NewzIntel.com

Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI Global: Social movements constrained Trump in his first term – more than people realize

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Kevin A. Young, Associate Professor of History, UMass Amherst

    Donald Trump’s first term as president saw some of the largest mass protests seen in the U.S. in over 50 years, from the 2017 Women’s March to the 2020 protests after George Floyd’s murder.

    Things feel different this time around. Critics seem quieter. Some point to fear of retribution. But there’s also a sense that the protests of Trump’s first term were ultimately futile. This has contributed to a widespread mood of despair.

    As The New York Times noted not long ago, Trump “had not appeared to be swayed by protests, petitions, hashtag campaigns or other tools of mass dissent.” That’s a common perspective these days.

    But what if it’s wrong?

    As a historian, I study how our narratives about the past shape our actions in the present. In this case, it’s particularly important to get the history right.

    In fact, popular resistance in Trump’s first term accomplished more than many observers realize; it’s just that most wins happened outside the spotlight. In my view, the most visible tactics – petitions, hashtags, occasional marches in Washington – had less impact than the quieter work of organizing in communities and workplaces.

    Understanding when movements succeeded during Trump’s first term is important for identifying how activists can effectively oppose Trump policy in his second administration.

    Quiet victories of the sanctuary movement

    Mass deportation has been a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda for more than a decade. Yet despite his early pledge to create a “deportation force” that would expel millions, Trump deported only half as many people in his first term as Barack Obama did in his first term.

    Progressive activists were a key reason. By combining decentralized organizing and nationwide resource-sharing, they successfully pushed scores of state and local governments to adopt sanctuary laws that limited cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

    When the sociologist Adam Safer examined thousands of cities and dozens of states, he found that a specific type of sanctuary law that activists supported – barring local jails and prisons from active cooperation with ICE – successfully reduced ICE arrests. A study by legal scholar David K. Hausman confirmed this finding. Notably, Hausman also found that sanctuary policies had “no detectable effect on crime rates,” contrary to what many politicians allege.

    Another important influence on state and local officials was employers’ resistance to mass deportation. The E-Verify system requiring employers to verify workers’ legal status went virtually unenforced, since businesses quietly objected to it. As this example suggests, popular resistance to Trump’s agenda was most effective when it exploited tensions between the administration and capitalists.

    The ‘rising tide’ against fossil fuels

    In his effort to prop up the fossil fuel industry, Trump in his first term withdrew from the Paris climate agreement, weakened or eliminated over 100 environmental protections and pushed other measures to obstruct the transition to green energy.

    Researchers projected that these policies would kill tens of thousands of people in just the United States by 2028, primarily from exposure to air pollutants. Other studies estimated that the increased carbon pollution would contribute to tens of millions of deaths, and untold other suffering, by century’s end.

    That’s not the whole story, though. Trump’s first-term energy agenda was partly thwarted by a combination of environmental activism and market forces.

    His failure to resuscitate the U.S. coal industry was especially stark. Coal-fired plant capacity declined faster during Trump’s first term than during any four-year period in any country, ever. Some of the same coal barons who celebrated Trump’s victory in 2016 soon went bankrupt.

    CBS News covered the bankruptcy of coal firm Murray Energy, founded by Trump supporter Robert E. Murray.

    The most obvious reasons for coal’s decline were the U.S. natural gas boom and the falling cost of renewable energy. But its decline was hastened by the hundreds of local organizations that protested coal projects, filed lawsuits against regulators and pushed financial institutions to disinvest from the sector. The presence of strong local movements may help explain the regional variation in coal’s fortunes.

    Environmentalists also won some important battles against oil and gas pipelines, power plants and drilling projects. In a surprising number of cases, organizers defeated polluters through a combination of litigation, civil disobedience and other protests, and by pressuring banks, insurers and big investors.

    In 2018, one pipeline CEO lamented the “rising tide of protests, litigation and vandalism” facing his industry, saying “the level of intensity has ramped up,” with “more opponents” who are “better organized.”

    Green energy also expanded much faster than Trump and his allies would have liked, albeit not fast enough to avert ecological collapse. The U.S. wind energy sector grew more in Trump’s first term than under any other president, while solar capacity more than doubled. Research shows that this progress was due in part to the environmental movement’s organizing, particularly at the state and local levels.

    As with immigration, Trump’s energy agenda divided both political and business elites. Some investors became reluctant to keep their money in the sector, and some even subsidized environmental activism. Judges and regulators didn’t always share Trump’s commitment to propping up fossil fuels. These tensions between the White House and business leaders created openings that climate activists could exploit.

    Worker victories in unlikely places

    Despite Trump self-promoting as a man of the people, his policies hurt workers in numerous ways – from his attack on workers’ rights to his regressive tax policies, which accelerated the upward redistribution of wealth.

    Nonetheless, workers’ direct action on the job won meaningful victories. For example, educators across the country organized dozens of major strikes for better pay, more school funding and even against ICE. Workers in hotels, supermarkets and other private-sector industries also walked out. Ultimately, more U.S. workers went on strike in 2018 than in any year since 1986.

    This happened not just in progressive strongholds but also in conservative states like West Virginia, Oklahoma and Kentucky. At least 35 of the educators’ strikes defied state laws denying workers the right to strike.

    In addition to winning gains for workers, the strike wave apparently also worked against Republicans at election time by increasing political awareness and voter mobilization. The indirect impact on elections is a common side effect of labor militancy and mass protest.

    Quiet acts of worker defiance also constrained Trump. The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic featured widespread resistance to policies that raised the risk of infection, particularly the lack of mask mandates.

    Safety-conscious workers frequently disobeyed their employers, in ways seldom reflected in official strike data. Many customers steered clear of businesses where people were unmasked. These disruptions, and fears they might escalate, led businesses to lobby government for mask mandates.

    This resistance surely saved many lives. With more coordination, it might have forced a decisive reorientation in how government and business responded to the virus.

    Labor momentum could continue into Trump’s second term. Low unemployment, strong union finances and widespread support for unions offer opportunities for the labor movement.

    Beyond marches

    Progressive movements have no direct influence over Republicans in Washington. However, they have more potential influence over businesses, lower courts, regulators and state and local politicians.

    Of these targets, business ultimately has the most power. Business will usually be able to constrain the administration if its profits are threatened. Trump and Elon Musk may be able to dismantle much of the federal government and ignore court orders, but it’s much harder for them to ignore major economic disruption.

    While big marches can raise public consciousness and help activists connect, by themselves they will not block Trump and Musk. For that, the movement will need more disruptive forms of pressure. Building the capacity for that disruption will require sustained organizing in workplaces and communities.

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

    – ref. Social movements constrained Trump in his first term – more than people realize – https://theconversation.com/social-movements-constrained-trump-in-his-first-term-more-than-people-realize-248843

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A brief history of Medicaid and America’s long struggle to establish a health care safety net

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ben Zdencanovic, Postdoctoral Associate in History and Policy, University of California, Los Angeles

    President Lyndon B. Johnson, left, next to former President Harry S. Truman, signs into law the measure creating Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. AP Photo

    The Medicaid system has emerged as an early target of the Trump administration’s campaign to slash federal spending. A joint federal and state program, Medicaid provides health insurance coverage for more than 72 million people, including low-income Americans and their children and people with disabilities. It also helps foot the bill for long-term care for older people.

    In late February 2025, House Republicans advanced a budget proposal that would potentially cut US$880 billion from Medicaid over 10 years. President Donald Trump has backed that House budget despite repeatedly vowing on the campaign trail and during his team’s transition that Medicaid cuts were off the table.

    Medicaid covers one-fifth of all Americans at an annual cost that coincidentally also totals about $880 billion, $600 billion of which is funded by the federal government. Economists and public health experts have argued that big Medicaid cuts would lead to fewer Americans getting the health care they need and further strain the low-income families’ finances.

    As a historian of social policy, I recently led a team that produced the first comprehensive historical overview of Medi-Cal, California’s statewide Medicaid system. Like the broader Medicaid program, Medi-Cal emerged as a compromise after Democrats failed to achieve their goal of establishing universal health care in the 1930s and 1940s.

    Instead, the United States developed its current fragmented health care system, with employer-provided health insurance covering most working-age adults, Medicare covering older Americans, and Medicaid as a safety net for at least some of those left out.

    Health care reformers vs. the AMA

    Medicaid’s history officially began in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the system into law, along with Medicare. But the seeds for this program were planted in the 1930s and 1940s. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration was implementing its New Deal agenda in the 1930s, many of his advisers hoped to include a national health insurance system as part of the planned Social Security program.

    Those efforts failed after a heated debate. The 1935 Social Security Act created the old-age and unemployment insurance systems we have today, with no provisions for health care coverage.

    Nevertheless, during and after World War II, liberals and labor unions backed a bill that would have added a health insurance program into Social Security.

    Harry Truman assumed the presidency after Roosevelt’s death in 1945. He enthusiastically embraced that legislation, which evolved into the “Truman Plan.” The American Medical Association, a trade group representing most of the nation’s doctors, feared heightened regulation and government control over the medical profession. It lobbied against any form of public health insurance.

    This PBS ‘Origin of Everything!’ video sums up how the U.S. wound up with its complex health care system.

    During the late 1940s, the AMA poured millions of dollars into a political advertising campaign to defeat Truman’s plan. Instead of mandatory government health insurance, the AMA supported voluntary, private health insurance plans. Private plans such as those offered by Kaiser Permanente had become increasingly popular in the 1940s in the absence of a universal system. Labor unions began to demand them in collective bargaining agreements.

    The AMA insisted that these private, employer-provided plans were the “American way,” as opposed to the “compulsion” of a health insurance system operated by the federal government. They referred to universal health care as “socialized medicine” in widely distributed radio commercials and print ads.

    In the anticommunist climate of the late 1940s, these tactics proved highly successful at eroding public support for government-provided health care. Efforts to create a system that would have provided everyone with health insurance were soundly defeated by 1950.

    JFK and LBJ

    Private health insurance plans grew more common throughout the 1950s.

    Federal tax incentives, as well as a desire to maintain the loyalty of their professional and blue-collar workers alike, spurred companies and other employers to offer private health insurance as a standard benefit. Healthy, working-age, employed adults – most of whom were white men – increasingly gained private coverage. So did their families, in many cases.

    Everyone else – people with low incomes, those who weren’t working and people over 65 – had few options for health care coverage. Then, as now, Americans without private health insurance tended to have more health problems than those who had it, meaning that they also needed more of the health care they struggled to afford.

    But this also made them risky and unprofitable for private insurance companies, which typically charged them high premiums or more often declined to cover them at all.

    Health care activists saw an opportunity. Veteran health care reformers such as Wilbur Cohen of the Social Security Administration, having lost the battle for universal coverage, envisioned a narrower program of government-funded health care for people over 65 and those with low incomes. Cohen and other reformers reasoned that if these populations could get coverage in a government-provided health insurance program, it might serve as a step toward an eventual universal health care system.

    While President John F. Kennedy endorsed these plans, they would not be enacted until Johnson was sworn in following JFK’s assassination. In 1965, Johnson signed a landmark health care bill into law under the umbrella of his “Great Society” agenda, which also included antipoverty programs and civil rights legislation.

    That law created Medicare and Medicaid.

    From Reagan to Trump

    As Medicaid enrollment grew throughout the 1970s and 1980s, conservatives increasingly conflated the program with the stigma of what they dismissed as unearned “welfare.” In the 1970s, California Gov. Ronald Reagan developed his national reputation as a leading figure in the conservative movement in part through his high-profile attempts to cut and privatize Medicaid services in his state.

    Upon assuming the presidency in the early 1980s, Reagan slashed federal funding for Medicaid by 18%. The cuts resulted in some 600,000 people who depended on Medicaid suddenly losing their coverage, often with dire consequences.

    Medicaid spending has since grown, but the program has been a source of partisan debate ever since.

    In the 1990s and 2000s, Republicans attempted to change how Medicaid was funded. Instead of having the federal government match what states were spending at different levels that were based on what the states needed, they proposed a block grant system. That is, the federal government would have contributed a fixed amount to a state’s Medicaid budget, making it easier to constrain the program’s costs and potentially limiting how much health care it could fund.

    These efforts failed, but Trump reintroduced that idea during his first term. And block grants are among the ideas House Republicans have floated since Trump’s second term began to achieve the spending cuts they seek.

    Protesters in New York City object to Medicaid cuts sought by the first Trump administration in 2017.
    Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images

    The ACA’s expansion

    The 2010 Affordable Care Act greatly expanded the Medicaid program by extending its coverage to adults with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty line. All but 10 states have joined the Medicaid expansion, which a U.S. Supreme Court ruling made optional.

    As of 2023, Medicaid was the country’s largest source of public health insurance, making up 18% of health care expenditures and over half of all spending on long-term care. Medicaid covers nearly 4 in 10 children and 80% of children who live in poverty. Medicaid is a particularly crucial source of coverage for people of color and pregnant women. It also helps pay for low-income people who need skilled nursing and round-the-clock care to live in nursing homes.

    In the absence of a universal health care system, Medicaid fills many of the gaps left by private insurance policies for millions of Americans. From Medi-Cal in California to Husky Health in Connecticut, Medicaid is a crucial pillar of the health care system. This makes the proposed House cuts easier said than done.

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

    – ref. A brief history of Medicaid and America’s long struggle to establish a health care safety net – https://theconversation.com/a-brief-history-of-medicaid-and-americas-long-struggle-to-establish-a-health-care-safety-net-251776

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Secretary of State for Work and Pensions speech to the House of Commons on welfare reform

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Secretary of State for Work and Pensions speech to the House of Commons on welfare reform

    The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions the Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP delivered the below speech to the House of Commons on the 18 March 2025.

    INTRODUCTION

    Mr Speaker

    This Government is ambitious for our people and our country.

    And we believe that unleashing the talents of the British people is the key to our future success.

    But the social security system we inherited from [political content removed] is failing the very people it is supposed to help, and holding our country back.

    The facts speak for themselves.

    1 in 10 people of working age now claiming a sickness or disability benefit.

    Almost 1 million young people not in education, employment or training – that’s 1 in 8 of all our young people.

    2.8 million out of work due to long term sickness. 

    And the number of people claiming Personal Independence Payments set to double this decade, from 2 to 4.3 million…

    … with the growth in claims rising faster among young people and mental health conditions. 

    … and with claims up to 4 times higher in parts of the Midlands, Wales and the North where economic demand is weakest. Places that were decimated in the 80s and 90s, written off for years by successive Tory governments, and never given the chances they deserve. 

    And the consequences of this failure are there for all to see. 

    Millions of people who could work trapped on benefits… denied the income, hope, dignity and self-respect that we know good work brings.

    And taxpayers paying millions more on the costs of failure, with spending on working age sickness and disability benefits up £20 billion since the pandemic, set to rise by a further £18 billion by the end of this Parliament to £70 billion a year. 

    And it is not like this in most other comparable countries where spending on these benefits since the pandemic is either stable or falling – whilst ours continues to inexorably rise. 

    [political content removed]

    And today, Mr Speaker, we say – no more.

    Since we were elected, we have hit the ground running to get more people into good work through our Plan for Change. 

    We’re investing an extra £26 billion into the NHS to drive down waiting lists and get people back to health and back to work.

    We’re improving the quality of work and making work pay with our landmark Employment Rights legislation and increases in the national living wage.

    We’re creating more good jobs in every part of the country in clean energy and through our modern industrial strategy.

    And we are introducing the biggest reforms to employment support in a generation, with our £240 million Get Britain Working plan.

    Today, our Pathways to Work Green Paper sets out decisive action to fix the broken benefits system.

    Creating a more pro-active, pro-work system for those who can work. 

    And so we protect it for those who cannot work; now and for the long-term.

    Mr Speaker, I know as a constituency MP for 14 years, that there will always be people who can never work, because of the severity of their disability or illness. 

    Under this Government, the social security system will always be there for people in genuine need. That is a principle we will never compromise on.

    But disabled people and people with health conditions who can work should have the same rights, choices and chances to work as everybody else. That principle of equality is vital too.

    Because –  [political content removed] – many sick and disabled people want to work, with the right help and support.

    [political content removed]. 

    Mr Speaker, our first aim is to secure a decisive shift towards prevention and early intervention.

    Almost 4 million people are in work with a work limiting health condition, and around 300,000 fall out of work every year.

    So we’ve got to do far more to help people stay in work, and get back to work quickly – because your chances of returning are 5 times higher in the first year. 

    Our plans to give statutory sick pay for 1 million of the lowest paid workers and more rights to flexible working will help keep more people in work.

    The Work Well programme is trialling new approaches like GPs referring people to employment advisors, instead of signing them off sick.

    And our Keep Britain Working review, led by former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield, will set out what government and employers can do together, to create healthier, more inclusive workplaces. 

    So we help more employers offer opportunities for disabled people, including through measures like reasonable readjustments, alongside our Green Paper consultation on reforming Access to Work so it is fit for the future. 

    And today I can announce another step. 

    Our Green Paper will consult on a major reform of contributory benefits …

    … merging contributions-based Jobseekers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance into a new time limited Unemployment Insurance, paid at a higher rate, without having to prove you cannot work in order to get it 

    … so if you have paid into the system you’ll get stronger income protection, while we help you get back on track.  

    Our second objective is to restore trust and fairness in the benefits system … 

    …. by fixing the broken assessment process and tackling the perverse incentives that drive people into welfare dependency.

    Now Members  [political content removed]  have long argued that the Work Capability Assessment is not fit for purpose.

    Going through the WCA is complex, time consuming and often stressful for claimants, especially if they also have to go through the PIP assessment.

    And more fundamentally, it’s based on a binary can / can’t work divide, when we know the truth is that many people’s physical and mental health conditions fluctuate.

    The consultation on  [political content removed] WCA proposals was ruled unlawful by the courts.

    So today I can announce we will not go ahead with their proposals.

    Instead we will scrap the WCA in 2028.

    In future, extra financial support for health conditions in Universal Credit will be available solely through the PIP assessment…

    .. so extra income is based on the impact of someone’s health condition or disability, not on their capacity to work.

    … reducing the number of assessments that people have to go through

    … and a vital step towards de-risking work.

    And, Mr Speaker, we will do more …

    by legislating for a ‘right to try’, guaranteeing that work in and of itself will never lead to a benefit reassessment. 

    Giving people the confidence to take the plunge and try work – without the fear this will put their benefits at risk.

    Mr Speaker, we will also tackle the perverse financial incentives –[political content removed] – which actively encourage people into welfare dependency.

    [political content removed]

    As a result, the health top up is now worth double the Standard Allowance, at more than £400 a month.

    And in 2017, they took away extra financial help for the group of people who could prepare for work. 

    So we’re left with a binary assessment of can or can’t work and a clear financial incentive to define yourself as incapable of work….

    …something the OBR, IFS and others say is a likely factor driving people onto incapacity benefits. 

    Today, we tackle this problem head on. 

    We will legislate to rebalance the payments in Universal Credit from April next year …

    … holding the value of the health top up fixed in cash terms for existing claimants and reducing it for new claimants

    … with an additional premium for people with severe, lifelong conditions that mean that they will never work – to give them the financial security they deserve. 

    And alongside this, Mr Speaker, we will bring in a permanent, above inflation rise to the standard allowance in Universal Credit… for the first time EVER, a £775 annual increase in cash terms by 2029/30. 

    And a decisive step to tackle the perverse incentives in the system.

    We will also fix the failing system of reassessments.

    [political content removed]  failed to switch reassessments back on after the pandemic, so they’re down by more than two thirds, with face to face assessments going from 7 in 10 to only 1 in 10.

    We will turn these reassessments back on at scale, and shift the focus back to doing more face to face, and we will ensure they are recorded as standard – to give confidence to claimants and taxpayers that they’re being done properly.

    And Mr Speaker I can also announce …

    … for people on Universal Credit with the most severe disabilities, and health conditions that will never improve, we want to ensure that they are never reassessed, to give them the confidence and dignity they deserve. 

    And we will fundamentally overhaul the DWP’s safeguarding approach to make sure all our processes and training are of the highest quality so we protect and support the most vulnerable people. 

    Mr Speaker, alongside these changes we will also reform disability benefits, so they focus support on those in greatest need and to ensure the social security system lasts for the long-term, into the future.

    Social and demographic change means more people are now living with a disability.

    But the increase in disability benefits is double the rate of increasing prevalence of working age disability in the country.

    With claims amongst young people up 150%.  For mental health conditions, up 190%. And claims for learning difficulties up over 400%, according to the IFS. 

    Every day, there are more than 1,000 new PIP awards. 

    That’s the equivalent of adding a population the size of Leicester every single year. 

    Mr Speaker, that is not sustainable long-term, above all, for the people who depend on this support. [political content removed]

    So today I can announce this Government will NOT bring in  [political content removed]  proposals for vouchers – because disabled people should have choice and control over their lives.

    We will not means-test PIP. Because disabled people deserve extra support, whatever their incomes.

    And Mr Speaker I can confirm we will not freeze PIP either.

    Instead, our reforms will focus support on those with the greatest needs.

    We will legislate for a change in PIP so people will need to score a minimum of 4 points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of PIP from November 2026. 

    This will not affect the mobility component of PIP and only relates to the daily living element.  

    And alongside this, we will launch a review of the PIP assessment … 

    … led by my Right Honourable Friend, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, in close consultation with disabled people, the organisations that represent them and other experts

    … so we make sure PIP and the assessment process is fit for purpose, now and into the future. 

    And Mr Speaker, this is a significant reform package that is expected to save over £5 billion in 2029/30. And the OBR will set out their final assessment of the costings next week.

    Our third and final objective is to deliver personalised support to sick and disabled people who CAN work to get the jobs they need and deserve.

    We know  [political content removed] young people and the long-term unemployed – the difference that proper employment support can make.

    And more recent evidence – from the Work Choice programme and Additional Work Coach time – shows support can make a significant difference in the number of people getting work, keeping work, and improving their mental health and wellbeing too.

    This   [political content removed] Government believes that an active state can transform people’s lives. We know this because we have done it before.

    So today I can announce we will invest an additional £1 billion a year for employment support with the aim of guaranteeing high-quality, tailored and personalised support to help people on a Pathway to Work. 

    The largest ever investment in opportunities to work for sick and disabled people. 

    And alongside this – for those on the UC Health top up – we will bring in an expectation to engage and a new Support Conversation to talk about people’s goals and aspirations, combined with an offer of personalised health, skills and employment support. 

    And because being out of work or training when you’re young is so damaging for your future prospects, we will go further.

    In addition to funding our Youth Guarantee through the £240 million Get Britain Working plan…

    … we will consult on delaying access to the health top up in Universal Credit until someone is aged 22, with the savings reinvested into work support and training opportunities.  

    So every young person is earning or learning, and on a pathway to success. 

    CONCLUSION

    Mr Speaker  [political content removed]  … a broken benefit system that’s failing the people who depend on it, and our country as a whole.

    The status quo is unacceptable. 

    But it is not inevitable.

    We were elected on a mandate for change. 

    To end the sticking plaster approach… and tackle the root causes of problems in this country that have been ignored for too long. 

    Because we believe in the value and potential of every single person. 

    That we all have something positive to contribute and can make a difference. 

    Whether that’s in paid work, in our families or communities alongside our neighbours and friends. 

    We will unleash this potential in every corner of the land. 

    Because we are as ambitious for the British people as they are for themselves. 

    Today, we take decisive action. And I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council Visit Winchester team showcases Jane Austen during English Tourism Week

    Source: City of Winchester

    A Morning of Jane Austen was led by Visit Winchester – which is managed by Winchester City Council’s Economy and Tourism team – to mark English Tourism Week, showcasing some of the local author-related highlights.

    2025 is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth and a range of special events are taking place including the first-ever public access to the house in College Street where she died.

    Winchester’s year-long birthday celebration includes partners from across the city and surrounding district, who have come together to devise a series of over 35 special events, tours, and exhibitions to celebrate Austen’s life and works.

    The showcase, on Saturday 15 March, included a visit to Winchester Visitor Information Centre, and a themed Jane Austen tour by one of Winchester Tourist Guides which took in the key landmarks to Austen’s time in Winchester including College Street and Winchester Cathedral, where the author is buried, before finishing at Winchester City Museum.

    Visit Winchester has also recently launched a new self-guided trail around the city which highlights all places the author would have visited during her time in the city and gives visitors an insight into Winchester’s Georgian history. The trail has launched as part of English Tourism Week and is available to download on the Visit Winchester website or from the visitor information centre.

    Winchester City Council’s Cabinet Member for Business and Culture Councillor Lucille Thompson said: “Winchester district’s first-class tourism offering brings in millions for our economy each year, supporting thousands of jobs and driving growth into our local communities. A thriving visitor destination is also a welcome benefit for local residents, who can also access a year-round vibrant programme of experiences and events right on their doorstep.

    “This English Tourism Week we have a lot to celebrate – not only are we celebrating 250 years since the birth of one of the world’s most famous authors, but also all the hard work our visitor economy does, welcoming our visitors and showcasing Winchester to the world.”

    Louise West, Chair of Collections Committee and Trustee at Hampshire Cultural Trust, said: “Jane Austen was a Hampshire girl through and through, with an inextricable link to Winchester. 250 years on since her birth, her life, literature and legacy continue to be an irresistible draw to visitors from all over the UK and beyond. We are proud and honoured to have the privilege of counting some of her personal possessions among the collections that we care for, and are looking forward to showcasing these, along with our full programme of Austen-themed events, to visitors to the city throughout the year.”

    Dr Danny Chambers, MP for the Winchester Constituency, said: “Jane Austen’s novels and film adaptations have been enjoyed by fans for decades and bring so many people from around the whole world to Winchester. We’re fortunate to have a literary superstar bringing people to our city. Winchester City Council and other organisations across the city, including the amazing tour guides, have done an excellent job to promote this 250th anniversary celebration, and I thank them for showing me the work they’ve put in to make it happen.”

    To see a full list of Winchester’s attractions and businesses taking part in Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary celebrations, visit www.visitwinchester.co.uk/jane-austen-250.

    ENDS

    Notes to Editors

    Over eight million people visit the Winchester district every year, spending over £370 million in the local area and supporting over 5,760 jobs, both for local residents and those living nearby, making it one of Winchester’s largest and most valuable industries. – The Economic Impact of Tourism on Winchester, 2022, Tourism South East

    Visit England’s English Tourism Week – 14-23 March 2025 – celebrates this diverse, exciting and vibrant sector, and highlights the quality and value of English tourism. 

    Jane Austen was a Hampshire girl through and through, with an inextricable link to Winchester. 250 years on since her birth, her life, literature and legacy continue to be an irresistible draw to visitors from all over the UK and beyond. We are proud and honoured to have the privilege of counting some of her personal possessions in the collections that we care for, and are looking forward to showcasing these, along with our full programme of Austen-themed events, to visitors to the city throughout the year. For further information, please email tourism@winchester.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Yukon launches new tourism dashboard

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Government of Yukon launches new tourism dashboard
    jlutz
    March 17, 2025 – 9:48 am

    The Government of Yukon announces the launch of a new online service that provides a window into the territory’s active tourism sector.

    Informed by direct feedback from tourism stakeholders, the Yukon Tourism Indicators Dashboard is a new source for sharing Yukon tourism data. The dashboard highlights visitor numbers, spending patterns and seasonal trends to help inform decision making and industry plans.

    The new dashboard features data about border crossings, airport arrivals, hotel and short-term rental indicators, employment rates, restaurant and retail sales, business counts and consumer confidence. Data sources are updated weekly or monthly and the dashboard is also easily expandable as new datasets become available.

    For more information and to use the dashboard, people can visit yukon.ca/access-yukon-tourism-indicators-dashboard.

    Tourism is a key driver of the Yukon’s economy and having reliable data at our fingertips allows us to support the sector more effectively. This new dashboard makes it easy to track tourism activity and identify opportunities for sustainable development. Tourism operators, communities and stakeholders are encouraged to explore the dashboard and use the insights to help shape their strategies and investments.

    Minister of Tourism and Culture John Streicker

    The Yukon Tourism Advisory Board (YTAB) is thrilled with the launch of the Yukon Tourism Indicators Dashboard. The YTAB’s approach is to make recommendations to the Minister that are market-driven, research-based and industry-led. The collection and reporting of reliable data through the Yukon Tourism Indicators Dashboard will support timely, informed decision making that supports the priorities of Yukon tourism businesses, communities, First Nations and all Yukoners.

    Yukon Tourism Advisory Board Chair Denny Kobayashi

    Quick facts

    • Data on the dashboard comes from a variety of Yukon government sources as well as Statistics Canada, Destination Canada and other providers. The dashboard includes historical data going back as far as 30 years.

    • This service absorbs and improves upon the previous Yukon Sustainable Tourism Dashboard and replaces the old method of publishing quarterly reports. Reports from previous years have been added to the Government of Yukon’s Open Data platform. 

    Media contact

    Laura Seeley
    Cabinet Communications
    867-332-7627
    laura.seeley@yukon.ca

    Alicia Debreceni
    Communications, Tourism and Culture 
    867-3323670
    alicia.debreceni@yukon.ca 

    News release #:

    25-116

    Related information:

    Yukon Tourism Development Strategy: Sustainable Tourism. Our Path. Our Future.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp: TriNet to Create 750 Jobs in Metro Atlanta

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that TriNet is planning to create 750 new jobs at a new corporate center in Dunwoody over the next five years, representing an estimated $15.4 million in investment in DeKalb County.

    “As the No. 1 state for business, one of the key drivers of our success is our metro Atlanta area that continues to attract a strong ecosystem of job creators like TriNet,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “TriNet’s services for small businesses will further that network while creating meaningful jobs and investment for the Dunwoody and DeKalb County community.”

    TriNet provides comprehensive HR solutions, technology, expertise, and access to world-class benefits that enable small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to attract and develop top-tier talent.

    “We look forward to opening a new TriNet office in metro Atlanta and becoming a part of this vibrant and growing business community,” saidMike Simonds, TriNet President and CEO. “We are excited to partner with Atlanta’s strong universities and thriving small business ecosystem as we expand our local team and establish a hub where TriNet colleagues from across the country can come together for training, development, and collaboration to better serve our customers.”

    “At TriNet, our people are the heart of everything we do, and we are thrilled to expand our team here in metro Atlanta,” said Catherine Wragg, TriNet Chief People Officer. “This new office will help us attract top talent, foster our strong culture of collaboration and making an impact, and further invest in the professional growth of our colleagues. We are committed to creating a workplace where our colleagues can thrive and look forward to making a positive impact in this community.”

    TriNet’s new approximately 150,000-square-foot space will be located in Dunwoody. The company will immediately begin hiring for technology, HR consulting, client management, and sales roles, with plans to leverage its increased presence to grow its regional Atlanta and Southeast customer base. To learn more about TriNet, including where interested individuals can apply for jobs, visit www.trinet.com/about-us/careers.

    “Dunwoody provides the ideal setting for TriNet, offering unparalleled access to the region’s talented workforce and a vibrant, mixed-use environment surrounded by top-tier restaurants, shops, and entertainment,” said Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch. “We are thrilled to welcome TriNet, whose investment will bring hundreds of new jobs to our community. This is another example of a growing company choosing Dunwoody.”

    “TriNet’s investment in DeKalb County is a testament to the strength of our workforce, our infrastructure, and our commitment to fostering a thriving business environment,” said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “The creation of 750 new jobs will bring invaluable opportunities to our residents while reinforcing DeKalb as a premier destination for corporate growth and innovation. We proudly welcome TriNet to our community and look forward to the positive impact this expansion will have on our local economy and workforce.”

    “TriNet’s investment in DeKalb County will create jobs, drive innovation, and strengthen our economy,” said Katie Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “With direct access to a pipeline of emerging talent from metro Atlanta’s renowned universities, TriNet is uniquely positioned to connect businesses with the next generation of HR and business professionals.” 

    Assistant Director of Statewide Projects John Soper represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this project in partnership with the City of Dunwoody, Decide DeKalb, Metro Atlanta Chamber, University System of Georgia, and Georgia Power.

    “TriNet’s decision to locate in Georgia reflects the confidence companies have in the state as a hub for innovation, talent, and long-term success,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Strong partnerships between industry, communities, and higher education drive economic growth. We’re excited about the opportunities this investment will bring and congratulate Dunwoody and DeKalb County on this milestone. Welcome to Georgia, TriNet!”

    About TriNet 

    TriNet provides small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with HR solutions and offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation, compliance, and payroll services, all enabled by industry-leading technology. TriNet’s suite of products also includes services and software-based solutions to help streamline workflows by connecting HR, benefits, employee engagement, payroll, and time and attendance. Rooted in more than 30 years of supporting entrepreneurs and adapting to the ever-changing modern workplace, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters most – growing their business and enabling their people. For more information, visit TriNet.com. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Simpson Secures Permanent Pay Fix for Wildland Firefighters

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Rep. Simpson Secures Permanent Pay Fix for Wildland Firefighters

    Washington, March 18, 2025

    WASHINGTON—Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson—Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee—secured a key provision in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act that prioritizes funding for Wildland Fire Management, including permanently addressing wildland firefighter pay. The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act passed Congress on March 14 and was signed into law by President Trump.
    “The men and women who fight catastrophic wildfires across the nation deserve stability and adequate compensation for their courageous work,” said Rep. Simpson. “A permanent pay fix for our wildland firefighters will strengthen recruitment and retention while providing financial security to the first responders who protect our communities. I have long fought for this critical provision, and I am grateful to my colleagues and the Trump administration for their support in making it a reality.”
    Congressman Simpson’s Interior Appropriations bill included a permanent pay fix for federal wildland firefighters and passed the House in July 2024. Rep. Simpson also released an op-ed on why a permanent pay fix is needed.
    The full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: The ‘Wolf of West Virginia’ Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

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

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Theodore Miller, 35, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty today to two counts of wire fraud. Miller admitted to defrauding more than 170 individuals through two real estate-related investment schemes that caused losses of between $395,000 and $434,501.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Miller conceived and perpetrated the two fraudulent schemes between the spring of 2022 and September 2024. One scheme solicited direct investments to develop modern residential duplexes and a dry-storage lot on Bigley Avenue in Charleston. The other scheme offered a pooled real estate investment vehicle dubbed “Bear Lute.”

    To carry out these schemes, Miller portrayed himself on social media as the “Wolf of West Virginia,” a wealthy, successful and knowledgeable real estate mogul with enough disposable income to travel the world at his leisure. As part of his guilty pleas, Miller admitted that in reality, he had poor credit, thin month-to-month financial margins, was delinquent on property taxes and bills, and defaulted on loans.

    In each scheme, Miller made multiple misrepresentations to investors. These misrepresentations included that individuals would receive returns on their investments, that their investments were secured by real property, and that they could withdraw their investments. As part of his guilty pleas, Miller admitted that there were no returns on investments, that he never owned the real property he identified as security for the investments, and that he used the money from his fraud schemes to pay unrelated expenses, debts and obligations.

    Miller’s victims included an individual who wired $20,000 to Miller from California for the storage lot project on July 5, 2022, and an individual who wired $2,500 to Miller from Texas for Bear Lute on December 12, 2022.

    The money from the schemes was deposited into bank accounts for several entities Miller solely owned and operated including Bear Industries LLC, which initially served as an umbrella entity for the related businesses. Miller’s mother, Deanna Drumm, served as vice president of operations for Bear Industries from in or around 2019 to September 2024. While Miller lived outside the United States from in or about June  2021 to on or about August 8, 2024, he directed his mother to handle the day-to-day operational tasks for the Bear entities including the management of finances and transfer of funds.

    Drumm, 61, of Charleston, pleaded guilty on November 21, 2024, to aiding and abetting the sale and offer of unregistered securities. Both the direct investments and the Bear Lute investments were securities as defined by federal law, offered through interstate commerce via the internet, and were required to be registered. Drumm admitted that no registration statement was in effect for either of these securities, and that neither was exempt from the registration requirement. Drumm further admitted that she aided and abetted the offering of these unregistered securities in the course of her duties as vice president of operations for Bear Industries. Drumm is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2025.

    In September 2022, the West Virginia Securities Commission issued a cease-and-desist letter to Bear Industries ordering it to stop the unregistered sale and offering of securities in Bear Lute. In November 2022, the West Virginia Securities Commission issued a cease-and-desist order regarding the same. Miller admitted that he continued to operate Bear Lute in violation of the order and never disclosed the order to his investors.

    On August 9, 2024, law enforcement officers arrested Miller following his return to the United States. Miller admitted that he told his wife during a recorded jail phone call on August 11, 2024, to report his iPhone stolen to make it inaccessible to law enforcement and to hide a backpack containing his laptop computer. Miller further admitted that the laptop contained most of the documents related to the direct investments and Bear Lute.

    Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine. Miller also owes restitution of between $395,000 and $434,501, with the final amount to be determined by the Court.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia Fusion Center, the West Virginia Securities Commission, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

    United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Holly Wilson and Joshua Hanks are prosecuting the case.

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a parallel civil action against Miller, Bear Industries LLC, Bear Investments and Business Consulting LLC, and Drumm in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. The lawsuit alleges that Miller has engaged in the unregistered and fraudulent offer of securities related to his real estate-related investment programs since at least 2022, and that Miller’s social-media persona and businesses were all a calculated fraud to divert investor funds for his own personal benefit. The lawsuit seeks permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and prejudgment interest, and civil penalties.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:24-cr-145 and 2:24-cv-479.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Anjuna Named to Fast Company’s 2025 Most Innovative Companies List

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALO ALTO, Calif., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anjuna, a leader in Universal Confidential Computing and AI Data Fusion Clean Rooms, today announced its selection to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025. This recognition underscores Anjuna’s groundbreaking advancements in security and privacy, enabling enterprises to unlock new value from AI and data collaboration without compromising confidentiality.

    Fast Company’s annual Most Innovative Companies list celebrates organizations that are reshaping industries and redefining business. This is not Anjuna’s first recognition; the company was also named a winner in the Next Big Things in Tech Awards in the Security & Privacy category in 2023 for its Universal Confidential Computing Platform, Anjuna Seaglass.

    Anjuna’s latest honor comes amid significant company momentum. Earlier this year, Gartner recognized Anjuna as a Tech Innovator in Preemptive Cybersecurity for its role in safeguarding enterprises against emerging AI-driven threats. Additionally, Anjuna announced this month that it has secured major customers in the digital payments industry, including a Fortune 500 financial institution, all leveraging Anjuna’s technology to implement secure AI-driven processing, analytics, and collaboration in financial services.

    Innovation at the Core of Anjuna’s Mission

    At the heart of Anjuna’s innovation is Anjuna Northstar, the first AI Data Fusion Clean Room, which redefines secure AI-driven collaboration by enabling enterprises to fuse, analyze, and derive insights from multiple data sources without ever exposing it. First announced in December of 2024, Northstar offers an out-of-the-box, intrinsically secure environment, supporting industries from financial services to healthcare in unlocking AI-driven innovation.

    “Being named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list is an incredible honor that validates our mission to make security intrinsic, not an obstacle, to AI-driven collaboration,” said Ayal Yogev, CEO and co-founder of Anjuna. “This recognition highlights not only our cutting-edge technology but also the real-world impact we’re having—helping enterprises across industries securely unlock the value of their most sensitive data.”

    The full list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies honorees can now be found at fastcompany.com. It will also be available on newsstands beginning March 25. To learn more about Anjuna, please visit anjuna.io

    Meet Anjuna at NVIDIA GTC 2025

    Anjuna’s recognition comes as the NVIDIA GTC conference is underway in San Jose CA, where the company is showcasing its latest innovations. Anjuna’s solutions integrate seamlessly with NVIDIA’s Confidential Computing-enabled Hopper and Blackwell architectures, empowering enterprises to run AI workloads with uncompromising security and privacy. Attendees are invited to visit booth #3311 to chat with Anjuna experts and see firsthand how Anjuna Northstar and Seaglass are enabling AI security and data collaboration.

    About Anjuna
    Anjuna unlocks secure, AI-driven innovation with two groundbreaking solutions. Anjuna Seaglass, the Universal Confidential Computing Platform, delivers ubiquitous data privacy and intrinsic cloud security. Anjuna Northstar, the AI Data Fusion Clean Room, builds on Seaglass to provide an out-of-the-box, private environment for limitless AI-driven data collaboration and value discovery. Anjuna works with enterprises around the globe, including financial services, government, healthcare and SaaS. Anjuna is backed by prominent investors, including Playground Global, Insight Partners, M Ventures, and SineWave Ventures.

    Media Contact:
    Mauricio Barra, VP of Marketing for Anjuna
    Email: mauricio.barra@anjuna.io

    An image accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ac29037-1bfb-456f-84f8-33af76572a4e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: NRRP steering committee meeting to verify progress of National Programme for the Guaranteed Employability of Workers (GOL)

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    A steering committee meeting for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) was held at Palazzo Chigi today, focusing solely on the ‘Inclusion and Cohesion’ mission. The purpose of the meeting, called and chaired by Minister for European Affairs, the NRRP and Cohesion Policy Tommaso Foti and attended by Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies Claudio Durigon as well as by regional presidents and representatives from the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, was to verify in detail the progress of the reform to enhance active labour market and education and training policy services – the national programme for the guaranteed employability of workers (‘GOL’) – at regional level.

    Today’s steering committee meeting on the Inclusion and Cohesion Mission follows on from the healthcare-focused steering committee meeting held on 6 March and forms part of the enhanced monitoring of NRRP measures, which see regions playing an active role in their implementation, launched by the Government ahead of negotiations with the European Commission regarding possible adjustments aimed at ensuring that final targets are reached and the allocated resources are deployed in full.

    “The ongoing checks into the Plan’s implementation status – stated Minister Foti – will allow the Government to take targeted action to complete reforms and investments on time, with positive effects on citizens’ lives, and to confirm Italy’s leading position in Europe with regard to the roll-out of its NRRP, in terms of goals achieved, total resources received, instalments received and payment requests formalised”.

    The ‘GOL’ programme, implemented by Italy’s Regions and Autonomous Provinces, is primarily aimed at job seekers and recipients of social safety net benefits or income support measures as well as vulnerable workers and the unemployed, providing incentives for active labour market policy programmes that are personalised according to individuals’ different needs.

    The steering committee meeting also reviewed the positive physical progress of the reform, which provides for three targets to be met by the end of 2025: as of today, 65% of the final target has been reached, with 1.9 million beneficiaries compared with the 3 million planned; with regard to the aforementioned beneficiaries, 800,000 are participating in vocational training, 300,000 of whom are receiving digital skills training. The third goal to be reached is the enhancement of at least 80% of job centres, by improving quality services, analysing skill requirements, drawing up individual training plans and offering effective welcome and employment guidance services. At the same time, the steering committee also took note of the limited financial progress of the measure falling under the responsibility of regional authorities, which currently stands at 9.3% of distributed resources, in order to establish a reallocation of the measure’s remaining financial resources to other virtuous projects falling under active labour market policies. This is without prejudice to the Meloni Government’s tireless efforts to implement measures aimed at boosting employment, especially in the Mezzogiorno.

    In order to help regional authorities verify schedules and achieve the planned objectives, a certification has been created to attest to progress towards reaching the final target of the GOL reform in accordance with the Plan’s time frames and conditions, as well as financial progress. This review process will enable regional authorities to clarify current progress towards the target and the progress of spending compared with the amount allocated, as well as to present proposals and targeted and shared actions to use the resources that won’t be absorbed by the reform.
    The NRRP task force within the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, working in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, ensures the utmost cooperation with the authorities in charge of implementation, providing appropriate support for the preparation of the certifications.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Biggest shake up to welfare system in a generation to get Britain working

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Biggest shake up to welfare system in a generation to get Britain working

    Largest welfare reforms for a generation to help sick and disabled people who can and have the potential to work into jobs – backed by a £1 billion investment, unveiled by the Work & Pensions Secretary today [Tuesday 18 March]. 

    • Work Capability Assessment to be scrapped and “right to try” work guarantee to be introduced in drive to tear down barriers to work
    • Changes will unlock work, boost employment, and tackle the broken benefits system to unlock growth as part of the government’s Plan for Change

    Record £1 billion employment support measures announced to help disabled and long-term sick people back into work.

    The new measures are designed to ensure a welfare system that is fit for purpose and available for future generations – opening up employment opportunities, boosting economic growth and tackling the spiralling benefits bill, while also ensuring those who cannot work get the support they need as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

    This will end years of inaction, which has led to one in eight young people not currently in work, education or training and 2.8 million people economically inactive due to long term sickness – one of the highest rates in the G7. 

    The number of people receiving one of the main types of health and disability benefit, Personal Independence Payments (PIP), has also risen rapidly and is becoming unsustainable. 

    Since the pandemic, the number of working-age people receiving PIP has more than doubled from 15,300 to 35,100 a month. The number of young people (16-24) receiving PIP per month has also skyrocketed from 2,967 to 7,857 a month. Over the next five years, if no action is taken, the number of working age people claiming PIP is expected to increase from 2 million in 2021 to 4.3 million, costing £34.1 billion annually. 

    All this has driven the spiralling health and disability benefits bill, forecast to reach £70 billion a year by the end of the decade, or more than £1 billion a week. This is equivalent to more than a third of the NHS budget, and more than three times as much as is spent on policing and keeping communities safe.

    Speaking in Parliament today, Liz Kendall announced a sweeping package of reforms to overhaul the system, so it better supports those who need it while tearing down barriers to work including:

    Ending reassessments for disabled people who will never be able to work and people with lifelong conditions to ensure they can live with dignity and security

    Scrapping the controversial Work Capability Assessment to end the dysfunctional process that drives people into dependency – delivering on the government’s manifesto commitment to reform or replace it

    Providing improved employment support backed by £1 billion – one of the biggest packages of employment support for sick and disabled people ever – including new tailored support conversations for people on health and disability benefits to break down barriers and unlock work

    Legislating to protect those on health and disability benefits from reassessment or losing their payments if they take a chance on work. 

    To ensure the welfare system is available for those with the greatest needs now and long into the future, the government has made bold decisions to improve its sustainability and protect those who need it most, including:

    • Reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and aren’t indefinitely written off.
    • Targeting Personal Independence Payments for those with higher needs by changing the eligibility requirement to a minimum score of four on at least one of the daily living activities to receive the daily living element of the benefit, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria.
    • Rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit to improve the Standard Allowance. Raising it above inflation by 2029/30, adding £775 annually in cash terms.
    • Consulting on delaying access to the health element of Universal Credit until someone is aged 22 and reinvesting savings into work support and training opportunities through the Youth Guarantee.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    We inherited a fundamentally broken welfare system from the previous government. It does not work for the people it is supposed to support, businesses who need workers or taxpayers who foot the bill.

    This government will always protect the most severely disabled people to live with dignity. But we’re not prepared to stand back and do nothing while millions of people – especially young people – who have potential to work and live independent lives, instead become trapped out of work and abandoned by the system. It would be morally bankrupt to let their life chances waste away. 

    When I talk about opportunity for all, I mean it. That’s why we are bringing forward the biggest changes to the welfare system in a generation and improving support for those who need it. Ensuring those who can work do work is not only right, but it will also improve living standards and drive growth, the number one priority in our Plan for Change.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:

    Our social security system must be there for all of us when we need it, now and into the future. That means helping people who can work to do so, protecting those most in need, and delivering respect and dignity for all. 

    Millions of people have been locked out of work, and we can do better for them. Disabled people and those with health conditions who can work deserve the same choices and chances as everyone else.

    That’s why we’re introducing the most far-reaching reforms in a generation, with £1 billion a year being invested in tailored support that can be adapted to meet their changing circumstances – including their changing health – while also scrapping the failed Work Capability Assessment.

    This will mean fairness for disabled people and those with long term health conditions, but also for the taxpayers who fund it as these measures bring down the benefits bill. 

    At the same time, we will ensure that our welfare system protects people. There will always be some people who cannot work because of their disability or health condition. Protecting people in need is a principle we will never compromise on.

    In her statement to Parliament, the Work and Pensions Secretary outlined the clear case for change to the welfare system and set out her commitment to ensuring that disabled people and those with a health condition have the same opportunities to work as anyone else.

    In particular, she highlighted that the UK has one of the highest reported rates of working-age people out of work due to ill health in Western Europe and the UK is the only major economy whose employment rate hasn’t recovered since the pandemic – exacerbated by a broken NHS with millions of people on waiting lists. 

    The government has already made huge progress to fix the NHS, including by hitting the manifesto commitment to deliver over two million extra elective care appointments seven months early, and bringing forward a wider programme for NHS reform through the rollout of community diagnostic centres and 10-year plan. The Health Secretary has also sent crack teams spearheaded by top clinicians into areas of high economic inactivity, and the latest data shows waiting lists in these areas have reduced at almost double the rate of the rest of the country. 

    The reformed system will be built on a straightforward guarantee: any disabled person or person with a long-term health condition who is claiming out of work benefits will be able to access high quality, tailored help into a job. It will also mean that those who cannot work will always get the support they need. In Scotland and Wales, we will work closely with the devolved governments as we develop this package of support.

    The reforms are based on five key principles:

    Protecting disabled people who can’t and won’t ever be able to work and supporting them to live with dignity by:

    • Income Protection: Those currently in receipt of UC health will benefit from the increased standard allowance and will not be affected by plans to reduce UC health in future. 
    • Extra Financial Support: For people who receive the new rate of UC health in the future system, we are proposing a new premium for individuals with severe, life-long health conditions who will never be able to work. The details, eligibility criteria and rate of this premium will be set out in due course.
    • Ending Reassessments: Reassessments for disabled people and people with life-long conditions who will never be able to work will be scrapped.
    • Improving Safeguarding Practices: The government will look at how safeguarding practices for the most vulnerable can be improved and improve experiences with the system, working with stakeholders to identify areas for improvement. 

    Delivering better and more tailored employment support to get more people off welfare and into work. This includes: 

    • £1 Billion employment package to deliver tailored support for disabled people and those with long-term conditions.
    • New Support Conversations to provide earlier opportunities for people with health conditions to discuss work goals and available help.
    • Investing in the Youth Guarantee by delaying access to UC health element until age 22 and reinvesting savings into work support and training for young people.

    Stopping people from falling into long-term economic inactivity through early intervention and support by:

    • Access to Work Scheme: We will consult on improvements to help people start and stay in work with reasonable adjustments including aids, appliances and assistive technology. These would be the first substantive changes to Access to Work since its introduction in 1994
    • Unemployment Insurance: We will reform contributory benefits (ESA and JSA) into a single, non-means tested, time-limited benefit for those who have paid into the system to ensure people get the support they need to find a new job that makes the most of their skills, contributing to a dynamic and productive economy.

    Restoring trust and fairness in the system by fixing the broken assessment process that drives people into dependency on welfare by:

    • Scrapping the WCA to end the labelling of people as either ‘can or can’t work’ and consulting on a new single assessment. Under the new system, any extra financial support for health conditions (including PIP, ESA or UC health) will be assessed via a new single assessment which will be based on the PIP assessment – considering on the impact of disability on daily living, not on capacity to work.
    • Increasing Face-to-Face Assessments for PIP and the WCA to improve the quality of assessment decision while ensuring we continue to meet the needs of those with who may require a different method of assessment.
    • Longer term reform of the PIP Assessment – In the long term we will set out broader reforms to the PIP assessment, and intend first to carry out a review involving experts and stakeholders to adapt and improve it.
    • Right to Try Guarantee: which will ensure someone trying work or on a pathway towards employment will never lead to an immediate reassessment or award review.
    • Restarting Mandatory Reassessments: We will reintroduce reassessments for incapacity benefits, with exceptions for those who will never work and those under special rules for end-of-life care. Reassessments have largely been switched off since 2021, leaving people stuck on benefits when they could be helped into work and to improve their quality of life.

    Ensuring the system is financially sustainable to keep providing for those who need it most by:

    • Changing PIP Eligibility:  PIP will be targeted more on those with higher needs by requiring a minimum of four points on one daily living activity, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria.. DWP will work with DHSC to ensure that existing people who claim PIP who may no longer be entitled to the benefit following an award review under new eligibility rules have their health and eligible care needs met. The government is consulting on how best to achieve this.

    • Rebalancing Universal Credit: by improving the Standard Allowance to provide more adequate support. The government plans to raise the Standard Allowance above inflation by 2029/30, adding £775 in cash terms annually. This aims to avoid people having to choose between employment or adequate financial support. This change addresses the current issue where the health element rate is double that of the standard allowance, creating an incentive for people to prove they are unfit to work to claim the health element and access greater financial support.

    Further Information

    • This is a significant reform package that is expected to save over £5 billion in 2029 to 2030. The government will publish OBR-certified costings of individual measures at the Spring Statement on 26 March. 
    • The UC standard allowance increase of £775 per year is for a single person aged 25 or over. Equivalent percentage increases will be applied to the standard allowances of couples and those aged under 25.
    • This consultation applies to England, Wales and Scotland. Note that the proposals in the consultation will only apply to the UK Government’s areas of responsibility in Scotland and Wales.
    • We will bring forward primary legislation this session to enable delivery of the PIP additional eligibility requirement and UC rebalancing reforms from 26/27, subject to parliamentary approval. The Right to Work Guarantee will be delivered through separate primary legislation which will be introduced in due course. 

    • In Scotland, some elements of support for disabled people and people with health conditions remain reserved (for example, the health element in UC) and some have been devolved to the Scottish Government (for example PIP and DLA). The proposals in this paper would only apply directly to UK Government areas of responsibility in Scotland. The interactions between the reserved and devolved systems will need to be fully considered before they are implemented.

    • DWP and the Scottish Government both have powers to provide different types of employment support in Scotland. Some elements of our employment support offer will apply across Great Britain. We will respect the Scottish Government’s devolved powers in relation to skills, health and employment support and work with the Scottish Government as we work through the details of the package and what this will mean in terms of additional funding and delivery in Scotland.

    • In Wales, DWP is responsible for social security and employment support. Welsh Ministers also have powers to provide employment support outside Jobcentre Plus. Some elements of our employment support offer will apply across Great Britain. We will respect the Welsh Government’s devolved powers in relation to skills, health and employment support and work with the Welsh Government as we work through the details of the package and what this will mean in terms of additional funding and delivery in Wales.

    • Social security and employment support are transferred in Northern Ireland, although the UK government and the Northern Ireland Executive work closely together to maintain parity between their respective social security systems. However, the consultation welcomes comments from individuals and organisations in Northern Ireland, which will then be shared with the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: TopLine Financial Credit Union Advocates for Members in Washington D.C.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MAPLE GROVE, Minn., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based member-owned financial services cooperative, visited Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 2 to March 5, 2025, as part of the annual America’s Credit Unions Governmental Affairs Conference, the credit union industry’s largest advocacy event.

    During the conference, TopLine executives and officials, along with over 6,000 other credit union professionals, board members and Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) staff members, discussed several top credit union issues with key legislative staff members. The group met with U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith as well as members of the U.S. House and their staff. Meetings focused on expanding credit union’s opportunities to serve more Minnesotans, emphasizing the importance of preserving our not-for-profit financial cooperative tax status, fighting back on efforts to disrupt the interchange system, and maintaining an independent credit union regulator – all are very important to the health of the credit union industry.

    TopLine spent valuable face time meeting with lawmakers and sharing members’ stories on how TopLine provides safe and affordable financial services to help members with all of their financial needs, from buying cars and homes, saving for retirement and investing in small businesses. These conversations emphasized the importance of preserving the tax status of credit unions, which allows credit unions to continue to do what they do best: focus on serving members and communities instead of chasing profits. Credit unions advocates shared with lawmakers that any limitation or curtailment of the tax status would have a dramatic impact on the $950 million in direct financial benefits Minnesota credit unions provide their members and over $4 billion in economic output in the state.

    “The Governmental Affairs Conference united credit union champions from across the nation to discuss key policies, engage with legislators on Capitol Hill, and reinforce to lawmakers and regulators why credit unions are America’s best financial partner—prioritizing people over profits, strengthening communities, and enhancing financial well-being for all,” said Mick Olson, President and Chief Executive Officer at TopLine Financial Credit Union. “TopLine representatives had meaningful discussions with our state lawmakers, emphasizing the importance of preserving our not-for-profit financial cooperative tax status. This fundamental aspect of our structure enables us to build a stronger, healthier financial future for the consumers we serve.”

    America’s Credit Unions is the premier national trade association serving America’s credit unions. The not-for-profit trade group is governed by volunteer directors who are elected by their credit union peers. To learn more, visit www.americascreditunions.org.

    Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) is the statewide trade association that works to ensure the success, growth and vitality of Minnesota credit unions. For more information, visit www.mncun.org.

    TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota’s 9th largest credit union, with assets of over $1.1 billion and serves over 70,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit financial cooperative offers a complete line of financial services from its ten branch locations — in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Circle Pines, Coon Rapids, Forest Lake, Maple Grove, Plymouth, St. Francis and in St. Paul’s Como Park — as well as by phone and online at www.TopLinecu.com or www.ahcu.coop. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Benton, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members, as well as employees and retirees of Anoka Hennepin School District #11, Anoka Technical College, Federal Premium Ammunition, Hoffman Enclosures, Inc., GRACO, Inc., and their subsidiaries. Visit us on our Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about the credit union’s foundation, visit www.TopLinecu.com/Foundation.

    CONTACT:
    Vicki Roscoe Erickson
    Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
    TopLine Financial Credit Union
    verickson@toplinecu.com | 763.391.0872

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46b657cc-d617-4f18-a6af-6e6d0a03cb26

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SECU Foundation Awards $150,000 to Rural Investment Collaborative for Improving Rural Leadership and Economic Opportunities in Appalachian Region of North Carolina

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RALEIGH, N.C., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rural Investment Collaborative (RIC), a program of Appalachian Community Capital, has received a $150,000 challenge grant from SECU Foundation. The funding will support a two-year pilot program to improve leadership and economic opportunities for rural communities across North Carolina.

    RIC was created by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and is a collective of foundations, financial centers, educational institutions, and government agencies working cooperatively to enhance the workforce and economic outcomes for rural communities.

    “We are thrilled to provide essential funding to help the Rural Investment Collaborative expand access to needed resources and systems to foster long-term change,” said SECU Foundation Board Vice Chair Mona Moon. “We look forward to seeing the positive impacts as the participating groups work to address rural infrastructure, social determinants of health, access to care, disaster recovery, and healthy living in their communities.”

    “The SECU Foundation’s generous support of the Richmond Federal Reserve’s Rural Investment Collaborative has been critical to ensuring the success of the program,” said President and CEO of Appalachian Community Capital Donna Gambrell. “The Foundation’s grant is assisting community leaders from small towns and rural areas in North Carolina to develop investment-ready project proposals and to make access to funding easier.” 

    About SECU and SECU Foundation
    A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, and federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SECU has been providing employees of the state of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for 87 years. SECU is the second largest credit union in the United States with $53 billion in assets. It serves more than 2.8 million members through 275 branch offices, 1,100 ATMs, Member Services Support via phone, www.ncsecu.org, and the SECU Mobile App. The SECU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high-impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, and human services. Since 2004, SECU Foundation has made a collective financial commitment of over $300 million for initiatives to benefit North Carolinians statewide.

    Contact: Jama Campbell, Executive Director, secufoundation@ncsecu.org

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/720d3f26-4426-401d-9148-bf0b71d93183

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Surf therapy for children with disabilities: how it’s changing lives in South Africa

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Roxy Davis, Doctor of philosophy, University of Cape Town

    Children with disabilities face significant challenges in South Africa. Firstly there are delayed diagnoses which can lead to complications. The high cost of healthcare and little financial support for their families can limit their access to healthcare services altogether.

    There is also little access to rehabilitation services. Inadequate facilities and a shortage of trained personnel are just some of the obstacles.

    I started thinking about ways to get over these obstacles when I noticed that people with disabilities weren’t well represented in my sport.

    As a competitive surfer and instructor, I had always celebrated the ocean’s ability to inspire confidence and resilience.

    Every day, the beach was alive with activity – surfers, families and ocean lovers. Yet among them, I rarely saw people with disabilities in the water.

    I began to notice that the beachfront itself, the infrastructure, the culture, and even my own surf school, weren’t actively creating space for inclusivity.

    This would eventually become the cornerstone of the Roxy Davis Foundation, established in 2019, and later my doctoral research focusing on ocean-based therapy for children with disabilities.

    I found surf therapy enhanced the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of these children.

    New therapy

    Surf therapy teaches people with disabilities to surf to promote psychological, physical and psychosocial well-being.

    The first peer reviewed publication on surf therapy appeared in 2010 and focused on Aboriginal children in Australia. It was about mitigating the inter-generational trauma suffered as a result of the government-sanctioned removal of Aboriginal children from their families, a policy that only ended in the 1970s.

    In 2020 a review of a 10-year period included 29 studies into war veterans and young adult cancer survivors, among others.

    One such study focused on children with autism spectrum disorder. The study took place in the north-west of Ireland. Children said they felt happier and free, while their parents said they were more relaxed and confident.

    A South African study with children with autism spectrum disorder explored the feasibility and unique benefits of an existing surf therapy programme and reported largely positive results.

    My own research involved an adapted surf therapy programme for children with a range of disabilities.

    Five children aged between 12 and 16 were enrolled. Altogether there were 35 participants including parents, counsellors, volunteers, physiotherapists and surf instructors.

    Four of the five children were from under-resourced communities in South Africa’s Western Cape province and all had either a physical, sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairment.

    None of the children had taken part in ocean sports before.

    Getting into the water

    For six weeks the children took part in a three-hour surf therapy session on a Friday afternoon.

    The first goal was to get the kids in the water. We used mobility mats, surfboards with handles and amphibious beach wheelchairs to help.

    Each child was taught now to surf according to their pace of learning and ability.

    There was also a “surfers’ circle” with a discussion topic for each session.

    After six weeks we conducted follow-up interviews to see what changes the children had experienced, and if these had any influence on their lives outside surfing.

    We also asked parents and counsellors to identify the most significant changes in the children.

    ‘I felt free and confident’

    Final interviews were completed one year later.

    Charlie, aged 12, with cerebral palsy: “If my brothers want to go surfing I don’t have to stay behind and just watch them, I can go surf with them. It is so cool to surf with my dad and my brothers.”

    Charlie’s teacher: “His self-awareness level and how he sees himself in the world has really improved.”

    Tala, aged 15, with cerebal palsy: “Once I started surfing, I felt free and confident. Even in other spaces, when I’m not surfing, like, ‘Yeah I can surf, I can do something like surfing that I didn’t know that I could do before.’ ”

    Tala’s school psychologist: “She went into this feeling very insecure, nervous and anxious. She said she will always remember who she was and how she felt before she went to the programme and how she came out of it … to be able to use that feeling and apply it to a different situation, that’s huge for her.”

    Princess, aged 15, with spina bifida: was determined to “wean” herself off using nappies after gaining confidence through surf therapy.

    Princess’s guardian described her experience as similar to “winning a gold medal … She was more confident in herself than ever. She is off that nappy completely now.”

    Thabo, aged 14, a leg amputee: “Before session one, I was feeling nervous and excited, but as soon as I got in the sea, the nerves disappeared. You look and realise you can actually do that. I feel like I belong in the ocean.”

    After the final session he said: “I can relax, I can be in control of my urges and my temper. I’m now not always thinking about what people think about me. I can be myself in many ways.”

    Rowan, aged 15, a quadruple amputee: “Before I started surfing, I was thinking I can’t do it until I tried it and just being there was like beyond being able to speak in my wildest dreams. I couldn’t believe I could surf in the ocean riding some waves.

    “On my first session, I was like ‘If I can do it, I can do it for the rest of my life’.”

    In his second interview he said: “My goal is to become a national champion and to become a Paralympic champion.”

    One year after the surf therapy programme he entered a provincial parasurfing competition, which he won. He was then selected to participate in the South African Para Surfing Championships in 2022, where he came second. Later that year he was selected to represent South Africa at the World Para Surfing Championships in California. Nineteen months after starting surfing, in December, on his 16th birthday, he competed in the World Championships and was placed 17th.

    Surf therapy demonstrates what’s possible when we focus on ability rather than limitation.

    Roxy Davis is affiliated with the Roxy Davis Foundation.

    – ref. Surf therapy for children with disabilities: how it’s changing lives in South Africa – https://theconversation.com/surf-therapy-for-children-with-disabilities-how-its-changing-lives-in-south-africa-245290

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ethiopia’s war may have ended, but the Tigray crisis hasn’t

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Assefa Leake Gebru, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Strategic Studies , Mekelle University

    For over 20 years, Ethiopia was led by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, a coalition of four ethnic-based political parties representing Tigray, Amhara, Oromo, and Southern nations, nationalities and peoples. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front was the most influential party within the coalition. However, in 2018, when the Prosperity Party came into power, the front lost its important role in government.

    On 4 November 2020, the federal government launched an attack on Tigray, terming it a military offensive against political aggression from the Tigrayan front. This sparked a war that lasted two years, and caused severe damage to people and resources. The African Union’s lead mediator in the crisis, Olusegun Obasanjo, estimated about 600,000 civilians were killed. This makes it one of the most destructive conflicts of the 21st century.

    On 2 November 2022, the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front signed a peace deal in South Africa, the Pretoria agreement. More than two years later, however, Tigray still faces immense political and humanitarian challenges. Assefa Leake Gebru, who has studied post-war Tigray, explains what’s happening.

    What’s the current situation in Tigray?

    The 2022-2022 war and its lingering effects have thrown the Tigray region into chaos. People are grappling to get basics like food, water and medicine. The regional economy was devastated by the war. There have been no rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts so far. Humanitarian aid is limited. Imagine if your local grocery store ran out of everything and couldn’t restock – that’s the situation I have witnessed and studied in Tigray, which is affecting millions of residents.

    Additionally, the leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front are now fighting among themselves for power. The division is mainly between two factions: one led by former regional president Debretsion Gebremichael and the other by Getachew Reda, who heads the interim administration.

    In January 2025, leaders of Tigray’s military forces supported calls from the Debretsion faction for new regional leadership. The interim administration opposed this, calling it a soft coup. The federal government considers the political faction led by Debretsion illegitimate. The military leaders’ decision also sparked public protests, with Tigrayans calling for a separation between the military and politics.

    This internal division has weakened the interim administration, which was installed as part of the Pretoria agreement in March 2023.

    Given this situation, the interim administration remains fragile amid serious humanitarian concerns and security threats facing the region. The interim government and dysfunctional law enforcement institutions aren’t strong enough to fix things.



    Read more:
    What is federalism? Why Ethiopia uses this system of government and why it’s not perfect

    Economically, jobs remain scarce. A 2024 survey found a youth unemployment rate of 81%. This situation has been created by economic collapse, asset plunder during the war and the absence of a functioning government.

    Socially, people are stressed and hurting, like a community still reeling from a major fallout. It’s a pile-up of problems that are making life incredibly tough.

    What, exactly, is the Pretoria agreement?

    The Pretoria agreement is an important peace deal between Tigray’s political leaders and the federal government. It was signed in Pretoria, South Africa, on 2 November 2022. The African Union facilitated the peace talks hosted by South Africa.

    The goal of the agreement? End the violence that began in 2020, keep people safe by calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, allow aid like food trucks to roll in, disarm Tigray fighters and set up an interim government to restore order.

    It also aimed to re-establish the Ethiopian government’s control over federal installations in Tigray.

    What has been implemented and what hasn’t?

    There has been some positive progress. The Pretoria agreement established the interim government. Some everyday services are back, like banks reopening and planes flying again. A few Tigray fighters have put down their weapons.

    But here’s where it gets messy. Soldiers from Eritrea – which supported the Ethiopian army in the Tigray war – and militias from another Ethiopian region, Amhara, are still hanging around Tigray, raising security threats. They’re preventing internally displaced persons from going back home.

    The plan to fully disarm Tigrayan fighters hasn’t been completed either. This threatens regional stability, undermines peace efforts and increases the risk of renewed violence.

    What are the implications of not fully executing the Pretoria agreement?

    First, the region’s humanitarian crisis could worsen. An estimated one million displaced people are grappling with high levels of food insecurity, and thousands of schools remain closed. A weak interim government and the continued occupation of parts of Tigray by armed groups has hindered the restoration of services and stifled economic progress.

    Second, the division within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front makes it hard to lead the region under an interim administration. A lack of consensus on power-sharing has hindered effective governance, undermining the intended transitional authority.

    Third, a weak interim government can’t keep civilians safe, which was a pillar of the Pretoria agreement. Economically, the lack of jobs and skyrocketing prices are hitting Tigrayans hard. Socially, everyone’s on edge.

    Finally, there’s a risk of igniting further conflict in the region along the political fault lines between Debretsion and Getachew. There is a high chance of this situation being manipulated by Eritrean forces, who weren’t involved in the negotiations that led to the Pretoria agreement. The fractures in the interim government provide an opportunity for neighbouring Eritrea to support one faction against the other, which could escalate into war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has been one of Eritrea’s bitterest enemies. The antagonism between the two led to the 1998-2000 war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

    If these tensions keep up, Tigray will remain stuck in an awful cycle. The African Union and international community must address these issues to prevent a spiral into further chaos.

    Assefa Leake Gebru 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. Ethiopia’s war may have ended, but the Tigray crisis hasn’t – https://theconversation.com/ethiopias-war-may-have-ended-but-the-tigray-crisis-hasnt-251846

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor announces new £6 million fund to support survivors of domestic abuse

    Source: Mayor of London

    • New £6 million investment from Mayor will help ensure thousands of victims and survivors of domestic abuse get the help and support they need to reach safe accommodation, and rebuild their lives for the long term
    • Since its launch in 2021, the Mayor’s Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation (DASA) programme has ensured more than 23,500 victims and survivors have received support
    • Additional funding builds on Sadiq’s record £233 million funding to tackle violence against women and girls in all its forms
    • Mayor visits voluntary organisations Refuge, Solace and Asha in Lambeth to see first-hand how his Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation (DASA) programme is supporting the most vulnerable in London’s diverse communities

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced a new £6 million package of funding to support grassroots community organisations delivering life-changing support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and violence across the capital.

    The funding will be used to fund keyworkers, helplines, advocates who can help support victims find new housing, legal advice, counselling and specialist play therapy for children alongside a range of other initiatives.

    It is part of Sadiq’s £54 million investment in his Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation (DASA) programme1 which funds vital support and services for survivors and their children in safe accommodation. 

    The additional £6 million announced today builds on the record support the Mayor has already provided for domestic abuse services in London, which includes the delivery of 81 vital services for domestic abuse survivors between 2022 and 2024.2

    Since it launched in 2021, the Mayor’s DASA programme has helped more than 23,500 survivors of domestic abuse, including vulnerable men, women, and children from across London’s communities rebuild their lives. Thanks to new City Hall investment, it is expected that thousands of more victims and survivors will benefit over the course of the Mayor’s DASA programme.

    The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) found that an estimated 2.3 million people aged 16 or over in the UK had experienced domestic abuse in the last year ending March 2024.3 In London there were 86,863 police recorded domestic abuse offences in the 12-month period to February 2025.4

    Sadiq is continuing to work in partnership with community organisations, government, charities, the police and other partners to support victims of domestic abuse access safe housing and one-to-one support to cope and recover from trauma and abuse.

    However, victims and survivors are still facing barriers in receiving the help they need and the situation has been exacerbated by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis which is forcing many people who have been impacted to stay with abusers or face financial hardship.

    The Mayor is determined to ensure that all Londoners in need are able to access the domestic abuse support they need, in a way that benefits them. To help achieve that, Sadiq has today set out a new refreshed approach to Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation which will create more safe spaces for victims and survivors from minority backgrounds – included faith-based communities and those with more complex needs. The new approach will help communities from London’s diverse communities feel more comfortable reaching out for support. 5

    Today, the Mayor visited voluntary organisations Refuge, Solace and Asha in Lambeth to see first-hand how his funding will continue to help dedicated staff deliver high-quality care and support for survivors of domestic abuse and their families.

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Domestic abuse refuges and community organisations are a lifeline for so many Londoners in need. Despite caseloads growing, grassroot support groups are struggling to survive due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and years of underfunding from the previous government.

    “So I’m pleased to be working with partners to fund vital support services for thousands of survivors of domestic abuse and violence who need safe accommodation across our city.

    “The investment I have announced today will build on my record £233 million funding to tackle violence against women and girls in all its forms and help community organisations continue their life-changing work with some of the most vulnerable people experiencing domestic abuse so we can build a safer and fairer London for everyone.”

    Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: “The Mayor’s funding for domestic abuse victims and survivors is changing lives. Since 2021, the DASA programme has ensured more than 23,500 victims and survivors have received the support they need to move forward.

    “This latest investment and refreshed strategy will help us do even more and ensure Londoners of all backgrounds can access the vital one-to-one care they need to rebuild their lives. All of this is happening alongside record funding for the police to go after the worst domestic abuse offenders and better education and public campaigns to tackle the root causes of misogyny and domestic violence.”

    Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, said: “This vital new investment from the Mayor will ensure thousands of victims and survivors of domestic abuse in safe accommodation receive the help they need to rebuild their lives.

    “This will enable grassroots community organisations to continue delivering life-changing services for victims, including helplines and therapy, as we build a safer London for all.”

    London’s Independent Victims’ Commissioner, Claire Waxman OBE, said: “It’s absolutely critical that victims and survivors affected by domestic abuse and violence receive the support and help they need to access safety and rebuild their lives.

    “I know first-hand from my work with victims across the capital just how important these specialist services are; safe accommodation offers survivors a lifeline and ensures they can escape their abusers. Whilst there is a still a lot more work to do to tackle the root causes of domestic abuse, I hope this new funding from City Hall will support the most vulnerable victims and survivors in our diverse communities.”

    Cllr Claire Holland, the Leader of Lambeth Council, said: “We are proud of Lambeth’s leading work to support women and girls who are victims and survivors of domestic abuse and to work with the Mayor of London on our shared ambitions to keep women and girls safe.

    “This visit recognises Lambeth’s long history of strong local funding, partnerships and expertise. We are committed to tackling gender based violence in all its forms in our borough and have protected these services from the deep funding cuts our sector has faced over many years. Lambeth Council’s strategy for tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) has been in place since 2021 and sets out how the council works with its partners on the issue over the following five years. It builds on previous strategies and a decade of work to establish effective services, partnerships and processes that support victims and survivors and their children and hold perpetrators to account.

    “Lambeth council funds 52 refuge bed spaces, which is the highest number of commissioned domestic abuse safe accommodation beds in any London borough, and twice as many as the London average. The majority offer culturally specific support in recognition of the evidenced benefit of tailored support for women and their children fleeing abuse. There is also specialist community-based support for victims and survivors of all genders and ages who are at risk of gender based violence through our free, confidential and independent service, the Gaia Centre. We look forward to working with the Mayor and his team on a fair and sustainable offer for those fleeing domestic abuse across London.”

    Martina Palmer, Head of Services at Refuge, said: “Refuge is delighted to welcome a new strategy for domestic abuse safe accommodation from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). Violence against women and girls (VAWG) in London remains at ‘endemic’ levels, and funding for safe accommodation for survivors is an integral part of what’s needed to make good on the Government’s pledge to halve VAWG within the next decade.

    “Refuges play a lifesaving role for survivors by giving them the space, safety and support required to rebuild their lives free from abuse. We are proud to be continuing our work with Lambeth and other expert partners to deliver a co-ordinated approach to domestic abuse that is inclusive, accessible and tailored to each survivor’s individual needs.”

    Nahar Choudhury, Chief Executive of Solace, said: “Safe and accessible accommodation is a lifeline for survivors of domestic abuse, and we welcome the Mayor’s commitment to improving provision across London. Solace has been proud to contribute to the consultation on this strategy, which takes important steps to expand safe accommodation, strengthen specialist support, and remove barriers for those most in need.

    “We are particularly pleased to see a focus on grant funding for ‘by and for’ services, improving sanctuary schemes, expanding move on housing, and investing in psychologically informed environments. We look forward to continuing our work with the Mayor’s Office and partners to ensure every survivor in London has a secure place to rebuild their life.”

    Ila Patel, Director of Asha, said: “We welcome the Mayor’s new strategy for Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation, which is an important step in ensuring survivors have the support they need.

    Specialist by and for organisations like Asha play a crucial role in supporting women who are often the most vulnerable and least visible.

    “Working together with our Lambeth partners, we have delivered quality support to survivors, ensuring they feel safe, valued, and empowered to rebuild their lives. As a small organisation, this achievement was made possible through the DASA funding, which has been vital in enabling us to provide this essential support.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: ZOOZ Power Enhances Global Strategy with New Energy Storage Solutions, Advanced Energy Management System and Expended Sales Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Tel-Aviv, Israel, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ZOOZ Power (Nasdaq and TASE: ZOOZ), a leading provider of flywheel-based power boosters and energy management systems for enabling ultra-fast EV charging solutions, announced today the enhancement of its strategic focus with the introduction of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and an enhanced Energy Management System (EMS) designed to lead to maximizing EV charging performance and cost efficiency, along with the expansion of its sales team.

    The newly introduced Energy Storage System (ESS), in addition to ZOOZ Power’s intelligent* boosting offering, allows charging operators to significantly reduce electricity costs by storing energy during off-peak periods and deploying it during peak demand hours. This new addition to ZOOZ Power’s offering of systems to manage and improve overall power delivery to clusters of ultra-fast EV chargers substantially lowers operational expenses and enhances overall cost efficiency of EV charging infrastructure.

    Additionally, ZOOZ Power has upgraded its Energy Management System (EMS), improving the benefits of both the Intelligent Power Booster solution (ZOOSTER) and the new ESS offerings. The advanced EMS operates locally on-site, providing real-time management and rapid response capabilities to efficiently control energy flow, reduce power peaks, and extend battery lifecycles.

    The ZOOZTER Intelligent Power Booster continues to play a vital role in ZOOZ Power’s comprehensive solution, offering ultra-fast EV charging even in locations with limited grid capacity. By providing high-power bursts during charging sessions, the ZOOZTER effectively mitigates grid constraints, allowing consistent and reliable ultra-fast charging without costly infrastructure upgrades.

    In conjunction with its technological advancements, ZOOZ Power is expanding its global sales team. The Company is excited to announce the appointment of Mr. Ilan Tevet as the new Vice President of Global Sales. With over 25 years of experience in global B2B sales, business development and marketing, Ilan has a proven track record of driving growth. His deep expertise will be instrumental in accelerating ZOOZ Power’s planned global expansion.

    Furthermore, ZOOZ Power is strengthening its worldwide sales presence by appointing new sales managers in strategic markets, including the UK, Germany, and France. Further expansions are planned in other regions to align with the growing adoption of electric vehicles.

    “Our new ESS solutions, the enhanced EMS, and the strategic expansion of our sales team are pivotal steps toward providing comprehensive, efficient, and cost-optimized EV charging infrastructure,” said Erez Zimerman, CEO of ZOOZ Power. “With Ilan’s leadership and our expanded sales force in key markets, we are uniquely positioned to support and drive the global shift toward EV adoption.”

    *As used in this Press Release, intelligent boosting and Intelligent Power Booster refer to the ZOOZ Power Energy Management Software, which dynamically manages and optimizes energy consumption at the charging site

    About ZOOZ Power
    ZOOZ Power is a leading provider of flywheel-based power boosting and energy management solutions, enabling the widespread deployment of ultra-fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) while overcoming existing grid limitations.

    ZOOZ Power pioneers its unique flywheel-based power-boosting technology, enabling efficient utilization and power management of a power-limited grid at an EV charging site. Its flywheel technology allows high-performance, reliable, and cost-effective ultra-fast charging infrastructure.

    ZOOZ Power’s sustainable, power-boosting solutions are built with longevity and the environment in mind, helping its customers and partners accelerate the deployment of fast-charging infrastructure, thus facilitating improved utilization rates, better efficiency, greater flexibility, and faster revenues and profitability growth. ZOOZ Power is publicly traded on NASDAQ and TASE under the ticker ZOOZ

    For more information, please visit: www.zoozpower.com/

    Investor Contact:
    Miri Segal – CEO
    MS-IR LLC
    msegal@ms-ir.com

    Media enquiries:
    Media@zoozpower.com

    Forward-Looking Statement
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of ZOOZ Power. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding ZOOZ Power, and any of ZOOZ Power’s strategy, future operations and statements related to the collaboration between ZOOZ Power and “ON” charging network (including any plans to implement ZOOZ Power’s solution and upgrade an additional site of “ON” on Route 6) are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause ZOOZ Power’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and other risks and uncertainties are more fully discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of ZOOZ Power’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as well as other documents that may be subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the limited operating history and evolving business model of ZOOZ Power, ZOOZ Power’s future prospects, ZOOZ Power’s planned global expansion, including the timing and the results thereof, statements regarding ZOOZ Power’s newly introduced Energy Storage System (ESS), intelligent boosting offering and Energy Management System (EMS), their adoption by the market and any benefits that they may have to ZOOZ Power, its operations, financial position and its current and potential customers, statements regarding the expansion of ZOOZ Power’s sales team and the effect of that expansion on ZOOZ Power’s planned global expansion, financial condition, market position and results of operations, statements relating to ZOOZ Power’s market position, statements regarding the demand for ZOOZ Power’s products, and the potential outcome of ZOOZ Power’s collaborations with third parties for installation of its flywheel-based power boosting solution. These forward-looking statements are only estimations, and ZOOZ Power may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in any forward-looking statements, so you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in forward-looking statements made in this Press Release. Management of ZOOZ Power has based these forward-looking statements largely on current expectations and projections about future events and trends that such persons believe may affect ZOOZ Power’s business, financial condition and operating results. Forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release are made as of the date hereof, and none of ZOOZ Power or any of its representatives or any other person undertakes any duty to update such information except as may be expressly required under applicable law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace USA demands Congress defend the Constitution

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Greenpeace US Democracy Director Folabi Olagbaj addresses the crowd at at DC rally . © Tim Aubry / Greenpeace

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 18, 2025) –  In response to the unlawful detainment of student activist and U.S. legal permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil, Greenpeace USA has signed on to a letter alongside a coalition of organizations urging Congress to uphold their oath to defend the Constitution. We believe Congress must act now to protect the rights of those they claim to represent, and demand the immediate release of Mr. Khalil from ICE custody. Greenpeace USA Democracy Campaign Director, Dr. Folabi Olagbaju said:

    “In my home country of Nigeria, I have seen climate activists killed for daring to fight for a clean and just future. Like Mr. Khalil, I was also a student activist – one who was forced to watch my fellow classmates be killed for peacefully and nonviolently protesting the military dictatorship. When I came to the United States, I believed its foundation in democracy meant that people could speak out without fear of persecution, detainment, or death. That is no longer the case.

    “The detention of Mahmoud Khalil sends a chilling message that dissent is no longer just being silenced, it is being punished. This is happening as the defenders of our freedom remain silent. As we’ve said before, universities have a responsibility of protection to uphold in regard to their students. Hiding behind statements about an obligation ‘to comply with the law’ holds no merit when those laws are being weaponized to violate constitutional and human rights. It is an egregious dereliction of duty to stand by as this administration attempts to illegally detain and deport a legal permanent resident of the United States.”Greenpeace USA encourages individuals to sign this petition to demand Mr. Khalil’s release and the dismissal of the threats against his legal status.

    Contact: Madison Carter, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, [email protected]

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

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI: Summit Nanotech Corporation Closes US$25.5M Funding Round to Accelerate Commercialization of their Direct Lithium Extraction Technology

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Summit Nanotech Corporation (“Summit”), a leader in sustainable lithium extraction technology, announced today that it has successfully closed US$25.5 million in funding led by Evok Innovations and BDC Capital’s Climate Tech Fund, with participation from Xora Innovation, Capricorn Investment Group, Mitsui Kinzoku – SBI Material Innovation Fund, and LG Technology Ventures.

    “This funding comes at a pivotal time for Summit as we strengthen our strategic partnerships and transition from demonstration to full-scale commercial design,” said Amanda Hall, Founder and CEO. “We are ready to provide our industry-leading solution to lithium mining companies who want to maintain a strong focus on economics and environmental responsibility.”

    Summit’s innovative direct lithium extraction (“DLE”) technology, denaLi™, combines system and fully integrated water recycling. Data analytics and AI are harnessed for advanced process control that ensures reduced water use, maximum sorbent lifespan, maximum lithium recovery and leading on-stream reliability, driving levelized lithium costs down. By unlocking more resources economically, Summit’s technology will strengthen international supply chains.

    Nobuyoshi Sogabe, General Manager at Mitsui Kinzoku, expressed enthusiasm about the investment: “We are committed to make an effort to achieve a lithium supply chain from brine by collaborating our advanced material synthesis, processing, and scaling technologies with Summit’s innovative denaLi™ system, thereby contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.”

    In the last six months, Summit has achieved key milestones, including commissioning a demonstration plant in Northern Chile, successful sorbent qualification results with a major lithium mining company, and launching their proprietary data analytics platform. With strong investor backing and a commitment to innovation and cost reduction, Summit is well-positioned to drive the future of sustainable lithium extraction.

    “The demand for electric vehicles will soon outpace growth in lithium supply. Summit’s technology addresses this challenge by optimizing lithium extraction from brine to produce high-quality lithium at a lower cost,” said Cheri Corbett, Partner at BDC Capital’s Climate Tech Fund. “We need to get more competitive lithium to market if we are to meet the global demand for electric vehicles. That’s why we’re working with results-driven leaders like Amanda and her team. A great example of a growth-minded Canadian business, exactly the kind that BDC is designed to help get to the next level.”

    About Summit Nanotech Corporation

    Summit is a leading provider of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology for the lithium mining industry. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Summit has invented a patented sorbent, DLE process technology, and data analytics platform that, when combined, improves project economics by over $1,000 per tonne LCE and unlocks additional plant capacity compared to competing DLE technologies. Its technology selectively and efficiently captures lithium ions from brine which, after conversion, can be sold directly to a battery manufacturer. Summit partners with mining and oil and gas companies to accelerate and optimize their lithium resources.

    As the world shifts toward electrification, Summit is committed to building a cleaner, more responsible lithium supply chain for future generations.

    Learn more at summitnanotech.com.

    Media Contact:

    Kristen Gray
    Manager, Communications and Investor Relations
    media@summitnanotech.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/20d7e71d-1bb4-4c64-b152-1b74dfa09897

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Pacific AI Launches to Tackle Growing AI Legal Risks with a Free AI Policy Suite

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEWES, Del., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pacific AI, a new company focused on helping organizations deliver legal and compliant artificial intelligence (AI) systems, has launched today. Created by the CEO of John Snow Labs, Pacific AI was established to address the rapidly changing regulatory landscape. The company offers a free AI Policy Suite, as well AI Governance Certification to guarantee responsible use of AI in accordance with the most current laws and regulations.

    The AI Policy Suite is a comprehensive, continuously updated set of policies designed to ensure compliance with more than 80 AI-related laws, regulations, and standards across national, state, and international jurisdictions. By translating complex legal and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable policies within one, central framework, the AI Policy Suite:

    • Eliminates compliance overhead by keeping organizations up to date with evolving laws, from NIST, ISO, and the EU AI Act, down to state and local laws
    • Translates legal requirements into practical controls and policies
    • De-duplicates overlapping obligations from multiple regulatory sources

    To accelerate industry-wide adoption and encourage community feedback, Pacific AI is making the AI Policy Suite available for free. The suite will be introduced in an upcoming webinar at 2pm ET on Wednesday, March 19. Hosted by Pacific AI CEO David Talby and AI Governance Lead Maria Baranchikova, the event will provide insights into today’s AI governance landscape and how to best mitigate risks.

    “In 2024, lawmakers in 45 states introduced 635 AI-related bills, of which 99 became laws. In the healthcare industry alone, there were an additional 13 guidance frameworks, not even inclusive of all new regulatory rules and industry standards,” said Talby. “Compliance requirements are emerging faster than teams with even the best intentions can track. Pacific AI aims to reduce legal liability, financial, and reputational risks by providing a framework that simplifies AI compliance so businesses can focus on growing and innovating.”

    Pacific AI also offers an AI Governance Certification, available when organizations adopt AI policies, implement AI governance, and pass a Pacific AI audit. With certification, companies can attest that an AI governance framework has been implemented and that its AI services are compliant across the US. Companies like Opptly are already experiencing value in certification for their proprietary AI platform.

    “At Opptly, ensuring compliance with evolving AI regulations is a top priority. We recognize the need for proactive solutions to keep pace with rapid changes. Pacific AI’s Governance Certification ensures our AI platform meets the highest compliance standards, enhancing risk management and strengthening customer trust,” said Lori Hock, CEO, Opptly.

    For an introduction to the Pacific AI Policy Suite, register for our webinar. To learn more about Pacific AI, visit https://pacific.ai/.

    About Pacific AI
    Pacific AI is dedicated to helping organizations deliver AI systems that comply with the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape in the USA. Whatever your starting point, Pacific AI can help you reach the next level of AI governance, implement tools and controls for compliance, or audit and certify what you’ve already built. To learn more, visit: https://www.pacific.ai.

    Contact
    Gina Devine
    Head of Communications
    Pacific AI Corp.
    gina@pacific.ai

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Advocus Launches GO Live in Chicago

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chicago-based title insurance underwriter Advocus announced today the launch of GO Live, a cutting-edge, first-of-its-kind virtual closing system designed to provide attorneys and their clients unparalleled convenience, connectivity and security. GO Live launches in Chicago and will be rolled out in additional markets during the coming months.

    GO Live addresses the common challenges attorneys and buyers face during virtual closings by delivering a seamless, personalized, and professional experience. The platform is equipped with state-of-the-art features, ensuring every stakeholder feels confident and connected throughout the process. Key features of GO Live include:

    • Real-Time Document Viewing – Attorneys can now review and guide buyers through their closing documents in real time. Through streaming video, GO Live enables attorneys to see the documents buyers are signing in real time, ensuring accuracy and reducing errors like signing on the wrong line or overlooking critical details.
    • Integrated Devices – With GO Live, buyers no longer need to bring their own devices to closings. Advocus provides all the necessary technology, ensuring smooth and secure connections without relying on buyers’ personal technology.
    • Reliable Connectivity – GO Live guarantees seamless communication between buyers and attorneys, eliminating the stress of navigating connectivity problems or resorting to less effective alternatives like speakerphone.
    • Enhanced Collaboration with Closers – Closers are fully integrated into the GO Live experience. They participate in the virtual meeting alongside buyers, ensuring swift resolution of questions and smooth collaboration—just as if everyone were seated together at the table.
    • Clarity and Security – GO Live offers a secure, real-time interface that allows attorneys to address client questions and explain documents in detail, providing a polished, professional experience while maintaining rigorous security for personal and financial information​.

    “Advocus is committed to redefining the title insurance experience,” said Peter Birnbaum, Executive Chairman of Advocus. “With GO Live, we’re offering attorneys and buyers a stress-free, connected, and transparent process. This platform is designed to enhance the professionalism of real estate closings and give our clients the confidence they deserve during such a significant life event.” Learn more about GO Live here.

    About Advocus National Title Insurance Company
    Advocus is a national provider of title insurance and settlement services. Founded in 1964 on the belief that every consumer deserves legal representation and advocacy, Advocus is dedicated to preserving the attorney’s role in real estate transactions and offering attorney-led underwriting expertise. With a growing presence in markets across the United States, Advocus continues to set the standard for excellence in the title insurance industry. For more information, visit www.advocus.com.

    Media Contact:
    Aimee Miller
    aimee@broadsheetcomms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nexla Open Sources its Agentic Chunking Technology to Improve AI Accuracy for All

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN MATEO, Calif., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nexla, a leader in AI-powered integration for data and AI, is contributing key innovations from its cutting-edge agentic AI framework to the open source community, reinforcing its commitment to advancing enterprise-grade AI technology. Building on years of technological leadership, Nexla has released its groundbreaking advancements in agentic chunking to developers worldwide, empowering organizations to create more accurate GenAI-powered agents and assistants while accelerating industry-wide innovation.

    Nexla has the industry’s first AI-powered integration platform that handles today’s overwhelming data variety, replacing endless connectors, diverse formats, and infinite schemas with AI-ready data products. With Nexla, you can integrate any document, data, app, or API, create AI-ready data products, and deliver GenAI projects without coding, up to 10x faster than the alternatives.

    Nexla uses AI to connect, extract metadata, and transform source data into human-readable data products, called Nexsets, that can be shared in a built-in marketplace for true data reuse and governance. Nexla’s agentic AI framework lets companies implement agentic RAG for agents and assistants without coding, using LLMs during each stage to improve accuracy. For example, Nexla can get context from multiple data products, use a unique algorithm to rank, prioritize, and eliminate data, and then combine the context with a rewritten query and submit it to just about any LLM.

    Agentic chunking represents the next evolution of document processing for Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), providing AI engineers with an intelligent, structured, and scalable way to break down complex documents for optimal retrieval and generation.

    Agentic chunking has delivered the following benefits over other chunking techniques across internal tests and production deployments:

    • Smarter document understanding: Instead of blindly splitting text into fixed-sized chunks, agentic chunking treats documents as structured knowledge, identifying key sections, headings, and relationships.
    • Precision-driven efficiency: Uses LLMs like GPT-4o only where they add real value—detecting and classifying headings—while relying on smaller models and deterministic rule-based processing for everything else to achieve the best price-performance.
    • Improved retrieval and accuracy: By preserving hierarchical relationships and semantic structure, chunks retain essential context, leading to significantly better responses from RAG-based systems.
    • Enterprise-grade: Scales linearly with document size and has proven its reliability in production deployments.
    • Domain adaptability: Incorporates domain-specific chunking strategies beyond generic embeddings, ensuring AI-powered retrieval works optimally for financial reports, technical manuals, legal documents, and more.

    “Companies who have deployed GenAI assistants and agents often cite data quality and AI accuracy as two of their top challenges. They’re related: bad data leads to bad outcomes and AI hallucinations,” said Saket Saurabh, Nexla Co-founder and CEO. “Our agentic AI framework has dramatically improved AI accuracy and scale for our customers. But we believe the best solution is to solve these problems together as an industry by jointly contributing to open source. Open sourcing agentic chunking is just the first step. We’re excited to work with other vendors, and to release more of our agentic AI technology to help companies get to even higher quality data and outcomes.”

    To learn more about Nexla, visit us at GTC 2025 in San Jose at booth No. 2008, or visit:

    About Nexla

    Nexla is a leader in AI-powered integration for data and AI whose mission is to make data ready-to-use for everyone. The Nexla Integration Platform is the first integration platform powered by AI and built to handle today’s data variety. With Nexla you can integrate any data, create AI-ready data products, and deliver enterprise-grade GenAI without coding, up to 10x faster than the alternatives.

    Trusted to deliver mission-critical data by leading companies including DoorDash, LinkedIn, Johnson & Johnson, and LiveRamp, Nexla is headquartered in San Mateo, California. It has been recognized in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant™ for Data Integration Tools and top-rated by customers on Gartner Peer Insights.

    Media Contact:
    Nexla@bocamarketing.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Esusu and Amazon to Bring Rent Reporting and Financial Well-being to Tens of Thousands of Renters

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Esusu, the innovative fintech platform transforming lives through rental data and credit building, announced a partnership with Amazon to help residents living in Amazon-funded affordable housing units across the Puget Sound, National Capital, and Nashville regions build their credit scores through on-time rental payments.

    The partnership furthers Esusu and Amazon’s shared commitment to uplift underserved communities by driving economic equity and financial stability. Residents in these communities will also gain access to Esusu’s industry-leading platform for renter financial health, which encompasses access to financial coaching, financial education, rent relief, tax filing support, and a variety of other tools. This collaboration follows Amazon Housing Equity Fund’s $3.6 billion commitment to preserve and create more than 35,000 affordable homes for individuals living in the communities that Amazon calls home.

    “Together, Amazon and Esusu are setting a new standard for the role of institutions in the communities they operate in. We are proud to partner with Amazon to provide access to transformative opportunities for renters, enabling them to improve their financial well-being and ultimately unlock wealth creation,” said Esusu co-founders and co-CEOs Samir Goel and Wemimo Abbey. “We are committed to strengthening the economic and social fabric of our neighborhoods in partnership with Amazon and creating better outcomes for families nationwide.”

    To date, the Esusu platform has enabled hundreds of thousands of renters to establish a credit score for the first time while unlocking approximately $50 billion in credit activity. On average, renters see a positive credit score increase of 45 points, providing them access to better-quality financial products and lower interest rates. When paired with Esusu’s comprehensive financial coaching, integration with local social services, and marketplace of vetted financial resources, it provides a holistic safety net for renters across the country.

    “We created the Amazon housing fund to help address the increasing need for affordable housing in the communities Amazon calls home, helping families improve their quality of life,” said Senthil Sankaran, Managing Principal, of the Amazon Housing Equity Fund. “Through this partnership, we hope to make a transformative difference for tens of thousands more people by enabling renters to build their credit scores by making on-time rent payments.”

    “This initiative not only enhances individual financial stability and strengthens communities, but it also benefits property owners and investors by fostering more financially secure residents, ultimately improving retention and long-term asset performance,” said Clear Blue Company CEO Nick Ogden. “It’s a powerful example of how the private sector can drive meaningful change in affordable housing while creating shared value.”

    About Esusu
    Esusu is the leading financial technology platform that leverages data solutions to empower residents and improve property performance. Esusu’s rent reporting platform captures on-time rental payment data and reports it to credit bureaus to boost credit scores. This allows renters to build and establish their credit scores while helping property owners mitigate against initiating evictions, powered by differentiated data and insights. Founded in 2018, Esusu reaches over 4 million rental units across all 50 states in the United States. Learn more at www.esusu.com and follow us on Instagram @myesusu and on X @getesusu.

    About Amazon
    Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

    Media Contact:
    Small Girls PR
    esusu@smallgirlspr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Enterprises Gain Control Over LLM Oversharing with Prompt Security’s New GenAI Authorization Features

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Prompt Security launches comprehensive Authorization features for enterprise GenAI applications, enabling granular, context-aware access control as queries are made
    • Addresses critical security gap in GenAI adoption by preventing unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data through AI apps and copilots
    • Delivers seamless integration with existing identity providers while maintaining productivity and user experience

    NEW YORK, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Prompt Security, a leader in generative AI (GenAI) security, today announced new Authorization features that transform how organizations manage and secure access to GenAI applications and organizational data. This innovative identity and context-based Authorization system addresses the critical challenge of protecting sensitive corporate data while enabling productive AI use across the enterprise, providing granular control over specific features and content within AI applications.

    In simple terms: when employees query AI tools like Copilot or any embedded AI application, they only see what they’re authorized to see. If they want to ask about the CEO’s salary or a colleague’s performance review, unless they have permission, they won’t get access.

    The Challenge of GenAI Authorization

    AI is becoming increasingly integrated into enterprise workflows and datasets through tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, Google Gemini, custom internal AI applications and an array of tools with AI features like Notion AI, Salesforce AI Copilot or Jira.

    As these AI-enhanced products become an integral part of daily workflows, often without the awareness of security teams, organizations face unprecedented challenges in controlling access to sensitive information. This adds an extraordinary layer of complexity to authorization governance that current permission-based access systems cannot control, and introduces risks that GenAI tools can potentially expose confidential data through natural language interfaces.

    A comprehensive GenAI Security solution must protect organizations wherever their users interact with AI, regardless of platform or device. This is especially critical for authorization in native desktop applications, where LLMs are increasingly embedded and handling sensitive information. Prompt Security introduced the industry’s first lightweight desktop agent several months ago, bringing robust GenAI Security to native desktop tools like Copilot for 365. Today, we’re expanding these Authorization capabilities to cover every touchpoint where users engage with AI, ensuring consistent security and protection across all interactions.

    “Organizations have spent years building robust, permission-based access systems, and here comes AI and introduces a brand new challenge,” said Itamar Golan, CEO and co-founder of Prompt Security. “Employees can now simply ask AI to reveal sensitive information, like salary details or performance reviews, and LLMs may inadvertently comply. Our new Authorization features close this critical gap, ensuring AI applications respect existing security boundaries. This isn’t just about restricting access—it’s about empowering enterprises to embrace AI with confidence, knowing their sensitive data remains protected. We’re delivering the missing piece that enables organizations to maintain their security posture while fully harnessing AI’s transformative potential.”

    Comprehensive Authorization Capabilities

    The multi-layered Authorization system delivers enterprise-grade access control with real-time prevention of sensitive data exfiltration, contextual inspection of prompts and model responses and granular policy enforcement. Designed for simplicity and flexibility, it ensures robust security without complex integrations or invasive architectures.

    Key features include:

    • Contextual runtime authorization analyzing both user identity and request context
    • Granular, department-specific policies to enforce appropriate access permissions (e.g., marketing vs. finance), based on job functions and data privacy clearance
    • Deep integration with leading identity providers like Okta and Microsoft Entra
    • Real-time monitoring and enforcement with flexible redaction options, from full content blocking to selective data masking
    • Comprehensive audit logging for security compliance which can be integrated with existing SIEM solutions

    This streamlined approach enables organizations to manage tens of thousands of user groups efficiently while maintaining transparency, ease of configuration and security at scale.

    For more information on Prompt Security, visit our website https://www.prompt.security/.

    Watch a demo of Prompt Security’s New GenAI Authorization Features here.

    About Prompt Security

    Founded in August 2023, Prompt Security delivers a complete solution for all Generative AI security in the enterprise. Its platform supports millions of prompts and thousands of users every month. The founding team combines deep expertise in both cybersecurity and AI, with years of experience building and securing machine learning systems at organizations like Check Point, Orca Security and Israel’s elite intelligence unit 8200. Prompt Security’s CEO Itamar Golan was on the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications core team and Prompt Security’s CTO & co-founder Lior Drihem contributed to the project. The Prompt Security team of researchers has created proprietary LLMs and developed novel patent-pending techniques for detecting generative AI threats and addressing the associated risks.

    Media Contacts
    Chloe Amante
    Montner Tech PR
    camante@montner.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40231ff5-7556-43e9-a248-d51eeebdfbc4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LyondellBasell and Covestro announce permanent closure of PO11 unit at Maasvlakte

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MAASSVLAKTE, Netherlands, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LyondellBasell (LYB) and Covestro have jointly decided to permanently close the Propylene Oxide Styrene and Monomer (POSM) production unit (PO11) at the Maasvlakte site in the Netherlands. This decision comes after thorough and careful consideration and is driven by the continued pressure on Maasvlakte’s profitability due to global overcapacities, a strong increase of imports from Asia and high costs of European production. Unfortunately, this situation is expected to continue, so longer-term profitable production is not anticipated.

    “While the decision to shut down the PO11 unit is difficult, we must ensure all assets within our portfolio are a long-term strategic fit,” said Aaron Ledet, executive vice-president, I&D and Supply Chain. “We are prioritizing our core assets which play a key role in our technology differentiation and circularity or provide attractive returns over the cost of capital. We take our obligations toward our employees, European employee reps, councils and unions seriously. We have engaged with them in line with these obligations and will continue to do so. We would like to thank them for the constructive dialogue. We are also in communication with customers, suppliers and other parties across the value chain and will continue to do business as usual. There is no change to our working relationship, and we continue to focus on providing an exceptional customer and supplier experience.”

    “As part of our Sustainable Future Strategy, we’re continuously working to optimally position Covestro to be a reliable partner for our customers and to operate competitively in a challenging market environment,” said Hermann-Josef Dörholt, head of the Performance Materials Business Entity at Covestro. “Due to global overcapacities, persistently weak demand, and high costs in Europe, we have jointly decided with LYB to close the PO11 plant. We will support LYB in implementing this change as socially responsibly as possible. At the same time, we remain committed to the European market and will continue to supply customers with our renowned polyether polyols portfolio.”

    The Maasvlakte site, a joint venture between LYB and Covestro, has been operational in the Rotterdam region since 2003. Between now and the end of 2026, LYB will carry out a process to safely shut down and prepare for the demolition of the asset.

    In 2024, LYB announced a strategic review of European assets of its Olefins & Polyolefins (O&P) and Intermediates & Derivatives (I&D) business units. LYB has taken the next step in evaluating the option to seek alternative ownership for the O&P sites in the strategic assessment. At this time no decisions have been made and various outcomes remain possible.

    About LyondellBasell
    We are LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) ― a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors, and society. As one of the world’s largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.

    About Covestro
    Covestro is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. Covestro supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from Covestro are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.

    The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, Covestro aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group’s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. Covestro generated sales of EUR 14.2 billion in fiscal year 2024. At the end of 2024, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).

    Media Inquiries LYB Global
    LyondellBasell Media Relations
    Phone: +1-713-309-7575
    Email: mediarelations@lyondellbasell.com

    Or:

    Media Inquiries LYB Europe
    Robert Kleissen, External Affairs Europe
    Phone: +31-6-273-573-98
    Email: robert.kleissen@lyondellbasell.com

    Media Inquiries Covestro
    Markus Kleine-Beck, Corporate Trade Media Relations
    Phone: +49-173-2320-686
    Email: markus.kleine-beck@covestro.com

    Svenja Paul, Corporate Media Relations
    Phone: +49-214-6009-2814
    Email: svenja.paul@covestro.com

    Forward-Looking Statements LYB
    The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially based on factors including, but not limited to, our ability to align our asset base with our strategic goals; and our ability to safely shut the asset described down and conduct demolition. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which can be found at www.LyondellBasell.com on the Investor Relations page and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. There is no assurance that any of the actions, events or results of the forward-looking statements will occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made and are based on the estimates and opinions of management of LyondellBasell at the time the statements are made. LyondellBasell does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change, except as required by law.

    Forward-Looking Statements Covestro
    This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports, which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ab7935cb-361b-4c8f-82f7-81f1b6bcd387

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Urgently Secures Multi-Year Contract with On-Demand Towing and Roadside Assistance Company

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VIENNA, Va., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Urgent.ly, Inc. (Nasdaq: ULY) (“Urgently”), a U.S.-based leading provider of digital roadside and mobility assistance technology and services, today announced a new multi-year customer partner contract with an innovative provider of on-demand towing and roadside assistance. When the partnership officially launches this month, Urgently will begin providing light duty towing, technology and related services to on-demand roadside customers of the new customer partner across the U.S. and Canada.

    Under the customer parter contract, Urgently’s connected assistance platform will power the customer partner’s services, enhancing their roadside assistance offerings with streamlined operations and exceptional assistance experiences. As a tech-forward company, Urgently will deliver its comprehensive technology stack and capabilities, to meet demand for safe, quick and reliable assistance on the road.

    This collaboration is expected to grow Urgently’s volume and related revenue, and enable the new customer partner to elevate its customer experience with access to Urgently’s network of trusted service providers. By expanding its footprint in North America, Urgently continues to solidify its position as an industry leader committed to delivering exceptional roadside experiences powered by technology.

    “We are thrilled to launch this new partnership with an organization that shares Urgently’s deep commitment to providing the highest quality customer service,” said Matt Booth, Chief Executive Officer of Urgently. “Through this partnership, we will combine our shared strengths in the use of innovative technology and on-demand roadside assistance. We believe this collaboration will create tremendous value for customers, and allow us to continue expanding our presence across North America.”

    For more information about Urgently’s roadside and mobility assistance solutions visit https://www.geturgently.com/industry-solutions.

    About Urgently

    Urgently is focused on helping everyone move safely, without disruption, by safeguarding drivers, promptly assisting their journey, and employing technology to proactively avert possible issues. The company’s digitally native software platform combines location-based services, real-time data, AI and machine-to-machine communication to power roadside assistance solutions for leading brands across automotive, insurance, telematics and other transportation-focused verticals. Urgently fulfills the demand for connected roadside assistance services, enabling its partners to deliver exceptional user experiences that drive high customer satisfaction and loyalty, by delivering innovative, transparent and exceptional connected mobility assistance experiences on a global scale. For more information, visit www.geturgently.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or Urgently’s future financial or operating performance. Such statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations of management of Urgently in light of historical results and trends, current conditions and potential future developments, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates and expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “potential,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “project,” “predict,” “target,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate” or “expect” or the negative of these words or other words, terms and phrases of similar nature are often intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements, other than historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding Urgently’s new customer partner contract and the expected growth in Urgently’s volume and related revenue, are based on the current assumptions of Urgently’s management and are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve a significant number of factors that may cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from any future performance or achievements stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, please see the risks and uncertainties detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on March 14, 2025, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings and reports that we may file from time to time with the SEC. All forward-looking statements reflect Urgently’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Urgently undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    Contacts:
    For Press: media@geturgently.com
    For Investors: investorrelations@geturgently.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: American National Launches Digital Experience for Do-It-Yourself Planners Seeking Guaranteed Growth through Annuities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today American National Insurance Company announced it is now offering fixed annuity products through a simple, secure online platform in addition to its extensive network of professional agents and advisors. This innovative experience allows individuals to purchase American National’s Palladium® Multi-Year Guarantee Annuity (MYG annuity) through a do-it-yourself platform, providing them with guaranteed growth and protection from market exposure through a fast, easy digital experience.

    • A simple and secure application process takes less than 10 minutes online
    • A convenient, online customer account portal provides clients with 24-hour access
    • Annuities can be purchased starting with just $5,000
    • Guaranteed growth periods of 5, 7 or 10 years
    • Competitive, guaranteed interest rates

    For 120 years, American National has been a trusted partner in helping individuals protect their assets and secure their financial futures. As the financial landscape evolves, so do the needs and expectations of today’s consumers seeking greater control, flexibility and access to financial products. By offering its MYG annuity through an easy online experience, American National is responding to the growing number of self-directed planners by offering them the growth, stability and tax advantages they seek—all from a trusted, highly-rated carrier.

    “By making our MYG annuities available directly to consumers, we are empowering more people to use part of their retirement savings to protect against market ups and downs,” said Scott Campbell, Chief Client Experience Officer at American National. “The MYG annuity we offer through our new online experience is an excellent choice for DIY planners who want a simple and reliable way to grow their savings and secure their financial future.”

    The American National online platform complements the company’s partnerships with agents across the country serving a broad range of individuals who depend on their support for insurance and annuities. All American National annuities are backed by the company’s strong financial foundation and commitment to being a source of certainty for policyholders.

    For more information, visit Annuities.AmericanNational.com.

    MYG annuity withdrawals are subject to taxation and may incur surrender charges. Other restrictions apply. Form Series: MYG24; AI20 (Forms may vary by state). CA Form: MYG16(04). Not available in New York. Not a deposit. Not FDIC insured.

    ABOUT AMERICAN NATIONAL

    Founded in 1905 and based in Galveston, Texas, American National Insurance Company (American National) is dedicated to being a source of certainty for millions of Americans through a comprehensive range of wealth protection, retirement, and insurance products and services. American National combines our expertise and resources to cater to the diverse needs of our clients, guiding them towards financial security and peace of mind. For more information, visit our website at AmericanNational.com.

    Annuities, life insurance and other products and services are written through multiple companies. Property and casualty insurance is written through American National Property And Casualty Company, Springfield, Missouri, and affiliates. In New York, business is written through Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company, United Farm Family Insurance Company, and American National Life Insurance Company of New York, Glenmont, New York. Not all products and services are available in all states. Not all companies are licensed in all states. Each company has financial responsibility only for the products and services it issues.

    Contact:
     Katie Piretti
    AVP, Corporate Communications
    Katie.Piretti@AmericanNational.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CURRENC Group and ARC Group Jointly Launch $100 Million AI-Focused Infrastructure & Investment Fund

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CURRENC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CURR) (“CURRENC” or the “Company”), a fintech pioneer empowering financial institutions worldwide with artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, today announced its plan to form an AI-focused investment fund in collaboration with ARC Group, a leading global investment bank (“CURR-ARC AI Fund 1” or the “Fund”). As the first of a series of initiatives in CURRENC’s strategic AI investment blueprint, CURR-ARC AI Fund 1 aims to raise up to $100 million and will invest in AI data center (AIDC), green energy, and computing power development, driving AI innovation and digital transformation globally.

    The Fund’s general partner is CURR-ARC GP Limited, a joint venture company owned 80% by CURRENC and 20% by ARC Group.

    The investment focus of the Fund will be as follows:
    1. Approximately 80% of the Fund will be dedicated to global investments in AI computing power and green energy infrastructure projects, including the first phase of CURRENC’s planned 500MW hyperscale AIDC in Malaysia.
    2. Approximately 20% of the Fund will target emerging enterprises in the fields of AI ecosystems, fintech, and AI-driven solutions.

    The Fund will benefit from the leadership of a seasoned team of technology and finance experts, as well as experienced asset managers and AIDC operators. Together, they will execute the Fund’s investment strategy.

    “The CURR-ARC AI Fund 1 is a transformative initiative in our strategy to create a robust, sustainable ecosystem that spans AIDCs, green energy, fintech, and AI-driven solutions,” said Alex Kong, Founder and Executive Chairman of CURRENC. “It will allow us to support both established leaders and emerging disruptors across industries, simultaneously fueling innovation in AI and sustainable technology. We’re confident that this investment will enable us to harness AI’s full potential and propel the digital transformation globally, creating substantial value for our stakeholders and society as a whole.”

    Abraham Cinta, CEO of ARC Group, added, “We are thrilled to partner with CURRENC Group to advance our shared vision for the future of global industries. With our combined expertise in technology and finance, we are well-positioned to shape the next generation of AI innovations, green energy infrastructure, and scalable computing solutions that will drive sustainable global development.”

    About CURRENC Group Inc.
    CURRENC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CURR) is a fintech pioneer dedicated to transforming global financial services through artificial intelligence (AI). The Company empowers financial institutions worldwide with comprehensive AI solutions, including SEAMLESS AI Call Centre and other AI-powered tools designed to reduce costs, increase efficiency and boost customer satisfaction for banks, insurance, telecommunications companies, government agencies, cryptocurrency exchanges and other financial institutions. The Company’s digital remittance platform also enables e-wallets, remittance companies, and corporations to provide real-time, 24/7 global payment services, advancing financial access across underserved communities.

    About ARC Group
    ARC Group is a globally based investment bank and management consultancy firm, specializing in bridging Asia and the West. Our services encompass a full spectrum of financial solutions, including IPOs, M&A, financing, venture capital, and SPACs. ARC Group also includes an independent consulting division dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by companies operating across both Asian and Western markets. Headquartered in Hong Kong, with offices across Mainland China, the USA, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Sweden, and the UAE, we are well-positioned to provide cross-border financial and advisory services.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties, or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    Investor & Media Contact
    CURRENC Group Investor Relations
    Email: investors@currencgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU takes care of the little ones: a mother and child room has been opened at the university

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    In accordance with the initiative of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, a mother and child room has been opened at the State University of Management. This step is part of a federal program, within the framework of which about a thousand such important rooms should be created in Russian universities by 2030.

    The mother and child room at the State University of Management is designed to create comfortable conditions for students and university employees raising children. All conditions for comfortable time spending by mothers with children are met here: a cozy interior, necessary furniture, as well as the possibility of holding events aimed at early career guidance for children.

    “Caring for children and families of students is an important aspect of the formation of the future economy of our country. Supporting young parents and creating favorable conditions for raising children contribute to the development of human capital,” said Vladimir Stroyev, Rector of the State University of Management.

    In 2024, about 40 mother and child rooms were opened in the country, and this process will continue.

    At the State University of Management, the mother and child room is located in the right wing of the 1st floor of the Main Academic Building. Absolutely anyone can take the key at the security post at the entrance. Working hours: according to the GUU schedule.

    The State University of Management actively supports initiatives aimed at creating a family and ensuring a harmonious combination of study and motherhood, which contributes not only to improving the living conditions of students, but also to improving the quality of the educational environment.

    SUM continues to strive to develop an inclusive and supportive atmosphere for all participants in the educational process, which is an important step towards improving higher education in Russia.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/18/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Vimeo Named a Top 5 Brand in Video Leadership in Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies List

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vimeo (NASDAQ: VMEO), the world’s most innovative video experience platform for creators and enterprises, today announced it was named as a top 5 video company on Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025.

    This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses shaping industry and culture through their innovations to set new standards and achieve remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy. Vimeo was recognized for its achievements as an AI-powered video platform, as it continues adding innovative AI tools and capabilities that empower video storytelling efforts for businesses and creators. Over the past year, Vimeo has added several AI-powered features designed to deliver greater productivity and value, including automated video transcription, video captioning, social media clip generation, and video translation into 29 languages.

    “Video is becoming the language of the world, and we are honored to be recognized by Fast Company as one of the world’s most innovative companies,” said Philip Moyer, CEO of Vimeo. “We deliver the most cutting edge, secure, and scalable video and AI technologies to individual creators and to the largest companies in the world. From beautifully crafted films and global streaming, to new forms of marketing and deeply engaging education content, we protect and uplift video creators. The next generation of storytelling is arriving, and Vimeo is proud to be recognized for our leadership.”

    The World’s Most Innovative Companies stands as Fast Company’s hallmark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To determine honorees, Fast Company’s editors and writers review companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. The result is a globe-spanning guide to innovation today, from early-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world.

    “Our list of the Most Innovative Companies offers both a comprehensive look at innovation today and a playbook for the future,” said Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan. “This year, we recognize companies that are harnessing AI in deep and meaningful ways, brands that are turning customers into superfans by overdelivering for them, and challengers that are introducing bold ideas and vital competition to their industries. At a time when the world is rapidly shifting, these companies are charting the way forward.”

    About Vimeo
    Vimeo (NASDAQ: VMEO) is the world’s most innovative video experience platform. We enable anyone to create high-quality video experiences to better connect and bring ideas to life. We proudly serve our community of millions of users – from creative storytellers to globally distributed teams at the world’s largest companies – whose videos receive billions of views each month. Learn more at www.vimeo.com.

    About Fast Company
    Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow business publication Inc. For more information, please visit fastcompany.com.

    Press Contact:
    Frank Filiatrault
    frank.filiatrault@vimeo.com

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