Category: Economy

MIL-OSI USA: Washington Waters Newsletter – Spring 2025
Source: US Geological Survey
Contents

Message from Our Director

Welcome to Washington Waters, a newly launched newsletter for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Washington Water Science Center. The purpose of the newsletter is to keep our partners, collaborators, and data users updated with current research projects, changes to our data network, and other water news.

Though our motto is “Science for a Changing World”, we are guided and grounded by the mission of the U.S. Geological Survey: to provide objective and impartial science to decision makers, resource managers, and the public.

At the Washington Water Science Center, we advance the USGS mission by maintaining a network of streamgages that provide reliable real-time information from Washington’s rivers and streams. USGS water data supports flood prediction and response, reservoir management and hydropower generation, water security, and the recreation economy. We also undertake scientific investigations to provide unbiased information in support of water resource management and decision making.

In this first edition of Washington Waters, we showcase a couple examples of the work we do across Washington State. These include our growing data network and new webpages for data delivery as well as advances in streamflow permanence research.

Collaboration is at the heart of our efforts, and we value our partnerships with entities across Washington. Together with our partners, we ensure that our science is relevant, timely, and impactful to the communities we serve. Thank you to our partners and data users for your continued support and engagement as we work together to fulfill our mission.

– Scott VanderKooi, Director, USGS Washington Water Science Center

New Water Data Web Pages

New Water Data for the Nation web page.

You may have noticed recent changes to the USGS water data web pages. Over the past several years, the USGS has been updating our pages to meet modern web standards, security needs, and the ever-increasing demand for USGS water data. Now we are ready to make the switch to the new pages and turn off the old ones. The decommissioning will take place over three campaigns between now and February 2027. Learn more about the changes by reading the Water Data for the Nation Blog and subscribing to their newsletter.

The modernized pages contain new features including:
- My Favorites is a centralized place to keep track of the monitoring locations you are interested in.
- State Pages allow users to see current water conditions from all monitoring locations in a state that collect continuous data.
- Explore USGS Water Data is a map tool with multiple filters available to help you refine a list of locations and find water data that meet your needs.
- Data Collection Categories make all kinds of water data (continuous, daily, discrete samples, field measurements) accessible from the same place.
We acknowledge that this will require a period of transition and learning. The Washington Water Science Center is here to support you through the transition; please use the “Questions or Comments” button at the bottom of the data pages.

Picture This

You know the saying “A photo is worth a thousand words”. We’re excited to show off our stellar science and staff with a photo.

Pend Oreille River Below Box Canyon Near Ione, WA. Photo by William Elliot, USGS.

This photo of a streamflow measurement on the Pend Oreille River captures a juxtaposition inherent to our work: we use cutting-edge technology to capture high-quality data while working in rugged, beautiful places. In the photo, a hydrologic technician riding a cableway guides an ADCP (streamflow measurement device) across the channel. On the snowy shore, a laptop displays the channel cross-section, allowing technicians to visualize the flow and validate the data. Field visits by hydrologic technicians provide critical information about changes to the channel which are used to calibrate continuous monitoring data.

The Volcano in Our Backyard: 45 Years of Mt. St. Helens Water Research

45 years after the Mt. St. Helens eruption, the North Fork Toutle River still carries high sediment loads. Photo by Adam Mosbrucker, USGS.

45 years ago, Mt. St. Helens began to rumble. The May 18, 1980 eruption drew global attention and sticks in the minds of those who were alive to experience it. USGS volcanologists and seismologists closely monitored the mountain throughout the eruption cycle. USGS water scientists were at the scene too.

The eruption and lahars forever changed the mountain’s slopes, valleys, and rivers, none more so than the North Fork Toutle River which was immediately loaded with billions of tons of sediment. Scientists and technicians from the USGS Washington Water Science Center quickly responded and led the water quality monitoring and surveyed the dramatically changed river corridor. Even today, sediment loads remain elevated, creating challenges for the downstream communities that rely on the Toutle and Cowlitz Rivers for drinking water and navigation. The Washington Water Science Center continues to monitor sediment loads to provide communities with critical information needed to protect their water resources.

May 18th marks the 45th anniversary of this historic eruption. Retired USGS scientists from the Washington Water Science Center and the Cascade Volcano Observatory have compiled their personal stories and photos.

Read Stories from the Smoking Mountain

Expanding Our Data Network

In 2025, the Washington Water Science Center expanded our water monitoring network, with the support of our cooperators. The new streamgages, wells, and data types will help address specific scientific questions such as supporting aquatic species health, flood warning, understanding groundwater movement, and quantifying precipitation in areas burned by wildfire. We’re excited to bring more water data to our partners and the public!

View Washington Water Conditions

New Water Monitoring Sites in 2025

Will it Flow? USGS Streamflow Permanence Research Makes Splashes
New Scientific Investigations
- October 21, 2024
  
  Integration of Urban Stormwater Infrastructure in Modeling Water Quality Patterns in Small Urban Streams
  
  The Issue: Stormwater can quickly run off impervious surfaces delivering potentially polluted water to streams and rivers in the Puget Sound region. Runoff from impervious surfaces can either be directly connected to streams through stormwater pipes or indirectly connected if runoff is routed to some other surface such as grass or a feature like a stormwater management structure. It is currently…
  
  link
  
  October 21, 2024
  
  Integration of Urban Stormwater Infrastructure in Modeling Water Quality Patterns in Small Urban Streams
  
  The Issue: Stormwater can quickly run off impervious surfaces delivering potentially polluted water to streams and rivers in the Puget Sound region. Runoff from impervious surfaces can either be directly connected to streams through stormwater pipes or indirectly connected if runoff is routed to some other surface such as grass or a feature like a stormwater management structure. It is currently…
  
  Learn More
- October 7, 2024
  
  Get in Touch: Connect with the Washington Water Science Center
  
  Washington Water Science Center
  
  The USGS Washington Water Science Center provides water resource information. You’ll find information about Washington’s rivers and streams, as well as groundwater, water quality, and cutting-edge water research. We welcome you to explore our data and scientific research.
  
  MIL OSI USA News –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Multi-Million Dollar Money Laundering Conspiracy Leader Pleads Guilty

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Adanegbe Gift Osenmwenkhae (Gift), 39, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, pled guilty to serving as manager and supervisor of a large, multi-member, money laundering conspiracy. The group laundered more than $20 million in fraudulent proceeds.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Ken DeChellis, Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service – Cyber Field Office (DCIS).

According to the plea agreement, beginning in 2021, and continuing into February 2024, Gift conspired with Yahya Sowe, aka “Cash,” Gedeon Agbeyome, Victor Killen, Areal Harris, Bright Boateng, Faizou Gnora, Emily Gil Arias, Fatoumata Boiro, Lawrence Ogunsanwo, Lakeisha Parker, Martin Ogisi, Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, Kevin Colon, Lorena Perez Herrera, and others to launder proceeds of a large-scale wire fraud. The co-conspirators engaged in various financial transactions to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the wire-fraud proceeds, while carrying out the wire-fraud schemes.

Gift supervised and exercised significant managerial control over the money laundering conspiracy and facilitated the laundering of more than $20 million in stolen proceeds from at least 15 different victims. Victims included government agencies, organizations, and companies, including an environmental trust, urban redevelopment program, medical center, transportation and logistics company, school district, college, and county government, among others.

According to the plea agreement, Gift used and controlled several different encrypted electronic communication accounts to supervise and manage the money laundering conspiracy. As supervisor, Gift directed and worked with members of the conspiracy to create limited liability companies to serve as shell entities; open bank accounts and/or cause bank accounts to be opened in the name of their shell entity; and receive and launder fraud proceeds. Additionally, Gift helped coordinate the flow of fraudulent proceeds through various bank accounts and determine how to split funds between each member of the conspiracy as payment for their role in the conspiracy.

Gift is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox has scheduled sentencing for June 30, 2025, at 10 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI led Document and Benefit Fraud/Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force, IRS-CI, EPA-OIG, and DCIS for their work in the investigation and recognized the Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County Police Departments for their assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber, Bijon A. Mostoufi, and Jared M. Beim, who are prosecuting the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for her assistance.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

MIL Security OSI –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Minister Meth hands over R514m contract to 15 LAP partners

Source: South Africa News Agency

Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth, has officially handed over R514 million in contracts to 15 Labour Activation Programme (LAP) partner companies in Mpumalanga, aimed at stimulating job creation in the province.

The 15 LAP partner companies are expected to provide training to over 9 600 job seekers after signing a pledge committing to the absorption of these jobseekers in key sectors of the economy.

Speaking at the handover event held at Mbombela Stadium on Monday, Meth said the handover is not just about launching projects but also igniting opportunities that will reach thousands of individuals, uplift families, and strengthen communities.

“We are investing not just in businesses, but in people, skills, and making dreams that deserve to be realised a possibility. This is what real economic transformation looks like – not just numbers on a page, but real impact on the lives of those who call Mpumalanga home,” the Minister said.

The Minister said that the partners whom the contracts have been handed over to have been given a condition to guarantee jobs for beneficiaries.

“I have made it a requirement that all the LAP partners recruit at least 70% of the beneficiaries from the Employment Services of South Africa (ESA) platform, which is a government system placed to connect job seekers with available opportunities,” she said.

She moved to highlight that Mpumalanga is a province of movement, boasting infrastructure that connects the nation to greater possibilities. It is home to one of the most important economic corridors, the Maputo Corridor, a vital route that links us to the Port of Maputo and connects South Africa to the rest of the world.

“Through this corridor, we export our agricultural produce, our minerals, and our manufactured goods, which fuel the country’s economy. It is this very corridor that has the power to transform small businesses into major players, to take local industries and give them a global footprint,” she said.

The Minister also noted that approximately 1 million young South Africans become available to the labour market. However, only 400 000 find steady work, 300 000 find some work, while about 300 000 never find work.

She stressed that without decisive and intentional interventions from the government, in collaboration with relevant societal partners, the situation is unlikely to improve.

Young people continue to face challenges in entering the labour market due to a lack of work experience, and in some cases, possessing skills that do not align with market demands.

“It is for this reason I emphasise that our response must be decisive, and I dare say – aggressive.

“I am pleased and equally excited that today, at this municipality of Mbombela we gather to handover the Labour Activation Program contracts to 15 partners, who will create job opportunities for 9 616 beneficiaries to the value of over R514 million across 4 districts and spanning to over 11 local municipalities,” the Minister said.

The Minister said the Labour Activation Program is the department’s direct policy response to unemployment, affording job seekers opportunities to improve their employability and connect them to the world of work.

“Our focus should combine skills training, work experience, and job placement services to help participants transition into the labour market.

“With these projects, we are saying to the people of Mpumalanga: we see you, we believe in you, and we are committed to your success. We are saying to the youth that there is space for you in this economy, that your talents and skills are needed, as the future belongs to you. We are saying to businesses that you are not alone, the government is here to support you and to open doors to break down barriers that have held back growth for too long,” the Minister said.

The Minister added that government is strengthening private sector partnerships to collaborate in creating more job opportunities and ensure training programs are relevant to industry needs.

“We need every South African to believe in the power of collective action. This drive grew stronger after President Ramaphosa established an Inter-Ministerial Committee of government and business partnership on unemployment, skills development and SMME support, which is chaired by me as the Minister of the Department of Employment and Labour.

“Throughout this partnership, our targeted interventions for groups disproportionately affected by unemployment, such as youth, women and people with disabilities remain our priority.

“Let us continue working together to build a better country- collectively working together, we can change the trajectory of unemployment,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: North West traditional horse racing gives the economy a leg up

Source: South Africa News Agency

The inaugural Lobelo la Dipitsi Traditional Horse Racing event, held at Bloomtech Lodge in Vryburg at the weekend, celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the North West province while also stimulating local economic growth.

According to the North West Provincial Government (NWPG), Lobelo la Dipitsi represents a significant milestone in the province’s initiative to use traditional sports for economic development.

The race attracted an influx of visitors from across the province and neighbouring countries such as Botswana and Namibia, boosting tourism and fostering cross-border collaboration.

A key feature of the event was the small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMME) exhibition, which showcased 69 stalls supported by the Department of Economic Development, Conservation, Environment, and Tourism (DEDECT)and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.

These enterprises, ranging from flea market vendors to informal traders, displayed a variety of artisanal products, including handcrafted African-themed clothing, footwear, organic herbs, spices, perfumes, and wooden vases.

The gathering was attended by Premier Lazarus Mokgosi and the DEDECT MEC, Bitsa Lenkopane with the MEC emphasising the race’s role in economic transformation, saying it is not just a celebration of cultural heritage but also a strategic initiative to drive local business growth.

This platform empowers Black entrepreneurs, facilitates job creation, and strengthens the local economy.

“Through the North West Gambling Board, we envisage empowering emerging race associations with compliance in terms of acquiring relevant licenses with gambling legislations.”

During a walkabout of the flea market, the MEC engaged directly with small business owners to assess their experiences and the impact of the event on their enterprises.

She alluded to the fact that the department will continue to offer support to small businesses and cooperatives to ensure that their products are well packaged, properly labelled, and adhere to the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) requirements.

“The economic activity generated by the event reaffirmed the potential of public-private partnerships in promoting sustainable economic development.”

The event reached its highlight with an exciting prize-giving ceremony, officiated by the province’s leadership.

Lenkopane commended the participation of young riders and the involvement of regional partners from Botswana, Namibia, and Lesotho, highlighting the significance of this initiative in fostering strong economic and cultural ties.

“I am confident that Lobelo la Dipitsi has the potential to grow into a flagship event on North West’s tourism calendar,” she added.

She further extended her gratitude to the event sponsors, including GBets, Goldrush, Sunbets, CGM and other contributors, for their commitment to making the event a reality.

She also expressed gratitude to community members and horse riders for their enthusiastic participation and support.
Lobelo la Dipitsi will be rotated annually across the districts of the province, ensuring continued economic impact, cultural preservation, and regional integration.

This groundbreaking initiative has reinforced the NWPG’s commitment to empowering local communities through strategic events and sustainable economic initiatives. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Ramokgopa announces Independent Transmission Programme

Source: South Africa News Agency

Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has announced that government will pursue private investment for the construction of transmission lines through the Independent Transmission Programme (ITP).

The Minister made the announcement of the new programme during a media briefing, held in Pretoria, on Tuesday.

During the briefing, Ramokgopa touted the pilot programme for the ITP which will pave the way to the construction of 1 164 kilometres (km) of new transmission lines, designed to support renewable energy projects.

“Our renewable energy assets are not fully exploited as a result of the constraints on the transmission side. The Eskom balance sheet and the sovereign balance sheet is not sufficient to carry the kind of investments that are required in this space.

“In terms of the transmission development plan…we will need modernise and expand transmission by about 14 000km and for us to be able to do this, we need about R440 billion. The State is not in a position to provide that kind of support. So, today we are introducing the independent transmission programme,” Ramokgopa said.

He said a ministerial determination has been issued to create a “dispensation that allows for private sector participation”.

“Our view is that there’s a need for us to be able to ensure that we are able to accelerate and support transmission infrastructure development. The transmission development plan does say that we need this 14 000km of new lines to be able to unlock the capacity, especially in the cape provinces.

“That is where we have the most efficient and reliable energy assets in the form of solar and wind, but we have exhausted all of the transmission that allows us to evacuate the electrons so that the economy can benefit from those assets,” the Minister said.

Ramokgopa added that the procurement of transmission will be done in the most cost-effective way, while regulations will be issued this Thursday.

“The Ministry is the one mandated to procure and then the NTCSA [National Transmission Company of South Africa] is the party that buys that. We are going to ensure that we procure the most cost-effective and tendering procedures that are fair, competitive and equitable.

“The requirement for the ITP pilot has to be consistent with transmission development plan and it must also support the IRP [Integrated Resource Plan]. It must [also] be commercially viable,” Ramokgopa said.

It is envisioned that with the new transmission lines, at least 3000 megawatts (MW) of energy will be added to the grid.

“The new generation capacity that we are going to unlock as a result of this intervention is 3 222 MW. It is about 63% of the total capacity of Medupi and Kusile [power stations]. We are moving in the right direction.

“For the South African economy to grow, we need to unshackle the issues of the structural constraints, which is electricity and the inefficiencies in the logistics side. The second is greater investment by the private sector. Electricity gives us a pristine opportunity to transform the economy [and] grow the economy,” he said.

A Request for Qualification will be issued in July while a Request for Proposals will be issued in November. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Relief at the pumps as fuel prices set to come down

Source: South Africa News Agency

Motorists will breathe a sigh of relief from Wednesday as fuel prices are set to come down.

The fuel price adjustments – which will bring much needed financial relief to consumers – were announced by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, on Tuesday.

The price adjustments for fuel, paraffin and gas are as follows:

•    Petrol 93 (ULP & LRP): 58 cent decrease.
•    Petrol 95 (ULP &LRP): 72 cent decrease.
•    Diesel (0.05% sulphur: 83 cent decrease.
•    Diesel (0.005% sulphur): 85 cent decrease.
•    Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): 81 cent decrease.
•    Single Maximum National Retail Price for illuminating paraffin: R1.14 decrease.
•    Maximum LPGas Retail Price: 79 cent decrease

A litre of 95 petrol, which currently costs R22.34 in Gauteng, will now cost R21.62 a litre as of Wednesday.

At the coast, a litre of 95 petrol, which costs R21.55 in March, will now cost R20.79 a litre in April.

“The average Brent Crude oil price decreased from 74.89 US Dollars [USD] to 71.04 USD during the period under review. The main contributing factors are the continued supply from non-OPEC countries as well as anticipated increase in supply, though moderate, from OPEC + producers in April 2025.

“The average international petroleum product prices followed the decreasing trend of crude oil prices. This led to lower contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by 66.36 cents per litre (c/l), 80.10 c/l and 72.07 c/l respectively,” the department said.

The strengthening of the Rand against the USD also played a role in the decreased prices.

“The Rand appreciated on average, against the USD from 18.50 to 18.30 Rand per USD during the period under review when compared to the previous one.

“This led to lower contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and Illuminating Paraffin by 11.72 c/l, 12.42 c/l and 12.24 c/l respectively,” the department noted. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Welch’s LOCAL Foods Act Reintroduced with Bipartisan Support

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the bipartisan Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local (LOCAL) Foods Act, legislation to update the Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906’s (FMIA) ‘Personal-Use Exemption’ to better support small-scale meat producers in rural communities. The LOCAL Foods Act would codify current USDA guidance on Personal-Use and Custom Exemptions, allowing consumers to buy live animals from producers and designate agents to handle the slaughter and processing of their meat. 
“Small, Vermont-sized farms have produced locally-grown produce and farm-fresh meat for their neighbors and community for years, but regulations designed for large-scale farms have made that increasingly difficult. We need to cut through red tape and help our rural producers compete in the marketplace. This bipartisan bill will help support our local producers and help local customers access fresh, locally-sourced products,” said Sen. Peter Welch.
“If you’re purchasing livestock for personal consumption, you shouldn’t have to jump through the same regulatory hoops present in the commercial meat market,” said Senator Lee. “This bipartisan, commonsense legislation gives freedom to farmers and ranchers of every size to feed themselves and their communities without going through unnecessary steps to please the government.”
The Federal Meat Inspection Act requires all meat in the United States to be inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). However, the small number of USDA-inspected slaughterhouses creates bottlenecks for producers, especially small-scale producers that have to compete for slaughterhouse time with much larger operations. To address this, the LOCAL Foods Act will amend Personal-Use and Custom Exemptions to allow producers to sell a live animal to a consumer. The consumer will then have the freedom to either hire someone or slaughter and process the meat themselves, helping farmers to avoid bottlenecks to continue providing their communities with locally sourced food. 
In 2013, Vermont adopted an on-farm slaughter law similar to the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s guidelines to allow owners to slaughter their livestock on the farm where it was raised while upholding food safety standards. This law helps reduce costs and emissions from animal transport, alleviate pressure on backlogged slaughterhouses, increase farm viability, and improve animal welfare and food security. However, USDA retains the authority to eliminate Vermont’s on-farm slaughter inspection program if the state fails to meet federal standards. 
In 2018, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service issued updated guidelines to create an avenue for producers to sell their produce locally and without an inspection. This guidance gives livestock owners the option to slaughter livestock themselves, or have an agent slaughter their livestock on the farm where it was raised. This change also allows producers to sell a live animal to a consumer, have it slaughtered on the farm, and then processed at a custom processing facility. Custom processing facilities are inspected periodically, in contrast to round-the-clock inspectors that are present at USDA-certified facilities. 
The LOCAL Foods Act is endorsed by the Farm Action Fund, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability, Kentucky Black Farmers Association, National Family Farm Coalition, and Rural Vermont.
“This legislation will reduce financial and regulatory burdens on small farmers, thereby improving consumers’ access to local foods,” commented Judith McGeary, regenerative farmer, lawyer, and Executive Director of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance. “Many consumers want to buy from local farmers instead of massive corporations, but farmers are blocked by burdensome regulations written by and for agribusiness.”
“The LOCAL Foods Act protects the rights of farmers to sell directly from their farm and the rights of consumers to access the foods of their choice from the source of their choice, achieving the kind of food freedom so many desire for themselves, their families, and their communities,” said Christine Dzujna, Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund’s Policy Manager.
“On-farm slaughter aligns with the growing demand for locally-sourced food that respects community traditions,” said Diana Padilla, owner operator of Yahweh’s All Natural Farm and Garden and Executive Director of HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability, “Through my work with farmers in my community, and as a beef farmer myself, I’m seeing increased demand from people who want to buy their meat directly from a farmer they personally know. The LOCAL Foods Act is a straightforward solution that will put more money in farmers’ pockets while fostering meaningful connections between producers and their customers.”
“Modernizing the personal-use exception reflects the realities of diverse communities demanding access to local food that honor their traditions,” said Kenya Abraham, member of the Kentucky Black Farmers Association. “We are observing a growing demand to access local producers like me, but we need legislation that gives us an incentive to continue our operations.” 
“Securing the independence of farmers and consumers is key to building a healthy food system,” commented Antonio Tovar, Senior Policy Associate at the National Family Farm Coalition. “When consumers are effectively forced to access their food from corporations, it makes us vulnerable to a weak and unreliable market. The LOCAL Foods Act offers a real opportunity to start building a food system allowing freedom of choice.”
“Updating the personal-use exemption to be based on ownership aligns with current USDA standards and is needed to protect the rights of livestock owners, producers, and itinerant slaughterers to practice on-farm slaughter in compliance with their state regulations,” said Caroline Sherman-Gordon, a small farmer and Rural Vermont’s Legislative Director. “The LOCAL Foods Act protects farmers from arbitrary change to regulations, offering them the stability they need to plan and grow their businesses.”
Learn more about the LOCAL Foods Act. 
Read and download the full text of the bill. 

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Equity Fund reaches $1.5 million milestone
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The funding distributed to date has supported 2591 students from 1225 Canberra families.
Just over one month into the 2024 school year and the ACT Government has provided more than $1.5 million to eligible Canberra parents and carers through its Future of Education Equity Fund.

The funding distributed to date has supported 2591 students from 1225 Canberra families.

The fund helps ACT students from eligible families access everyday essentials to assist with their education and wellbeing.

This includes as book packs, uniforms and excursions, sport equipment and activities, tuition, and music lessons.

It supports financially disadvantaged families with students who are enrolled in preschool through to Year 12 in any ACT school.

Payments are:
- $400 for preschool students
- $500 for primary school students
- $750 for high school and college students
Having such items and services, that they otherwise might not have, helps students fully engage with their education.

Last year the Fund supported 5000 students, with more than $2.9 million disbursed.

Applications for the 2024 school year will remain open until 29 November 2024.

Find information about the fund, and a link to apply online.

Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:
MIL OSI News –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: FiatGate Introduces ‘Exchange as a Service’ (EaaS), Lowering Barriers for Crypto Entrepreneurs

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

STOCKHOLM, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FiatGate (product of Blockchain Reaction), a leading provider of white-label crypto wallet and exchange solutions, announced their ‘Exchange as a Service’ (EaaS) solution. This new pricing and service model simplifies and reduces the cost of launching a fully branded crypto exchange, making it more accessible than ever for entrepreneurs worldwide.

Clients can now deploy a professional, fully customized crypto exchange without purchasing a full platform license upfront. This shift has cut initial setup costs by nearly 50%, significantly lowering the barrier to enter the crypto exchange market.

A key advantage of the FiatGate platform is its non-custodial structure, which means entrepreneurs do not need a financial services license (VASP, EMI, MSB or similar) to operate. The built-in, fully licensed on/off-ramp providers ensure seamless fiat-to-crypto transactions, supporting major payment networks such as SWIFT, SEPA, FPS, ACH, Fedwire, VISA, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

“With EaaS, we’ve eliminated major financial and technical hurdles, enabling more businesses to enter the crypto space effortlessly,” said Mikael Magnusson, CEO of Blockchain Reaction. “Now, launching a compliant, fully functional crypto exchange is faster, easier, and more cost-effective than ever before.”

To experience FiatGate’s capabilities firsthand, users can instantly log in at FiatGate without the hassle of complicated registrations. Simply enter an email address, receive a secure access link, and start exploring.

For media inquiries, partnership opportunities, or further information about FiatGate’s EaaS model, please contact:
Anastasia Andrea
press@blockchainreaction.io

About FiatGate
FiatGate is a premier provider of white-label crypto wallet and exchange solutions, offering secure, scalable, and fully customizable platforms. Designed for entrepreneurs aspiring to enter the crypto market, FiatGate seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technology with regulatory compliance, enabling smooth and secure fiat-to-crypto transactions.

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

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

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/91746b97-3b81-4f34-9b26-6f71cd1c7f65

The MIL Network –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: ACP Statement on Massachusetts and Rhode Island Offshore Wind Contract Delays

Source: American Clean Power Association (ACP)

Headline: ACP Statement on Massachusetts and Rhode Island Offshore Wind Contract Delays

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 1, 2025 – The American Clean Power Association (ACP) released the following statement from Moira Cyphers, ACP Director, Atlantic Offshore & Eastern State Affairs after Massachusetts and Rhode Island announced they were delaying offshore wind contract awards until at least June 30, 2025:
“Several states now face a critical decision on whether to finalize offshore wind contracts amid a federal permitting halt. Federal agencies must end arbitrary delays and respect states’ rights to pursue energy policies that meet their needs. We strongly support the states’ careful evaluation of their options.
“New England urgently needs these offshore wind projects to meet growing power demand. Offshore wind is the fastest, most cost-competitive source of new power in New England, providing the reliable, clean energy these states depend on. Offshore wind contracts will help ensure stable electricity prices for coastal communities, especially during the winter months when heating costs soar.
“Long-term, fixed-price contracts are essential in providing financial stability for ratepayers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Finalizing these agreements will not only support energy security, but also drive investments in U.S. shipbuilding, create thousands of jobs, and deliver reliable, domestically produced energy, all while stabilizing energy prices for consumers.”

MIL OSI Economics –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Isabel Doverty appointed as the interim Chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Isabel Doverty appointed as the interim Chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

Isabel Doverty has been appointed as the interim Chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACoBA).
Isabel Doverty has been appointed as the interim Chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACoBA). Isabel will take up the role on 1 April 2025 and will serve as interim Chair until 31 December 2025.

Isabel was appointed as an independent member of the Committee in January 2021 after an open competition. She was formerly Global Head of Human Resources, Wholesale Banking, at Standard Chartered Bank. She is also an independent member of the State Honours Committee. Throughout her private sector career she has held senior HR roles in the energy and financial services sectors, specialising in employee relations, organisational change, and executive level recruitment. Isabel also served as an independent Civil Service Commissioner from 2015 – 2020.

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments is an independent advisory Non Departmental Public Body sponsored and funded by the Cabinet Office. It is responsible for providing independent advice on applications submitted under the government’s Business Appointment Rules from former ministers, the most senior civil servants and other Crown servants. In doing so it advises on the conditions that should apply to new appointments or employment after individuals have left public office.

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 1 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Innovation key to water-secure future

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee

I am pleased to join you today for the opening of the International Water Pioneers Summit. Gathered here are nearly 400 high-profile professionals and senior government officials from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Asia and around the world. Present here to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang’s water supply to Hong Kong and to work together to ensure a sustainable water supply for us all.

Hong Kong’s water story is one of transformation, illustrating how a city with a limited water resource, can turn geographic and resource limitations into engineering triumphs.

Hong Kong’s water story is also one of deep and abiding ties. Because without the strong bonds and blood relations between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the engineering, and the water it made possible, would not have taken place. Certainly not in the 1960s.

As for the engineering, the main challenge was geography. Dongjiang is more than 50km away from Hong Kong. That meant building an 83km water channel, crossing half a dozen mountains. The water had to be lifted, via multi-stage pumping stations, from 2m above sea level to 46m at the highest point.

And the project was completed in less than one year. At 4pm on March 1, 60 years ago, the supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong began.

For the past six decades, Dongjiang has provided 70% to 80% of the water needed by Hong Kong.

And the engineering feats continued. Because of our increasing demand for water, the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Scheme, as it is presently known, was expanded three times from the 1970s to the 1990s. It was improved again in the early 2000s. These raised Hong Kong’s annual water supply ceiling from the original 68.2 million cu m, to today’s 820 million cu m, a rise of 12 times.

We are eternally grateful for the enormous commitment and technical ingenuity, by the country and all our compatriots involved.

We like Dongjiang water. For good reason. It meets the highest national standard for surface water used for human consumption. No less essential, it continues to flow, fuelling Hong Kong’s economic miracle, supporting our economy and community, while helping to ensure our city’s sustainable development and long-term prosperity.

The theme of this summit is “Smart Water, High-Quality Development”. That tells me that if we want to ensure a sustainable water supply, we need to invest in its future, and do it innovatively.

Hong Kong has long been recognised for its infrastructure prowess. Indeed, Hong Kong’s infrastructure was ranked among the top 10, globally, in the World Competitiveness Yearbook last year.

Our major water supply projects include High Island Reservoir, Hong Kong’s largest reservoir, and the Tseung Kwan O Desalination Plant, the first waterworks in Hong Kong to adopt advanced reverse osmosis desalination technology.

As an international centre of innovation and technology (I&T), we are keen on applying I&T to water management. Last year, we set up a Digital Water Office to drive the digitalisation of our water supply services.

The office promotes the use of smart devices, digital twin technology and artificial intelligence, to gradually gain full automation of operations in our waterworks installations.

Innovation in infrastructure development will power our water-secure future. Our goal is to establish Hong Kong as an international infrastructure centre, that serves our city and China, our country.

Speaking of our country, let me add that it has built numerous water conservancy projects. And I am sure you will hear more about them in today’s summit.

I am grateful to the organisers of today’s International Water Pioneers Summit. Grateful too, to our distinguished speakers and moderators, here in Hong Kong from all over the world.

While you are here, I invite you to take full advantage of all that Hong Kong has to offer, in arts and culture. You can start right here, in West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong’s largest arts development.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all a rewarding summit and an enjoyable and memorable stay in Hong Kong.

Chief Executive John Lee gave these remarks at the International Water Pioneers Summit on April 1.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Four Real Estate Investors Sentenced in Multimillion-Dollar Loan Scheme

Source: US State of California

Four real estate investors were sentenced in an extensive, multi-year conspiracy to fraudulently obtain multimillion-dollar loans on commercial and multifamily properties.

Aron Puretz, 53, of New Jersey, and his son, Chaim “Eli” Puretz, 29, of New Jersey, were sentenced to prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Aron Puretz was sentenced to 60 months in prison and ordered to pay $22,235,457 in restitution, and Eli Puretz was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $20,315,457 in restitution.

Moshe “Mark” Silber, 34, of New York, and Fredrick Schulman, 72, of New York, were also sentenced to terms of imprisonment for their respective roles in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Silber was sentenced to 30 months in prison, and Schulman was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison, to be followed by nine months of home confinement. The restitution amounts for Silber and Schulman will be determined at a later hearing.

According to court documents, Aron and Eli Puretz were owners of a commercial property, Troy Technology Park, in Troy, Michigan. In September 2020, Aron and Eli Puretz purchased Troy Technology Park for approximately $42 million, before selling or flipping the property to a co-conspirator for approximately $70 million. Aron and Eli Puretz and their co-conspirators provided the lender with falsified documents that included the inflated purchase price. Based on the fraudulent documents, the lender funded a loan for $45 million. To conceal the fraudulent nature of the transaction, Aron and Eli Puretz and co-conspirators arranged for a short-term $30 million loan, which was used to make it appear that they had the funds needed to close on the sale. On Sept. 25, 2020, a title company based in Lakewood, New Jersey, performed two simultaneous closings, one for the true sales price and another for the fraudulent sales price presented to the lender.

Separately, Silber and Schulman were managing members of Rhodium Capital Advisors, an entity that was involved in the acquisition and management of Williamsburg of Cincinnati, a large apartment complex in Cincinnati, Ohio. In March 2019, Williamsburg of Cincinnati was acquired for $70 million. However, Silber, Schulman, and other co-conspirators utilized a stolen identity to present a lender and Fannie Mae with a fraudulent purchase-and-sale contract for over $95 million and other fraudulent documents. On March 8, 2019, two closings were performed, one for the true $70 million sales price and another for the fraudulent over $95 million sales price presented to the lenders. Based on the co-conspirators’ false statements, the lender and Fannie Mae funded a loan in excess of $74 million for the purchase of Williamsburg of Cincinnati.

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey; Inspector General Brian M. Tomney of the FHFA-OIG; Postal Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the USPIS Criminal Investigations Group; and Acting Inspector General Stephen M. Begg of the HUD-OIG made the announcement.

Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha Nye for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Four Real Estate Investors Sentenced in Multimillion-Dollar Loan Scheme

Source: United States Attorneys General

Four real estate investors were sentenced in an extensive, multi-year conspiracy to fraudulently obtain multimillion-dollar loans on commercial and multifamily properties.

Aron Puretz, 53, of New Jersey, and his son, Chaim “Eli” Puretz, 29, of New Jersey, were sentenced to prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Aron Puretz was sentenced to 60 months in prison and ordered to pay $22,235,457 in restitution, and Eli Puretz was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $20,315,457 in restitution.

Moshe “Mark” Silber, 34, of New York, and Fredrick Schulman, 72, of New York, were also sentenced to terms of imprisonment for their respective roles in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Silber was sentenced to 30 months in prison, and Schulman was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison, to be followed by nine months of home confinement. The restitution amounts for Silber and Schulman will be determined at a later hearing.

According to court documents, Aron and Eli Puretz were owners of a commercial property, Troy Technology Park, in Troy, Michigan. In September 2020, Aron and Eli Puretz purchased Troy Technology Park for approximately $42 million, before selling or flipping the property to a co-conspirator for approximately $70 million. Aron and Eli Puretz and their co-conspirators provided the lender with falsified documents that included the inflated purchase price. Based on the fraudulent documents, the lender funded a loan for $45 million. To conceal the fraudulent nature of the transaction, Aron and Eli Puretz and co-conspirators arranged for a short-term $30 million loan, which was used to make it appear that they had the funds needed to close on the sale. On Sept. 25, 2020, a title company based in Lakewood, New Jersey, performed two simultaneous closings, one for the true sales price and another for the fraudulent sales price presented to the lender.

Separately, Silber and Schulman were managing members of Rhodium Capital Advisors, an entity that was involved in the acquisition and management of Williamsburg of Cincinnati, a large apartment complex in Cincinnati, Ohio. In March 2019, Williamsburg of Cincinnati was acquired for $70 million. However, Silber, Schulman, and other co-conspirators utilized a stolen identity to present a lender and Fannie Mae with a fraudulent purchase-and-sale contract for over $95 million and other fraudulent documents. On March 8, 2019, two closings were performed, one for the true $70 million sales price and another for the fraudulent over $95 million sales price presented to the lenders. Based on the co-conspirators’ false statements, the lender and Fannie Mae funded a loan in excess of $74 million for the purchase of Williamsburg of Cincinnati.

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey; Inspector General Brian M. Tomney of the FHFA-OIG; Postal Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the USPIS Criminal Investigations Group; and Acting Inspector General Stephen M. Begg of the HUD-OIG made the announcement.

Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha Nye for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.

MIL Security OSI –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press Release – Alderney Representatives seek assurances on Alderney’s future. Tuesday 01 April 2025

Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney

Press Release

Date: 1^st April 2025

Alderney Representatives seek assurances on Alderney’s future.

After extensive discussions with Alderney Policy and Finance Committee (P&F) the Alderney Representatives have submitted amendments to the States of Deliberation meeting of 9^th April to seek assurances on Alderney’s future. This follows calls from the Policy & Resources Committee for a Bailiwick Commission and development of a solution to Alderney’s ongoing runway issues in the recently released Policy Letter.

The propositions outline a way forward for the Island and will shape relations between Guernsey and Alderney for years to come. However, there are areas that require clarification.

Chairman of P&F, Bill Abel said:

“As the Policy Letter highlights, any further delay to the runway rehabilitation means there is an increased risk of airport closures. This could not only limit the essential services the island needs to survive, but also the long-term sustainability of Alderney’s, and thus the Bailiwick’s economy.

We are therefore seeking a solution to this as soon as possible and the opportunity for Alderney to be a contributing stakeholder and not simply a consulted party.

The Bailiwick Commission is a positive way forward and P&F fully support the establishment of that Commission. Further to this, it has been requested via an amendment that it not only reviews the constitutional and working relationships, but also the economic one as well.”

Ends

States of Alderney media enquiries: publications.alderney@gov.gg

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Mullin Joins Meet the Press, Highlights the Return of Real Leadership

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)
“We have terrorist organizations coming after the United States everywhere because the Biden administration has done nothing for four years.”
Washington, D.C. –On Sunday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joined NBC’s Kristen Welker on Meet the Press to discuss the Trump administration’s return to peace through strength, successful Houthi strikes, pending newsanctions on Russia, and the president’s efforts to level the playing field for American workers through reciprocal tariffs. Highlights below.

Sen. Mullin’s full interview can be found here.
On the success of the strikes against the Houthis:
“There was no war plans that The Atlantic put out. What they did was have a very successful attack against the Houthis, who’s a terrorist organization, that’s been harassing our Navy since 2023. They had attacked our Navy 174 times and the Biden Administration did nothing but sit on their hands. But what the Trump administration did was take the fight directly to the Houthis. So what the conversation should be is why didn’t the Biden Administration do something in the last two years instead of us being focused on this Signal chat. Which there was no classified information given out…
“Tell me where the location was at, what part of the region was it at, what part of the world was this at? We have a lot of conflicts, a lot of issues going on around the world, from Africa to anywhere in the Middle East, to even in Asia, or possibly in Europe. This could have been going on any place in the world. There was no specific information except that a target was gonna be hit. We have terrorist organizations coming after the United States everywhere because the Biden administration has done nothing for four years.”
On President Trump standing up to Russia:
“What President Trump is trying to do is negotiate an end to the deal of individuals dying in Ukraine…
“What President Trump has said right now is, if [Putin] continues to play games, he’s going to get tough on Russia just like he did in 2017.”
On our trade partners needing to abide by a two-way street:
“[Canada] needs us more than we need them. The fact is we have been subsidizing their economy by the tunes of billions of dollars every single year, and they know that. What President Trump is saying is that enough is enough. If you’re gonna have a relationship with the United States, it’s gonna be an even playing field, a two-way street. We want reciprocal tariffs; we want to be treated the same. We want to have access to your economy like you have access to us.”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: FBI Boston Warns Quit Claim Deed Fraud is on the Rise
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

Landowners and Real Estate Agents Urged to Take Action to Protect Themselves
The Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning property owners and real estate agents about a steady increase in reports of quit claim deed fraud it has received—scams that have resulted in devastating consequences for unsuspecting owners who had no idea their land was sold, or was in the process of being sold, right out from under them.

Known as quit claim deed fraud or home title theft, the schemes involve fraudsters who forge documents to record a phony transfer of property ownership. Criminals can then sell either the vacant land or home, take out a mortgage on it, or even rent it out to make a profit, forcing the real owners to head to court to reclaim their property.

Deed fraud often involves identity theft where criminals will use personal information gleaned from the internet or elsewhere to assume your identity or claim to represent you to steal your property.

“Folks across the region are having their roots literally pulled out from under them and are being left with no place to call home. They’re suffering deeply personal losses that have inflicted a significant financial and emotional toll, including shock, anger, and even embarrassment,” said Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division. “We are urging the public to heed this warning and to take proactive steps to avoid losing your property. Anyone who is a victim of this type of fraud should report it to us.”

Law enforcement and the FBI have been alerted to the fraud at all points in the process and have received reports involving a variety of fraudulent scenarios, including:
- Scammers who comb through public records to find vacant parcels of land and properties that don’t have a mortgage or other lien and then impersonate the landowner, asking a real estate agent to list the property. Homeowners whose properties have been listed for sale don’t know it until they’re alerted, sometimes after the sales have gone through.
- Family members, often the elderly, targeted by their own relatives and close associates who convince them to transfer the property into their name for their own financial gain.
- Fraudsters known as “title pirates” who use fraudulent or forged deeds and other documents to convey title to a property. Often these scams go undetected until after the money has been wired to the scammer in the fraudulent sale and the sale has been recorded.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which provides the public with a means of reporting internet-facilitated crimes, does not have specific statistics solely for quit claim deed fraud, but it does fall into the real estate crime category. Nationwide, from 2019 through 2023, 58,141 victims reported $1.3 billion in losses relating to real estate fraud. Here in the Boston Division—which includes all of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island—during the same period, 2,301 victims reported losing more than $61.5 million.
- 262 victims in Maine lost $6,253,008.
- 1,576 victims in Massachusetts lost $46,269,818.
- 239 victims in New Hampshire lost $4,144,467.
- 224 victims in Rhode Island lost $4,852,220.
The reported losses are most likely much higher due to that fact that many don’t know where to report it, are embarrassed, or haven’t yet realized they have been scammed.

FBI Boston is working with property owners, realtors, county registers, title companies, and insurance companies to thwart the fraud schemes but it’s no easy task. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way business was and continues to be conducted. More and more people have grown accustomed to conducting real estate transactions through email and over the phone. The remote nature of these sales is a benefit to bad actors.

Tips for Landowners:
- Continually monitor online property records and set up title alerts with the county clerk’s office (if possible).
- Set up online search alerts for your property.
- Drive by the property or have a management company periodically check it.
- Ask your neighbors to notify you if they see anything suspicious.
- Beware of anyone using encrypted applications to conduct real estate transactions.
- Take action if you stop receiving your water or property tax bills, or if utility bills on vacant properties suddenly increase.
The FBI can work with our partners to try to stop wire transfers and recover the funds within the first 72 hours. We urge folks to report fraud and suspected fraud to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

MIL Security OSI –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: William Wordsworth’s last home is up for sale – returning it to a private residence would be a loss for the UK’s cultural heritage

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amy Wilcockson, Research assistant, University of Glasgow

Until recently, fans of William Wordsworth could visit his final home, Rydal Mount and Gardens, nestled in the heart of England’s green and beautiful Lake District. Renowned as one of the most prominent British poets, the works of Wordsworth (1770-1850) include what is widely regarded as the most famous poem in the English language, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.

So it’s not surprising that his immaculately maintained house and gardens, with breathtaking views of Lake Windermere and Rydal Water, once attracted 45,000 visitors a year.

However, rising costs, a fall in visitor numbers to 20,000 or fewer per year, and the residual effects of the pandemic have placed the future of the museum in question.

The current owners have put Rydal Mount on the market for the first time since 1969 for £2.5 million – meaning this important piece of literary heritage, depending on who buys it, could become closed to the public.

The house was bought by Mary Henderson, Wordsworth’s great-great-granddaughter, in 1969 and opened as a writer’s house museum a year later.

Rydal Mount was originally a small 16th-century cottage. By 1813, there was enough room for Wordsworth, his wife Mary and three surviving children, plus Wordsworth’s sister-in-law Sara and sister Dorothy – author of the Grasmere Journal, which detailed the household’s life.

Leaving the cramped conditions of the more famous Dove Cottage behind them, it was at Rydal Mount that Wordsworth truly settled, building a “writing hut” and extensively landscaping the grounds to his own design.

This article is part of our State of the Arts series. These articles tackle the challenges of the arts and heritage industry – and celebrate the wins, too.

Next to Rydal Mount is Dora’s Field, which also has literary significance. Here, the poet is believed to have planted 1,847 daffodils to mark his daughter Dora’s memory, following her death from tuberculosis aged 42. These daffodils still bloom every spring.

While living at Rydal Mount, Wordsworth revised his epic “The Prelude” and wrote many other popular poems. This too is the house where he died in 1850. It was only when Mary died in 1859 that the family’s tenancy of the house came to an end.

Visitors get to step into the house where all this happened and see a wealth of rare objects, including a rare portrait of Dorothy and Wordsworth’s letter to Queen Victoria refusing the job of Poet Laureate (which he later accepted).

Owning England’s heritage

Visitors go to literary museums to experience the “spirit of the place”, to “encounter” the author and absorb some of their creativity. One recent visitor to Rydal Mount was so disappointed not to meet Wordsworth personally that they wrote a disparaging review, telling of their confusion that the poet “wasn’t in” and “when [they] asked when he would be home, all [they] got was blank stares.”

Wordworth is so closely connected to the Lake District that marketing strategies have used him to promote the area since the 1800s. Rydal Mount has had an integral role in maintaining these traditions. The estate agent’s advert is keen to stress the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of England’s heritage” and the “superb gardens … designed by Wordsworth himself”.

In selling the museum as it is, there is a real risk that Rydal Mount could become a private home lost to the public eye – much like Greta Hall, the home of Wordsworth’s fellow poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which has long been privately owned.

Prospective closure is not uncommon for smaller museums in 2025. A recent report noted that three in five small museums fear closure because of declining revenue and footfall. 2020 was the 250th anniversary of Wordsworth’s birth and should have been a bumper year of events and tourism for the Lake District. Instead, the pandemic ravaged the celebrations and left tourist attractions in financial peril that many have not recovered from.

William Wordsworth lived at Rydal Mount for 37 years and died there.
Wikimedia, CC BY

Critics will argue that even if Rydal Mount does close, there are still three more Wordsworth homes open to visitors (Dove Cottage, the favourite of tourist guides, Wordsworth House and Garden, and Allan Bank). Even Wordsworth’s old school is a museum.

The closure of Rydal Mount would inevitably boost these other sites’ visitor numbers – particularly Dove Cottage, which is on the same (albeit long) road as Rydal Mount. And the condition of Wordsworth’s last home could potentially be improved by a private owner with ample funds to upkeep the house.

However, it is also true that public appreciation of museums remains high, with 89% of adults in a 2024 YouGov survey advocating for their importance to UK culture, and 54% registering disappointment if their local museum were to close.

While the British Museum has experienced its highest visitor numbers since 2015, more needs to be done to save regional museums and writer’s house museums from closure. The sale of Rydal Mount into private hands may prove a severe loss to literary history, leaving the Lake District much the poorer for it.

Amy Wilcockson 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. William Wordsworth’s last home is up for sale – returning it to a private residence would be a loss for the UK’s cultural heritage – https://theconversation.com/william-wordsworths-last-home-is-up-for-sale-returning-it-to-a-private-residence-would-be-a-loss-for-the-uks-cultural-heritage-253561

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Activists living in exile could strengthen Canada’s democracy — if given the right support

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Philip Leech-Ngo, Visiting Professor, Ethics and International Development, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Mounting threats to Canadian sovereignty, particularly — but not exclusively — from United States President Donald Trump, have sparked renewed calls for national resilience.

Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico and inflammatory rhetoric have fuelled a wave of patriotism and nationalism.

However, true independence goes beyond economic concerns. It’s about cultivating, committing to and preserving democratic values, including the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, and ways of governance that ensure every person is valued, represented and belongs.

Historically, Canada has provided refuge to those who have risked everything to oppose authoritarian regimes, including activists living in exile.

Activists-in-exile are individuals who have been forced to flee their countries due to their work defending human rights, advocating for democratic governance, rooting out corruption, peacebuilding, demanding environmental protection and practising independent journalism, among other endeavours.

These individuals bring with them not only their personal stories and attitudes of resilience, but also their expertise in governance, human rights and social justice. As Canada faces growing challenges and uncertainty, they represent a tremendous potential asset to help Canada defend democracy and promote sustainable peace and development.

A vital force for democracy

Despite their displacement, activists-in-exile continue to play a crucial role in global democratic movements. Unlike traditional diaspora groups focused on cultural preservation, activists-in-exile engage in direct political advocacy and often work to expose foreign interference, counter disinformation and support democratic movements from afar.

Our initiative, Voices in Exile, researches activists-in-exile and amplifies their contributions and advocates for policies that recognize their particular roles in defending democracy and social justice. Their efforts combat corruption, foster peace and protect human rights and well-being.

An introduction to the Voices in Exile project.

These individuals have championed women’s rights, campaigned against genocide and fought for free expression and accountable governance. Many continue their advocacy in exile, shaping public discourse and influencing policies both in Canada and abroad.

By welcoming these activists, Canada could strengthen its own institutions — domestically and abroad — and make them more resistant to the forces that undermine democracy, justice and freedom worldwide. Their work is critical in resisting authoritarianism and countering both digital and physical foreign interference.

Overlooking activists-in-exile

Despite their potential, activists-in-exile are often overlooked or met with skepticism in Canada.

Some Canadian politicians, like federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, have framed their views of patriotism as a matter of national security and economic self-sufficiency, warning against foreign influences. Poilievre recently said immigrants should “leave the war behind” when coming to Canada, implying their past struggles should be forgotten upon arrival.

This is certainly easier said than done, especially in an age where technology can keep people instantly connected across borders. It’s unrealistic and unfair to expect newcomers simply to forget who supported them in their hour of need or the communities that continue to suffer in their absence. They are also unlikely to surrender ongoing interests or their basic values.

Through our work with Voices in Exile, we have learned that many newcomers involuntarily leave behind family, livelihoods and status, only to face significant hurdles re-establishing themselves in Canada. While some activists-in-exile persist and continue to be impactful, they often do so under unnecessary constraints that limit their full potential.

If legitimate concerns about professional qualifications and social stability exist, they can be addressed through tailored support systems. While Canada provides resettlement for a limited number of human rights defenders, there is no program to engage with them once they arrive. This needs to change.

At the same time, activists-in-exile should not be treated solely as victims or as potential risks, particularly in light of growing transnational repression. Instead, their specialized knowledge and skills should be recognized as a force to strengthen democracy both in Canada and their countries of origin.

A strategic investment

Recognizing and supporting activists-in-exile would be a strategic investment for Canada, not an act of charity. Many have become educators, researchers and policymakers, shaping debates on governance and security.

Others have founded organizations, launched media platforms and built networks that support democracy movements globally. As our project Voices in Exile shows, many activists-in-exile also contribute to Canada’s economy, and work in law, social and psycho-social services, and the media landscape.

Beyond being a matter of principle, welcoming activists-in-exile is a move that would strengthen Canada’s leadership in the global fight for democracy. Their integration into Canadian society aligns with Canada’s longstanding role in promoting democratic ideals on the world stage.

Yet, despite their vast potential, there is no tailored public policy or dedicated institution to harness this human capital in a way that aligns with Canada’s democratic commitments. The existing guidelines for supporting human rights defenders are insufficient for supporting activists-in-exile.

Canada should support exiled activists by facilitating collaboration among these individuals and Canadian public, academic, community, government and civil society organizations. In addition, Canada should establish a legal framework that allows activists-in-exile to contribute to the development of foreign policy. A dedicated fund should also be created that offers financial support for their activist efforts.

As global authoritarianism continues to rise, the question is not whether we should acknowledge activists-in-exile — it is whether we have the wisdom to lead by example and invest in recognizing and supporting them.

Philip Leech-Ngo receives funding from Open Societies Foundation

Frederick John Packer has received funding from SSHRC and OSF.

Nadia Abu-Zahra has received funding from SSHRC and OSF.

– ref. Activists living in exile could strengthen Canada’s democracy — if given the right support – https://theconversation.com/activists-living-in-exile-could-strengthen-canadas-democracy-if-given-the-right-support-251440

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta, Assemblymember Haney Unveil Legislation to Protect 17 Million Californians From Unfair Rent Fees
Source: US State of California Department of Justice

AB 1248 seeks to protect tenants from unfair and unpredictable fees

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), and a prominent coalition of organizations today unveiled Assembly Bill 1248 (AB 1248), legislation that seeks to protect tenants from unpredictable and costly housing fees. In recent years, some landlords have adopted the practice of charging separate piecemeal fees in addition to the rent, which can cost tenants hundreds of dollars more each month on top of the base rent. This practice hinders tenants’ financial stability and ability to budget for housing and other needs — and hurts landlords who do not charge these fees by putting them at a competitive disadvantage and creating an unfair marketplace. The practice of charging separate piecemeal fees has become even more rampant since the enactment of California’s Tenant Protection Act (TPA), which provides statewide rent-increase protections. AB 1248 aims to prevent landlords from unbundling housing services — many of which have traditionally been covered by rent — and then charging additional, often mandatory, fees for those services. AB 1248 makes clear that landlords cannot play games with state rent caps by charging fees that amount to shadow rent increases or advertise a deceptively low rent. By prohibiting added fees, AB 1248 will help ensure that tenants’ housing payments remain stable and predictable, and that people can compare true costs when searching for housing within their budget.

“When landlords tack on fees on top of rent it makes it almost impossible for families to compare housing costs or plan for monthly expenses. As it stands, the scarcity and high cost of housing means California’s 17 million renters spend a significant portion of their paychecks on rent, with an estimated 150,000 people at risk of eviction any given month,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The price of housing should be clear to California tenants in the same way that the cost of a concert ticket or a hotel is clear to California consumers. I thank Assemblymember Haney for introducing legislation to ensure California tenants receive the full protection afforded to them by the Tenant Protection Act. AB 1248 will help Californians’ housing payments remain straightforward, stable, and predictable.”

“Housing costs in California are already high, and added fees only make it harder for renters to budget and stay financially stable. These unfair and unpredictable costs are nothing more than a scam that drives up housing expenses and leaves tenants paying far more than they expected,” said Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco). “AB 1248 ensures fairness by making sure the rent tenants agree to is the rent they actually pay. This bill will help protect Californians from misleading pricing practices and create a more honest and predictable rental market.”

“Unfair fees in the rental housing market have exploded in recent years — far too many consumers feel the crushing burden of all these unpredictable fees on a monthly basis,” said Robert Herrell, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California. “This bill by Assemblymember Haney will dramatically improve consumer protections so renters don’t get taken advantage of. We are proud to co-sponsor this bill with Attorney General Bonta and other leading consumer housing advocates.”

“Low-income renters need certainty in their monthly rent payments. Most of these tenants are already severely rent-burdened and struggling to retain their housing. The exploitive practice of adding on fees after a lease has already been signed or charging for services that had previously been included in rent makes it even harder for people to stay housed,” said Brian Augusta, Legislative Advocate, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. “We are proud to co-sponsor this measure with the Attorney General and the Consumer Federation and thank Assemblymember Haney for authoring it.”

Co-authored by Attorney General Bonta during his time as a state assemblymember, the Tenant Protection Act (TPA) was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019. It created significant statewide protections for most tenants, including by limiting rent increases and prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants without just cause. Under the TPA, landlords cannot raise the gross rental rate more than 10% total or 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living – whichever is lower – over a 12-month period.

Particularly since enactment of the TPA, an increasing number of landlords, including large corporate landlords, are charging tenants a proliferation of separate fees, including for services that should be and have historically been covered by the rent. For example, some landlords charge monthly fees for pest control, “trash concierge” services, and Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS) fees where tenants are charged for a portion of the building’s utilities, like water and sewer, based on a complex formula with little transparency and that landlords can often change at any time, resulting in charges that can vary widely from month to month. These fees can add up to hundreds of dollars each month on top of rent.

By engaging in this practice, these landlords place significant burdens on tenants, including uncertainty about monthly housing costs due to variable or increasing fees, and create an unfair and confusing marketplace for prospective tenants and honest landlords — particularly small “mom and pop” landlords — who don’t engage in this deceptive pricing practice. If the combination of rent increases and new fees exceed the TPA’s rent cap, these landlords are also violating California law.

With the number of various fee and fee increases, it may be difficult for tenants to keep track of their monthly payments. When a landlord applies a tenant’s payment to late fees or other obligations before applying it to the rent and then charges a late fee because they consider the rent to not be fully paid, it can create a spiral of rent debt for the tenant, which increases the risk of eviction for nonpayment of rent.

AB 1248 would:
- Require landlords to include all costs in the rent rather than charging separate fees.
- Create more predictable housing costs for existing tenants by preventing landlords from adding new fees during a tenancy.
- Require landlords to apply a tenant’s rent payment to their rent first, which will help prevent landlords from creating a debt spiral for tenants.
Text of this legislation can be found here.

MIL OSI USA News –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: TerraForm Power Press Release Concerning Resolution of Claims Against TerraForm Power and TerraForm Global

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On January 20, 2025, a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (Case Number: 8:18-cv-02523-PX) by Carlos Domenech against TerraForm Power Parent, LLC, formerly TerraForm Power, Inc. (“TERP”), and TerraForm Global Holdco LLC, formerly TerraForm Global, Inc. (“Global”), was resolved. Mr. Domenech was the CEO and President of TERP and Global and an Executive Vice President of SunEdison, the former sponsor and controlling shareholder of TERP and Global, until he was terminated by the TERP and Global Boards of Directors and SunEdison without cause on November 20, 2015. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., together with its institutional partners, acquired TERP and Global after Mr. Domenech’s termination. Mr. Domenech claimed in this lawsuit that he was unlawfully terminated for reporting to the Board of Directors of SunEdison his claims that SunEdison executives had made false statements about SunEdison’s liquidity to the investing public. Mr. Domenech alleged, among other things, false reporting by SunEdison executives of financial results and forecasts, and other misconduct. SunEdison filed for bankruptcy on April 21, 2016.

After nine years of litigation, the liability issues underlying Mr. Domenech’s allegations were the subject of a two-week bench trial conducted before the Honorable United States District Judge Paula Xinis in July and August 2024, who decided liability in favor of Mr. Domenech. The matter was resolved for $34,500,000.

Contact for Investors/Media:

Alex Jackson
enquiries@brookfieldrenewable.com

The MIL Network –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Launches First LSD Earn Zone, Introducing Flexible Onchain Yield

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has launched the industry’s first LSD Earn Zone, offering users a new way to earn onchain yields while keeping their crypto assets liquid. This feature introduces Liquid Staking Derivatives (LSDs) into a simplified wallet experience, allowing users to grow their holdings without traditional staking lockups or restrictions.

LSDs represent a new category of staking assets that combine yield generation with asset flexibility. When users stake tokens such as ETH or SOL on supported DeFi platforms, they receive equivalent derivative tokens in return. These tokens, known as Liquid Staking Derivatives, continue to accrue staking rewards but remain tradable and usable across DeFi protocols. This means users can earn passive income while still being able to trade, swap, provide liquidity or participate in other DeFi activities with the derivative tokens — maximizing both earning potential and asset utility. By eliminating the need to lock assets for fixed periods, LSDs make staking more accessible and efficient.

At launch, Bitget Wallet’s LSD Earn Zone supports four carefully selected products across Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain, offering annual yields ranging from approximately 4% to 8%. These include sUSDe, a USD-pegged stablecoin issued by Ethena; USDY, a real-world asset-backed token linked to U.S. Treasury yields via Ondo Finance; sUSDS, a multi-chain yield aggregator that dynamically allocates capital to top-performing protocols; and JitoSOL, a derivative token from Solana’s largest LSD protocol, enhanced through MEV strategies. All options are accessible via the “Hold to Earn” section of Bitget Wallet’s Earn tab, with real-time yield tracking and instant activation.

Security and transparency are central to Bitget Wallet’s design. As a fully non-custodial wallet, it ensures that users retain complete control of their funds at all times. Unlike centralized platforms that carry counterparty risk, Bitget Wallet connects users directly to audited, battle-tested DeFi protocols. LSD products integrated into the Earn Zone undergo strict security reviews, and users benefit from real-time earnings visibility and seamless redemption. Bitget Wallet is further supported by a $300 million Protection Fund, offering additional reassurance in the event of unforeseen security risks.

Bitget Wallet’s launch of LSD Earn Zone signals Web3 wallet’s evolution into the enhanced yield phase of onchain finance. With upcoming support for networks including Tron, Base, Sonic, and Sui, Bitget Wallet will continue expanding earning opportunities while improving onchain capital efficiency. Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet, highlighted “As part of our broader Payfi strategy, we’re building tools that enable assets to earn yield continuously while remaining usable for other utilities. This is how money should work — flexible, efficient, and always active. Bitget Wallet offers a unified experience that combines earning, trading, and payments in one place, building an everyday finance hub for the next generation of users.”

For more details, please visit Bitget Wallet blog.

About Bitget Wallet
Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser and crypto payment solutions. Supporting over 130 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets. Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start a Web3 journey.

For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40a2062c-d8f8-4b48-a040-4b2863006843

The MIL Network –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: East Asia is challenging Silicon Valley – by being like Silicon Valley used to be

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Robyn Klingler-Vidra, Vice Dean, Global Engagement | Associate Professor in Political Economy and Entrepreneurship, King’s College London

East Asia’s tech scene is enjoying considerable success. imtmphoto / Shutterstock

Silicon Valley has been a universal symbol of innovation for decades. Because of its reputation, governments around the world have tried to foster their own versions by investing heavily in tech hubs.

These efforts, which include Silicon Beach in Los Angeles, Silicon Island in Malaysia and Silicon Roundabout in the UK, have not always worked. But some places, particularly parts of east Asia, have seen their own Silicon Valleys flourish.

China has the world’s second-largest venture capital market, scores of startups, and cutting-edge tech to challenge Silicon Valley. Japan and Korea have also become some of the most active corporate venture capital investors in the world.

At the same time, these challenger ecosystems possess some of the attributes of Silicon Valley in its heyday. More, in some ways, than Silicon Valley itself does these days.

The scale of Silicon Valley remains unparalleled, at least for now. In 2024, the region’s market capitalisation (the value of companies’ publicly traded shares) had reached US$14.3 trillion (£11 trillion). This is comparable to the entire GDP of China, the world’s second-largest economy.

But Silicon Valley is no longer a counter-cultural world of startups in garages, where small, disruptive organisations build world-changing products on a shoestring. It has morphed into a land of Goliaths, not Davids.

Cups of instant noodles have, for many, been replaced by açaí bowls, and office all-nighters with wellbeing workshops and digital detox retreats. Stalwart investors, such as Sequoia’s Mike Moritz, have complained that Silicon Valley tech workers have become “lazy and entitled”.

Silicon Valley is a region in northern California that is a global centre for technology and innovation.
Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock

Meanwhile, the work ethic and laser focus of tech workers elsewhere has advanced. About ten years ago, Chinese tech’s working hours were described as “996” – working from 9am to 9pm six days a week. They are now referred to as “007”, a schedule where employees work from midnight to midnight, seven days a week.

‘Good artists copy, great artists steal’

The history of Silicon Valley is one of hungry challengers disrobing the big, boring incumbents. Apple raised equity investment from Xerox, then a leading print production corporation, and used the access to Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center to take inspiration from the company’s plans for a computer that had a graphical user interface. Apple later refined the software for the Macintosh, giving it its edge.

In 1996, Jobs famously said: “Picasso had a saying – ‘Good artists copy; great artists steal’ – and we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas.”

Today, the Goliaths leading Silicon Valley have huge intellectual property portfolios to defend. And they are outraged when their tech is taken. OpenAI, the American company that made ChatGPT, has even asked the US government to declare Chinese AI firm DeepSeek “state controlled” and to outlaw its use in the US. Huawei and Bytedance’s TikTok have faced similar calls in the past.

In western media, much of the focus on the moment DeepSeek disrupted the AI landscape has been about how it rattled Silicon Valley. But there has been less coverage on how it has instigated instant rivals within China.

Days after Deepseek’s release, Chinese tech company Alibaba announced that its AI model was superior. And China recently launched Manus, a fully autonomous AI agent that fully replaces rather than assists humans.

China’s answer to Silicon Valley is what Taiwanese businessman, Kai-fu Lee, calls “gladiatorial entrepreneurship”. This is where founders constantly innovate because as soon as their product is released, they know it will be copied and reverse engineered. The system as a whole benefits from the intense competition, the way Silicon Valley did in its ascent.

The students have become the teacher

Silicon Valley used to be known for its counter culture and its outsized vision of how tech can transform the globe. This is epitomised by Masayoshi Son, a former student of Silicon Valley from east Asia who is the founder and CEO of Japanese firm SoftBank.

He first came to Silicon Valley in the early 1980s and quickly integrated into the Silicon Valley way of business. Son launched his own startup when he returned to Japan, modelled on what he experienced in the few years he lived in California. With this, Softbank was born as a software distributor.

SoftBank’s Vision Fund is now the largest venture capital fund in the world, with over US$100 billion (£77.5 billion) in capital. Son’s giant fund and impatient style of investing have contributed to change in Silicon Valley. Ballooning valuations and the use of exploding term sheets (investment offers that expire within a matter of days) are increasingly the norm.

Son is stylised as a classic outsider. Gambling Man, a recently published book from the former editor of the Financial Times, Lionel Barber, details how Son is not “really Japanese” (he’s ethnically Korean) and has long touted this challenger narrative.

Now as one of the biggest investors in Silicon Valley, he is pushy, confrontational and has a huge vision for how technologies such as AI can change the world. He is the purveyor of that grand vision and an advocate for the risk-taking that is synonymous with “classic” Silicon Valley.

Meanwhile, China’s AI gladiators innovate constantly in their bid to overtake the once hungry American behemoths who are now forced to call on the state to help shore-up their position. The contrasting trajectories raise questions about who should now become more like whom if they are to win the global technology race.

Robyn Klingler-Vidra 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. East Asia is challenging Silicon Valley – by being like Silicon Valley used to be – https://theconversation.com/east-asia-is-challenging-silicon-valley-by-being-like-silicon-valley-used-to-be-251854

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: When farmers and scientists collaborate, biodiversity and agriculture can thrive – here’s how

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Charles Masquelier, Associate Professor in Sociology, University of Exeter

The Burren mountains, Ireland. Pusteflower9024/Shutterstock

The Burren region of County Clare, Ireland, is famous for its distinctive limestone habitat, coastal landscape, rich wildlife and unusual archaeology. Several hundred farmers also manage livestock on this land.

As social scientists, we’ve been investigating how farmers engage with environmental management and biodiversity renewal in England and Scotland because there is an ongoing nature crisis, with accelerating species extinctions, loss of habitat and harmful pollution.

Our findings show that giving farmers greater opportunities to draw on their knowledge and experiences encourages better environmental results than conventional farming incentives.

Many environmental campaigners, including author and Guardian columnist George Monbiot, don’t see farming as a way to help solve the biodiversity crisis.

But one EU-funded initiative, the BurrenLife project, has revolutionised how farmers and scientists collaborate by tackling reluctance or wariness and shifting mindsets through the practice of “conservation farming”. This developed into an “agri-environment” (nature-friendly farming) initiative called the Burren Life programme which incentivises farmers in Ireland to prioritise nature by boosting endangered bird populations or restoring specific habitats.

Most (70%) of UK land is used for agriculture. Therefore success in tackling the biodiversity crisis depends on the active involvement of farmers.

From the 1980s successive UK governments have paid farmers to restore nature and mitigate the effects of climate change in the form of voluntary agri-environment schemes. These schemes, such as Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive, provide financial incentives for farmers to help restore biodiversity by, for example, planting flower-rich hay meadows.

But despite the billions of pounds invested and significant uptake by farmers, biodiversity continues to decline and more work needs to be done to improve farmers’ participation.

Research suggests that the lack of effectiveness of those schemes is influenced by their limited capacity to inspire long-term changes in farming practices.

The clash between local knowledge and scientific expertise concerns us. Existing agri-environment schemes are prescriptive with limited options for farmers. This, combined with polarisation between farmers and conservationists about rewilding for example, means that local knowledge of farmers tends to be excluded from environmental decisions.

While conservation scientists hold essential knowledge for tackling the biodiversity crisis, farmers know their land best. Often this knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation. Historically, however, agri-environmental management in the UK has operated on the basis of prescriptions informed by scientific expertise that don’t consider the land characteristics or specific context of particular farms.

Wildflower strips along the edges of field provide valuable habitat for pollinators such as bees.
yanikap/Shutterstock

By joining an agri-environment scheme, farmers are expected to take actions such as planting crops that can manage soil erosion and improve soil health, or managing hedgerows, which can act as wildlife highways. While farmers can choose which actions to take, such payment-by-action schemes don’t offer much scope to adapt environmental solutions to their knowledge of the land.

Crucially, the lack of consistent monitoring provides farmers with few opportunities to report back on the success or failure of actions they have taken to recover nature. According to our research, farmers often feel their valuable on-the-ground knowledge is being ignored.

Unusually, the Burren Life programme relies on environmental targets that are co-designed by scientists and farmers. The co-design process involves farmer and adviser jointly walking the farm. Farmers explain what they’d willingly do to improve the condition of the land. The adviser then maps the activities they think will bring environmental benefits and devises an environmental plan accordingly.

Every year, farmers are given the opportunity to decide what they’d like to do. The presence of a local office of advisers means that support for management decisions is always available and feedback aimed at improving their environmental plan is consistently encouraged. Farmers are also involved in the monitoring of other farmers’ actions.

Secrets of success

Our research undertaken as part of the Renew project, which aims to develop solutions for biodiversity renewal in the UK, shows a strong appetite in the English uplands for the kind of flexible, farmer-centred, results-based approach promoted by the Burren Life programme.

The Burren Life programme was highly successful in many respects. It delivered major improvements in habitat quality and fostered long-term behaviour change among participating farmers.

It incentivised farmers to take ownership of their actions for nature conservation and restoration. They were encouraged to share their local knowledge through farm visits, annual programme reviews, feedback opportunities and monitoring exercises. That local knowledge could then be considered alongside scientific expertise by people making management decisions. The Burren Life programme effectively reconciled the farming perspective with the scientific one, in the form of conservation farming.

It has delivered impressive value for money. The total amount spent on the Burren Life programme totalled €12.3 million (£10.3 million). Over ten years, this has resulted in habitat and landscape improvements worth €32.8 million.

Despite its success, several Burren farmers still regard environmental programmes as antithetical to farming so co-creation is a key step in inspiring people to get involved in projects like these. And replicating conservation farming beyond the Burren will require a tailored approach that considers the environmental and cultural characteristics of each countryside community.

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

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

Charles Masquelier receives funding from the government-funded body know as UKRI. This funding is for the RENEW project, which adopts a ‘people-in-nature’ approach to biodiversity renewal across the UK.

Carolyn Petersen receives UKRI funding as part of the RENEW project, which adopts a ‘people-in-nature’ approach to biodiversity renewal across the UK. She is also involved in a Defra-funded evaluation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies in England.

Matt Lobley receives UKRI funding as part of the RENEW project and us involved in evaluations of Defra Environmental Land Management schemes

– ref. When farmers and scientists collaborate, biodiversity and agriculture can thrive – here’s how – https://theconversation.com/when-farmers-and-scientists-collaborate-biodiversity-and-agriculture-can-thrive-heres-how-250333

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Urban cemeteries are at capacity – here’s how they can be more sustainable

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniela Pianezzi, Associate Professor in Work and Organization Studies, University of Verona

Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock

Approximately 170,000 people die every day around the world – that’s around 62 million deaths in 2024 alone. The cumulative effect of this has led to what has been termed a “burial crisis”, with most urban areas where burial remains the norm expected to run out of interment space by the 2050s, some much earlier – as in, now.

Major cities, including London and Sydney anticipate severe space shortages within the next decade. Smaller community cemeteries, such as Nuneaton cemetery in Warwickshire have already reached full capacity and begun directing families elsewhere. Finding culturally acceptable yet ethically responsible, accessible and sustainable ways of laying to rest, mourning and honouring our loved ones has become an urgent global issue.

However, the cemetery sector has only recently begun to seriously consider the environmental consequences of how we handle our bodies after death. The sense of urgency coincides with a significant cultural shift, as cremation increasingly replaces traditional burial methods. This is due to societal secularisation, shifts in religious doctrines (including Catholicism lifting past bans) and its affordability compared to burial.

In the UK, the percentage of cremations has risen from 9% of total burials in 1946 to 80.64% in 2023.

Yet, cremation is far from a sustainable alternative to burial. It releases substantial amounts of pollutants, notably carbon dioxide and mercury emissions, so regulation is necessary. Technologically advanced techniques, such as water cremation – a process that uses an alkali-water-based solution to reduce a body to bones – have only recently begun to emerge as possible alternatives and remain niche.

For several years, we have been studying cemeteries in Italy and the UK. Despite the deeply different burial traditions in these two countries (unlike the UK, Italy remains a burial culture) both face the same environmental challenges.

A tale of two cemeteries

A few sites do offer environmentally conscious alternatives to traditional burial. One is in Liguria, a densely populated region in northwestern Italy that has suffered significant losses due to climate change, particularly from soil erosion caused by decades of reckless coastal construction.

Here, a group of environmentally conscious volunteers transformed a woodland called Boschi Vivi (the name means living woods) into a cemetery, creating Italy’s first forest cemetery. Though it involves cremation, this initiative is particularly groundbreaking in a country where cemeteries have historically been conceived as monumental or architectural structures.

Often, they are heavily reliant on marble, a traditional hallmark of Italian craftsmanship, significantly reducing green spaces in urban areas. The mining of marble also creates huge greenhouse gas emissions and loss of biodiversity.

In contrast, the cimitero bosco (forest cemetery) of Boschi Vivi follows a different philosophy. Instead of traditional tombstones, only a small plaque is placed near each tree where ashes have been scattered, marking the final resting place of the deceased.

A tree tomb in the woodland of Boschi Vivi, Liguria, Italy.
Daniela Pianezzi, CC BY-NC-ND

Currently, this remains a grassroots initiative that’s starting to emerge in the US and Canada too. Hopefully, more Italian public administrations will adopt this model as traditional cemeteries become increasingly financially and environmentally unsustainable.

For three decades, Oakfield burial ground in Wrabness, Essex, UK has adopted a similar approach. Oakfield wood is a seven-acre natural woodland burial site along the banks of the river Stour in north Essex, managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust. Instead of headstones or conventional memorials, a native broadleaf tree is planted for each burial, accompanied by a simple wooden plaque at its base. The site forms part of a larger nature reserve, fostering a rich habitat for wildlife.

Unlike municipal cemeteries or other burial sites, which are often subject to redevelopment or reuse, Oakfield enjoys long-term protection under the Essex Wildlife Trust. This means that burials here are conducted in perpetuity, ensuring that the site remains undisturbed. The trust plans to manage Oakfield solely as a nature reserve once it reaches full capacity, although this will not be for many decades to come.

Despite these promising initiatives, sites such as Boschi Vivi and Oakwood risk remaining isolated cases unless a radical rethinking of burial takes place. Whether cemeteries are perceived as eerie, macabre spaces (like in Shakespeare’s Hamlet) or as places of peace and reconciliation, as in the final scene of Forrest Gump, they are still dominated by the idea that graves should be organised as a series of permanent markers of individual lives.

Our research shows that it’s only by considering human beings as part of nature that the growing burial crisis might be averted. That fundamentally involves moving from a human-centred or “ego-logical” ethos to an ecological one.

The most viable response to the environmental challenges facing not just Nuneaton cemetery, but burial sites across the world, might be simply a new awareness. One that recognises both life and death as integral parts of nature. So, remembrance is not preserved through permanence, but rather through a return to the natural cycle of life.

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

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

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Urban cemeteries are at capacity – here’s how they can be more sustainable – https://theconversation.com/urban-cemeteries-are-at-capacity-heres-how-they-can-be-more-sustainable-252711

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Ezell, Carbajal Stand Strong for the Jones Act in New Opinion Piece

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi 4th District)

Last week, Congressmen Mike Ezell (R-MS-04) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) penned an opinion piece for The Washington Times emphasizing the bipartisan support for the Jones Act and its critical role in protecting America’s shipbuilding industry, national security, and maritime workforce.

In the piece, Ezell and Carbajal make it clear:

“The Jones Act is quite literally the bedrock and foundation of our nation’s commercial shipbuilding industrial base, and we proudly support it.”

The Jones Act ensures that American-built, -owned, and -crewed vessels transport goods between U.S. ports, safeguarding both our economy and our security. As a strong advocate for the maritime industry, Reps. Ezell and Carbajal remain committed to defending this longstanding law against efforts to weaken it.

Read the full op-ed here or below:

Republicans and Democrats Agree… We Must Defend the Jones Act

As leaders of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, we are committed to fostering a strong and reliable American maritime base that supports our national defense and strengthens our economy. The Jones Act—a century-old law that remains as crucial today as when it was enacted in 1920—requires that goods transported between two points in the U.S. be carried on American-built, American-owned, and American-crewed ships. The Jones Act is quite literally the bedrock and foundation of our nation’s commercial shipbuilding industrial base, and we proudly support it.

While we acknowledge the Jones Act has its detractors, the reality is that the law supports sustainable jobs, strengthens our national security, and safeguards our economy from foreign influence.

First, the Jones Act safeguards American jobs. The maritime industry supports nearly 650,000 jobs nationwide, providing stable, well-paying work for shipbuilders, mariners, dockworkers, and others. Without the Jones Act, these jobs would be outsourced to foreign shipyards and foreign mariners, harming American workers and weakening our economy.

Additionally, the Jones Act is critical to national security. A strong domestic maritime industry ensures we have the ships and workforce necessary to support our military and respond to national emergencies. The Jones Act helps maintain domestic shipyards and ship repair facilities keeping our country from being reliant on foreign yards to build, repair, and maintain our military and merchant marine vessels. These vessels provide a strategic capability to the United States military during conflict allowing the expeditious transport of troops and supplies anywhere in the world.

Our nation’s strategic sealift capabilities depend on a robust commercial fleet to maintain readiness in times of war or crisis. If we further weaken our maritime industry, we risk compromising our sovereignty and security. Keeping our shipping lanes under United States control isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a matter of national security.

The Jones Act also plays a key role in disaster response and recovery. When hurricanes or other natural disasters strike, Jones Act-compliant vessels deliver emergency supplies quickly and efficiently. Without a strong domestic fleet, we would be forced to rely on foreign carriers, who may not prioritize American communities in crisis. Keeping our fleet in American hands guarantees reliable and immediate access to critical resources when disasters occur.

Finally, the Jones Act ensures we have a stable supply chain. In 2024, the U.S. imported and exported $7.3 trillion in goods. The Jones Act plays a vital role in keeping our domestic maritime supply chain that American farmer’s and businesses rely on under American control.

This law is not just about protecting one industry—it ensures America remains a maritime power, capable of defending itself and maintaining economic stability. On the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, we are focused on policies that protect American workers, strengthen national security, and bolster our economy.

Supporting the Jones Act is one of the best ways to achieve those goals, and we stand with the hardworking men and women of our maritime industry to defend it. The long-term benefits of this policy go beyond creating jobs—it is a pillar of American strength and resilience.

Republicans and Democrats Agree: We must defend the Jones Act. America’s future depends on it.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Burlison: Artificial Intelligence Technology Has the Potential to Transform America

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)

WASHINGTON—Today, Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) delivered an opening statement at the hearing on “America’s AI Moonshot: The Economics of AI, Data Centers, and Power Consumption.” During his remarks, Subcommittee Chairman Burlison stated that the U.S. is actively seeking to redefine the possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI) technology around the world. He noted that investment in the country’s AI infrastructure and strategic partnerships in the private sector will propel innovation and progress in critical U.S. industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, defense, education, and finance. He highlighted President Trump’s recent Executive Order that aims to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance. He concluded that Congress must now work alongside the Trump Administration’s bold ambition to unlock next-generation AI capabilities and ensure the nation’s leadership in the field on the global stage.

Click here to watch Rep. Burlison’s opening remarks.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Miller-Meeks Joins Congressional Ag Trade Caucus

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-02)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) announced she has officially joined the bipartisan Congressional Agricultural Trade Caucus to advocate for trade policies that benefit Iowa’s farmers, ranchers, and producers.

“Iowa leads the nation in corn, pork, and soybean production, and expanding access to international markets is essential for our rural communities to thrive,” said Miller-Meeks. “Overregulation from Washington have held our producers back for too long. By joining this caucus, I will fight to remove unfair trade barriers, open new markets for Iowa’s agricultural products, and ensure our farmers and ranchers can compete on a level playing field. Agriculture isn’t just a way of life in Iowa—it’s the backbone of our economy, and I will always stand with the hardworking men and women who feed and fuel our nation.”

The Congressional Agricultural Trade Caucus, co-founded by Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Jim Costa (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), is a bipartisan effort to advance trade policies that expand market access, boost agricultural exports, and eliminate unnecessary trade restrictions.

The caucus will focus on strengthening international competitiveness, increasing market access for U.S. agricultural products, improving supply chains, and restoring U.S. leadership in global trade negotiations.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: XploraDEX $XPL Presale Heats Up as Investors Rush to Grab the Future of AI Trading on XRP Ledger
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ZURICH, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XRPL Ecosystem in a market desperate for real innovation, XploraDEX is turning heads and whale wallets. As the first AI-powered decentralized exchange (DEX) on the XRP Ledger, XploraDEX is building more than a trading platform, it’s launching a smarter way to engage with crypto markets.

With its native token, $XPL Now in Presale, investor interest has skyrocketed as traders, builders, and even XRP whales position themselves for what many are calling XRPL’s most exciting DeFi opportunity of 2025.

PARTICIPATE IN $XPL PRESALE

Why the Hype? XploraDEX Is Changing the Game

Most DEXs let you swap tokens. XploraDEX helps you trade smarter. Here’s how it’s shaking up XRPL:
- AI-Powered Trade Execution: Real-time analysis, automated entries, and smart exits—no more trading on emotion.
- Predictive Insights: Get market forecasts and risk alerts before the market moves.
- Auto-Optimized Liquidity: AI routes your trades with minimal slippage and maximum capital efficiency.
- Built on XRPL: Lightning-fast transactions, micro fees, and eco-friendly infrastructure.
XploraDEX is where speed meets intelligence,and the market is noticing.

The $XPL Token: Power, Profit, and Participation

What makes the $XPL Token more than just another presale launch?
- Access to premium AI tools and auto-trading bots
- Fee discounts and platform rebates
- Staking rewards and real yield from protocol activity
- Governance rights to help steer the platform’s future
- Early access to partner IDOs, launches, and ecosystem drops
$XPL is a true utility token, designed for adoption, not just speculation.

BUY $XPL ON PRESALE

Presale Frenzy: Investors Are Rushing In since launch, the $XPL presale has already seen:
- Unique wallets participating in the presale round.
- High-volume interest from XRPL influencers and whales
- Buzz across social platforms.
$XPL PreSale Information

Token Name: XploraDEX

Total Supply: 500,000,000

Presale Allocation: First Come, First Serve!

DEX Listing: 25% Higher

Liquidity Pools: Launching immediately after TGE!

BUY $XPL TOKEN: https://sale.xploradex.io

Each presale round is filling fast—and with tiered pricing, early buyers are locking in a better deal before the next price increase hits. “This is the opportunity XRP holders have been waiting for—an intelligent DEX that actually brings utility to the ledger,” said one early supporter.

Don’t Get Left Behind

The AI revolution in crypto isn’t coming, it’s already here. And XploraDEX is leading it from the frontlines of XRPL. If you missed being early on Solana, Uniswap, or Curve this is your second shot.

Secure Your $XPL Presale Allocation Today: https://sale.xploradex.io

Stay connected and Join the XploraDEX AI Revolution

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.

Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.

Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/70c2609e-b4ef-4ae9-8b97-45370ac43de0

The MIL Network –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Local Evictions LLC Launches Innovative Insurance Plan for Landlords

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Local Evictions LLC Unveils Comprehensive Insurance Solution for Landlords

Lawrenceville, GA , April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Local Evictions LLC, a leader in eviction services with over two decades of experience, has announced the launch of a groundbreaking insurance plan designed to protect landlords from the financial uncertainties associated with property management. This first-of-its-kind insurance plan offers coverage for missed rent, legal fees, and property damage, providing landlords with a safety net that ensures peace of mind and financial stability.

Protection That Covers More Than Just Property — Introducing Insurance for Landlords by Local Evictions LLC

Local Evictions LLC, headquartered in Atlanta, has long been recognized for its expertise in streamlining the eviction process for landlords, property managers, and attorneys. The introduction of this innovative insurance plan marks a significant expansion of the company’s service offerings, reinforcing its commitment to supporting property owners in every aspect of property management.

The new insurance plan is tailored to address the unique challenges faced by landlords, offering comprehensive coverage that mitigates the risks associated with tenant defaults and property damage. By covering missed rent payments, legal expenses, and repair costs, the plan ensures that landlords can maintain their financial health even in the face of unforeseen challenges.

“This insurance plan is a game-changer for landlords,” said Will Addo, CEO of “By providing coverage for missed rent, legal fees, and property damage, we are empowering property owners to manage their investments with confidence and security.”

Local Evictions LLC‘s new insurance offering is expected to set a new standard in the real estate industry, providing landlords with a level of protection that has been previously unavailable. The plan is designed to be accessible and affordable, ensuring that landlords of all sizes can benefit from its comprehensive coverage.

As the real estate market continues to evolve, Local Evictions LLC remains at the forefront of innovation, consistently developing solutions that meet the changing needs of property owners. This new insurance plan is a testament to the company’s dedication to enhancing the landlord experience, offering a robust solution that addresses the financial risks inherent in property management.

For more information about Local Evictions LLC and their new insurance plan, interested parties are encouraged to reach out directly to the company to learn more about how this innovative solution can benefit their property management strategies.

Peace of Mind, Signed and Sealed — Landlords Now Have Access to Powerful Coverage Against Tenant Defaults.

About Local Evictions LLC

Local Evictions LLC is a specialized eviction services company that helps landlords, property managers, and attorneys efficiently regain possession of their properties. With over 20 years of experience, the company provides full-service eviction solutions, including filing, setouts, junk removal, and coordination with off-duty officers to expedite the process. Operating primarily in Georgia, Local Evictions LLC streamlines the eviction process, ensuring legal compliance and swift resolution for residential and commercial property owners.

Press inquiries

Local Evictions LLC
https://localevictions.io
Will Addo
Press@localevictions.io
678-702-2271

The MIL Network –

April 2, 2025