Category: Economy

MIL-OSI: XRP News: Only 3 Days Left to Join XploraDEX Presale as $XPL Token Distribution Enters Final Stage
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ZURICH, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The $XPL token distribution is now in its final stage, and the presale that has powered one of XRPL’s most anticipated launches is down to its last 4 days. With the window for early access rapidly closing, traders and investors are rushing to secure their allocation before the price increases and the platform goes fully live.

Buy $XPL Token

XploraDEX is not just launching a token—it’s launching a new standard for DeFi on the XRP Ledger. As the first AI-powered decentralized exchange on XRPL, XploraDEX offers real-time trade automation, predictive analytics, smart risk assessment, and lightning-fast execution. And with token distribution actively taking place, the early access phase is nearing its end.

Participate in $XPL Presale

Key Development Updates:
- $XPL tokens are currently being distributed to early participants
- Presale window closes in just 4 days
- Over 78% of allocation has been claimed
- Staking, governance, and AI dashboard rollouts begin shortly after distribution ends
As distribution hits its final stage, new investors are still able to participate in the presale. But this is it—the last chance to get $XPL at its lowest price before public listings begin on XRPL-based decentralized exchanges.

Join $XPL Presale Now

The XRP community has taken notice. Influencers are buzzing. Telegram is packed. Twitter mentions are trending. Wallet activity continues to rise hour by hour as traders race to get into the presale before it closes.

What sets XploraDEX apart is simple: execution. While others overpromise, XploraDEX is delivering. Token distribution is already in progress. Platform activation begins right after. And presale participants will lead the next wave of XRPL DeFi.

Purchase $XPL Token and Secure Your Spot Before It’s Too Late: https://sale.xploradex.io

Live Updates on $XPL Token Launch: Website | $XPL Token Presale | X | Telegram

Contact:
Oliver Muller
oliver@xploradex.io
contact@xploradex.io

Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the XploraDEX. 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. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8f1950d-80b3-4530-b738-681fc9492d61

The MIL Network –
April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Lava and Lamps: Opening Remarks for Crypto Custody Roundtable
Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

Thank you, Chairman Atkins, Commissioner Uyeda, and Commissioner Crenshaw, and thank you all for joining us in-person or online on another Friday afternoon for the Crypto Task Force’s latest roundtable: “Know Your Custodian: Key Considerations for Crypto Custody.” Thank you especially to our moderator, Zach Zweihorn, and today’s panelists for taking on this challenging topic.

Children often play a game called “the floor is lava.” The game requires you to leap from one piece of furniture to the next without falling or touching the ground—otherwise, you will be burned by the imaginary molten lava below.

A D.C. version of this game is our regulatory approach to crypto assets, and crypto asset custody in particular. The twist in the regulatory version is that it is largely played in the dark: burning legal lava and no lamps to illuminate the way. To engage in crypto-related activities, SEC-registrants have had to hop from one poorly illuminated regulatory space to the next, all while ensuring that they never touch any crypto asset. A broker or ATS that cannot custody or otherwise handle an asset will find it difficult to facilitate trading in the asset, and a robust market is unlikely to develop. If investment advisers do not know which crypto assets are securities, what types of entities are qualified custodians, and whether exercising staking or voting rights will result in custody violations, advisers may not be able to serve their clients’ best interests. Similar confusion may prevent investment companies from investing in crypto assets or investing in a way that would be most efficient or beneficial to the fund. It is time that we find a way to end this game. We need to turn on the lights and build some walkways over the lava pit.

We, of course, should not take custodial obligations lightly. When an intermediary holds a crypto asset, or any asset for that matter, investors and the intermediary itself can face serious risks. The Commission must grapple with these issues. If we fail to do so, we prevent regulated entities from serving their customers and elevate—to the detriment of the American public—markets and intermediaries that may be less safe than our regulated entities. We must ensure that the custody requirements applicable to regulated entities further rather than impair investor protection and choice. And these requirements must not interfere with an adviser’s discretion about how to fulfill its fiduciary obligations.

Our regulatory approach should recognize the differences across crypto assets. Qualified custodians exist for some crypto assets, but for others self-custody might be the safer option. Many tokenized securities involve the use of smart contracts or other blockchain-related protocols that allow the issuer or its agent to take corrective measures in the event of an error or lost or stolen private keys, just as it could resolve issues when using a traditional database. Indeed, distributed ledgers could mitigate some risks associated with traditional databases. For example, a broker-dealer’s ability to control an uncertificated security on-chain arguably makes it easier for the broker-dealer to demonstrate that it is the legal owner of the security if the issuer or its agent were to mismanage any off-chain ownership records.

Finally, we should acknowledge and welcome the fact that blockchain technology empowers investors by allowing them to self-custody, trade, and otherwise engage with their assets without the use of any intermediary. Our regulatory framework should not stand in the way of these innovations by forcing intermediation.

I look forward to hearing the panel’s thoughts on these and other issues. While this roundtable focuses on custody issues for broker-dealers, investment advisers, and investment companies, I also would appreciate hearing the panel’s views on whether the SEC should amend or clarify other rules that may be just as important in protecting customer assets, such as capital, recordkeeping, and financial reporting rules.

Before turning it over to Zach to kick off the discussion, let me offer some questions for the panels’ consideration:
1. Should Congress amend SIPA to address the treatment of crypto assets that are not “securities” as defined in SIPA?
2. In the absence of any such amendments, how can we help ensure that customers receive their crypto assets (and any cash deposited to purchase those assets) in the event of a broker-dealer liquidation? Does Article 8 of the UCC present a potential solution to this issue?
3. Should we retain the Special Purpose Broker-Dealer framework or should we clarify how any broker-dealer may custody crypto assets that are securities?
4. What requirements should apply to broker-dealers when custodying tokenized securities that are not bearer instruments?
5. Should SEC staff modify or replace the so-called “ATS three-step” letter? If so, how?
6. Should we provide any guidance or propose amendments to address how our rules apply to broker-dealers that use smart contracts to facilitate settlement?
7. Given that Rule 15c3-3 does not apply to crypto assets that are not securities, what can we do to ensure that broker-dealers appropriately safeguard any such assets held for customers?
8. Should the custody rules permit funds and advisers to place and maintain crypto assets with classes of custodians not currently contemplated by those rules?
9. Alternatively, should the custody rules be principles-based and incorporate qualitative criteria as opposed to being focused solely on certain entities that may custody assets?
10. Should we propose changes to the adviser and investment company custody rules to facilitate self-custody of crypto assets and, if so, under what conditions?
MIL OSI USA News –
April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Remarks at the Crypto Task Force Roundtable

Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

Welcome to the third roundtable of the SEC’s Crypto Task Force.

I am in my fourth day back at the Commission and thank my fellow Commissioners and the SEC staff for their warm welcome. I am eager to tackle long festering issues, such as regulatory treatment of digital assets and distributed leger technologies

In addition, my warmest personal thanks go to Commissioner Peirce for her principled and tireless advocacy for common-sense crypto policy within the United States. It is no wonder that she has earned the title of “CryptoMom.” Commissioner Peirce is the right person to lead the effort to come up with a rational regulatory framework for crypto asset markets. Thank you to the panelists for volunteering their time and expertise.

This is important work as entrepreneurs across the United States are harnessing blockchain technology to modernize aspects of our financial system. I expect huge benefits from this market innovation for efficiency, cost reduction, transparency, and risk mitigation. Market participants engaging with this technology deserve clear regulatory rules of the road. Innovation has been stifled for the last several years due to market and regulatory uncertainty that unfortunately the SEC has fostered.

I look forward to engaging with market participants and working with colleagues in President Trump’s Administration and Congress to establish a rational, fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for crypto assets.

Today’s roundtable is focused on the challenges SEC registrants face when attempting to safely custody crypto assets for their customers in compliance with the federal securities laws. For example, are changes needed to the custody rules under the Exchange Act, Advisers Act, or Investment Company Act to accommodate crypto assets and blockchain technology? Is the “special purpose broker-dealer” regime workable for market participants, or is a new crypto asset broker-dealer framework needed? The market itself seems to indicate that the current framework badly needs attention. You all can help give us direction.

Thank you all for dedicating your Friday afternoon to helping us address these important issues. I look forward to a productive discussion.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Cameroonian Man Indicted for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Armed Separatist Fighters to Murder, Kidnap, and Maim Individuals in Cameroon and For Making Threats

Source: United States Attorneys General

A federal grand jury in Baltimore returned an indictment yesterday charging a Cameroonian national residing in Maryland, Eric Tataw, also known as “the Garri Master,” 38, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, with conspiring to provide material support to armed separatist militias in Cameroon and threatening violence against Cameroonian civilians. He surrendered and will make his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson today.

According to court documents, multiple armed and violent secessionist groups in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon are fighting to form a new country called “Ambazonia.” The armed separatist militias sought to achieve secession by not only attacking the Cameroonian military, but also intentionally attacking the civilian population in Cameroon in an attempt to force the Cameroonian government into allowing these regions to secede. These separatist fighters are frequently referred to as “Amba Boys.”

“The defendant is alleged to have ordered horrific acts of violence, including severing limbs, against Cameroonian civilians in support of a violent secessionist movement,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This indictment represents the Justice Department’s commitment to hold accountable human rights violators who direct brutal political violence and fundraise for armed militias from the comfort of the United States.”

“The Justice Department will not tolerate those who help murder, maim, and kidnap,” said Sue J. Bai, Head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “We will continue to hold accountable those who aim to turn American soil into a staging ground for political violence abroad.”

“Tataw and his co-conspirators masterminded and financially supported a vicious scheme to overthrow a foreign government. They resorted to an unthinkable level of violence while instilling fear in innocent victims to advance their political agenda,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “We, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to relentlessly pursuing anyone who attempts to inflict mayhem on others. Tataw and his co-conspirators demonstrated a total disregard for human life so now they must pay the price.”

As alleged in the indictment, Tataw was a citizen of Cameroon living in Maryland and was a member of the Cameroonian diaspora with a large social media following. Beginning in April 2018, Tataw and others sought to raise funds for the Amba Boys to finance violent attacks in Cameroon. Tataw also allegedly called for the murder, kidnapping, and maiming of civilians and the destruction of public, educational, and cultural property in Cameroon. Tataw and his co-conspirators allegedly directed the maiming of Cameroonian civilians by severing their limbs, a practice Tataw called “Garriing.” Tataw allegedly used the phrase “small Garri” to refer to removing fingers or other small appendages and the phrase “large Garri” to refer to removing large limbs or killing people. Additionally, Tataw allegedly referred to himself as the “Garri Master,” or master of mutilation.

Tataw and his co-conspirators allegedly targeted those believed to be working for or collaborating with the government, including municipal officials, traditional chiefs, and employees of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), a public company that grew, processed, and sold bananas, palm oil, and rubber. As alleged, Tataw personally wrote hundreds of social media posts on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter calling for attacks against Cameroonian civilians, seeking to raise funds to arm Amba Boys, and threatening those he viewed as cooperating with the government of Cameroon. These social media posts were regularly viewed by tens of thousands of people, including Amba Boys and their leaders, and were often further disseminated by third parties allegedly acting at Tataw’s direction or encouragement.

Tataw is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support and four counts of interstate communication of a threat to harm. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the material support count and five years in prison on each count of communication of a threat to harm. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Sue J. Bai, Head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland; and Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Maryland made the announcement.

HSI and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, with assistance from the FBI, are investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Chelsea Schinnour of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Hoffman and Joseph Wenner for the District of Maryland, and Trial Attorneys Michael Dittoe and Andrew Briggs of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MIL Security OSI –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues Trump Administration Over Unlawful Conditions on Funding for K-12 Schools

Source: US State of California

$7.9 billion in federal financial assistance at risk in California

LOS ANGELES – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, leading a coalition of 19 attorneys general, filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s efforts to withhold federal funding from state and local agencies that refuse to abandon lawful programs and policies that promote equal access to education in K-12 classrooms across the nation. On April 3, 2025, the Department of Education informed state and local agencies that they must accept the Trump Administration’s new and legally incoherent interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts—or else risk immediate and catastrophic loss of federal education funds. California, like many other states, refused to certify its compliance with these new requirements, explaining that there is no lawful or practical way to do so given the Department’s vague, contradictory, and unsupported interpretation of Title VI. In filing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition seek to bar the Department from withholding any funding based on these unlawful conditions.

“The U.S. Department of Education is unapologetically abandoning its mission to ensure equal access to education with its latest threat to wholesale terminate congressionally mandated federal education funding,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Let me be clear: the federal Department of Education is not trying to ‘combat’ discrimination with this latest order. Instead it is using our nation’s foundational civil rights law as a pretext to coerce states into abandoning efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through lawful programs and policies. Once again, the President has exceeded his authority under the Constitution and violated the law.”

The U.S. Department of Education provides California with $7.9 billion in congressionally mandated financial support each year for a wide variety of needs and services related to children and education. This funding includes financial support to ensure that students from low-income families have the same access to high-quality education as their peers, provide special education services, recruit and train highly skilled and dedicated teachers, fund programming for non-native speakers to learn English, and provide support to vulnerable children in foster care and without housing. As a condition of receiving these funds, state and local education agencies provide written assurances they will comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin, and California has consistently and regularly certified its compliance with Title VI and its implementing regulations.

However, on April 3, the Department issued a letter that conditioned continued federal financial assistance on state and local education agencies certifying that they are not operating programs inconsistent with the Trump Administration’s view that efforts supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion are unlawful. The letter forced state and local agencies to choose between two untenable options: (1) refuse to certify compliance based on the Department’s un-defined viewpoint on what constitutes unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, curriculum, instruction, and policies, and place federal funding in peril or (2) certify compliance, attempt to identify and eliminate lawful diversity, equity, and inclusion to the detriment of students, and still face liability for failing to fully comply with the Department’s vague and ill-defined order. Faced with this choice, California informed the Department that it continues to stand by its prior certifications of compliance with Title VI and its lawfully issued implementing regulations in the Department’s possession but would not assent to the unlawfully issued certification.

In the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta and the multistate coalition assert that the Department of Education’s attempt to terminate federal education funding based on its misinterpretation of Title VI violates the Spending Clause, the Appropriations Clause, the separation of powers, and the Administrative Procedures Act.

Attorney General Bonta is leading a multistate coalition in filing the lawsuit along with the attorneys general of New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. The attorneys general are joined by the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

A copy of the lawsuit is available here.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 26, 2025

MIL-OSI Canada: $1.8 Million in Community Airport Improvements to take Flight this Construction Season

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on April 25, 2025

Today, Highways Minister David Marit announced more than $1.8 million in infrastructure improvements at eight community airports, which will strengthen their aviation roles.

Through the Community Airport Partnership (CAP) program, the Ministry of Highways will commit $935,910 toward the projects and the airport operators will fund the remaining estimated $939,228. The work is to occur in the 2025 construction season.

“Air ambulances, firefighting and policing services, agriculture and other industries rely on local airports across Saskatchewan to meet the needs of businesses and communities,” Marit said. “These infrastructure investments position rural and northern communities for growth, while strengthening our great province.”

CAP invests in regional, community-owned airport upgrades to runways and taxiways, lighting, security fencing, navigational systems and other eligible projects.

“Thanks to this ongoing partnership with the provincial government, communities can make strategic infrastructure investments to improve their airports so they can continue to provide the key services that support our quality of life and contribute to our economy,” Saskatchewan Aviation Council President Janet Keim said.

A project is funded on a 50/50 cost-sharing basis between the approved recipient and the provincial government to a maximum $275,000. Any additional costs are the responsibility of the funding recipient.

Airport operators and the provincial funding allocated toward their projects for 2025-26 are:

Airport Operator	Project	Estimated Total Cost	Provincial Contribution	Airport Contribution
Town of Assiniboia	Rehabilitation Taxiway / Air Ambulance Loading Area	$90,865	$45,433	$45,432
Town of Esterhazy	Runway and Apron Revitalization	$159,000	$79,500	$79,500
RM of Eye Hill No. 382	RM of Eye Hill Municipal Airport Rehabilitation Project 2025	$127,365	$63,683	$63,682
Town of La Ronge	Airport Drainage System Maintenance / Improvements (Phase 2)	$550,000	$275,000	$275,000
Moose Jaw Municipal Airport Authority	Crack Filling	$40,000	$20,000	$20,000
Town of Nipawin	Airport Runway and Taxi Rehab	$320,000	$160,000	$160,000
Town of Tisdale	Phase 2 Resurface Runway	$503,320	$250,000	$253,320
City of Yorkton	Crack Sealing and South Runway Joint Repair	$84,588	$42,294	$42,294
Totals		$1,875,138	$935,910	$939,228

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For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –

April 26, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of Vice-President’s Address at Conference of Vice-Chancellors of State, Central and Private Universities of Tamil Nadu in Udhagamandalam

Source: Government of India

Thiru R.N. Ravi, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, Thiru Dr. Pawan Kumar Singh, Director, Indian Institute of Management, Tiruchirapalli, Thiru R. Kirlosh Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Governor of Tamil Nadu. Dignitaries, Vice Chancellors and Distinguished audience present in the hall.

We are having access to this discourse through LIVE coverage by Sansad TV. So, what is being transacted here is not limited to those present here, it will resonate not only to Vice-Chancellors but to all who are stakeholders in the rise of this nation, in improving the academic environment in the country.

A while ago, we observed silence. I join the nation in expressing profound grief and outrage at the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, that claimed innocent lives. It is a grim reminder that terrorism is a global menace to be addressed by humanity in unison.

Bharat is the world’s most peace-loving nation and our civilisational ethos, reflected in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is getting global resonance. Our visionary leadership in the shape of a Prime Minister who is in his third term is our greatest assurance that the nation’s rise cannot be handicapped by any situations- internal or external.

But we all must bear in mind that National Interest is supreme. This was echoed by no one else than Dr. B.R. Ambedkar while imparting his final address to the Constituent Assembly. We therefore have to take a resolve to always keep Nation First. National interest cannot be intertwined with partisan interest, it has to be uppermost. This cannot be subservient to any interest political, personal, or for a group. It was with this spirit that we observed silence.

Distinguished audience, I owe my present position only to education, was extremely fortunate to get a scholarship and good education. And I therefore realise the importance of good education. One that can cut into inequities. Can bring about dignity, can contribute to rise of the nation and therefore Hon’ble Governor, It is an absolute honour and privilege as also profound responsibility to share thoughts with those, the Vice-Chancellors, the academicians, the administrators in the field of education who shape those who are destined to shape our nation. That is our youth, our youth demographic dividend, is the envy of the world. It is contributing that is making a great difference.

I must commend the Hon’ble Governor Thiru R.N. Ravi for his very thoughtful initiative taken by him in 2022 to have ‘Conference of Vice-Chancellors’. The present one is one such in the series.

I have no doubt the deliberations will be very fruitful because when deliberations take place. Dialogue takes place, when there is sharing of thoughts, sharing of problems- Resolutions emerge. Issues that require to be addressed we get a way out. But I must commend Governor Ravi for another reason, he is doing this because it is his constitutional ordainment.

He has taken oath under the Indian Constitution, under Article 159. His oath as that of the Hon’ble President is very significant. The oath he has taken as Governor is to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law”. By his oath he is further enjoined, to devote to the service and well-being of the people of Tamil Nadu. By organising such events which are extremely relevant to the field of education, Governor Ravi is vindicating his oath.

Distinguished audience, Education is the most impactful transformative agent of change, and you all are aware the only constant is change, and change must be soothing to society, must be meaningful to society, must give order to society, respect to every individual. The citizen must pride himself or herself in the system in which he or she lives.

We need to nurture our education ecosystem in the backdrop of our historical legacy, Gurukul ! The Gurukul concept is sublime. A facet of service to society by Guru. There was free access to those who had earned knowledge, education. The Guru in Gurukul took everyone under his fold, as part of that family. That is our legacy, that calls for revival.

No one knows better than the people here and the people listening to me all over the country and some will come to know of it through print media and social media. I assert, Accessibility and affordability of education is vital but what is more significant in a world that is changing very fast. Accessibility and affordability has to be of quality education. Fortunately, in our country it is emerging as a national priority. Only quality education system for all can be transformative. The people here and people watching it are the prime motivators.

Time for your category, Distinguished audience to fire on all cylinders to bring about much needed change in education which can gain momentum with pro-active affirmative stance of Vice Chancellors, and others who are stakeholders by virtue of being in governance, political executive and bureaucracy.

Such Conferences and Congregations are crucibles of thought, policy, and purpose. And the thoughts are nurtured here, policies evolved. There is a purposeful definition of brainstorming sessions that catalyse the change we all need. I have no hesitation in indicating to you, this is a contemporaneous imperative need and essential. We need to focus on it as our supreme priority. These are also occasions for collective reflection, self-audit, soothingly auditing each other. Trying to monetize each other’s experience, Also, occasions for introspection, and then re-imagination to lay a blueprint for future, give direction to education in Bharat that is emerging as a world power. Never have we seen the might of the Indian Prime Minister being acclaimed by world leaders in countries, political sagacity within the country and outside have given Indians, Bharatiya a new respect. We are a nation to reckon with because Bharat stands for peace and welfare of all. Growth for all. Such interactions also help us to be in sync with emerging global trends. We can’t be an island in ourselves. We have to see what is happening in other parts of the world and we also have to take notice of global trends and needs. We have to define our trajectory of growth as also of the world which we did centuries ago.

I am particularly elated that Tamil Nadu is taking a lead in this matter. Tamil Nadu is a land of vibrant learning centers, those learning centers must be our North star now. Tamil Nadu has been home to such widely accoladed learning centers like Kanchipuram and Ennayiram that attracted thousands of students from all over Bharat. I see these conferences as crucibles of ideation that will rekindle the spirit of Kanchipuram and bring back the glory of Ennayiram .

We must take pride that it was in Tamil Nadu, Madras University was established in 1857. Modern education was exemplified in this land, and University then and now has leadership in science, law, and liberal education and is reckoned as a prestigious Institution throughout the country.

Distinguished audience, Research and Development is now quintessential to progress. We can no longer depend on to gain from research elsewhere. We have to be on our own strength, our educational Institutions particularly Universities, IIMs, IITs, Institutes of excellence in science and otherwise have to be laboratories of research and innovation.

Our institutions must transform themselves from credential outfits into crucibles of innovation and character. We cannot reduce our Institutions just to hand out degrees. A degree from a university must be a potent power in the hand of a degree holder that can help him or her to fully exploit his or her potential and realize his/her talent and ambition.

I must express my one concern to this very distinguished audience, Research must correlate to much needed solutions. Research must be authentic and not just surface scratching or assimilation. You understand much better than I do, Research for the sake of research is no research.

A research paper must magnetically attract others as a solution provider. Research must be beyond self.

For leapfrogging to the education that our next generations would require; we would require a larger convergence of thought leaders and all stakeholders. This conference is a step in that direction. Those present and those not present all are gainers, a compulsive system sometimes comes in the way but as I indicated it is momentary. I cannot visualise anyone in the country whose heart does not pursue national growth. I have no doubt the benefits will be there and therefore Hon’ble Governor this conference series you started in 2022 is a well taken step in the right direction.

A sense of gratitude to Hon’ble Governor’s farsightedness, At the heart of India’s great institutions of the past, there were visionary leaders, or what we call modern day Vice Chancellors. The Vice-Chancellors of today are enormously talented, they are no less visionaries, they are giving everything which they can. They might face uphill tasks, difficult terrain or air pockets but I believe in their power to transform. They are worthy academicians who have the capacity to bring about results. They represent and epitomise the Kulapatis we had once.

I urge everyone in governance at the center and the state to believe in the institution of Vice-Chancellor and ensure they can perform undeterred by ordinary situations.

Today, we face formidable challenges: rapid technological disruption, it is far more severe than Industrial revolutions we had, A paradigm shift is taking place every moment. It is difficult to keep pace. The global order on this count is becoming increasingly complex .

Every facet of life is being affected, and it is therefore in the lap of Universities ably led on the front foot by Vice-Chancellors to act as stewards of India’s academic landscape. More the challenges, the more formidable, we must rise as impregnable not only to overcome them but also to deliver results for the nation and the world.

One challenge which the Vice-Chancellors must be facing is faculty. Faculty availability, faculty retention and sometimes faculty attrition. I would appeal to all of you to engage in sharing with one another. Use technology. Don’t be an island in yourself, it is not a time to be stand-alone because this challenge has to be fixed, we have no time.

As I indicated, I emphasize, we have well passed the era of stand-alone Institutions. It can’t be IITs, IIMs. The Stand-alone era of Institutions is already behind us. There is now need of convergence of various verticals to give

institutions cutting edge. Multi-disciplinary approach across academic pursuits is the only answer. Share your faculty talent virtually, technologically and otherwise also. That will have two fold purposes while giving it, you will be receiving also.

The winds of innovation and change must have free passage in educational institutions. Evolve a mechanism, there has to be a tolerance for varying ideas. Intolerance to a thought defines democracy the wrong way. The nectar of University is that a solo voice that has an opinion different from the majority is heard with defiance by engaging in discourse not by being judgmental.

I appeal from this very important platform, Industry, business, commerce and corporates must channelise their CSR funds to handhold Universities liberally fund Research and Innovation. There is a great need for the emergence of Greenfield Institutions because new areas have come up suddenly – Disruptive Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain. They require a new kind of mindset, Space, Oceanography- new areas are emerging. Growth in those areas can be sustained only when you get to these sectors with skilled minds, trained minds.

The more fundamental question which we all are aware of, and that is we must go back to cultural roots of education also. It is multi-dimensional. We should, and why we should not, Our Institutions should reclaim the glory of the past. On this count I would share some concerns, Universities, Institutions of excellence and higher learning must assume the role as spaces of free thought and fearless ideation.

Ideation is very vital; A concept emerges out of ideation. Execution is not difficult. Ideation requires brain-storming, exchange of various opinions and the challenges we face to day—climate change, artificial intelligence, sustainability— they require interdisciplinary thinking and also ethical reasoning.

It is only in our Universities that we can go back to our Vedic knowledge, our civilisational wealth— A gold mine when it comes to ethics, innovation.

We must foster campuses where intellectual risk is encouraged. Risk is required. A failure is not a failure you must impart to your students. A failure is a myth. A failure is a stepping stone to success. We must believe in discovery, innovation and encourage people to engage in that activity.

In this rapidly shifting global landscape, Universities must not be passive observers but active change-makers. You have to catalyse the change you need, and the change you need is the change society needs. Our curriculum must be designed to prepare students not just to respond to change, but to lead the change. To define the trajectory of the change, to see the change which we need, not the change that overtakes us.

Our administrative structures must be a guiding principle to others. That is an attention not given for too long. Education must be distanced just from giving credentials and degrees. No, it must be purposive, it must serve societal causes, and therefore there must be partnership with all stakeholders– the government, the industry, the society, the NGOs and it must be beyond transactional purposes. It must be guided by the sole spirit to serve the nation. This collaborative approach is long overdue, I am sure you will bestow attention to this.

Distinguished Vice-Chancellors, your leadership must enable faculty and students to act not merely as recipients of institutional policy—but as co-creators of the future. We must promote high-impact, high-risk research that tackles real-world problems.

We must incentivize collaborations between universities, industries, and international partners. Fortunately, the present Government has shown a lot of focus on this but above all, we must reintegrate research with teaching. Our ancient model did not separate inquiry from instruction. We must return to that integrated spirit.

Today’s Bharat is different, we never imagined we would be in this shape. Exponential economic upsurge, Infrastructural phenomenal growth, technological penetration, global reputation, system of hope and possibility. When this is the landscape we must find a way for the ambitions of our youth to be satisfied. Right now there is a mechanism, and I wish it is disseminated extensively in a revolutionary manner.

From startups to space tech, from health innovation to green energy, from blue economy to space economy, the opportunity basket is wider than ever before. It is continually getting enlarged, but our youth is in silos. They are not aware of these opportunities and that is why we have mushroom growth of coaching classes. Every newspaper is having their advertisements. Please make our youth aware of the golden opportunities they have.

Let me indicate one aspect, the International Monetary Fund, and I know the shift that has taken place. In 1990, I was a Union Minister, I knew the stance of the IMF then, I know the stance of the IMF now. IMF says, India is a global destination of investment and opportunity. We need to tell our youth this accommodation is not for govt jobs, it is for the opportunities that are in the basket for youth. We therefore need a paradigm shift, distinguished Vice-Chancellors, A paradigm shift from our youth job seeking to job creations.

Now is the time for Bharat to create innovators and job givers. That transformation requires a Saarthi. Lord Krishna was Saarthi in Mahabharata. Our Vice-Chancellors are Saarthis. They have to bring about by navigation into the mindset of our youth that avail the opportunities. Benefit from the ecosystem of hope and possibility. You can realise your talent and potential because the government has affirmative policies, and for this the Vice-Chancellors are required to be proactive and if I may say so in absolute overdrive.

It is concerning, and the government has done much to come out of it. The mindset continues to be influenced by colonial remnants. Western narratives have distorted, diluting our achievements. We must neutralise them. Our Universities must become guardians of our cultural pride. They must reflect our civilisational confidence. Imagine which country can boast of such uniqueness, civilisational wealth, and India reminds the world every moment what peace is. What is inclusivity? India is a symbol of inclusivity which globally must be emulated.

Our universities must become guardians of cultural pride and civilizational confidence. We must create dedicated centres for the rigorous study of India’s scientific, philosophical, and artistic contributions. For that decolonization drive to fructify all those who are here and listen to this need to lead.  We cannot be in captivity of calibration from outside, we do not know how they calibrate, what agenda they have in calibration? They often turn Nelson’s eye to the impeccable, sustainable, growth trajectory of this country which continuously is getting on a high gradient and to do this the government has taken a great initiative. After 3 decades, taking into consideration inputs from the widest spectrum of stakeholders, there was an evolution of the National Education Policy. This policy aligns with our civilisational ethos. It encourages multidisciplinary learning, values Indian languages, and envisions education as the development of the whole person—not just employability.

The most significant aspect of NEP is that it allows students to learn in their mother tongue. Neither Buddha nor Pythagoras were thinking in English. Yet, they both arrived at this wonderful theorem in their own mother tongue. And we still continue to cling to this?

Contrary to the Constitutional spirit, I don’t want to go much into that, you can study. I have no doubt that as Governor, West Bengal I was closely associated with the evolution of NEP. It is game changing, it is transformative, It is hand holding them, giving them latitude but my problem is that those in academic institutions are not fully aware of this policy. I beseech you all and the faculty and directors wherever they are to please do a thorough study of National Education Policy to realize its real intent and purpose so that we reap the harvest of it.

From this platform I wish to indicate, NEP is not Government policy. It is a policy for the nation, and therefore I appeal, it is time for all to adopt it, understand it, execute it and reap the fruits. I need to indicate one more aspect, Our languages, their richness and depth are our pride and legacy. This aspect amplifies the fullness and uniqueness of Bharat. Go to any country and you will not find what we have here. Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Bangla and other languages are goldmine of literature and knowledge. These have national and global footprints.

Educational institutions have to nurture this treasure. Tamil has the distinction of being the first language to be accorded the prestige of being the classical language. This well-deserved recognition was imparted in 2004. Which means things started changing in regimes. Today, eleven such languages are recognized as classical languages in India, and classical languages are those which have rich culture, knowledge, literature, depth. Let me just indicate the eleven language because I had the privilege as Chairman, Rajya Sabha to declare to Rajya Sabha that Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali were recently given the status of classical languages, but earlier we had as I said, Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia. Go all over the world, we are matchless, we have to realise our power, our potential. We should not be carried away by insignificant aspects. I don’t want to dilate much because for me this is a pure education aspect. Those present are as important to me as those spread all over the country and getting to know about it by LIVE broadcast of Sansad TV but we have realised that if our students study in their own language, the results are not arithmetic, they are geometrical. They blossom and therefore this focus has come from the government, and must be disseminated.

There is one more aspect where educational institutions need to focus: alumni engagement. Alumni Associations, on a number of platforms I have addressed this issue. If you look at the global scenario, Alumni associations sustain the reputation of their Alma mater. Alumni Associations create a corpus which is in billions. One such Institution has a corpus of more than 50 billion USD.

Let us make a beginning, let us generate a spirit in every student who has been associated with Institution, make fiscal contribution. Quantum thereof is not important. It generates a different kind of connection because you become stakeholders in your alma mater’s growth. Structured robust alumni engagement frameworks across institutions will be game changer and would be transformative. Just imagine if we had confederations of alumni associations from institutions like IITs, IIMs, or AIIMS. We will have such a think tank. We will have a human resource reservoir that can help evolve policies. Why should we deprive ourselves of this? Take initiatives. I am sure you will start working on corpus culture and alumni associations.

Respected Vice Chancellors, we stand at a momentous crossroads. Behind us lies a legacy of greatness and interruption. I say interruption because 1300 years ago we had Nalanda, it was blossoming, it was set on fire. Fire consumed precious books and continued for days.

Ahead of us, the path is unwritten—but rich with possibility.  Let us build institutions worthy of our civilizational past and capable of meeting the future with wisdom and strength. Let us build institutions that transform our universities into sanctuaries of timeless knowledge and laboratories of timeless innovation. The intellectual revitalization of Bharat is the highest category of renaissance, and that renaissance is awaiting Bharat. It is awaiting actions at your end. Make Bharat super academic power, that means it will be a global research resource. It is not a dream; it is a destination. Achievable like Viksit Bharat. If we could traverse our economy from fragile 5 to big five and now on way to big 3. Nothing stops us from making Bharat Vishwaguru.

Once again, I would like to impart a suggestion to Governor Ravi, certain things must not be taken emotively, those who could not make it must be having a situation. We must be understanding, we must appreciate everybody’s presence, we must appreciate everybody’s absence also. I am grateful for the patience you have shown.

Thank you so much.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
Source: Government of India

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

Meeting of Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR)

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 5:49PM by PIB Delhi

TRAI convened a meeting of the Joint Committee of Regulators (JCOR) on 25^thApril, 2025, at its headquarters in New Delhi to deliberate issues needing cross-sectoral regulatory collaboration and formulate collaborative measures including dealing with unsolicited commercial communication (UCC)/ spam and fraudulent communications. Members of the JCoR, including representatives from RBI, IRDAI, PFRDA, SEBI, MoCA, and MeitY, participated in the meeting. Additionally, DoT, and MHA representatives attended the meeting as special invitees.

The Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR), an initiative of TRAI, was established to foster collaborative efforts among sectoral regulators from the telecommunication, IT, Consumer Affairs, and financial and insurance sectors to deliberate cross sectoral regulatory issues in the digital world and work collaboratively on adopting appropriate regulatory measures. Members of the committee have since leveraged this platform to reinforce their regulatory framework and ensure its effective implementation. The JCoR has provided a very useful collaborative forum to address the issue of UCC & regulatory challenges in the digital era and enhance regulatory frameworks to control UCC through collective effort.

In his opening address, TRAI Chairman Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti highlighted the critical need for a collaborative approach to combat spam messages and calls creating inconvenience and defrauding the citizens, especially, the senior citizens, the progress made by JCOR in this regard and the challenges ahead.

The following are some important items deliberated in the meeting:
1. Modalities for implementation of 1600 series numbers, allocated specially for making transactional and service voice calls by the entities belonging to the government and financial sector, were discussed. The committee members agreed to take up the issue with entities within their jurisdiction for expediting its implementation in a time bound manner and regular monitoring. The CoAI also made a presentation before the committee regarding various solutions that can offer an entity one 1600 series number CLI to be presented to the recipients across all the TSPs and LSAs in the country.
2. Modalities for onboarding of senders of commercial communication on Digital Consent Acquisition (DCA) platform were deliberated. JCOR members agreed to engage with the senders/Principal Entities (PEs) within their jurisdiction to onboard them on DCA.
3. During the deliberations, I4C discussed various measures to counter fraudulent communication and the problem of Digital Arrest scams. In this regard, measures such as deletion of unused message headers and content templates to avoid their misuse by spammers, prompt action on fraudulent SMS headers, blocking of the Mobile Numbers/IMEI utilized in sending fraudulent messages etc. were discussed. The members agreed to work further on modalities for implementation of the same.
4. The issue of spam and scam through OTT and RCS communication platforms were discussed. MeitY will engage with the stakeholders in this regard to take measures analogues to those for conventional telecommunication.
The JCOR members agreed to further strengthen the collaborative efforts to address these issues collectively so as to increase cross sectoral collaboration and also protect consumers from the harms of spam and fraud while ensuring a more secure and efficient telecom commercial communication ecosystem.

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Samrat/Allen

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Earth Sciences Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh chairs a high-level meeting of India Meteorological Department (IMD) and key ministries to review India’s weather and disaster preparedness

Source: Government of India

Earth Sciences Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh chairs a high-level meeting of India Meteorological Department (IMD) and key ministries to review India’s weather and disaster preparedness

Also rolls out future roadmap for accurate forecasts

For Delhi, which has 18 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) in operation, the Minister directs officials to expedite the installation of 50 additional systems, with a long-term goal of scaling up to 100 AWS, this move aims to bring Delhi’s weather forecasting infrastructure on par with global standards

Minister briefed about the progress of “Mission Mausam” initiative launched by PM Modi, which aims to revolutionize India’s weather monitoring infrastructure

India to Have 126 Doppler Radars by 2026 as Govt Ramps Up Weather Monitoring

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 6:52PM by PIB Delhi

In a decisive move to strengthen India’s meteorological capabilities, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting of India Meteorological Department (IMD) and key ministries to review India’s weather and disaster preparedness, and also rolled out roadmap for accurate forecast.

The Minister called for expediting expansion of Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) coverage and modernization of meteorological systems across the country.

At present, Delhi has 18 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) in operation. During the review, the Minister directed officials to expedite the installation of 50 additional systems, with a long-term goal of scaling up to 100 AWS. This move aims to bring Delhi’s weather forecasting infrastructure on par with global standards. These automated systems are designed to deliver highly specific, accurate, and timely forecasts, significantly enhancing the city’s capacity to monitor and respond to changing weather conditions.

Amidst the growing frequency of extreme weather events, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the urgent need for real-time, impact-based forecasting that can help minimize damage and save lives. “No weather hazard should go undetected or unpredicted,” the Minister asserted, underscoring the government’s resolve to build a resilient early warning system that reaches every corner of the country.

A key highlight of the review was the ambitious expansion of the Doppler Weather Radar network, which is set to rise from the current 37 operational radars to 73 by 2025-26, and further to 126 by 2026. The new installations are being planned in high-priority regions such as Bengaluru, Raipur, Ahmedabad, Ranchi, Guwahati, and Port Blair, among others.

The Minister was briefed on the selection of radar sites and the overall progress of the “Mission Mausam” launched by PM Narendra Modi, which aims to revolutionize India’s weather monitoring infrastructure. The plan includes improved satellite meteorology systems, upgraded numerical prediction models, and a more robust radar-based forecasting mechanism.

“The ability to track extreme weather events with greater precision will not only boost disaster management efforts but also directly benefit farmers, fishermen, aviation, and various other sectors,” Dr. Jitendra Singh noted during the meeting, which included senior officials such as Earth Sciences Secretary Dr. M. Ravichandran and IMD Director General Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.

The review also took stock of financial allocations and approvals pending for key weather-related infrastructure projects. Dr. Jitendra Singh urged ministries to fast-track decisions to ensure timely implementation.

With climate change intensifying the unpredictability of weather systems, the push for enhanced radar coverage and more efficient dissemination of forecasts is seen as critical for national preparedness. The meeting, according to ministry officials, marks a significant step in India’s journey toward becoming a global leader in climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.

The Minister’s review has now set the wheels in motion for a more coordinated and technologically advanced response to India’s meteorological challenges.

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NKR/PSM

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Investment Promotion Conference – Zhejiang (Ningbo) Forum cum Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum held in Ningbo (with photos/video)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Investment Promotion Conference – Zhejiang (Ningbo) Forum cum Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum held in Ningbo (with photos/video)
     Following the successful Hong Kong Investment Promotion Conferences in Beijing and Shanghai respectively in September and November last year, the Zhejiang (Ningbo) Forum, with the theme of “Hong Kong, joining hands with Zhejiang and meeting in Ningbo, the channel for more opportunities”, brought together a number of business leaders from various sectors including finance, supply chain, innovation and technology (I&T) and professional services to share their insights on Hong Kong’s advantages and opportunities in different areas and attracted more than 600 participants. The concurrent Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum has been held alternately in Hong Kong and Ningbo every year since 2002 to facilitate bilateral exchanges and co-operation on economic, trade and investment and has been well received by the business communities of the two places.

     Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Lee said he is pleased to attend the High-Level Meeting cum the First Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference together with the Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Hao, yesterday to witness the establishment of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference Mechanism, symbolising a new stage of comprehensive exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Zhejiang. Mr Lee noted that Ningbo in Zhejiang Province is a manufacturing and port hub in the Yangtze River Delta, while Hong Kong is an international financial, trade and shipping centre. Both Ningbo and Hong Kong are important gateways in the opening up of the country, with complementary advantages and limitless opportunities for collaboration. Hong Kong is the largest source of external investment in Ningbo and more than 1 000 enterprises and institutions from Ningbo have been established in Hong Kong, reflecting the close economic and trade ties between the two places.

     Mr Lee said that under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong possesses unique advantages of having the strong support of the country while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world, serving as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”. Hong Kong acts as a two-way springboard for Mainland enterprises to go global and for attracting overseas enterprises. Despite the United States’ bullying and unjustified imposition of tariffs, and the emergence of unilateralism that disrupted the global landscape and geopolitics and posed risks of economic destruction and recession, the country’s immense economic strength and vast market provide certainty for global investors, and a new economic and trade order is taking shape. Hong Kong will continue to proactively serve Mainland enterprises in going global to explore international markets, and attract overseas enterprises to tap into the Mainland market.

     Members of the HKSAR Government delegation attending the Conference included the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; the Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau; and the Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology), Dr Ge Ming.

     The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Ji; Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and the Secretary of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee, Mr Peng Jiaxue; Vice Governor of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government Mr Lu Shan; the Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Mr Xie Shaofeng; the Chief Risk Officer and the Director General of the Department of Public Offering Supervision of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Mr Yan Bojin; and the Chairman of the HKTDC, Dr Peter Lam, also spoke at the opening ceremony.

     In his remarks on promoting Hong Kong’s advantages at a themed promotion activity, Mr Wong said that on finance, Hong Kong is the most trusted international financial safe haven for Mainland enterprises, offering diversified financing channels and financial services for companies to expand their businesses internationally. Regarding I&T, Hong Kong is in a golden age of development. The Northern Metropolis will serve as an important base for collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong on promoting I&T development. He invited Ningbo enterprises to visit the Northern Metropolis to explore opportunities for co-operation with Hong Kong.

     Furthermore, Invest Hong Kong held a signing ceremony of a number of key Zhejiang-Hong Kong and Ningbo-Hong Kong co-operation projects, covering various sectors including finance, technology, transportation, aviation, I&T and consumer goods.

     Co-founder of Casa Bauhinia in Ningbo Professor Anna Pao Sohmen was also invited to deliver a keynote speech to share the outlook of Zhejiang-Hong Kong and Ningbo-Hong Kong co-operation, encouraging Mainland enterprises to make good use of Hong Kong’s business and investment platform. A number of Hong Kong business leaders also participated in the panel discussion as guests, including the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Dr Sunny Chai; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Ms Bonnie Chan; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Mrs Vivian Cheung. They discussed the unique status and advantages of Ningbo and Hong Kong in I&T, finance and professional services, and explored ways to promote complementary strengths and shared prosperity. A key enterprise from Hangzhou also shared its successful experience in co-operating with and investing in Hong Kong.

     In the afternoon, the HKSAR Government, the HKTDC and relevant authorities of the Ningbo Municipal People’s Government jointly organised three special promotion activities on finance, multinational supply chain management centre and I&T to promote investment in Hong Kong, during which Mr Chan, Ms Lau and Dr Ge delivered speeches. A number of government officials, relevant experts and representatives of enterprises of the two places also spoke and shared their successful experiences at the events, which helped deepen local enterprises’ understanding of Hong Kong’s advantages and opportunities in the respective sectors, with a view to attracting more Mainland enterprises to partner with Hong Kong to achieve mutual benefits.

     Mr Lee and the delegation departed for Hong Kong this afternoon.
Issued at HKT 19:38

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CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SUFALAM 2025 Kicks Off at NIFTEM-K, Igniting Innovation in Food Processing

Source: Government of India

SUFALAM 2025 Kicks Off at NIFTEM-K, Igniting Innovation in Food Processing

Union Minister Chirag Paswan Inaugurates SUFALAM 2025, Calls for Innovation-Driven Food Ecosystem

SUFALAM 2025 :Day 1 Highlights India’s Vision to Emerge as a Global Food Basket

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 4:43PM by PIB Delhi

Sonipat, April 25, 2025 – The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), in collaboration with NIFTEM-Kundli, inaugurated the second edition of SUFALAM 2025 (Start-Up Forum for Aspiring Leaders and Mentors) today at the NIFTEM-K campus. The two-day conclave is a pivotal initiative aimed at strengthening India’s food processing sector through innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, and aligns with the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The event was formally inaugurated by Shri Chirag Paswan, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, who underscored the vital need to empower India’s youth and position the country as a global leader in food innovation.

“There is no dearth of talent in India—what we need is to harness it better by equipping our youth with the right skill sets. The food processing sector holds endless opportunities, and with focused innovation, we can not only meet our own needs but also establish India as a global food basket. This journey of innovation and capacity-building will not only strengthen our economy but also create vast employment opportunities across the country. The Ministry is committed to enhancing India’s food processing capacity, empowering farmers, and supporting the industry at every step,” he stated.

Dr. Subrata Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, attended the event as Guest of Honour and echoed similar sentiments. He emphasized the importance of improving food productivity while minimizing wastage.

“With rising food demands and limited land, the challenge before us is not just to feed a growing population—but to do so sustainably and efficiently. The Ministry is actively supporting the industry through a slew of measures, focusing on increasing production, reducing wastage, and building robust infrastructure. To move the food industry forward, we must empower our youth with the right skills and develop cutting-edge technologies. The Ministry remains fully committed to enabling this transformation and ensuring a resilient, future-ready food ecosystem,” he said.

Welcoming the delegates, Dr. Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director, NIFTEM-K, highlighted the institute’s growing role in bridging academia and industry.

“True success in any industry lies in the seamless collaboration between academia and industry. At NIFTEM, with the unwavering support of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, we are not just preparing students for jobs — we are empowering them to create jobs. By bridging the talent gap in the food sector and fostering entrepreneurship through collective action, we are shaping the future of India’s food ecosystem,” he remarked.

The inaugural day of SUFALAM 2025 witnessed a dynamic convergence of industry leaders, academicians, investors, and budding entrepreneurs for meaningful knowledge exchange and inspiration. Experience-sharing sessions offered valuable insights into the journeys of emerging startups, while expert-led discussions focused on themes such as sustainable growth, branding, digital outreach, and policy incentives.

A keynote address by Prof. Harpal Singh of IIT Delhi inspired the audience with key learnings from his entrepreneurial journey. Additionally, Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), shared expert insights on global trade dynamics and food entrepreneurship.

More than 250 startups from 23 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, participated in the event. Innovations showcased ranged from cell-cultured meat and plant-based food products to functional foods and rapid detection kits, each contributing to a safer and more robust food ecosystem.

A total of 35 startups registered to pitch their ideas before industry evaluators from esteemed organizations such as Nestlé, Bühler Group, Eureka Analytical Systems Pvt. Ltd., and the Indian Angel Network.

In addition to formal sessions, SUFALAM 2025 featured a dedicated Mentor Lounge, extensive networking opportunities, and an exhibition area showcasing innovations by MSMEs and startups.

With over 300 participants and 65 exhibitors from 20 states, Day 1 of SUFALAM 2025 reaffirmed the Ministry’s strong commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship, driving innovation, and accelerating the growth of India’s food processing industry.

The conclave will continue tomorrow with a series of engaging sessions featuring emerging entrepreneurs, expert panel discussions, and live startup pitches—collectively aimed at shaping the future of India’s food ecosystem.

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Shahid

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warren Demands Answers on Reports of Secretary Bessent’s Early Leaks of Tariff Policy Decisions to Wall Street

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 25, 2025
Reports Indicate Secretary Bessent and Other White House Officials Appear To Have Provided Exclusive, Advance Tips About the Trump Administration’s Trade Policy
“You owe Congress and the public an explanation for why you and other White House officials appear to be providing Wall Street insiders secret information on the tariffs, while withholding that information from the public.”
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent following reports that, earlier this week, he provided a room full of Wall Street executives and wealthy investors exclusive, advance tips about the Administration’s trade policy. The letter seeks information on whether Bessent shared nonpublic trade policy tips hours before President Trump’s broader announcement backing down on escalating tariffs against China. The exclusive details may have created the opportunity for insider trading or other financial profiteering by well-connected friends of the Administration.
According to reporting by Bloomberg, Secretary Bessent had “told a closed-door investor summit Tuesday that the tariff standoff with China cannot be sustained by both sides and that the world’s two largest economies will have to find ways to de-escalate [and] [t]hat de-escalation will come in the very near future.” These remarks were made at a closed private investor event hosted by JP Morgan not open to the media or the public. A few hours later, President Trump publicly echoed Secretary Bessent’s private remarks, causing the stock market to jump.
Another report yesterday indicated that White House officials also gave Wall Street executives non-public information about a potential trade agreement with India.
“It is unclear why these executives would be receiving this information ahead of the public,” wrote the senator.
“Chaos, confusion, economic damage, and opportunities for corruption have become the hallmark of President Trump’s rollout of his tariff policies,” continued the senator. “President Trump’s opaque decision-making on tariffs and frequent, seemingly random changes of course have created a scenario where wealthy investors and well-connected corporations can get special treatment, receiving inside information they can use to time the market, or obtaining tariff exemptions that are worth billions of dollars—while Main Street, small businesses, and America’s families are left to clean up the damage.”
To better understand what information was potentially provided to wealthy investors and Wall Street executives, Senator Warren demanded Secretary Bessent answer the following questions:

Which individuals attended the JP Morgan event at which you provided remarks on April 22, 2025?

Were your remarks prepared in advance? If so, please provide a copy of any written remarks or notes.

What time did you make your remarks at this conference? How long was the gap between your private comments and the public reports from Bloomberg about their content?

Why was this event closed to the public and the press?

Did the Treasury Department take any actions or make any agreements to prevent individuals in attendance from making trades or other investment decisions based on these private remarks?

When you made your remarks at this conference, were you aware that the President would, later that day, announce that tariffs would “come down substantially”?

Did Treasury or White House officials provide non-public information to Wall Street executives on a potential trade deal with India?

If so, which individuals provided this information, and to whom did they provide it? Why was this information not provided to the public?

Have Treasury Department or White House officials provided any other insiders with non-public information about the status of potential tariff decisions or trade agreements?

Due to the serious nature of these allegations, Senator Warren requested a response to her questions by May 8, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s tariffs: poor workers in countries like Cambodia will be among the biggest losers

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sabina Lawreniuk, Principal Research Fellow, University of Nottingham

I Love Coffee dot Today/Shutterstock

Politicians and economists have been pretty vocal in their response to the ongoing saga of Donald Trump’s tariffs. But much less has been heard from the world’s poorest workers about how they will be affected.

For when the US president first set out his reciprocal tariffs – later paused for 90 days – some of the highest rates were for countries like Vietnam (46%), Bangladesh (37%) and Cambodia (49%).

These are places that make huge amounts of the clothes we wear, and even the reduced 10% tariff could be a big blow to their economies – and the people who depend on them.

Because aside from the well known sweatshop conditions suffered by many workers in these places, brands and manufacturers often offset new costs by passing them on to workers in the form of lower wages and higher demands.

This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as “social downgrading”, was seen during the pandemic, when garment workers around the world faced mass layoffs and even worse working conditions to protect corporate profits when consumer demand decreased.

And those working conditions are already challenging. The minimum wage for one of Cambodia’s 1 million garment workers (from a total population of 16 million) is just US$208 (£155.50) per month.

Around 80% of those workers are women, whose wages often support children and elderly parents, who don’t have the security of a state pension safety net.

It is these workers and their families who may end losing the most in Trump’s trade war. But they are used to geopolitics affecting their everyday lives, having suffered the impact of tariffs fairly recently – from the EU.

In 2020, Cambodia’s duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market (usually granted to developing countries) was partially revoked as a punitive response to human rights concerns. Tariffs averaging 11% were added to some product lines, mostly clothing and footwear, which covered about 20% of Cambodia’s total exports to the EU.

The Cambodian government immediately responded by cutting public holidays and workplace benefits to try offset any increase in costs.

It has since slowed the rate of minimum wage growth to below inflation. Both actions slashed real wages and made the challenge of economic survival even harder for those who depend on the industry.

Now, as Trump’s latest tariffs take hold – even at the lower rate of 10% – many garment and footwear industry workers will fear for their jobs.

But even those “lucky” enough to keep them will face mounting pressures to produce more, and more quickly, to offset rising costs – at the direct expense of their own financial security and wellbeing.

The idea that tariffs will ultimately bring jobs back to the US ignores that fact that these jobs – precarious, underpaid and frequently dangerous – are not the kind of jobs that any American would want.

International supply chains are deeply embedded.
PX Media/Shutterstock

Supply chained

And the evidence suggests that if even if they did want them, international manufacturing supply chains are more deeply embedded than people might think.

After the EU imposed its tariffs on Cambodia for example, brands could have looked to circumvent those added costs by relocating production. As it turned out, the volume of trade between Cambodia and the EU has remained steady since – because sometimes there’s no alternative.

With Cambodia, companies have not been willing or able to shift production to competitors like Bangladesh, Myanmar or Sri Lanka, partly due to the political volatility in those countries.

Added to this is the fact that clothes production has become highly specialised geographically. Cambodia’s distance from the EU means it focuses mainly on seasonal fashion “basics” such as T-shirts and knitwear.

Closer countries like Turkey and Morocco concentrate on the latest fast fashion trends, as their shorter shipping routes mean they can be quicker to respond to changing tastes.

It is not that easy to unsettle the systems and markets that are already in place.

As a result, in the global garment industry at least, Trump’s tariffs may not trigger a complete restructuring of the world’s supply chains. In the short term, they are instead likely to cause great uncertainty, reducing investors’ appetite for long-term planning, and reducing their confidence.

Orders may slow and prices may rise. And Cambodians making the world’s T-shirts and trainers will face even more pressure on their wages and working conditions.

Sabina Lawreniuk receives funding from UKRI through a Future Leaders Fellowship (grant ref MR/ W013797/1).

– ref. Trump’s tariffs: poor workers in countries like Cambodia will be among the biggest losers – https://theconversation.com/trumps-tariffs-poor-workers-in-countries-like-cambodia-will-be-among-the-biggest-losers-254408

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why the energy transition won’t be green until mine waste disasters are prevented

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Eva Marquis, Research Fellow in Critical Minerals and Circular Economy, University of Exeter

On February 18, contamination in the Kafue river, Zambia, led to a mass death of fish. Its water turned a deathly grey and adjacent farmland was poisoned. The drinking water it supplied to half a million residents of the town of Kitwe was suddenly cut off.

Reports suggest that this catastrophe was caused by the failure of the Chambishi tailings storage facility. Tailings are mixed liquid-solid mine wastes that remain after the valuable materials are removed from the crushed ores.

They are often stored in impoundments, held in place by dams made of rock (and other mine waste), that ideally are managed and kept safe. This storage is necessary because tailings often contain high concentrations of potentially toxic, radioactive and corrosive elements.

But tailings storage facilities can and do fail. The Chambishi failure was caused by a break in a wall between two tailings ponds containing acidic water. Fifty million litres of this water, equivalent to 20,000 Olympic swimming pools, spilled into a tributary of the Kafue river, and then into the river itself.

The Kafue is a lifeline, flowing through 990 miles (1,600km) of Zambia, providing water for around 5 million people and supporting fishing and agriculture. That lifeline is still threatened by the ongoing damage of this failure.

Chambishi is not alone. It is one of six major tailings incidents documented in the first three months of 2025, with others documented in Bolivia, Ghana, Philippines and Indonesia.

Tailings and transitions

Tailings are a produce of society’s voracious appetite for metals and materials. With growing demand for technologies for the energy transition, digitalisation and development, production of metals and materials and the volumes of tailings are set to vastly increase.

Identifying suitable sites for safe storage is likely to become more challenging. Space will become more of a premium as more tailings are produced, and risks will evolve with changing climate and growing global population. For instance, storage facility plans developed before mining begins may no longer be suitable for their intended use over the life of the operation.

The ability to safely store and manage tailings is a key factor in the development of metals projects. By extension, that’s fundamental to enabling an equitable and responsible energy transition.

Initiatives to improve the management and monitoring of tailings, developed by independent organisations and industry bodies, such as the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management and the International Council on Mining and Mineral’s Tailings Management Good Practice Guide. Although these initiatives are comprehensive, they do not minimise risks from past tailings storage practices or address the full costs involved.

Tailing ponds.
iofoto/Shutterstock

A broad range of technical, social and environmental uncertainties have been linked to the management of tailings storage facilities. These uncertainties, combined with financial practices such as discounting future costs, can result in future costs (such as long-term tailings management and rehabilitation) being underestimated in mining project cash flows, and sizeable costs for future generations.

Without a fully understanding of the true long-term costs, making the economic case for improved tailings management becomes that much harder.

Reducing risks and improving outcomes

Improved mechanisms for quantifying the cost of tailings in the short, medium and long term, whether tailings storage facilities fail or not, are essential for adequately financing these long-term legacies of mining. Mechanisms to reduce volumes of waste produced not only have the potential to improve project economics over the lifetime of a mine but can also enhance social and environmental outcomes both during and beyond the life of a mine.

Tailings can be used as sources of aggregate materials for construction and critical metals for the green transition, and for carbon capture and storage. These opportunities will be context specific, however, and there will not be a one-size-fits-all approach to tailings reduction and responsible management.

New mining paradigms, such as selective mining through precision drilling or in-situ electrokinetic “keyhole” techniques and extraction of metals from geothermal waters, may give us the ability to extract some metals without producing tailings.

Innovations in tailings storage, like using tailings to fill worked-out underground mining tunnels, can remove tailings from the surface environment, eliminating risk from landslides, dust, seepages and other hazards. Even with these efforts, tailings storage facilities will continue to be used and will need to be managed.

Reducing, reclaiming and regenerating the environments that have been negatively affected by tailings will require collaborative approaches. Financing is a clear barrier to responsible tailings management. Without knowing the true social, environmental and economic costs of tailings legacies, the ability to overcome this barrier to responsible management is hampered.

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 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

Eva Marquis receives funding from EPSRC, NERC, and Innovate UK.

Karen Hudson-Edwards receives funding from NERC, BBSRC, EPSRC, the Technology Strategy Board (Innovate UK), the Royal Society and the EU Horizon 2020 programme.

– ref. Why the energy transition won’t be green until mine waste disasters are prevented – https://theconversation.com/why-the-energy-transition-wont-be-green-until-mine-waste-disasters-are-prevented-252436

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Leading by example: how the rich and powerful can inspire more climate action

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sam Hampton, Researcher, Environmental Geography, University of Oxford

In a survey covering the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil, a majority of people agreed that we need to drastically change the way we live and how society operates, to address climate change. Another study involving more than 130,000 people across 125 countries found that 69% said they would donate 1% of their income to climate action.

However, when asked in the same survey what proportion of others in their country would be willing to do the same, the average estimate was only 43%. This underestimation of others’ concern is known as pluralistic ignorance.

This fuels a vicious cycle: silence begets silence. People hesitate to advocate for policies like cycle lanes or meat taxes, fearing social isolation, while politicians avoid championing measures seen as “career-limiting”. The result is a democracy trapped by unspoken consensus.

Research on UK MPs reveals how this plays out. Even climate-conscious politicians frame low-carbon lifestyles such as avoiding flying or eating meat as extreme, wary of hypocrisy accusations if their personal choices fall short. This “greenhushing” isn’t just political caution – it’s a failure to recognise that most people are primed to follow bold examples.

When leaders visibly adopt low-carbon behaviour, they can help address pluralistic ignorance. For instance, MPs who cycle or opt for the train instead of taking short-haul flights don’t just reduce emissions; they signal that such choices are normal, desirable, and shared.

The invisible transition

While individual actions matter, systemic change requires policies to steer collective transformation. Consider the UK’s early phase-out of inefficient lightbulbs: a 1.26 million tonne annual CO₂ reduction achieved not through personal sacrifice, but by banning the sale of halogen bulbs that emitted more heat than light.

Progress on lightbulbs, renewable electricity or more efficient fridges are all part of an “invisible transition” towards a lower-carbon society – a series of changes already woven into our economy that often go unnoticed by the public. Reframing these achievements as collective victories – your home insulation, our renewable grid – can build momentum for tougher measures.

For decades, fridges got bigger yet became more efficient and used less electricity.
Prostock-studio / shutterstock

Building on progress

Public willingness to make sacrifices for climate action is closely tied to perceptions of fairness and necessity. Crucially, people want to see that their own efforts are being matched by others, especially those with larger carbon footprints. This is why leaders and other high-profile people should visibly lead by example, demonstrating commitment and helping to establish new social norms.

Research shows that public support for subsidies for heat pumps, solar panels, electric vehicles and other low-carbon technologies often depends on whether these subsidies are perceived as fair and inclusive.

Most agree that subsidies must help ensure that all households, especially those with lower incomes, can be involved. This makes it especially important for wealthy and high profile people to lead by example.

Coalitions of the visible: uniting everyday leaders

Leaders who take low-carbon actions are seen as more credible, not less. The most effective leadership frames climate action as pragmatic and rooted in everyday life, rather than as a test of virtue.

Research by the NGO Climate Outreach demonstrates that shared, relatable stories – such as parents campaigning for solar panels at their children’s schools – can shift social norms and build momentum for collective action. These “narrative workshops” have shown that people respond most strongly when climate solutions are presented through the lens of their own values and aspirations, rather than as abstract technical fixes.

The Green Salon Collective’s Mirror Talkers initiative is another creative example: by placing climate conversation prompts on salon mirrors, hairdressers are empowered to spark everyday discussions with clients. This kind of grassroots engagement helps normalise climate conversations in places you wouldn’t expect.

Overcoming pluralistic ignorance requires leaders to articulate a new story – one that acknowledges the “invisible transition” already underway while inviting everyone to help finish the job.

This means equipping leaders at every level with the tools and confidence to adopt and advocate for low-carbon choices. It also means normalising the reality that climate leadership is not about perfection, but about consistency and transparency.

Figures like Clover Hogan, founder of Force of Nature, and Christiana Figueres, former UN climate chief, openly share their own “climate confessions” – acknowledging the challenges, contradictions and imperfect choices that come with striving for a low-carbon life. By embracing and communicating their imperfections, they demonstrate that visible, relatable climate leadership is about honesty and persistence, helping to shift expectations and inspire others to take action in their own lives.

Authentic climate leadership can transform public understanding of climate solutions. By illuminating the transition already in progress – and their own part in it – leaders can transform pluralistic ignorance into pluralistic action.

The task is not to convince people to care about climate change, but to show them that they already do, and to make visible the collective progress that is often hidden in plain sight.

Sam Hampton receives funding from the Economics and Social Research Council. He is affiliated with the University of Oxford and University of Bath.

Tina Fawcett currently receives funding from UKRI.

– ref. Leading by example: how the rich and powerful can inspire more climate action – https://theconversation.com/leading-by-example-how-the-rich-and-powerful-can-inspire-more-climate-action-255168

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Democrats Raise Alarm About Republican Plan to Cut SNAP Benefits to Pay for Tax Cuts for the Ultra-Wealthy

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

Republicans’ national budget will gut SNAP benefits, increase prices for Coloradans, increase the deficit, and give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and his Democratic Senate colleagues recently sounded the alarm about the Republican Budget proposal to slash nutrition programs working Americans rely on to pay for a $4 trillion tax cut for the ultra-wealthy.

“Congress should not give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans by taking away food assistance from millions of Americans,” the senators wrote.

“At a time when people across the country are struggling with the high cost of groceries, a cut of this magnitude could result in an immediate increase in food costs, dropping the annual, per person SNAP benefit by over $500 per year per person,” they continued.

One in ten Coloradans rely on SNAP benefits to afford their groceries. The majority of SNAP recipients in Colorado are families with children.

Earlier this year, Republicans, who control both the Senate and House, passed budget bills that open the door for substantial cuts to programs that help Americans afford groceries. Specifically, the House budget bill requires at least $230 billion in cuts to the committee that oversees the budget for SNAP. The Senate bill sets a floor of $1 billion in cuts.

Hickenlooper recently voted against the Republican budget proposal after Republicans voted down critical Democratic-led amendments to protect working Americans including lowering the cost of living and preventing cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, and veterans’ benefits.

The senators also outlined how potential cuts to SNAP would harm the economy stating: “Taking away SNAP would also hurt the farmers who grow our food, the manufacturers that package it, truckers who distribute it, and small businesses in our communities that sell it.”

Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are planning to give another round of tax handouts to the ultra-wealthy and corporations paid for by gutting the food assistance that helps American families pay for groceries at a time when they are struggling to afford food, health care, housing, and other household basic needs. If enacted, cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will have severe consequences for millions of veterans, seniors, children, and hard-working farmers.

We write to make our position on this legislation perfectly clear: Congress should not give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans by taking away food assistance from millions of Americans.

Earlier this year, both the House and the Senate passed budget bills that pave the way for deep cuts to SNAP. The House budget bill would require at least $230 billion in cuts. The Senate bill sets a floor of $1 billion in cuts with nothing to prevent it from going as high as the House bill. This would be a more than 20 percent cut to a program that helps millions of struggling families afford groceries.

SNAP supports 42 million Americans, including nearly 8 million seniors, 16 million children, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans, in putting food on their tables each month. Cuts of this magnitude—or anything close to it—would be devastating to American families in every state. SNAP benefits currently average only $6.20 per person per day. At a time when people across the country are struggling with the high cost of groceries, a cut of this magnitude could result in an immediate increase in food costs, dropping the annual, per person SNAP benefit by over $500 per year per person.

Congressional Republicans might claim that their plan is to merely require states to pay for a portion of food benefits for the first time.2 In truth, such an unprecedented cost shift could force states to cut benefits, severely restrict program eligibility, or both. If combined with a similar Medicaid cost shift, these unfunded mandates could decimate state budgets and cut healthcare and food assistance for millions of Americans.

Taking away SNAP would also hurt the farmers who grow our food, the manufacturers that package it, truckers who distribute it, and small businesses in our communities that sell it. Each SNAP dollar stimulates the economy: every $1.00 in food assistance provided by the program in a weak economy generates an additional $1.50 in economic activity.3 Because adequate nutrition is so important for children’s health and development, the long-term return on investment is even greater: every $1.00 invested in SNAP for children returns $62 in value.4 In 2020 alone, SNAP supported 200,000 grocery industry jobs and created nearly 45,000 new jobs in supporting industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and municipal services.

Republicans are writing the most consequential tax and budget legislation in decades entirely behind closed doors. That’s because Trump and Congressional Republicans must hide the ugly truth—their legislation feeds corporate and wealthy individuals’ greed by taking food assistance away for tens of millions of Americans. You, your family, and your neighbors deserve far better. Democrats are fighting to protect American’s ability to feed their families from Republican cuts. Join us and keep up the fight.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Indiana Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by March Storms

Source: United States Small Business Administration

WASHINGTON –The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for Indiana small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents affected by the severe storms and tornadoes occurring March 15. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Mike Braun on April 10.

The disaster declaration covers the primary counties of Harrison and Orange, which are eligible for both physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs). The declaration covers the adjacent counties of Crawford, Dubois, Floyd, Lawrence, Martin and Washington in Indiana, and as well as Hardin, Jefferson, Meade in Kentucky.

Small businesses and private nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

“One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s mitigation loans.”

SBA’s EIDL program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Beginning Monday, April 28, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Harrison and Orange counties to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

The DLOC hours of operation are listed below:

Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)

Harrison County

Harrison Government Center

245 Atwood St.

Corydon, IN 47112

Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed: Sunday

Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.

Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)

 Orange County

 Orleans Town Hall

161 E Price Ave.

Orleans, IN 47452

Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed: Sunday

Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.

Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical damage is June 23, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 22, 2026.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Indiana Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by March Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Source: United States Small Business Administration

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for Indiana small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents affected by the severe storms and tornadoes occurring March 19. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Mike Braun on April 10.

The disaster declaration covers the primary counties of Bartholomew and Lake, which are eligible for both physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs). The declaration covers the adjacent counties of Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jasper, Jennings, Johnson, Newton, Porter, and Shelby in Indiana as well as Cook, Kankakee, and Will in Illinois.

Small businesses and private nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

“One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s mitigation loans.”

SBA’s EIDL program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Beginning Monday, April 28, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Bartholomew and Lake counties to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

The DLOC hours of operation are listed below:

Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)

Bartholomew County

United Way Bartholomew County

1531 13th St.

Columbus, IN 47201

Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed: Sunday

Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.

Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)

 Lake County

 Monroe Center

4101 Washington St.

Gary, IN 46408

Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed: Sunday

Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.

Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is June 23, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 22, 2026.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 26, 2025

MIL-OSI: Meridian Corporation Reports First Quarter 2025 Results and Announces a Quarterly Dividend of $0.125 per Common Share

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MALVERN, Pa., April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Meridian Corporation (Nasdaq: MRBK) today reported:

	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)((Unaudited)	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		March 31, 2024
Income:
Net income	$	2,399	$	5,600	$	2,676
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.21	$	0.49	$	0.24
Pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) ⁽¹⁾	$	8,357	$	11,167	$	6,419
(1) See Non-GAAP reconciliation in the Appendix

Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was $2.4 million, or $0.21 per diluted share.
Pre-provision net revenue¹ for the quarter was $8.4 million, up $1.9 million or 30.2% from 1Q 2024.
Net interest margin was 3.46% for the first quarter of 2025, with a loan yield of 7.19%.
Return on average assets and return on average equity for the first quarter of 2025 were 0.40% and 5.57%, respectively.
Total assets at March 31, 2025 were $2.5 billion, compared to $2.4 billion at December 31, 2024 and $2.3 billion at March 31, 2024.
Commercial loans, excluding leases, increased $49.5 million, or 3% for the quarter.
First quarter deposit growth was $123.4 million, or 6%.
Non-interest-bearing deposits were up $82.6 million or 34%, quarter over quarter.
On April 24, 2025, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per common share, payable May 19, 2025 to shareholders of record as of May 12, 2025.

Christopher J. Annas, Chairman and CEO commented:

Meridian’s first quarter 2025 earnings of $2.4 million were slightly below the first quarter 2024 net income of $2.7 million however PPNR was up 30%, reflecting overall healthy growth in our business units and good expense control. Our earnings were negatively affected by higher provisioning resulting mainly from distressed SBA loans, which have been impacted by the dramatic rate rise. The remediation process for SBA loans is lengthy due to procedural requirements, which we follow diligently to assure the government guaranty, but we are making progress. On a positive note, our net interest margin was 3.46% and has shown consistent improvement over the last four quarters.

Loan growth in the first quarter was 12% annualized (minus expected lease paydowns) and all commercial groups contributed. The Delaware Valley region is plagued by a lack of homes for sale, so construction and other residential building is in demand. Our commercial/industrial lending has benefited from disruption in a recent local bank combination, from where we hired a senior lender with a deep list of contacts throughout the region. We expect many opportunities from this individual and his future hires.

Meridian Wealth Partners continued its strong performance with pre-tax income of $726 thousand for the quarter. A slight increase in assets under management combined with overall better fee percentages contributed to the gain. We are poised for better growth in this segment as our expanded loan customer base provides referral business, and with the recent hiring of a senior wealth professional to help focus on other opportunities.

The mortgage group had a larger pre-tax loss in 1Q25 vs 1Q24, mainly due to lower volume and a lesser loan officer count. The first quarter is seasonally weaker, but we are encouraged by the forecast for greater home inventory in both our Delaware Valley and Maryland markets. That has been a much bigger factor for loan originations than mortgage rates.

Our solid growth in PPNR has enabled us to manage the spike in non-performing loans, as we work intensely to remediate these credits. The growth in first quarter loan volume and expansion in net interest margin should continue to help drive further improvement in profitability.

Select Condensed Financial Information

	As of or for the three months ended (Unaudited)
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
	(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Income:
Net income	$	2,399		$	5,600		$	4,743		$	3,326		$	2,676
Basic earnings per common share		0.21			0.50			0.43			0.30			0.24
Diluted earnings per common share		0.21			0.49			0.42			0.30			0.24
Net interest income		19,776			19,299			18,242			16,846			16,609

Balance Sheet:
Total assets	$	2,528,586		$	2,385,867		$	2,387,721		$	2,351,584		$	2,292,923
Loans, net of fees and costs		2,071,675			2,030,437			2,008,396			1,988,535			1,956,315
Total deposits		2,128,742			2,005,368			1,978,927			1,915,436			1,900,696
Non-interest bearing deposits		323,485			240,858			237,207			224,040			220,581
Stockholders’ equity		173,266			171,522			167,450			162,382			159,936

Balance Sheet Average Balances:
Total assets	$	2,420,571		$	2,434,270		$	2,373,261		$	2,319,295		$	2,269,047
Total interest earning assets		2,330,224			2,342,651			2,277,523			2,222,177			2,173,212
Loans, net of fees and costs		2,039,676			2,029,739			1,997,574			1,972,740			1,944,187
Total deposits		2,036,208			2,043,505			1,960,145			1,919,954			1,823,523
Non-interest bearing deposits		244,161			259,118			246,310			229,040			233,255
Stockholders’ equity		174,734			171,214			165,309			162,119			159,822

Performance Ratios (Annualized):
Return on average assets		0.40	%		0.92	%		0.80	%		0.58	%		0.47	%
Return on average equity		5.57	%		13.01	%		11.41	%		8.25	%		6.73	%

Income Statement – First Quarter 2025 Compared to Fourth Quarter 2024

First quarter net income decreased $3.2 million, or 57.2%, to $2.4 million due to decreased non-interest income as the prior quarter included a $4.0 million gain on sale of MSR’s and a $317 thousand gain on sale of OREO, partially offset by a $1.0 million charge for early lease termination. The first quarter provision for credit losses increased over the prior quarter by $1.6 million. Net interest income increased $477 thousand and non-interest expenses decreased $2.7 million. Detailed explanations of the major categories of income and expense follow below.

Net Interest income

Interest income decreased $869 thousand quarter-over-quarter on a tax equivalent basis, driven by both two less days in the period as well as a lower level of average earning assets, which decreased by $12.4 million. On a rate basis, the yield on earnings assets increased 2 basis points.

Average total loans, excluding residential loans for sale, increased $10.0 million. The largest drivers of this increase were commercial, commercial real estate, and small business loans which on a combined basis increased $21.2 million on average, partially offset by a decrease in average leases of $10.6 million. Home equity, residential real estate, consumer and other loans held in portfolio decreased on a combined basis $602 thousand on average.

Total interest expense decreased $1.3 million, quarter-over-quarter, also driven by two fewer days in the period and a lower volume of time deposits and borrowings. On a rate basis, all deposit types experienced a decrease in the cost, with the overall cost of deposits dropping 21 basis points. Interest expense on total deposits decreased $1.5 million and interest expense on borrowings decreased $139 thousand. During the period, interest-bearing checking accounts and money market accounts increased $9.9 million and $37.9 million on average, respectively, while time deposits decreased $40.2 million on average. Borrowings decreased $6.7 million on average.

Overall the net interest margin increased 17 basis points to 3.46% as the cost of funds declined and the yield on earning assets increased slightly.

Provision for Credit Losses

The overall provision for credit losses for the first quarter increased $1.6 million to $5.2 million, from $3.6 million in the fourth quarter. The first quarter provision increased due to an increase of $7.1 million in non-performing loans which led to an increase of $2.3 million in specific reserves on such loans. SBA loans make up $6.9 million of these additional non-performing loans, of which $3.8 million are guaranteed by the SBA. The increase in provision was also partially impacted by unfavorable changes in certain macro-economic factors used in the model due to current economic and market uncertainty.

Non-interest income

The following table presents the components of non-interest income for the periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			$ Change			% Change
Mortgage banking income	$	3,393		$	5,516		$	(2,123	)	(38.5)%
Wealth management income		1,535			1,527			8		0.5	%
SBA loan income		748			1,143			(395	)	(34.6)%
Earnings on investment in life insurance		222			224			(2	)	(0.9)%
Net (loss) gain on sale of MSRs		(52	)		3,992			(4,044	)	(101.3)%
Gain on sale of OREO		—			317			(317	)	(100.0)%
Net change in the fair value of derivative instruments		149			(146	)		295		(202.1)%
Net change in the fair value of loans held-for-sale		102			(163	)		265		(162.6)%
Net change in the fair value of loans held-for-investment		170			(552	)		722		(130.8)%
Net (loss) gain on hedging activity		21			192			(171	)	(89.1)%
Other		1,036			1,229			(193	)	(15.7)%
Total non-interest income	$	7,324		$	13,279		$	(5,955	)	(44.8)%

Total non-interest income decreased $6.0 million, or 44.8%, quarter-over-quarter largely due to recognizing a gain on sale of MSRs of $4.0 million in the prior quarter, combined with a $2.1 million decline in mortgage banking income, and a change in gains of $171 thousand in hedging activity. These declines in income were partially offset by favorable derivative and loan related fair value changes. Mortgage loan sales decreased $68.1 million or 31.5% quarter over quarter driving lower gain on sale income in addition to a lower overall margin, leading to the lower level of mortgage banking income.

SBA loan income decreased $395 thousand due to a lower level of SBA loan sales. SBA loans sold for the quarter-ended March 31, 2025 totaled $12.1 million, down $7.8 million, or 39.1%, compared to the quarter-ended December 31, 2024. The gross margin on SBA sales was 8.7% for the quarter, up from 7.5% for the previous quarter.

Non-interest expense

The following table presents the components of non-interest expense for the periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		$ Change			% Change
Salaries and employee benefits	$	11,385	$	12,429	$	(1,044	)	(8.4)%
Occupancy and equipment		1,338		2,270		(932	)	(41.1)%
Professional fees		763		1,134		(371	)	(32.7)%
Data processing and software		1,479		1,553		(74	)	(4.8)%
Advertising and promotion		779		839		(60	)	(7.2)%
Pennsylvania bank shares tax		269		243		26		10.7	%
Other		2,730		2,943		(213	)	(7.2)%
Total non-interest expense	$	18,743	$	21,411	$	(2,668	)	(12.5)%

Overall salaries and benefits decreased $1.0 million. Bank and wealth segments combined decreased $245 thousand, while the mortgage segment decreased $799 thousand. Mortgage segment salaries, commissions, and employee benefits expense are impacted by volume and decreased commensurate with the lower levels of originations, which were down $63.5 million from the prior quarter. Occupancy and equipment expense decreased $932 thousand, net, due to fees, credits and other disposal costs for the early termination of the Blue Bell lease that occurred in the prior quarter. Professional fees decreased $371 thousand over the prior period mainly due to the results of cost control efforts on certain internal audit fees, legal fees and consulting fees, while other non-interest expense decreased $213 thousand due to a decline in certain business development costs, other loan related fees, and OREO related expenses.

Balance Sheet – March 31, 2025 Compared to December 31, 2024

Total assets increased $142.7 million, or 6.0%, to $2.5 billion as of March 31, 2025 from $2.4 billion at December 31, 2024. Interest-earning cash increased $91.8 million, or 419.7%, to $113.6 million as of March 31, 2025 from December 31, 2024, as a temporary deposit of $103 million from a long standing customer was on hand for several weeks. In addition, loan growth contributed to the overall increase in total assets over this period.

Portfolio loan growth was $42.0 million, or 2.1% quarter-over-quarter. The portfolio growth was generated from commercial mortgage loans which increased $21.2 million, or 2.6%, construction loans which increased $18.3 million, or 7.1%, small business loans which increased $5.3 million, or 3.4%, and commercial & industrial loans which increased $4.6 million, or 1.3%. Lease financings decreased $9.2 million, or 12.1% from December 31, 2024, partially offsetting the above noted loan growth, but this decline was expected as we continue to refocus away from lease originations.

Total deposits increased $123.4 million, or 6.2% quarter-over-quarter, led by non-interest bearing deposit growth of $82.6 million. Non-interest bearing deposits benefited from a late quarter deposit of $103 million from a long standing customer that sold a business. This deposit was on hand for several weeks. Money market accounts and savings accounts also increased a combined $34.3 million, while interest bearing demand deposits increased $19.6 million, and time deposits decreased $13.1 million from largely wholesale efforts. Overall borrowings increased $15.1 million, or 12.1% quarter-over-quarter.

Total stockholders’ equity increased by $1.7 million from December 31, 2024, to $173.3 million as of March 31, 2025. Changes to equity for the current quarter included net income of $2.4 million, less dividends paid of $1.4 million, offset by a decrease of $529 thousand in other comprehensive income. The Community Bank Leverage Ratio for the Bank was 9.30% at March 31, 2025.

Asset Quality Summary

Non-performing loans increased $7.1 million to $52.2 million at March 31, 2025 compared to $45.1 million at December 31, 2024. Included in non-performing loans are $19.1 million of SBA loans of which $9.9 million, or 53%, are guaranteed by the SBA. The SBA portfolio was subject to the Fed’s rapid rate increase and $15.0 million, or 80% of these non-performing loans originated in 2020-2021 where their rates rose over 500 basis points.

The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans increased 30 bps to 2.49% as of March 31, 2025, from 2.19% as of December 31, 2024. The increase in non-performing loans was led by a $6.9 million increase in non-performing SBA loans, and $881 thousand in leases.

Net charge-offs as a % of total average loans of 0.14% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, decreased from 0.34% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. Net charge-offs decreased to $2.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to net charge-offs of $7.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. First quarter charge-offs consisted of $851 thousand on a protracted commercial advertising loan relationship, $738 thousand related to construction loans, $553 thousand of small ticket equipment leases which are charged-off after becoming more than 120 days past due, and $277 thousand in SBA loans. Overall there were recoveries of $175 thousand, largely related to leases and SBA loans.

The ratio of allowance for credit losses to total loans held for investment was 1.01% as of March 31, 2025, an increase from the coverage ratio of 0.91% as of December 31, 2024 due largely to the increase in specific reserves on non-performing loans in the quarter discussed above. As of March 31, 2025 there were specific reserves of $5.0 million against individually evaluated loans, an increase of $2.3 million from $2.7 million in specific reserves as of December 31, 2024. The specific reserve increase over the prior quarter was led by a $1.6 million increase in specific reserves on SBA loans, as well as increases of $535 thousand in commercial real estate loan specifics reserves and a $174 thousand increase in commercial loan specific reserves.

About Meridian Corporation

Meridian Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of Meridian Corporation, is an innovative community bank serving Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Through its 17 offices, including banking branches and mortgage locations, Meridian offers a full suite of financial products and services. Meridian specializes in business and industrial lending, retail and commercial real estate lending, electronic payments, and wealth management solutions through Meridian Wealth Partners. Meridian also offers a broad menu of high-yield depository products supported by robust online and mobile access. For additional information, visit our website at www.meridianbanker.com. Member FDIC.

“Safe Harbor” Statement

In addition to historical information, this press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to Meridian Corporation’s strategies, goals, beliefs, expectations, estimates, intentions, capital raising efforts, financial condition and results of operations, future performance and business. Statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “pro forma,” “looking forward,” “would,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” or similar expressions generally indicate a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which, in whole or in part, are beyond Meridian Corporation’s control). Numerous competitive, economic, regulatory, legal and technological factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation, credit losses and the credit risk of our commercial and consumer loan products; changes in the level of charge-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, or ACL; cyber-security concerns; rapid technological developments and changes; increased competitive pressures; changes in spreads on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities markets; escalating tariff and other trade policies and the resulting impacts on market volatility and global trade; unanticipated changes in our liquidity position; unanticipated changes in regulatory and governmental policies impacting interest rates and financial markets; legislation affecting the financial services industry as a whole, and Meridian Corporation, in particular; changes in accounting policies, practices or guidance; developments affecting the industry and the soundness of financial institutions and further disruption to the economy and U.S. banking system; among others, could cause Meridian Corporation’s financial performance to differ materially from the goals, plans, objectives, intentions and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. Meridian Corporation cautions that the foregoing factors are not exclusive, and neither such factors nor any such forward-looking statement takes into account the impact of any future events. All forward-looking statements and information set forth herein are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions as of the date hereof and speak only as of the date they are made. For a more complete discussion of the assumptions, risks and uncertainties related to our business, you are encouraged to review Meridian Corporation’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that update or provide information in addition to the information included in the Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings, if any. Meridian Corporation does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by Meridian Corporation or by or on behalf of Meridian Bank.

MERIDIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL RATIOS (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
Earnings and Per Share Data:
Net income	$	2,399		$	5,600		$	4,743		$	3,326		$	2,676
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.21		$	0.50		$	0.43		$	0.30		$	0.24
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.21		$	0.49		$	0.42		$	0.30		$	0.24
Common shares outstanding		11,285			11,240			11,229			11,191			11,186

Performance Ratios:
Return on average assets ⁽²⁾		0.40	%		0.92	%		0.80	%		0.58	%		0.47	%
Return on average equity ⁽²⁾		5.57			13.01			11.41			8.25			6.73
Net interest margin (tax-equivalent) ⁽²⁾		3.46			3.29			3.20			3.06			3.09
Yield on earning assets (tax-equivalent) ⁽²⁾		6.83			6.81			7.06			6.98			6.90
Cost of funds ⁽²⁾		3.56			3.71			4.05			4.10			4.00
Efficiency ratio		69.16	%		65.72	%		70.67	%		72.89	%		73.90	%

Asset Quality Ratios:
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans		0.14	%		0.34	%		0.11	%		0.20	%		0.12	%
Non-performing loans to total loans		2.49			2.19			2.20			1.84			1.93
Non-performing assets to total assets		2.07			1.90			1.97			1.68			1.74
Allowance for credit losses to:
Total loans and other finance receivables		1.01			0.91			1.09			1.09			1.18
Total loans and other finance receivables (excluding loans at fair value) ⁽¹⁾		1.01			0.91			1.10			1.10			1.19
Non-performing loans		39.90	%		40.86	%		48.66	%		57.66	%		60.59	%

Capital Ratios:
Book value per common share	$	15.35		$	15.26		$	14.91		$	14.51		$	14.30
Tangible book value per common share	$	15.03		$	14.93		$	14.58		$	14.17		$	13.96
Total equity/Total assets		6.85	%		7.19	%		7.01	%		6.91	%		6.98	%
Tangible common equity/Tangible assets – Corporation ⁽¹⁾		6.72			7.05			6.87			6.76			6.82
Tangible common equity/Tangible assets – Bank ⁽¹⁾		8.61			9.06			8.95			8.85			8.93
Tier 1 leverage ratio – Bank		9.30			9.21			9.32			9.33			9.42
Common tier 1 risk-based capital ratio – Bank		10.15			10.33			10.17			9.84			9.87
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio – Bank		10.15			10.33			10.17			9.84			9.87
Total risk-based capital ratio – Bank		11.14	%		11.20	%		11.22	%		10.84	%		10.95	%
(1) See Non-GAAP reconciliation in the Appendix
(2) Annualized

MERIDIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024
Interest income:
Loans and other finance receivables, including fees	$	36,549		$	37,229		$	35,339
Securities – taxable		1,693			1,684			1,251
Securities – tax-exempt		313			314			325
Cash and cash equivalents		613			801			300
Total interest income		39,168			40,028			37,215
Interest expense:
Deposits		16,868			18,341			17,392
Borrowings and subordinated debentures		2,524			2,388			3,214
Total interest expense		19,392			20,729			20,606
Net interest income		19,776			19,299			16,609
Provision for credit losses		5,212			3,572			2,866
Net interest income after provision for credit losses		14,564			15,727			13,743
Non-interest income:
Mortgage banking income		3,393			5,516			3,634
Wealth management income		1,535			1,527			1,317
SBA loan income		748			1,143			986
Earnings on investment in life insurance		222			224			207
Net (loss) gain on sale of MSRs		(52	)		3,992			—
Gain on sale of OREO		—			317			—
Net change in the fair value of derivative instruments		149			(146	)		75
Net change in the fair value of loans held-for-sale		102			(163	)		(2	)
Net change in the fair value of loans held-for-investment		170			(552	)		(175	)
Net (loss) gain on hedging activity		21			192			(19	)
Other		1,036			1,229			1,961
Total non-interest income		7,324			13,279			7,984
Non-interest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits		11,385			12,429			10,573
Occupancy and equipment		1,338			2,270			1,233
Professional fees		763			1,134			1,498
Data processing and software		1,479			1,553			1,532
Advertising and promotion		779			839			748
Pennsylvania bank shares tax		269			243			274
Other		2,730			2,943			2,316
Total non-interest expense		18,743			21,411			18,174
Income before income taxes		3,145			7,595			3,553
Income tax expense		746			1,995			877
Net income	$	2,399		$	5,600		$	2,676

Basic earnings per common share	$	0.21		$	0.50		$	0.24
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.21		$	0.49		$	0.24

Basic weighted average shares outstanding		11,205			11,158			11,088
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		11,446			11,375			11,201

MERIDIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
Assets:
Cash and due from banks	$	16,976		$	5,598		$	12,542		$	8,457		$	8,935
Interest-bearing deposits at other banks		113,620			21,864			19,805			15,601			14,092
Federal funds sold		629			—			—			—			—
Cash and cash equivalents		131,225			27,462			32,347			24,058			23,027
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value		185,221			174,304			171,568			159,141			150,996
Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost		32,720			33,771			33,833			35,089			35,157
Equity investments		2,126			2,086			2,166			2,088			2,092
Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value		28,047			32,413			46,602			54,278			29,124
Loans and other finance receivables, net of fees and costs		2,071,675			2,030,437			2,008,396			1,988,535			1,956,315
Allowance for credit losses		(20,827	)		(18,438	)		(21,965	)		(21,703	)		(23,171	)
Loans and other finance receivables, net of the allowance for credit losses		2,050,848			2,011,999			1,986,431			1,966,832			1,933,144
Restricted investment in bank stock		8,369			7,753			8,542			10,044			8,560
Bank premises and equipment, net		12,028			12,151			12,807			13,114			13,451
Bank owned life insurance		29,935			29,712			29,489			29,267			29,051
Accrued interest receivable		10,345			9,958			10,012			9,973			9,864
Other real estate owned		159			159			1,862			1,862			1,703
Deferred income taxes		5,136			4,669			3,537			3,950			4,339
Servicing assets		4,284			4,382			4,364			11,341			11,573
Servicing assets held for sale		—			—			6,609			—			—
Goodwill		899			899			899			899			899
Intangible assets		2,716			2,767			2,818			2,869			2,920
Other assets		24,528			31,382			33,835			26,779			37,023
Total assets	$	2,528,586		$	2,385,867		$	2,387,721		$	2,351,584		$	2,292,923

Liabilities:
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing	$	323,485		$	240,858		$	237,207		$	224,040		$	220,581
Interest bearing
Interest checking		161,055			141,439			133,429			130,062			121,204
Money market and savings deposits		947,795			913,536			822,837			787,479			797,525
Time deposits		696,407			709,535			785,454			773,855			761,386
Total interest-bearing deposits		1,805,257			1,764,510			1,741,720			1,691,396			1,680,115
Total deposits		2,128,742			2,005,368			1,978,927			1,915,436			1,900,696
Borrowings		139,590			124,471			144,880			187,260			145,803
Subordinated debentures		49,761			49,743			49,928			49,897			49,867
Accrued interest payable		7,404			6,860			7,017			7,709			8,350
Other liabilities		29,823			27,903			39,519			28,900			28,271
Total liabilities		2,355,320			2,214,345			2,220,271			2,189,202			2,132,987

Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock		13,288			13,243			13,232			13,194			13,189
Surplus		81,724			81,545			81,002			80,639			80,487
Treasury stock		(26,079	)		(26,079	)		(26,079	)		(26,079	)		(26,079	)
Unearned common stock held by employee stock ownership plan		(1,006	)		(1,006	)		(1,204	)		(1,204	)		(1,204	)
Retained earnings		112,952			111,961			107,765			104,420			102,492
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(7,613	)		(8,142	)		(7,266	)		(8,588	)		(8,949	)
Total stockholders’ equity		173,266			171,522			167,450			162,382			159,936
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,528,586		$	2,385,867		$	2,387,721		$	2,351,584		$	2,292,923

MERIDIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024		March 31, 2024
Interest income	$	39,168	$	40,028	$	40,319	$	38,465	$	37,215
Interest expense		19,392		20,729		22,077		21,619		20,606
Net interest income		19,776		19,299		18,242		16,846		16,609
Provision for credit losses		5,212		3,572		2,282		2,680		2,866
Non-interest income		7,324		13,279		10,831		9,244		7,984
Non-interest expense		18,743		21,411		20,546		19,018		18,174
Income before income tax expense		3,145		7,595		6,245		4,392		3,553
Income tax expense		746		1,995		1,502		1,066		877
Net Income	$	2,399	$	5,600	$	4,743	$	3,326	$	2,676

Basic weighted average shares outstanding		11,205		11,158		11,110		11,096		11,088
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.21	$	0.50	$	0.43	$	0.30	$	0.24

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		11,446		11,375		11,234		11,150		11,201
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.21	$	0.49	$	0.42	$	0.30	$	0.24

	Segment Information
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2025												Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
(dollars in thousands)	Bank			Wealth			Mortgage			Total			Bank			Wealth			Mortgage			Total
Net interest income	$	19,706		$	9		$	61		$	19,776		$	16,592		$	(6	)	$	23		$	16,609
Provision for credit losses		5,212			—			—			5,212			2,866			—			—			2,866
Net interest income after provision		14,494			9			61			14,564			13,726			(6	)		23			13,743
Non-interest income		1,912			1,535			3,877			7,324			1,874			1,317			4,793			7,984
Non-interest expense		12,758			818			5,167			18,743			12,060			833			5,281			18,174
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	3,648		$	726		$	(1,229	)	$	3,145		$	3,540		$	478		$	(465	)	$	3,553
Efficiency ratio		59	%		53	%		131	%		69	%		65	%		64	%		110	%		74	%

MERIDIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
APPENDIX: NON-GAAP MEASURES (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

Meridian believes that non-GAAP measures are meaningful because they reflect adjustments commonly made by management, investors, regulators and analysts. The non-GAAP disclosure have limitations as an analytical tool, should not be viewed as a substitute for performance and financial condition measures determined in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of Meridian’s results as reported under GAAP, nor is it necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.

	Pre-provision Net Revenue Reconciliation
	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data, Unaudited)	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		March 31, 2024
Income before income tax expense	$	3,145	$	7,595	$	3,553
Provision for credit losses		5,212		3,572		2,866
Pre-provision net revenue	$	8,357	$	11,167	$	6,419

	Pre-Provision Net Revenue Reconciliation
	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data, Unaudited)	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024		March 31, 2024
Bank	$	8,860		$	8,205	$	6,406
Wealth		726			571		478
Mortgage		(1,229	)		2,391		(465	)
Pre-provision net revenue	$	8,357		$	11,167	$	6,419

	Allowance For Credit Losses (ACL) to Loans and Other Finance Receivables, Excluding and Loans at Fair Value
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
Allowance for credit losses (GAAP)	$	20,827		$	18,438		$	21,965		$	21,703		$	23,171

Loans and other finance receivables (GAAP)		2,071,675			2,030,437			2,008,396			1,988,535			1,956,315
Less: Loans at fair value		(14,182	)		(14,501	)		(13,965	)		(12,900	)		(13,139	)
Loans and other finance receivables, excluding loans at fair value (non-GAAP)	$	2,057,493		$	2,015,936		$	1,994,431		$	1,975,635		$	1,943,176

ACL to loans and other finance receivables (GAAP)		1.01	%		0.91	%		1.09	%		1.09	%		1.18	%
ACL to loans and other finance receivables, excluding loans at fair value (non-GAAP)		1.01	%		0.91	%		1.10	%		1.10	%		1.19	%

	Tangible Common Equity Ratio Reconciliation – Corporation
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
Total stockholders’ equity (GAAP)	$	173,266		$	171,522		$	167,450		$	162,382		$	159,936
Less: Goodwill and intangible assets		(3,615	)		(3,666	)		(3,717	)		(3,768	)		(3,819	)
Tangible common equity (non-GAAP)		169,651			167,856			163,733			158,614			156,117

Total assets (GAAP)		2,528,586			2,385,867			2,387,721			2,351,584			2,292,923
Less: Goodwill and intangible assets		(3,615	)		(3,666	)		(3,717	)		(3,768	)		(3,819	)
Tangible assets (non-GAAP)	$	2,524,971		$	2,382,201		$	2,384,004		$	2,347,816		$	2,289,104
Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio – Corporation (non-GAAP)		6.72	%		7.05	%		6.87	%		6.76	%		6.82	%

	Tangible Common Equity Ratio Reconciliation – Bank
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
Total stockholders’ equity (GAAP)	$	220,768		$	219,119		$	217,028		$	211,308		$	208,319
Less: Goodwill and intangible assets		(3,615	)		(3,666	)		(3,717	)		(3,768	)		(3,819	)
Tangible common equity (non-GAAP)		217,153			215,453			213,311			207,540			204,500

Total assets (GAAP)		2,525,029			2,382,014			2,385,994			2,349,600			2,292,894
Less: Goodwill and intangible assets		(3,615	)		(3,666	)		(3,717	)		(3,768	)		(3,819	)
Tangible assets (non-GAAP)	$	2,521,414		$	2,378,348		$	2,382,277		$	2,345,832		$	2,289,075
Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio – Bank (non-GAAP)		8.61	%		9.06	%		8.95	%		8.85	%		8.93	%

	Tangible Book Value Reconciliation
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
Book value per common share	$	15.35		$	15.26		$	14.91		$	14.51		$	14.30
Less: Impact of goodwill /intangible assets		0.32			0.33			0.33			0.34			0.34
Tangible book value per common share	$	15.03		$	14.93		$	14.58		$	14.17		$	13.96

The MIL Network –

April 26, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Bilirakis, Tonko, Crenshaw, Khanna, Peters and Liccardo Celebrate Re-launch of Longevity Science Caucus

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Ro Khanna (D-PA), Scott Peters (D-CA) and Sam Liccardo (D-CA) are proud to announce the re-launch of the Congressional Caucus for Longevity Science. The Longevity Science Caucus aims to educate Members about the growing field of aging and longevity biotechnology, and to promote initiatives aimed at increasing the healthy average lifespan of all Americans. As the population continues to age, proactive investment can significantly reduce the long-term economic and healthcare burdens on society. By investing in research that delays aging and prevents chronic diseases, the government can promote healthier citizens, lower healthcare costs, and extend the productive years of life. Supporting longevity science is a forward-thinking strategy that benefits both individuals and the broader economy.

Congressman Bilirakis serves as a senior Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is a Co-Chair of this Caucus along with Representative Tonko. Bilirakis noted, “Increasing life expectancy and promoting positive health outcomes are important priorities, and the formation of this caucus is an important step toward achieving those goals. I believe in promoting individual responsibility and supporting innovation in the pursuit of scientific discoveries that will enable Americans to live happier and longer lives. I am honored to co-chair this bipartisan effort with my colleague, Congressman Tonko. We will work with our colleagues in an effort to make a significant impact on the future health and wellness for our constituents.”

Tonko, who is also a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, added, “With life expectancy in the United States at its lowest in decades, we in Congress need to come together to address this decline and support science and research that will enable people to live fuller and healthier lives. We’re doing just that with the Longevity Caucus. I am grateful for the partnership of Congressman Bilirakis in leading this Caucus and look forward to working in strong bipartisan fashion to help improve our quality and longevity of life, particularly in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases with aging as the greatest risk factor.”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Panetta Authors Legislation to Protect the Central Coast from Offshore Drilling
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

Monterey, CA – On Earth Day, United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) authored and introduced the Central Coast of California Conservation Act of 2025. This legislation would prohibit any new leasing for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in the Central California Planning Area, which extends all along California’s 19^th Congressional District, including from the northern border of San Luis Obispo County to the northern border of Santa Cruz County. The bill would ensure protections up to Mendocino County. Rep. Panetta introduced this legislation as part of a collaborative, coordinated package of bills to permanently protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling.

As this Administration attempts to repeal environmental protections, the Central Coast of California Conservation Act would take proactive action to protect California’s 19^th Congressional District’s coastal economies and marine ecosystems. These waters are teeming with biodiversity, boasting at least 26 marine mammal species, 94 seabird species, four sea turtle species, more than 340 fish species, thousands of invertebrate species, and more than 450 marine algae species. California’s coast supports tourism, recreation, agriculture, fisheries, and shipping, contributing $44 billion to California’s GDP each year.

“Our oceans, economy, and way of life of coastal communities in California’s 19^th Congressional District must continue to be protected from any effort to expand offshore oil and gas drilling,” said Rep. Panetta. “The Central Coast of California Conservation Act would prevent new drilling before it starts, protecting the biodiversity of our waters and the businesses and communities that rely on them. On Earth Day, and every day, we must take action to ensure we are living up to the legacy of our home to protect the incredible beauty and bounty that our ocean provides for the next generation.”

U.S. coastal counties support 54.6 million jobs, $10 trillion in goods and services, and pay $4 trillion in wages. Under President Joe Biden, more than 625 million acres of U.S. ocean waters were permanently protected from offshore oil and gas drilling. This Administration is trying to roll back those protections, attempting to illegally reopen those same areas to drilling. The first Trump Administration proposed a sweeping plan to open 47 offshore oil and gas lease areas across nearly every U.S. coastline, from California to New England.

“Monterey Bay Aquarium applauds our California representatives for consistently championing the protection of our ocean and our coastal communities from the devastating impacts of oil pollution and offshore oil development,” said Monterey Bay Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard. “Californians experienced too many times the heartbreaking impacts of these spills and know that thriving coastal communities and their economies depend on a healthy, vibrant ocean. These important bills would enshrine in law the essential protections from the hazards of offshore drilling and take decisive action on behalf of the people of California.”

“California’s spectacular marine life — including complex kelp forests and charismatic sea otters — and vibrant coastal economies rely on healthy ecosystems. This legislation could, once and for all, block offshore drilling activities along the continental shelf, and protect critical marine habitats along California’s iconic Pacific Coast,” said Defenders of Wildlife California Program Director Pamela Flick.

Rep. Panetta introduced this legislation as part of a suite of offshore drilling legislation alongside House Natural Resources Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02), House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (NJ-07), Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Jack Reed (D-RI), and five other United States Representatives. Additional legislation includes:
- The West Coast Ocean Protection Act (Rep. Huffman)
- The COAST Anti-Drilling (Rep. Pallone)
- The Florida Coast Protection Act (Rep. Castor)
- New England Coastal Protection Act of 2025 (Rep. Magaziner)
- Defend our Coast Act (Rep. Ross)
- California Clean Coast Act of 2025 (Rep. Carbajal)
- Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act (Rep. Levin)
“It’s time to end the threat of expanded drilling off America’s coasts forever,” said Oceana Campaign Director Joseph Gordon. “Oceana applauds these Congressional leaders for reintroducing pivotal legislation that would establish permanent protections from offshore oil and gas drilling for millions of acres of ocean. Earth Day is an important reminder that every coastal community deserves healthy oceans and oil-free beaches. This bill is part of a national movement to safeguard our multi-billion-dollar coastal economies from dirty and dangerous offshore drilling. Congress must swiftly pass these bills into law and reject any expansion of drilling to protect our coasts.”    

“Protecting these waters puts coastal communities and wildlife above polluters and brings us closer to a world where our waters are free from oil spills, endangered whale populations are free from seismic blasting, and local economies can thrive,” said NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) Director of Ocean Energy Taryn Kiekow Heimer. “Now more than ever, we need leadership from Congress to protect our oceans from an industry that only cares about its bottom line – and a Trump administration willing to do anything to give those oil billionaires what they want.”

“We believe our coasts are far too valuable to risk for short-term fossil fuel gains,” said Save Our Shores Executive Director Katie Thompson. “Permanently protecting offshore areas from oil and gas leasing is a critical step toward safeguarding marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and our climate future. These bills reflect the will of the people to prioritize ocean health and long-term sustainability over polluting industries of the past.”

“This suite of legislation is a critical move to safeguard our marine resources against Trump and his Big Oil agenda,” said Center for Biological Diversity ocean specialist Rachel Rilee. “It’s been 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster devastated coastlines and killed hundreds of thousands of marine animals. Our oceans and the incredible ecosystems they support are counting on us. Congress must pass these bills and then get right back to work protecting marine life and coastal communities from every manmade danger and every Republican attack.”

“Fifteen years ago this week, the Deepwater Horizon spill dumped 210 million gallons of oil into the ocean; and with every new offshore oil and gas lease, we’re gambling with the possibility of another disaster,” said Ocean Conservancy senior director of climate policy Anna-Marie Laura. “This suite of bills will help protect American waters, from Alaska to Florida, from the daily leaks, massive spills, and extreme air and water pollution that comes with offshore oil and gas drilling. Ocean Conservancy implores Congress to listen to the voices of millions of Americans who want to end offshore oil and gas production and move toward responsible, renewable energy sources, and pass these bills.”

###

MIL OSI USA News –
April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: GUU and ACIM combine competencies to form a digital economy

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

On April 23, 2025, a meeting of the Board of the Association “Digital Innovations in Mechanical Engineering” (ACIM) was held, at which a decision was made to admit a new founder to ACIM – the State University of Management, as well as to include the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev in the Board of Trustees of the Association.

The unification of the competencies of the State University of Management and the Center for Information Technologies and Communications will promote active innovation in the development of digital enterprise management models, the search for new forms of digital interaction between enterprises to form value chains, ensuring interoperability and cybersecurity of automated control systems, as well as the development of new educational programs for training specialists and managers in the field of digital transformation and digital enterprise management.

Participation in the activities of the Board of Trustees of the Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroev will accelerate the development of interaction between the university and leading Russian IT companies, and will also allow acquiring new competencies in the field of managing complex processes of digital transformation of industry, will facilitate the introduction of new IT systems in the educational process and the development of new educational programs for training personnel in the interests of developing the digital economy.

The Association “Digital Innovations in Mechanical Engineering” was founded in 2019. Currently, it is one of the leading competence centers in the field of digital transformation and the formation of an ecosystem of digital mechanical engineering and related industries. The founders of the Association are leading universities (Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin, Ulyanovsk State University, MSTU “STANKIN” and others), large domestic IT companies (1C, GC “TSIFRA”, JSC “Iteko”, JSC “ASCON”, LLC “Tesis” and others), high-tech industrial enterprises and corporations (JSC “USC”).

Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/25/2025

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Ex-Congressman George Santos Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft
Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Santos Filed Fraudulent FEC Reports, Embezzled Funds from Campaign Donors, Stole Identities, Charged Credit Cards Without Authorization, Obtained Unemployment Benefits Through Fraud, and Lied in Reports to the U.S. House of Representatives
Former Congressman George Anthony Devolder Santos was sentenced today by United States District Judge Joanna Seybert at the federal courthouse in Central Islip to 87 months in prison for committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of the sentence, Santos was ordered to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $373,749.97 and $205,002.97 in forfeiture. Santos pleaded guilty in August 2024.

John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI New York); and Anne T. Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney announced the sentence.

“Today, George Santos was finally held accountable for the mountain of lies, theft, and fraud he perpetrated. For the defendant, it was judgment day, and for his many victims including campaign donors, political parties, government agencies, elected bodies, his own family members, and his constituents, it is justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Durham. “To Mr. Santos and other dishonest individuals of that ilk, who lie, steal identities and commit frauds to get elected to public office, this prosecution speaks to the truth that my Office is committed to aggressively rooting out public corruption and that public officials who criminally abuse our electoral process will end up in a federal prison.”

Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General and the New York State Department of Labor, for their assistance.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia stated, “Today, former United States Congressman George Santos is held accountable for his repeated criminal dishonesty – financing his election campaign with ill-obtained funds, stealing COVID unemployment benefits, and providing materially false information in his financial disclosure. Santos abused his authority to garner illicit donations and campaign support; ultimately betraying the public’s trust and violating our democratic systems. May today’s sentencing emphasize the FBI’s continued commitment to dismantling any fraudulent scheme designed to unlawfully benefit those in positions of power.”

“George Santos blatantly disregarded campaign finance laws and abused the trust of his constituents and contributors. While he may have made a mockery of his position in public office, today’s sentencing is justice for those he has wronged. CI New York proudly worked with the Eastern District of New York, the FBI and Nassau County DA’s office to ensure that Santos faces the consequences of his years of deception,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis.

“George Santos spent his brief career in public service conning his donors and constituents until the deceit caught up to him and he was exposed as an opportunist and a fraud. Today’s lengthy prison sentence is a just ending for a weaver of lies who believed he was above the law,” stated Nassau County District Attorney Donnelly. “Being elected to represent any community is accepting a solemn responsibility and a position of great trust. George Santos failed the people he was elected to represent in Nassau County and Queens. He broke that trust and traded in his integrity for designer clothes and a luxury lifestyle. I will continue to work with my partners to root out public corruption and ensure that the crucial standards to which we hold our elected officials and public institutions are upheld.”

The counts to which Santos pled guilty relate to the following criminal scheme, as set forth in the superseding indictment:

The Party Program Scheme

During the 2022 election cycle, Santos was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in New York’s Third Congressional District. Nancy Marks, who pleaded guilty on October 5, 2023 to related conduct, was the treasurer for his principal congressional campaign committee, Devolder-Santos for Congress. During this election cycle, Santos and Marks devised and executed a fraudulent scheme to obtain money for the campaign by submitting materially false reports to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), in which they inflated the campaign’s fundraising numbers for the purpose of misleading the FEC, a national party committee, and the public.

The purpose of the scheme was to ensure that Santos and his campaign qualified for a program administered by the national party committee to provide financial and logistical support to Santos’s campaign. To qualify for the program, Santos had to demonstrate, among other things, that his congressional campaign had raised at least $250,000 from third-party contributors in a single quarter.

To create the public appearance that his campaign had met that financial benchmark and was otherwise financially viable, Santos and Marks agreed to falsely report to the FEC that at least 11 of their family members had made significant financial contributions to the campaign. In fact, Santos and Marks both knew that these individuals had neither made the reported contributions nor given authorization for their personal information to be included in such false public reports. In addition, Santos and Marks knew that the national party committee relied on FEC fundraising data to evaluate candidates’ qualification for the program, and agreed to falsely report to the FEC that Santos had loaned the campaign significant sums of money, when, in fact, Santos had not made the reported loans and, at the time the loans were reported, did not have the funds necessary to make such loans. These falsely reported loans included one for $500,000 when in fact Santos had less than $8,000 in his personal and business bank accounts.

Through the execution of this scheme, Santos and Marks ensured that Santos met the necessary financial benchmarks to qualify for the program administered by the national party committee. As a result of qualifying for the program, the congressional campaign received significant financial support.

As part of his plea agreement, Santos stipulated that he had engaged in the following additional criminal conduct, as set forth in the superseding indictment and other court filings, and agreed that this criminal conduct would be considered by the Court at the time of sentencing:

The Credit Card Fraud Scheme

Between approximately July 2020 and October 2022, Santos devised and executed a fraudulent scheme to steal the personal identity and financial information of contributors to his campaign. He then repeatedly charged contributors’ credit cards without their authorization. Because of these unauthorized transactions, funds were transferred to Santos’s campaign, to the campaigns of other candidates for elected office, and to his own bank account. To conceal the true source of these funds and to circumvent campaign contribution limits, Santos falsely represented in FEC filings that some of the campaign contributions were made by other persons, such as his relatives or associates, rather than the true cardholders. Santos did not have authorization to use their names in this way. In furtherance of the scheme, Santos sought out victims he knew were elderly persons suffering from cognitive impairment or decline.

Fraudulent Political Contribution Solicitation Scheme

Beginning in September 2022, during his successful campaign for Congress, Santos operated a limited liability company (Company #1) through which he defrauded prospective political supporters. Santos enlisted a Queens-based political consultant (Person #1) to communicate with prospective donors on Santos’s behalf. Santos directed Person #1 to falsely tell donors that, among other things, their money would be used to help elect Santos to the House, including by purchasing television advertisements. In reliance on these false statements, two donors (Contributor #1 and Contributor #2) each transferred $25,000 to Company #1’s bank account, which Santos controlled.

Shortly after the funds were received into Company #1’s bank account, the money was transferred into Santos’s personal bank accounts—in one instance laundered through two of Santos’s personal accounts. Santos then used much of that money for personal expenses. Among other things, Santos used the funds to make personal purchases, including of designer clothing, to withdraw cash, to discharge personal debts, and to transfer money to his associates.

Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme

Beginning in approximately February 2020, Santos was employed as a Regional Director of a Florida-based investment firm (Investment Firm #1). By late March 2020, in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States, new legislation was signed into law that provided additional federal funding to assist out-of-work Americans during the pandemic.

In mid-June 2020, although he was employed and not eligible for unemployment benefits, Santos applied for government assistance through the New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL), claiming falsely to have been unemployed since March 2020. From that point until April 2021—during which time Santos was working and receiving a salary on a near-continuous basis, and throughout his first unsuccessful run for Congress—he falsely affirmed each week that he was eligible for unemployment benefits when he was not. As a result, Santos fraudulently received more than $24,000 in unemployment insurance benefits.

False Statements to the House of Representatives

Santos, like all candidates for the House, had a legal duty to file with the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives a Financial Disclosure Statement (House Disclosures) before each election. In his House Disclosures, Santos was personally required to give a full and complete accounting of his assets, income, and liabilities, among other things. He certified that his House Disclosures were true, complete, and correct.

In September 2022, in connection with his second campaign for election to the House, Santos filed a House Disclosure in which he vastly overstated his income and assets. In this House Disclosure, he falsely certified that during the reporting period:
- He had earned $750,000 in salary from the Devolder Organization LLC, a Florida‑based entity of which Santos was the sole beneficial owner;
- He had received between $1,000,001 and $5 million in dividends from the Devolder Organization LLC;
- He had a checking account with deposits of between $100,001 and $250,000; and
- He had a savings account with deposits of between $1 million and $5 million.
These assertions were false: Santos had not received from the Devolder Organization LLC the reported amounts of salary or dividends and did not maintain checking or savings accounts with deposits in the reported amounts. Further, Santos failed to disclose that, in 2021, he received approximately $28,000 in income from Investment Firm #1 and more than $20,000 in unemployment insurance benefits from the NYS DOL.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section and the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division, along with the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Harris, Anthony Bagnuola, and Laura Zuckerwise, along with Trial Attorney John Taddei, are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Rachel Friedman and Dinora Orozco.

The Defendant:

GEORGE ANTHONY DEVOLDER SANTOS
Age: 36
Queens, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-197 (S-2) (JS)
MIL Security OSI –
April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Chair’s Statement: Fifty-First Meeting of the IMFC – Mr. Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister for Finance of Saudi Arabia
Source: IMF – News in Russian

April 25, 2025

In the context of the Fifty-First Meeting of the IMFC that took place in Washington, D.C. on 24^th and 25^th April, IMFC members welcomed the ongoing efforts to end wars and conflicts, recognizing that peace is essential to restoring stability and fostering sustainable growth. IMFC members underscored that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety. They acknowledged, however, that the IMFC is not a forum to resolve geopolitical and security issues which are discussed in other fora.

The world economy is at a pivotal juncture. Following several years of rising concerns over trade, trade tensions have abruptly soared, fueling elevated uncertainty, market volatility, and risks to growth and financial stability. Near-term growth is projected to slow and intensifying downside risks dominate the outlook. We will step up our efforts to strengthen economic resilience and build a more prosperous future. We underline the critical role of the IMF in helping us navigate this challenging environment, as a trusted advisor and champion of strong policy frameworks. We thank our Deputies for discussing the medium-term direction of the IMF during their meeting in Diriyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 6-7, 2025, and we agree on the annexed Diriyah Declaration.
1. The world economy is at a pivotal juncture. Following several years of rising concerns over trade, trade tensions have abruptly soared, fueling elevated uncertainty, market volatility, and risks to growth and financial stability. Near-term growth is projected to slow, while disinflation is expected to continue but at a slower pace. Intensifying downside risks dominate the outlook, in an already challenging context of weak growth and high public debt. Wars and conflicts impose a heavy humanitarian and economic toll. Transformative forces, such as digitalization/artificial intelligence, demographic shifts, and climate transitions are creating opportunities, but also challenges.
1. We will step up our efforts to strengthen economic resilience and break from the low-growth, high-debt path, while harnessing transformative forces, to build a more prosperous future. Comprehensive and well calibrated, well sequenced, and well communicated reforms and policy actions are needed to boost private sector-led growth, productivity, and job creation. We will pursue sound macroeconomic policies and advance structural reforms to improve the business environment, streamline excessive regulation, fight corruption, and mobilize innovation and technology adoption. We will deepen our pivot toward growth-friendly fiscal adjustments to ensure debt sustainability and rebuild buffers where needed. Fiscal adjustments should be mindful of distributional impacts and underpinned by a credible medium-term consolidation plan, while strengthening the efficiency of public spending, protecting the vulnerable, and supporting growth-enhancing public and private investments, taking into account country circumstances. Central banks remain strongly committed to maintaining price stability, in line with their respective mandates, and will continue to adjust their policies in a data dependent and well-communicated manner. We will continue to closely monitor and, as necessary, tackle financial vulnerabilities and risks to financial stability, while harnessing the benefits of innovation. We will work together to improve the resilience of the world economy and build prosperity and ensure the stability and effective functioning of the international monetary system. We will also work together to address excessive global imbalances, support an open, fair and rules-based international economic order, and reinforce supply chain resilience. We reaffirm our April 2021 exchange rate commitments.
1. We will continue to support countries as they undertake reforms and address debt vulnerabilities and debt service challenges. We acknowledge the specific challenges faced by low-income and vulnerable countries, including fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS) and small developing states (SDS), which are further compounded by recent decrease in official development assistance. We underline the importance of the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust. We welcome the progress made on debt treatments under the G20 Common Framework (CF) and beyond. We remain committed to addressing global debt vulnerabilities in an effective, comprehensive, and systematic manner, including further stepping up the CF’s implementation in a predictable, timely, orderly, and coordinated manner, and enhancing debt transparency. We look forward to further work at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable on ways to address debt vulnerabilities and restructuring challenges. We encourage the IMF and the World Bank to help advance the implementation of the 3-pillar approach to address debt service pressures in countries with sustainable debt, including through supporting them to implement growth-enhancing reforms, mobilize domestic resources, and attract private capital. We look forward to the review of the Low-Income Country Debt Sustainability Framework (LIC-DSF).
1. We welcome the Managing Director’s Global Policy Agenda.
1. We support further sharpening the focus of surveillance based on analytical rigor, evenhandedness, and tailored policy advice. We welcome a strong focus on helping countries strengthen their economic resilience and achieve macroeconomic and financial stability and sustainable growth by increasing productivity, addressing macro-critical risks, reducing excessive imbalances, achieving debt sustainability, and mitigating disruptive capital flows and exchange rate volatility. We look forward to the Comprehensive Surveillance Review that will set future surveillance priorities and modalities; and the Review of Financial Sector Assessment Programs to keep financial surveillance in step with evolving financial stability risks.
1. We look forward to the Review of Program Design and Conditionality to strengthen further the effectiveness of IMF-supported programs and to the Review of the Short-Term Liquidity Line. We also look forward to the assessment of the Global Financial Safety Net, including the role of Regional Financing Arrangements (RFAs), and its ability to safeguard global financial stability.
1. We support efforts to further strengthen capacity development and to ensure the sustainability of financing. We welcome the IMF’s ongoing work with the World Bank on the Joint Domestic Resource Mobilization Initiative. We welcome a more flexible and tailored delivery, better integrated with policy advice and program design, as set out in the 2024 Capacity Development Strategy Review.
1. We reaffirm our commitment to a strong, quota-based, and adequately resourced IMF at the center of the GFSN. We have advanced the domestic approvals for our consent to the quota increase under the 16^th General Review of Quotas and we look forward to the finalization of this process as soon as possible. We recognize that realignment in quota shares should aim at better reflecting members’ relative positions in the world economy, while protecting the voice of the poorest members. We acknowledge, however, that building consensus among members on quota and governance reforms will require progress in stages. In this regard, we agree on the annexed Diriyah Declaration on the way forward.
1. We underline the critical role of the IMF in helping us navigate the current challenging environment, as a trusted advisor and champion of strong policy frameworks. We reaffirm our commitment to the institution and look forward to discussing further ways to ensure the Fund remains agile and focused, working in collaboration with partners and other IFIs. We reiterate our appreciation for staff’s high-quality work and dedication to support the membership and continue to encourage further efforts to improve regional and women’s representation within staff positions, and women’s representation at the Executive Board and in Board leadership positions.
1. Our next meeting is expected to be held in October 2025.
Annexed Diriyah Declaration

Recalling the October 2024 IMFC Chair’s Statement, which stated: “We reiterate our strong commitment to the Fund on its 80th anniversary and look forward to further discussing at our next meeting ways to ensure the Fund remains well-equipped to meet future challenges, in line with its mandate, and in collaboration with partners and other IFIs. We ask our Deputies to prepare for this discussion.”; and

Drawing on the work advanced by our Deputies, who met in the historic town of Diriyah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 6-7, 2025, to prepare for this discussion;

We thank our Deputies and agree on the following Diriyah Declaration on the way forward with regard to IMFC processes and IMF quota and governance reforms.

*****

Enhancing IMFC Processes

We agree that the IMFC plays a key role in the IMF’s governance structure, offering the IMF Board of Governors trusted advice and providing strategic direction to the work and policies of the Fund through structured, high-level, and consensus-driven policy guidance on all relevant issues.

To enhance its effectiveness as a forum for effective engagement and consensus-building on complex challenges, we agree to further strengthen IMFC processes. To this end, we welcome recent improvements to the format of the Introductory IMFC session and the use of concise, accessible communiqués to effectively convey key IMFC messages to a broader audience. Moreover, we agree that deputy-level meetings focused on strategic rather than routine issues could support the work of IMFC principals.

We appreciate the value of engagement across the international financial architecture, including with Regional Financing Arrangements (RFAs), to enhance cooperation and strengthen the resilience of the international monetary system.

Strengthening IMF Governance

We note that the world economy currently faces significant challenges and agree that the IMF makes a vital contribution to international cooperation, providing a long-established and trusted institution for policy discussions informed by rigorous analysis. We stress that the IMF’s mandate to promote macroeconomic and financial stability remains as relevant as ever, and its role to support members in addressing macroeconomic challenges through analysis and policy advice, capacity development, and financing where relevant, is key. We agree on the need to ensure that the institution remains strong, quota-based, adequately resourced, and efficiently managed to fulfil its mandate at the center of the global financial safety net.

We agree that a strong, inclusive, and representative governance framework is fundamental to maintaining the Fund’s credibility and legitimacy among its diverse membership. Strengthening IMF governance will support its continued ability to effectively promote consensus among the membership in addressing global challenges. These efforts are also essential to fostering multilateralism and international cooperation.

Given the strategic importance of governance reforms, we recognize that progress toward consensus should be made in stages. In this context, we agree to develop as a first step a set of general principles to guide future discussions and help foster convergence of views. Work on these principles should be completed in a timely manner to help ensure the efficient progression of future General Reviews of Quotas (GRQs), including under the 17^th GRQ. Establishing these guiding principles would help ensure that governance changes are gradual, widely acceptable, and reflective of the interests of the entire membership, as well as maintain the Fund’s financial soundness.

The Way Forward

We agree that implementation of the 16^th GRQ remains a priority. We recognize that realignment in quota shares should aim at better reflecting members’ relative positions in the world economy, while protecting the voice of the poorest members. To build consensus on future governance reforms, including under the 17^th GRQ, we call on the Executive Board to develop, by the 2026 Spring Meetings, a set of principles to guide future discussions on IMF quotas and governance, drawing from the deliberations by IMFC Deputies during their meeting in Diriyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 6-7, 2025. We look forward to a discussion of the status of advancement of this work at our next meeting. We ask our Deputies to prepare for this discussion.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY AND FINANCIAL COMMITTEE

ATTENDANCE

Chair

Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance, Saudi Arabia

Managing Director

Kristalina Georgieva

Members or Alternates

Ayman Alsayari, Governor of the Saudi Central Bank, Saudi Arabia (Alternate for Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance, Saudi Arabia)

Mohammed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, United Arab Emirates

Edgar Amador Zamora, Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Mexico

Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, United States

Edouard Normand Bigendako, Governor, Bank of the Republic of Burundi

Luis Caputo, Minister of Economy, Argentina

Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada (Alternate for Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance, Canada)

Sang Mok Choi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Republic of Korea

Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economy and Finance, Italy

Gabriel Galipolo, Governor, Central Bank of Brazil (Alternate for Fernando Haddad, Minister of Finance, Brazil)

Jan Jambon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Pensions, National Lottery and Federal Culture Institutions, Belgium

Katsunobu Kato, Minister of Finance, Japan

Daniela Stoffel, State Secretary for International Finance, Federal Department of Finance, Switzerland (Alternate for Karin Keller-Sutter, Minister of Finance, Switzerland)

Lesetja Kganyago, Governor, South African Reserve Bank, South Africa

Jörg Kukies, Federal Minister of the Ministry of Finance, Germany

François Villeroy de Galhau, Governor of the Bank of France (Alternate for Eric Lombard, Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, France)

Adebayo Olawale Edun, Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Nigeria

Gongsheng Pan, Governor of the People’s Bank of China

Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, H.M. Treasury, United Kingdom

Pavel Snisorenko, Director, Department of International Financial Relations (Alternate for Anton Siluanov, Minister of Finance, Russian Federation)

Sanjay Malhotra, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (Alternate for Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance, India)

Mehmet Simsek, Minister of Treasury and Finance, Republic of Türkiye

Salah-Eddine Taleb, Governor, Bank of Algeria

Perry Warjiyo, Governor, Bank of Indonesia

Ida Wolden Bache, Governor, Bank of Norway

Observers

Agustín Carstens, General Manager, Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

Elisabeth Svantesson, Chair, Development Committee (DC) and Minister for Finance, Sweden

Christine Lagarde, President, European Central Bank (ECB)

Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, European Commission (EC)

Klaas Knot, Chair, Financial Stability Board (FSB) and President of De Nederlandsche Bank

Celeste Drake, Deputy Director-General, International Labour Organization (ILO)

Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Mohannad Alsuwaidan, Economic Analyst, Petroleum Studies Department, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, United Nations (UN)

Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, The World Bank (WB)

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO)

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Wafa Amr

Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

@IMFSpokesperson

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/04/25/pr-123-imfc-chairs-statement-fifty-first-meeting-of-the-imfc

MIL OSI
MIL OSI Russia News –
April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: American Rebel CEO Andy Ross Harnesses Media Appearance on NBC-TV West Palm Beach Affiliate to Amplify Growth Strategy, Propel Brand Expansion and Launch American Rebel Light Beer in Florida
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

From Song to Strategy: American Rebel’s CEO Andy Ross Shares the Brand’s Journey with Sunshine Spotlight Host Fiona Daghir Detailing the Journey of America’s Patriotic Brand to Becoming the Next Great American Success Story.

West Palm Beach, FL, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), is pleased to share its CEO Andy Ross’ TV interview on the NBC-TV affiliate in West Palm Beach, Florida – WPTV. Sunshine Spotlight host Fiona Daghir (instagram.com/fionadaghir) and Andy share the American Rebel origin story of how Andy’s song “American Rebel,” which appeared on Andy’s 2013 album Time to Fight, became the blueprint for the creation of American Rebel – America’s Patriotic Brand.

“I had incorporated music into my TV show Maximum Archery World Tour as early as 2010 and the song ‘American Rebel’ was my way of summing up my core values and way of life. When I shared the song and video cut with entrepreneur and businessman Corey Lambrecht, Corey said ‘that’s your brand. You need to build your brand around American Rebel and use this patriotic anthem as your mission and values statement.’ I had just had a similar conversation with my record producer Doug Grau. Doug had said that music artists needed to find other ways to monetize their music due to the file sharing phenomenon of the early 2000s. Corey and Doug both helped me start American Rebel in 2015 and we haven’t looked back. I wanted to see American Rebel beer, American Rebel motor oil, American Rebel grills, American Rebel tools. I want Susie to go up to mom and say ‘Mom, what’s Dad want for Father’s Day and she says honey, anything with American Rebel on it.’ We’re a lifestyle brand. Our first products were concealed carry backpacks and jackets, and then we launched American Rebel safes. In February 2022 we uplisted to NASDAQ under the AREB symbol and then we acquired our OEM safe manufacturer Champion Safe (championsafe.com). Champion has been around since 1999, and they manufacture and market our American Rebel safes in addition to their Champion and Superior brands. When an opportunity in the beer market presented itself, we decided to launch America’s Patriotic, God Fearing, Constitution Loving, National Anthem Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer, and the response has been amazing. Customers love what we stand for and they love the beer. American Rebel Light Beer is a premium domestic light lager with no corn syrup or rice extract to sweeten the beer like our competition. We use all natural ingredients. This produces a fuller flavored beer while still hitting the light beer profile – 100 calories and 3.2 carbs. People will gravitate to the marketing; but they’ll only continue as customers if they love the liquid.”

NBC WPTV interview can be found here: click here for interview

About American Rebel Light Beer

Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a premium domestic light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

American Rebel Light is a Premium Domestic Light Lager Beer – All Natural, Crisp, Clean and Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.

About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Light Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit americanrebel.com and americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit americanrebelbeer.com/investor-relations.

American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
info@americanrebel.com

American Rebel Beverages, LLC
Todd Porter, President
tporter@americanrebelbeer.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of marketing outreach efforts, actual placement timing and availability of American Rebel Beer, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Company Contact:
tporter@americanrebelbeer.com
info@americanrebel.com

Media Contact:
Matt Sheldon
Matt@PrecisionPR.co

Attachment
- American Rebel Holdings Inc
The MIL Network –
April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: In talking with Tehran, Trump is reversing course on Iran – could a new nuclear deal be next?

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Jeffrey Fields, Associate Professor of the Practice of International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

A mural on the outer walls of the former US embassy in Tehran depicts two men in negotiation. Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Negotiators from Iran and the United States are set to meet again in Oman on April 26, prompting hopes the two countries might be moving, albeit tentatively, toward a new nuclear accord.

The scheduled talks follow the two previous rounds of indirect negotiations that have taken place under the new Trump administration. Those discussions were deemed to have yielded enough progress to merit sending nuclear experts from both sides to begin outlining the specifics of a potential framework for a deal.

The development is particularly notable given that Trump, in 2018, unilaterally walked the U.S. away from a multilateral agreement with Iran. That deal, negotiated during the Obama presidency, put restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. Trump{,} instead turned to a policy that involved tightening the financial screws on Iran through enhanced sanctions while issuing implicit military threats.

But that approach failed to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program.

Now, rather than revive the maximum pressure policy of his first term, Trump – ever keen to be seen as a dealmaker – has given his team the green light for the renewed diplomacy and even reportedly rebuffed, for now, Israel’s desire to launch military strikes against Tehran.

Jaw-jaw over war-war

The turn to diplomacy returns Iran-US relations to where they began during the Obama administration, with attempts to encourage Iran to curb or eliminate its ability to enrich uranium.

Only this time, with the U.S. having left the previous deal in 2018, Iran has had seven years to improve on its enrichment capability and stockpile vastly more uranium than had been allowed under the abandoned accord.

As a long-time expert on U.S. foreign policy and nuclear nonproliferation, I believe Trump has a unique opportunity to not only reinstate a similar nuclear agreement to the one he rejected, but also forge a more encompassing deal – and foster better relations with the Islamic Republic in the process.

The front pages of Iran’s newspapers in a sidewalk newsstand in Tehran, Iran, on April 13, 2025.
Alireza/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

There are real signs that a potential deal could be in the offing, and it is certainly true that Trump likes the optics of dealmaking.

But an agreement is by no means certain. Any progress toward a deal will be challenged by a number of factors, not least internal divisions and opposition within the Trump administration and skepticism among some in the Islamic Republic, along with uncertainty over a succession plan for the aging Ayatollah Khamenei.

Conservative hawks are still abundant in both countries and could yet derail any easing of diplomatic tensions.

A checkered diplomatic past

There are also decades of mistrust to overcome.

It is an understatement to say that the U.S. and Iran have had a fraught relationship, such as it is, since the Iranian revolution of 1979 and takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran the same year.

Many Iranians would say relations have been strained since 1953, when the U.S. and the United Kingdom orchestrated the overthrow of Mohammad Mossadegh, the democratically elected prime minister of Iran.

Washington and Tehran have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1979, and the two countries have been locked in a decadeslong battle for influence in the Middle East. Today, tensions remain high over Iranian support for a so-called axis of resistance against the West and in particular U.S. interests in the Middle East. That axis includes Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

For its part, Tehran has long bristled at American hegemony in the region, including its resolute support for Israel and its history of military action. In recent years that U.S. action has included the direct assaults on Iranian assets and personnel. In particular, Tehran is still angry about the 2020 assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Standing atop these various disputes, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have proved a constant source of contention for the United States and Israel, the latter being the only nuclear power in the region.

The prospect of warmer relations between the two sides first emerged during the Obama administration – though Iran sounded out the Bush administration in 2003 only to be rebuffed.

U.S. diplomats began making contact with Iranian counterparts in 2009 when Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns met with an Iranian negotiator in Geneva. The so-called P5+1 began direct negotiations with Iran in 2013. This paved the way for the eventual Iran nuclear deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2015. In that agreement – concluded by the U.S., Iran, China, Russia and a slew of European nations – Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program, including limits on the level to which it could enrich uranium, which was capped well short of what would be necessary for a nuclear weapon. In return, multilateral and bilateral U.S. sanctions would be removed.

Many observers saw it as a win-win, with the restraints on a burgeoning nuclear power coupled with hopes that greater economic engagement with the international community that might temper some of Iran’s more provocative foreign policy behavior.

Yet Israel and Saudi Arabia worried the deal did not entirely eliminate Iran’s ability to enrich uranium, and right-wing critics in the U.S. complained it did not address Iran’s ballistic missile programs or support for militant groups in the region.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, draws a red line on a graphic of a bomb while discussing Iran at the United Nations on Sept. 27, 2012.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

When Trump first took office in 2016, he and his foreign policy team pledged to reverse Obama’s course and close the door on any diplomatic opening. Making good on his pledge, Trump unilaterally withdrew U.S. support for the JCPOA despite Iran’s continued compliance with the terms of the agreement and reinstated sanctions.

Donald the dealmaker?

So what has changed? Well, several things.

While Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA was welcomed by Republicans, it did nothing to stop Iran from enhancing its ability to enrich uranium.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, eager to transform its image and diversify economically, now supports a deal it opposed during the Obama administration.

In this second term, Trump’s anti-Iran impulses are still there. But despite his rhetoric of a military option should a deal not be struck, Trump has on numerous occasions stated his opposition to U.S. involvement in another war in the Middle East.

In addition, Iran has suffered a number of blows in recent years that has left it more isolated in the region. Iranian-aligned Hamas and Hezbollah have been seriously weakened as a result of military action by Israel. Meanwhile, strikes within Iran by Israel have shown the potential reach of Israeli missiles – and the apparent willingness of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use them. Further, the removal of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria has deprived Iran of another regional ally.

Tehran is also contending with a more fragile domestic economy than it had during negotiations for JCPOA.

With Iran weakened regionally and Trump’s main global focus being China, a diplomatic avenue with Iran seems entirely in line with Trump’s view of himself as a dealmaker.

A deal is not a given

With two rounds of meetings completed and the move now to more technical aspects of a possible agreement negotiated by experts, there appears to be a credible window of opportunity for diplomacy.

This could mean a new agreement that retains the core aspects of the deal Trump previously abandoned. I’m not convinced a new deal will look any different from the previous in terms of the enrichment aspect.

There are still a number of potential roadblocks standing in the way of any potential deal, however.

As was the case with Trump’s meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his first term, the president seems to be less interested in details than spectacle. While it was quite amazing for an American leader to meet with his North Korean counterpart, ultimately, no policy meaningfully changed because of it.

On Iran and other issues, the president displays little patience for complicated policy details. Complicating matters is that the U.S. administration is riven by intense factionalism, with many Iran hawks who would be seemingly opposed to a deal – including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz. They could rub up against newly confirmed Undersecretary of Defense for policy Elbridge Colby and Vice President JD Vance, both of whom have in the past advocated for a more pro-diplomacy line on Iran.

As has become a common theme in Trump administration foreign policy – even with its own allies on issues like trade – it’s unclear what a Trump administration policy on Iran actually is, and whether a political commitment exists to carry through any ultimate deal.

Top Trump foreign policy negotiator Steve Witkoff, who has no national security experience, has exemplified this tension. Tasked with leading negotiations with Iran, Witkoff has already having been forced to walk back his contention that the U.S. was only seeking to cap the level of uranium enrichment rather than eliminate the entirety of the program.

For its part, Iran has proved that it is serious about diplomacy, previously having accepted Barack Obama’s “extended hand.”

But Tehran is unlikely to capitulate on core interests or allow itself to be humiliated by the terms of any agreement.

Ultimately, the main question to watch is whether a deal with Iran is to be concluded by pragmatists – and then to what extent, narrow or expansive – or derailed by hawks within the administration.

Jeffrey Fields receives funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

– ref. In talking with Tehran, Trump is reversing course on Iran – could a new nuclear deal be next? – https://theconversation.com/in-talking-with-tehran-trump-is-reversing-course-on-iran-could-a-new-nuclear-deal-be-next-254770

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: International agreement to boost British business
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

International agreement to boost British business

Businesses will save time and money on repetitive legal action thanks to new international rules coming into force across the UK on 1 July.
Agreement will cut delays and costs for UK businesses

UK judgments against foreign suppliers will be recognised by participating countries overseas

This will boost the UK legal sector and drive economic growth, part of the government’s Plan for Change

Businesses will save time and money on repetitive legal action thanks to new international rules coming into force across the UK on 1 July.

The UK Government signed up to the Hague 2019 Convention, which means other countries will more easily recognise and enforce UK court judgments in cross-border disputes – sparing firms from costly and repetitive court battles.

Currently, if a UK business wins a case in a UK court against a company based in another country, business leaders face the threat of time-consuming enforcement processes or even identical legal action overseas for the same dispute – causing delays, increasing costs and creating confusion to the consumer.

The new rules will provide a simpler enforcement route to existing complex systems, giving one clear consistent set of shared rules – that the UK helped shape – making the process easier for everyone.

Streamlining the process will save businesses time and money, encourage foreign companies to use the UK’s world-class lawyers and courts to settle their disputes and grow the economy overall.

Justice Minister, Lord Ponsonby, said:

This Convention delivers real benefits for British businesses dealing with international disputes.

As part of our Plan for Change we’re boosting UK firms’ confidence to trade by minimising legal costs and ensuring justice across borders, all while cementing Britain’s role as a global legal powerhouse committed to the rule of law.

The Convention will enhance international legal collaboration. It will apply to judgments in civil and commercial matters, strengthening the UK’s position as a global hub for dispute resolution.

The 2019 Hague Convention is already being applied by 29 parties, from Ukraine to EU countries, with Uruguay joining last year. This means UK civil and commercial judgments will be recognised and enforced in these nations and that the UK will recognise judgments made in their courts.

With 91 members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), a major multilateral forum for private international law rules which has produced numerous conventions including the 2019 Hague Convention, Hague 2019 has a potentially global reach.

The Convention will apply to judgments given in proceedings that commence on or after 1 July 2025 across the entire United Kingdom or in other participating countries.

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Published 25 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump can’t decide who to blame for a failing peace deal that would only lead to further conflict

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

After a second consecutive night of deadly Russian air attacks – against the capital Kyiv on April 23 and the eastern Ukrainian city of Pavlohrad on April 24 – a ceasefire in Ukraine seems as unrealistic as ever.

With Russian commitment to a deal clearly lacking, the situation is not helped by US president Donald Trump. He can’t quite seem to decide who he will ultimately blame if his efforts to agree a ceasefire fall apart.

Before the strikes on Kyiv, Trump blamed Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, for holding up a deal by refusing to recognise Crimea as Russian. The following day, he chided Vladimir Putin for the attacks, calling them “not necessary, and very bad timing” and imploring Putin to stop.

The main stumbling bloc on the path to a ceasefire is what a final peace agreement might look like and what concessions Kyiv – and its European allies – will accept. Ukraine’s and Europe’s position on this is unequivocal: no recognition of the illegal Russian annexation.

This position is also backed by opinion polls in Ukraine, which indicate only limited support for some, temporary concessions to Russia. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, also suggested that temporarily giving up territory “can be a solution”.

The deal that Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff apparently negotiated over three rounds of talks in Russia was roundly rejected by Ukraine and Britain, France and Germany, who lead the “coalition of the willing” of countries pledging support for Ukraine.

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This prompted Witkoff and US secretary of state Marco Rubio to pull out of follow-up talks in London on April 24. These ended with a fairly vacuous statement about a commitment to continuing “close coordination and … further talks soon”.

And even this now appears as quite a stretch. Coinciding with Witkoff’s fourth trip to see Putin on April 25, European and Ukrainian counterproposals were released that reject most of the terms offered by Trump or at least defer their negotiation until after a ceasefire is in place.

Why is it failing?

The impasse is unsurprising. Washington’s proposal included a US commitment to recognise Crimea as Russian, a promise that Ukraine would not join Nato and accept Moscow’s control of the territories in eastern Ukraine that it currently illegally occupies. It also included lifting all sanctions against Russia.

In other words, Ukraine would give up large parts of territory and receive no security guarantees, while Russia is rewarded with reintegration into the global economy.

It is the territorial concessions asked of Kyiv which are especially problematic. Quite apart from the fact that they are in fundamental breach of basic principles of international law – the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states – they are unlikely to provide solid foundations for a durable peace.

Much like the idea of Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, to divide Ukraine like post-1945 Berlin, it betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of what, and who, drives this war.

Recent London peace talks in April failed to make progress.

Kellogg later clarified that he was not suggesting a partition of Ukraine, but his proposal would have exactly the same effect as Trump’s most recent offer.

Both proposals accept the permanent loss to Ukraine of territory that Russia currently controls. Where they differ is that Kellogg wants to introduce a European-led reassurance force west of the river Dnipro, while leaving the defence of remaining Ukrainian-controlled territory to Kyiv’s armed forces.

If accepted by Russia – unlikely as this is given Russia’s repeated and unequivocal rejection of European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine – it would provide at best a minimal security guarantee for a part of Ukrainian territory.

What it would almost inevitably mean, however, is a repeat of the permanent ceasefire violations along the disengagement zone in eastern Ukraine where Russian and Ukrainian forces would continue to face each other.

This is what happened after the ill-fated Minsk accords of 2014 and 2015, which were meant to settle the conflict after Russia’s invasion of Donbas in 2014. A further Russian invasion could be just around the corner once the Kremlin felt that it had sufficiently recovered from the current war.

Read more:
Ukraine deal: Europe has learned from the failed 2015 Minsk accords with Putin. Trump has not

The lack of a credible deterrent is one key difference between the situation in Ukraine as envisaged by Washington and other historical and contemporary parallels, including Korea and Cyprus.

Korea was partitioned in 1945 and has been protected by a large US military presence since the Korean war in 1953. After the Turkish invasion of 1974, Cyprus was divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots along a partition line secured by an armed UN peacekeeping mission.

Trump has ruled out any US troop commitment as part of securing a ceasefire in Ukraine. And the idea of a UN force in Ukraine, briefly floated during the presidency of Petro Poroshenko between 2014 and 2019, never got any traction, and is not likely to be accepted by Putin now.

The assumed parallels with the situation in Germany after the second world war are even more tenuous. Not only did Nazi Germany unconditionally surrender in May 1945 but its division into allied zones of occupation was formally and unanimously agreed by the victorious allies in Potsdam in August 1945.

Muddling up Potsdam and Munich?

By the time two separate German states of East and West Germany were established in 1949, the western allies had fallen out with Stalin but remained firmly united in Nato and western Europe. So the west German state was firmly protected under the US nuclear umbrella.

The agreements made in Potsdam didn’t have the same implication of permanence as the US suggestion to formally recognise Crimea as Russian territory. The suggestion was always that the allied forces would pull out of Germany at some stage, and restore the country’s sovereignty.

Most importantly, the allies did not reward the aggressor in the war or create the conditions for merely a brief interruption for an aggressor’s revisionist agenda.

After all, what has driven Putin’s war against Ukraine is his conviction that “the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century”.

The Trump administration deludes itself that it is applying the lessons of Potsdam by recognising Russia’s territorial conquests in Ukraine and handing them over. Instead it is falling into the trap of the 1938 Munich Agreement. Negotiators in Munich tried, but failed, to avoid the second world war by appeasing and not deterring an insatiable aggressor – a historical lesson that doesn’t need repeating.

Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

Tetyana Malyarenko 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. Trump can’t decide who to blame for a failing peace deal that would only lead to further conflict – https://theconversation.com/trump-cant-decide-who-to-blame-for-a-failing-peace-deal-that-would-only-lead-to-further-conflict-254841

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Presidential Message on Arbor Day, 2025

Source: The White House

Arbor Day is set aside to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. It was first observed in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, as a way to populate the barren plains and provide shelter and shade for the pioneers. Today, Arbor Day reflects our commitment to preserving the beauty of God’s creation while ensuring our forests, parks, and public lands remain accessible and well-managed. From towering redwoods and awe-inspiring sequoias to ornamental dogwoods, stately oaks, cedars, and pines, America’s trees enhance every community, improving air quality, offering recreational spaces, and supporting industries vital to our economy.

True stewardship of our natural resources requires responsible forest management in our natural resources. In recent years, irresponsible policies have left our forests overgrown and vulnerable to devastating wildfires—like those seen in California—that have destroyed millions of acres, displaced families, and taken countless lives. That is why I took action to promote active forest management, clearing hazardous fuels, thinning dense forests, and ensuring well-maintained landscapes.

My Administration is also cutting red tape and elevating forestry projects so we use America’s abundant timber resources instead of relying on costly imports. Timber production supports 750,000 jobs and provides essential materials for construction, energy, and manufacturing.

By freeing our forests and investing in responsible land management, we are protecting lives, strengthening our economy, and ensuring that our forests remain healthy and productive for future generations to come.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Premier Houston to Invite Investments in Offshore Wind at International Conference
Source: Government of Canada regional news

Premier Tim Houston will promote opportunities to invest in Nova Scotia’s growing wind energy sector at the largest offshore wind and ocean renewables conference in the Americas next week.

The Premier will be a keynote speaker at Oceantic Network’s 2025 International Partnering Forum, which runs from April 28 to May 1 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Thousands of professionals and industry experts from around the world are expected to attend.

“Nova Scotia is open for business, and there are countless opportunities for us to be more self-reliant and grow our economy in key areas like wind energy,” said Premier Houston. “We’re blessed with incredible onshore and offshore wind speeds that we can use to our advantage with partners who invest in our wind sector, provide good-paying jobs for hard-working Nova Scotians, and deliver clean energy that can create export opportunities and power our domestic needs.”

During the conference, Premier Houston will share insights into Nova Scotia’s vision for offshore wind, showcase the success of existing cross-border partnerships and collaborations, and reinforce the importance of a strong U.S.-Canada relationship to build both countries’ offshore wind markets.

Globally, offshore wind is one of the fastest-growing energy sources. Nova Scotia also has some of the best, consistently fast wind speeds in the world. The province sits on a large continental shelf with vast areas of relatively shallow water that are ideal for floating and fixed wind platforms.

Nova Scotia plans to offer licences for five gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. The first call for bids will open later this year.

Nova Scotia is currently focused on making the province more self-reliant by investing in wind resources, critical minerals and the seafood sector. The Province is also developing a comprehensive trade action plan to facilitate internal trade, enhance productivity and drive critical sectors with input from businesses and industry.

Quotes:

“The International Partnering Forum may have been born in the U.S., but it knows no geopolitical boundaries. If one market closes, we open others. We are proud to welcome Premier Houston to showcase Nova Scotia’s vision for offshore wind, which will attract the investment and partnerships others are pushing away. Cross-border partnerships like these are already delivering results and will be critical to the development of our supply chains, developers, and our shared energy future.”
— Liz Burdock, President and CEO, Oceantic Network

Quick Facts:
- Nova Scotia’s offshore wind sector is projected to be a $4.6-billion industry within seven years
- it will support the province’s budding green hydrogen sector and has the potential to make Nova Scotia a net exporter of clean energy
- the conference focuses on transforming the offshore clean energy industry through collaboration and innovation
- delegates attending the conference include Premier Houston; Chief of Staff and General Counsel Nicole LaFosse Parker; and Kim Doane, Executive Director, Energy Resource Development, Department of Energy
Additional Resources:

Nova Scotia offshore wind: https://novascotia.ca/offshore-wind/

Oceantic Network 2025 International Partnering Forum: https://oceantic.org/oceantic-event/2025-ipf/

More information about Oceantic Network is available at: https://oceantic.org/about-us/

Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way

MIL OSI Canada News –
April 26, 2025

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Why is it failing?

Muddling up Potsdam and Munich?

Quotes:

Quick Facts:

Additional Resources:

Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

Meeting of Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR)

Earth Sciences Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh chairs a high-level meeting of India Meteorological Department (IMD) and key ministries to review India’s weather and disaster preparedness

Also rolls out future roadmap for accurate forecasts

SUFALAM 2025 Kicks Off at NIFTEM-K, Igniting Innovation in Food Processing

Union Minister Chirag Paswan Inaugurates SUFALAM 2025, Calls for Innovation-Driven Food Ecosystem