to play in supporting our £15.3 billion trade relationship with the Republic of Korea. 

    The government will only ever sign a trade agreement which aligns with the UK’s national interests, upholding high standards across a range of sectors, including protections for the National Health Service. 

    The fifth round of negotiations is currently expected to take place in Seoul in the Summer of 2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: 3D Systems’ Solution Enables World’s First Facial Implant Manufacturing at Point-of-Care

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • First 3D-printed PEEK facial implant manufactured at the point-of-care using 3D Systems’ EXT 220 MED
    • Point-of-care collaboration between surgeons, engineers, and technology enables tailored solutions to address complex patient needs
    • 3D Systems’ solutions accelerating additive manufacturing use in maxillofacial reconstruction — total market anticipated to reach more than $4 billion by end of 2034

    ROCK HILL, S.C., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) announced that in collaboration with the University Hospital Basel (Switzerland) the Company’s unique point-of-care additive manufacturing solution has been used to design and produce the world’s first Medical Device Regulation (MDR)-compliant 3D-printed PEEK facial implant. Prof. Florian Thieringer and Dr. Neha Sharma, together with their team of biomedical engineers, successfully designed and manufactured a custom device to address a patient’s unique need using 3D Systems technology and product manufacturing expertise. They used this implant as part of a successful surgery completed at the hospital on March 18, 2025. Production of the first MDR-compliant facial implant was completed using VESTAKEEP® i4 3DF PEEK by Evonik on 3D Systems’ EXT 220 MED. The cleanroom-based architecture of the printer and simplified post-processing workflows enable the efficient production of patient-specific medical devices directly at the hospital.

    “Our goal is always to provide the best possible care for our patients,” said Prof. Thieringer. “Being directly involved in both the design and manufacturing of patient-specific implants — right here in our hospital — allows us to tailor treatments precisely to individual needs, respond faster, and improve surgical outcomes. The ability to produce implants on demand represents a new era in personalized care.”

    For more than a decade, surgeons have used VSP® surgical planning solutions that combine best-in-class digital workflows with the industry’s broadest additive manufacturing portfolio of printers and materials to deliver comprehensive patient-matched solutions. Bringing together surgeons, engineers, and technology in the clinical setting allows for the immediate development of patient-specific treatments, overcoming the limitations of standard medical devices. As a result, healthcare providers are improving outcomes1,2, increasing efficiency3, and lowering the cost of care4. 

    “The rapid adoption of the EXT 220 MED by leading healthcare institutions combined with our expanding applications pipeline, underscores the transformative power of 3D printing in clinical settings,” said Stefan Leonhardt, Ph.D., director, medical devices, 3D Systems. “We are proud to collaborate with the pioneering clinicians at University Hospital Basel and other leading hospitals worldwide to expand the applications that can be addressed with additive manufacturing. Since its launch in August 2023, our innovative solution has already been utilized in more than 80 successful cranial implant surgeries at partner hospitals, demonstrating its swift integration and real-world effectiveness in delivering personalized patient care. The successful use of the EXT 220 MED for maxillofacial implants showcases our commitment to ongoing innovation that delivers personalized healthcare solutions for new applications.”

    It is anticipated that the use of 3D-printed facial implants will accelerate based on the availability of advanced technologies. According to Market Research Future5, the 3D-printed maxillofacial implant market size was estimated at more than $2 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to more than double to over $4 billion by the end of 2034. Additive manufacturing is disrupting this sector by enabling a more cost-effective, efficient solution. As a pioneer in personalized healthcare solutions, 3D Systems has worked with surgeons for over a decade to plan more than 150,000 patient-specific cases and additively manufacture more than two million implants and instruments for 100+ CE-marked and FDA-cleared devices from its world-class, FDA-registered, ISO 13485-certified facilities in Littleton, Colorado, and Leuven, Belgium. For more information, please visit the Company’s website.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believes,” “belief,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “anticipates” or “plans” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs, assumptions, and current expectations and may include comments as to the company’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as of the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

    About 3D Systems
    More than 35 years ago, Chuck Hull’s curiosity and desire to improve the way products were designed and manufactured gave birth to 3D printing, 3D Systems, and the additive manufacturing industry. Since then, that same spark continues to ignite the 3D Systems team as we work side-by-side with our customers to change the way industries innovate. As a full-service solutions partner, we deliver industry-leading 3D printing technologies, materials and software to high-value markets such as medical and dental; aerospace, space and defense; transportation and motorsports; AI infrastructure; and durable goods. Each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise and passion of our employees who endeavor to achieve our shared goal of Transforming Manufacturing for a Better Future. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

    Investor Contact:   investor.relations@3dsystems.com 
    Media Contact:      press@3dsystems.com

    1 Ballard DH, Trace AP, Ali S, et al. Clinical Applications of 3D Printing: Primer for Radiologists. Acad Radiol 2018;25(1):52–65. 
    2 Chepelev L, Wake N, Ryan J, et al. Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 3D printing Special Interest Group (SIG): guidelines for medical 3D printing and appropriateness for clinical scenarios. 3D Print Med 2018;4(1):11. 
    3 Morgan C, Khatri C, Hanna SA, Ashrafian H, Sarraf KM. Use of three-dimensional printing in preoperative planning in orthopaedic trauma surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Orthop 2020;11(1):57– 67.
    4 Ballard DH, Mills P, Duszak R Jr, Weisman JA, Rybicki FJ, Woodard PK. Medical 3D Printing Cost-Savings in Orthopedic and Maxillofacial Surgery: Cost Analysis of Operating Room Time Saved with 3D Printed Anatomic Models and Surgical Guides. Acad Radiol. 2020 Aug;27(8):1103-1113.
    5 Market Research Future, 3D Printed Maxillofacial Implant Market Research Report By Application (Craniomaxillofacial Reconstruction, Dental Implants, Orthognathic Surgery, Trauma Reconstruction), By Material (Titanium, POM, Polyether Ether Ketone, Glass Ceramics), By Technology (Stereolithography, Selective Laser Sintering, Fused Deposition Modeling, Computer-Aided Design), By End Use (Hospitals, Dental Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers) and By Regional (North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) – Forecast to 2034 (March 2025).

    The MIL Network –