NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Criticizes Trump And Musk For Dismantling Of USAID And Harming American Farmers In Senate Floor Speech

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    February 19, 2025

    In his remarks, Durbin also debunked Kremlin-fostered falsehoods about USAID that have been circulated by Trump, Musk, and foreign adversaries and called on Republicans to speak up

    WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) criticized President Trump and Elon Musk’s ill-advised mission to dismantle the U.S. Agency forInternational Development (USAID)—the largest distributor of humanitarian aid in the world.  Consequently, programs that provide clean drinking water, treat debilitating disease, and advance human rights have been shut down, recklessly gutting American soft power and providing a huge strategic opening to China. 

    “This month, President Trump and Elon Musk attempted to dismantle USAID, the largest distributor of humanitarian aid on this earth.  Musk was gleeful when he said we are ‘feeding USAID to the wood chipper,’” Durbin began.

    Durbin then listed the critical programs housed under USAID, which have since shuttered.  USAID has provided clean water in Haiti and Jordan, helped fight malaria and tuberculosis in Kenya and Uganda, and supported human rights programs in countries such as Burma, China, Iran, North Korea, and Sudan.  The agency has also provided economic assistance to Central America to address the root causes of migration and counter the flow of fentanyl in to the U.S., in addition to leading campaigns to counter disinformation from Russia and China to protect U.S. national security interests.

    Despite blatantly inaccurate claims from President Trump and Musk, USAID funding makes up only one percent of the federal budget and billions of those aid dollars flow back into the American economy.  Furthermore, these programs have a long history of broad bipartisan support in Congress.  In Illinois, these cuts have forced the closure of the Soybean Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois.  As a result, 30 experts will lose jobs that were dedicated to expanding international soybean markets, at a time when Illinois ranks number one in the U.S. for soybean production, and new markets are critical foraddressing low soybean prices.

    “Not only are these cuts to USAID a betrayal of American values to satisfy the narcissism of Elon Musk, but they hurt innocent people, and they hurt American farmers… who, for decades, have helped provide such critical and strategic food aid,” Durbin continued.  “Not only is this sweeping aid cut illegal and counterproductive, but it hurts American farmer in Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, Wisconsin, and many other states.   American farms supply more than 40 percent of the food aid that USAID distributes around the world.  And now, hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of such commodities are stranded in ports, rotting away at the direction of the new administration.”

    In addition to hurting the U.S. economy, halting foreign aid has endangered global programs that have helped stem pandemics and supported clean water and sanitation programs.

    “Programs like PEPFAR have been a key example of humanitarian success abroad.  It was started by President George W. Bush, a Republican president, who wanted to curtail the AIDS epidemic ravaging many parts of the world, including Africa.  PEPFAR and the Global Fund have saved more than 25 million lives so far,” Durbin said.  “But because of President Trump’s directive, it’s been halted… People will die as a result of this political decision.”

    “In the last decade, USAID clean water and sanitation programs have provided more than 70 million people with first-time sustainable access to clean water…  These programs that have a six-to-one return in dollars saved in health, economic, and education,” Durbin continued.  “But because of the President’s directive, innocent people across the world will suffer, and America’s reputation will be weakened, not made stronger.”

    Durbin concluded his remarks by debunking lies about foreign aid, including falsehoods amplified by Russia, China, and other adversaries.  Durbin referred to a fabricated video created by a private company with links to the Kremlin, which falsely claimed that celebrities were paid by USAID to visit Ukraine.

    “The Russian influence campaign was reposted on Twitter by Elon Musk, no surprise, and became a viral disinformation rallying cry against USAID.  But it was false—like so many of the allegations of supposed outrages by USAID,” Durbin said.  “And yet, this kind of nonsense is used by Mr. Musk to justify gutting entire congressionally-appropriated American soft power programs, while many of my Republican colleagues, virtually all of them, sit silently.”

    “This Senate, Republicans and Democrats, cannot afford to roll over, play dead, and hand over congressional authority on these bipartisan programs and on larger constitutionally-designated Congressional appropriations powers,” Durbin concluded.

    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Runway repairs completed ahead of schedule in Falkland Islands

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    A £20 million project to resurface part of the airfield at Mount Pleasant Complex has been completed

    Resurfacing works on the runway at Mount Pleasant Complex complete ahead of schedule. MOD Crown Copyright.

    Work to resurface part of the airfield at Mount Pleasant Complex in the Falkland Islands has been completed ahead of schedule.

    Mount Pleasant Complex is the RAF’s airfield in the Falkland Islands and is an important overseas base for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) which is run by UK Strategic Command. It is a vital air link between the Falkland Islands and the UK.

    The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) awarded the contract to Mitie in October and the work was undertaken by a number of specialist sub-contractors from the UK – some of whom also completed the resurfacing of the site’s Alpha Loop taxiway last year.

    The £20 million project saw the removal of 20,000m 2 of the airfield operating surface and its replacement with a high quality asphalt, produced by the team on-island in a batching plant specifically constructed for the project. Resurfacing took place on the Foxtrot taxiway and the threshold, which is the part of the runway where aircraft touch down when landing. All equipment and materials had to be transported by ship from the UK, a journey of 8,000 miles.

    Maj Brad Southall RE, DIO’s Project Manager, said:

    Any construction project in the Falkland Islands can be complicated thanks to the significant logistical challenges and, in this case, the need to finish work before the austral winter, when conditions make construction impossible. The requirement to maintain the operational output of the airfield throughout construction was also a particular challenge.

    I’m delighted that the work has been completed ahead of schedule and that is thanks to fantastic collaboration between all parties – DIO, Mitie, Dyer and Butler, British Forces South Atlantic Islands and UK Strategic Command.

    Brig Daniel Duff, Commander British Forces, South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI), said:

    We are pleased that the runway works have gone so well, despite the significant challenges of project delivery here on the Islands. Of course, this is not by accident and the whole project delivery team has collaborated closely with multiple BFSAI departments throughout – it has been a real team effort. The works form an important element in maintaining the operational outputs of BFSAI and contribute to the continued delivery of our mission.

    Charlie Antelme, Managing Director of Defence at Mitie, said:

    This project has been a really collaborative effort and the dedication shown by all has paid off in the form of an early completion ahead of the winter. This is the latest of our refurbishment work at the Mount Pleasant Complex and we look forward to continuing to deliver large scale projects in support of the UK Armed Forces not only in the South Atlantic but across the wider Defence Estate at home and abroad.

    The project was supported by 8 Engineer Brigade Royal Engineers, who supplied military engineers to undertake quality control and liaise between the construction team and the airfield personnel. This ensured the project team could work effectively around continuing air operations without needing lengthy pauses to either flying operations or construction.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré is making waves in west Africa. Who is he?

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Daniel Eizenga, Research Fellow, Africa Center for Strategic Studies

    Captain Ibrahim Traoré is the interim leader of Burkina Faso, having taken over the position following a coup which he led against Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henri Damiba in September 2022. The 37-year-old captain had supported Damiba, his commanding officer, in a putsch earlier that year against former president Roch Marc Kaboré.

    Since Traoré has been in power, Burkina Faso has played a key role in the withdrawal of three west African states from the regional body Ecowas. Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali have formed an alternative, the Alliance of Sahel States. The Conversation Africa asked researcher Daniel Eizenga where the country was headed under Traoré’s leadership.

    Who is Ibrahim Traoré?

    Traoré was born in 1988 in Bondokuy, a small town on the route connecting Burkina Faso’s second city – Bobo Dioulasso – and its fourth largest, Ouahigouya. He completed secondary school in Bobo Dioulasso, then moved to the nation’s capital, where he studied at the University of Ouagadougou.

    After completing his undergraduate education, Traoré joined the army in 2010 at the age of 22. He undertook his officer training in Pô at the Georges Namoano Military Academy, an officer school for the Burkinabe armed forces. He graduated as a second lieutenant in 2012 and served as a peacekeeper in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission to Mali (Minusma) after being promoted to lieutenant in 2014.

    After his stint with Minusma, Traoré took part in missions in northern Burkina Faso as part of a special counterterrorism unit. He was promoted to captain in 2020 at the age of 32.

    Damiba led a coup against Kaboré in January 2022. He then assigned Traoré as chief of an artillery regiment in the North Central region of Burkina Faso.

    As it became clear that Damiba was losing popularity within the junta, Traoré and a group of junior officers organised a coup. They seized on public and military outrage around an ambush that left 11 soldiers and dozens of civilians dead.

    What has been the response to his rule in Burkina Faso?

    Some media reports suggest that the young captain and his junta enjoy popular support throughout the country. Some have even drawn comparisons between Traoré and Burkina Faso’s earlier leftist revolutionary military leader, Captain Thomas Sankara. It’s true that the two captains did take power at the age of 34. But the comparisons end at their rank and age.

    During the 1980s and nearing the end of the cold war, Sankara came to power as ideological division split the Burkinabe armed forces. Officers supporting Sankara led a coup in 1983. Viewed as a Marxist revolutionary, Sankara attempted to enact political reforms. They included policies to boost public political participation, empower women, address environmental degradataion and reduce inequalities.

    Traoré’s position is much more precarious. Most military officers did not participate in either his coup or the one led by Damiba, underscoring the fragmented state of Burkina Faso’s armed forces. Traoré’s junta has claimed there have been multiple attempts at destabilisation or coups. This highlights the arbitrary means by which power has changed hands and the inherent instability present under junta rule.

    To shore up his position, Traoré has launched a restructuring drive. This has included redirecting revenues from taxes, the mining sector, and other sources of public revenues into defence coffers. He has also mobilised volunteers to fight violent extremists as part of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland, a junta-sponsored civilian militia. There are reports that forced conscription has been used to send “volunteers” to the front lines of battle. The conflict data indicate that the strategy is not working.

    Traoré may not be as popular among ordinary people as he is often portrayed. This is inferred from the violent repression of critics, multiple alleged coup attempts as well as the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis. He has cracked down hard on independent voices. Journalists, civil society leaders, political party leaders and even judges have been targeted by the junta with its forced conscription tactics and other forms of violent repression.

    What about external players?

    The September 2022 coup d’état got the attention of Russian foreign information manipulation and interference campaigns. The campaigns were linked to the shadowy Russian mercenary outfit, the Wagner Group. Other Russian information campaigns employed fake social media accounts that pose as Africans with a genuine interest in Burkina Faso. These accounts promote divisive rhetoric that places blame on France and other western countries for local grievances such as ongoing insecurity.

    Aiming to boost support for himself immediately following the coup, Traoré trained his sights on capturing the anti-French sentiment. He blamed the French for many of the country’s woes and cast Damiba as a close French ally. Within a few months, Traoré demanded the French withdraw its security presence from Burkina Faso altogether.

    Since the French withdrawal, Russian mercenaries have been seen providing protection for Traoré and reportedly supporting operations near the border with Mali. However, only some 100-300 Russian forces have gone to Burkina Faso. This suggests that the focus is on regime security for Traoré and his junta.

    What does the future hold?

    Traoré’s actions have not improved the security situation in the country. There have been at least 3,059 violent events linked to militant Islamist groups since he came to power in October 2022. This is a 20% increase in comparison to two years preceding the coup. The number of fatalities linked to militant Islamist violence nearly doubled from 3,621 in 2022 to 6,389 in 2024.

    The violence has also spread throughout the country to affect nearly every region and increased along Burkina Faso’s southern border. It’s likely that the data is under-reported.

    The junta has claimed to have foiled several coup plots since Traoré’s power grab. A foiled plot came in September 2024 only a few weeks after the deadliest massacre the country has ever suffered. Violent extremists killed hundreds of civilians outside the town of Barsalogho. Civilian fatalities linked to militant Islamist groups have increased from 721 in 2022 to 1,151 deaths in 2024.

    Perhaps more worrying are the civilian fatalities linked to the military or its sponsored militia.

    The violence in Burkina Faso presents an alarming outlook in which the collapse of the country cannot be ruled out. The military has reemerged as the principal political actor. By some counts the military has been directly or indirectly in power for 45 of the 65 years since Burkina Faso became independent.

    All the while, the militant Islamist insurgency embroils more and more of the countryside at great human cost. Some estimates place the number of people displaced by violence as high as 3 million, though the junta will not provide an official figure. That is more than 10% of the population of some 24 million people. Another million or more students may not be in school due to conflict and ongoing insecurity.

    Despite the effort to present Traoré as a bold reformer and saviour, the political, security and economic ramifications from his junta rule will reverberate through Burkina Faso for decades to come.

    – Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré is making waves in west Africa. Who is he?
    – https://theconversation.com/burkina-fasos-ibrahim-traore-is-making-waves-in-west-africa-who-is-he-249875

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Community Iftar event will support two Portsmouth charities: Get tickets

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    A community Iftar is taking place in Portsmouth to raise funds for two charities the Lord Mayor is supporting.

    The event on Sunday 2 March in the Guildhall’s auditorium is to observe Iftar, the name of the evening meal eaten by Muslims to break their fast during Ramadan. Tickets are available here: Portsmouth Community Iftar 2025 | Pompey in the Community

    The Iftar is being organised by Portsmouth Lord Mayor Cllr Jason Fazackarley, together with fellow city councillors Cllr Abdul Kadir and Cllr Asghar Shah, with funds going to Pompey in the Community and Abby’s Heroes.

    Cllr Fazackarley said: “I do hope people will join and break fast for two fantastic local charities which I am delighted to be supporting as part of my appeal.

    “Pompey in the Community harnesses the motivational power of Portsmouth FC to promote education, healthy living, sporting participation and achievement with vulnerable and disadvantaged people of all ages.

    “Abby’s Heroes was set up by mum Sally Randall eight years ago in memory of her daughter Abby, who had a rare type of bone cancer called Ewing Sarcoma. It’s their mission to support local children who have cancer and their families in all sorts of important ways.”

    Food is provided in the ticket price and doors open at 3.30pm for a 4pm start.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Morocco

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Mr Alex Pinfield OBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco.

    Alex Pinfield OBE

    Mr Alex Pinfield OBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco in succession to Mr Simon Martin CMG.  Mr Pinfield will take up his appointment during August 2025.

    Curriculum Vitae    

     Full name: Alexander Giles Pinfield

    Year Role
    2022-2024 FCDO, Head of Iran Unit
    2021-2022 FCDO, Head of Afghanistan Policy Department
    2021 Kabul, Deputy Ambassador
    2020 FCDO, Head of International Human Resources
    2017-2020 FCO, Head of China Department
    2016 Cabinet Office, Deputy Director, National Security Secretariat
    2013 -2015 FCO, Head of Syria Unit
    2009-2013 Canberra, Head of Foreign Policy Section
    2007-2009 Tehran, First Secretary (Head of Political Section)
    2006 Pre-posting training (including Farsi language training)
    2005-2006 Cabinet Office, Middle East analyst
    2002-2005 Beijing, Second Secretary (Press and Public Affairs)
    2000-2002 Pre-posting training (including Chinese language training)
    1999 Joined FCO

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and Norway kickstart new defence agreement in boost for European security

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    UK continues to step up on European security in move to deepen defence ties with Norway

    The UK has kickstarted negotiations today on a major defence agreement with Norway in a move that will bolster security at home and on the European continent and help deter Russian aggression.

    During a visit 400km inside the Arctic Circle, including to the Norwegian border with Russia, the Defence Secretary John Healey set out plans for a new agreement which will bring the UK and Norway closer together than ever, boosting national security and creating opportunities for growth to help deliver the government’s Plan for Change.

    The proposed strategic partnership will look to build on the UK’s longstanding defence relationship with Norway by strengthening our armed forces, developing closer industrial ties and enhancing our capabilities to face common challenges such as protection of critical undersea infrastructure. It follows the Defence Secretary signing the landmark Trinity House Agreement with Germany in October.

    The announcement, recognising the importance of the High North region, comes as the UK steps up to take a leading role in European security and within NATO.

    With Russia continuing to militarise the High North and Arctic, this new agreement will boost security for the UK, Norway and our NATO allies, bolstering defences on NATO’s northern flank.

    Alongside Norway Defence Minister Tore Sandvik, John Healey visited a border post near Kirkenes on the Russian border yesterday. There, they discussed shared security concerns and the commitment to deterring Russian threats and stepping up support for Ukraine in this critical year.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    Kickstarting work on a deep, ambitious new defence agreement with Norway shows the UK promise to step up on European security in action.

    Norway remains one of the UK’s most important allies. We will create a new era of defence partnership to bring us closer than ever before as we tackle increasing threats, strengthen NATO, and boost our security in the High North.

    The UK is determined to play a leadership role on European security, supporting the foundations for our security and prosperity at home and showing our adversaries that we are united in our determination to protect our interests.

    Both Defence ministers also visited the UK’s ship RFA Proteus in Bodø, which is docked in Norway ahead of exercises in the Baltic Sea. 

    The Ministers saw how Proteus’ capabilities support UK and European security – functioning as a mothership for drones and remotely operated vehicles, which act as a deterrent and can monitor and protect undersea infrastructure. 

    The UK and Norway have both stepped up maritime security in the Baltic Sea to protect critical undersea infrastructure. Under NATO’s Operation Baltic Sentry operation, the UK and Norway are working together, with the UK contributing Rivet Joint and P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft.

    Speaking in sub-zero conditions in Bodø, the two Ministers highlighted their determination to defend shared interests in an increasingly unstable world. 

    Norway Defence Minister, Tore Sandvik said:

    The United Kingdom is Norway’s closest and most important ally in Europe, and our two countries have maintained a close and strong security and defence cooperation for many years. We now face many of the same security challenges in a time of great uncertainty.

    It is therefore natural for us to strengthen our ties even further to enhance both our own and our allies’ security while safeguarding our shared strategic interests. At the same time, we will contribute to making NATO stronger.

    Together, the UK and Norway continue to be ironclad in support for Ukraine, leading the Maritime Capability Coalition which is transforming the Ukrainian Navy by developing its Black Sea maritime force and building new cutting-edge underwater drones.

    Both nations are also playing a key part in the training of Ukrainian recruits. More than 51,000 men and women have been provided with the skills needed to counter Russian’s illegal invasion.

    In addition, Norway is the only nation to join the full duration of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific this year. A Norwegian frigate will sail alongside the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. In preparation for the deployment, the UK and Norway will take part in Exercise Tamber Shield in the next few weeks.

    More details on the announcement between the UK and Norway can be found here – Joint Statement on Enhanced Defence Cooperation between Norway and the United Kingdom – GOV.UK

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TRA recommendation on Corrosion Resistant Steel accepted

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The Government has accepted the TRA’s recommendation to keep an anti-dumping measure on imports of Corrosion Resistant Steel from China to the UK.

    The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has today (Thursday 20 February) accepted the Trade Remedies Authority’s (TRA) recommendation to maintain an anti-dumping measure on imports of Corrosion Resistant Steel (CRS) from China for a further five years.   

    The process of making CRS, which is primarily used in the construction and manufacturing industries, effectively makes the steel rustproof and it is used in the manufacture of such products as domestic appliances, steel vents and fencing. The TRA estimated the UK producer of CRS contributes around £63 million to the UK economy annually.

    The TRA opened a transition review into the measure in February 2023, finding that it was likely that dumping of CRS from China would recur if the anti-dumping measure were no longer applied and that UK industry would likely be injured.

    As part of its Economic Interest Test, the TRA also considered claims by the UK industry that if the measure were no longer applied, this would have a direct impact on its ability to proceed with decarbonisation projects and contribution to various net zero initiatives in the UK.  

    In its final recommendation, the TRA therefore proposed that the level of duties applicable to Chinese exporters remain unchanged, ranging from 17.2% to 27.9%, until at least 9 February 2028.  

    The TRA found that following the imposition of the European Union’s measure in 2018, imports into the UK from China fell by 96% from 363,000 metric tonnes in 2016, to 16,000 metric tonnes in 2018.  

    Background information

    • The TRA is the UK body that investigates whether trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.  
    • Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK’s behalf until the UK left the EU. A number of EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were carried across into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA is currently reviewing each one to check if it is suitable for UK needs. View further information on our current transition reviews.  
    • Anti-dumping duties allow a country or union to take action against goods which are being sold at less than their normal value – this is defined as the price for ‘like goods’ sold in the exporter’s home market.  
    • These measures are one of the three types of trade remedy measures – along with countervailing measures against countervailable subsidies and safeguard measures which address sudden, unforeseen floods of imports – that are allowed under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.  
    • Corrosion resistant steel: the goods reviewed were flat rolled, iron/alloy/non alloy steel, aluminium killed (meaning the steel has been deoxidized with aluminium, thus eliminating any reaction between carbon and oxygen during solidification), and then plated or coated by hot dip galvanisation with zinc and/or aluminium and/or magnesium.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: CSL Receives Approval in Japan for ANDEMBRY® (garadacimab) Subcutaneous (S.C.) Injection 200mg Pens, a Novel Human Anti-Activated Factor XII Monoclonal Antibody for the Prevention of Acute Attacks of Hereditary Angioedema (HAE)

    Source: CLS Limited

    CSL Receives Approval in Japan for ANDEMBRY® (garadacimab) Subcutaneous (S.C.) Injection 200mg Pens, a Novel Human Anti-Activated Factor XII Monoclonal Antibody for the Prevention of Acute Attacks of Hereditary Angioedema (HAE)

    • ANDEMBRY® is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody treatment that inhibits activated Factor XII (FXIIa), the initiating factor in the HAE pathway, and offers the first pre-filled pen presentation enabling once-monthly subcutaneous administration
    • The approval is based on the results of the international pivotal Phase 3 VANGUARD trial, which included HAE patients from Japan
    • CSL is dedicated to improving the lives of those with HAE – a community that we have proudly supported for more than 40 years

    TOKYO, Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CSL Behring K.K. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Izumi Yoshida) today announced that it has received manufacturing and marketing approval from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for ANDEMBRY® (garadacimab) Subcutaneous (S.C.) Injection 200mg Pens. The product is approved for the prevention of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE) and is the first pre-filled pen presentation for once-monthly subcutaneous administration for long-term prophylaxis of HAE. The approval in Japan follows additional recent approvals received in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

    ANDEMBRY is the first fully human monoclonal antibody in Japan designed to inhibit activated Factor XII (Factor XIIa), which initiates the cascade of events leading to angioedema at various sites of the body.

    “ANDEMBRY represents a major advancement in the management of hereditary angioedema, offering people living with this life-threatening condition long-term disease control through a patient-centric and convenient administration method,” said Bill Mezzanotte, MD, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, CSL. “As CSL’s first approved recombinant monoclonal antibody discovered and developed entirely by CSL, ANDEMBRY underscores our more than 40-year commitment to HAE research and treatment optimization. This milestone is the result of decades of dedication, and we extend our gratitude to the colleagues, physicians and patients who made this possible for HAE patients and CSL.”

    HAE is a rare, chronic, debilitating, and potentially life-threatening genetic disorder characterized by recurrent and unpredictable attacks of angioedema. Attacks are often painful and can occur in multiple sites of the body, including the abdomen, larynx, face, and extremities. HAE is designated as one of Japan’s intractable diseases under the category of “Primary Immunodeficiency Syndrome.” Reports indicate that approximately 430 patients in Japan are currently diagnosed and receiving treatment. According to global data, the prevalence of HAE is estimated to be 1 in 50,000 people, suggesting there may be approximately 2,500 patients in Japan.

    The approval of ANDEMBRY is based on the efficacy and safety data from the pivotal international Phase 3 VANGUARD trial and its open-label extension study. The detailed results of the VANGUARD trial were published in The Lancet in April 2023 and the primary results of the ongoing open-label extension study were published in Allergy (October 2024). A plain language summary of the VANGUARD trial findings has also been published to facilitate understanding of patients and caregivers of the clinical trial data. This summary is accessible in multiple languages, including English and Japanese.

    “ANDEMBRY is a breakthrough therapy as the first and only treatment targeting activated Factor XII, the key initiator of HAE attacks,” said Dr. Rose Fida, Executive Director and Regional Lead, CSL R&D Japan & China. “With its novel mechanism, once-monthly subcutaneous dosing and easy-to-use pre-filled pen, ANDEMBRY is set to transform the way HAE is managed in Japan.”

    About ANDEMBRY® (garadacimab)
    ANDEMBRY (garadacimab) is a novel Factor XIIa-inhibitory monoclonal antibody (anti-FXIIa mAb) that has completed Phase 3 clinical development as a new type of once-monthly subcutaneous prophylactic treatment for attacks related to HAE, a form of bradykinin-mediated angioedema. ANDEMBRY is CSL’s first homegrown recombinant monoclonal antibody to gain approval. It was discovered and optimized by scientists at CSL’s Bio21-based research site, with formulation and manufacturing for the clinical programs completed at the CSL Broadmeadows Biotech Manufacturing Facility. ANDEMBRY uniquely inhibits the plasma protein, FXIIa. When FXII is activated, it initiates the cascade of events leading to edema formation. By targeting FXIIa, ANDEMBRY inhibits this cascade at the top as compared to other HAE therapies that target downstream mediators.

    As of February 2025, ANDEMBRY® has been approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on January 14, 2025, the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on January 24, 2025, and by the European Union’s European Commission (EC) on February 10, 2025.

    About “ANDEMBRY® S.C. Injection 200mg Pens”

    Trade name

    ANDEMBRY® S.C. Injection 200mg Pens

    Indications or effects

    Prevention of acute attacks of Hereditary Angioedema (HAE)

    Dosage and administration

    In general, administer subcutaneously the initial loading dose 400 mg of Garadacimab (Genetical Recombination), followed by 200 mg once a month for adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older.

    Date of approval

    February 20, 2025

    Manufacturing and marketing

    CSL Behring K.K.

    About CSL Behring K.K.
    CSL Behring is a global leader in developing and delivering high-quality medicines that treat people with rare and serious diseases. In Japan, our core focus areas include immunology and rare diseases, hemophilia, as well as critical care and hemostasis.
    For more information, please visit https://www.cslbehring.co.jp.

    About CSL
    CSL (ASX:CSL; USOTC:CSLLY) is a global biotechnology company with a dynamic portfolio of lifesaving medicines, including those that treat haemophilia and immune deficiencies, vaccines to prevent influenza, and therapies in iron deficiency and nephrology. Since our start in 1916, we have been driven by our promise to save lives using the latest technologies. Today, CSL – including our three businesses: CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor – provides lifesaving products to patients in more than 100 countries and employs 32,000 people. Our unique combination of commercial strength, R&D focus and operational excellence enables us to identify, develop and deliver innovations so our patients can live life to the fullest.

    Media Contact
    Valerie Bomberger, CSL
    Office: +1 610-291-5388 
    Mobile: +1 267-280-3829 
    Email: valerie.bomberger@cslbehring.com 

    In Australia: 
    Brett Foley, CSL
    Mobile: +61 461 464 708
    Email: brett.foley@csl.com.au

    Investor Relations:
    Chris Cooper, CSL
    Mobile: +61 455 022 740
    Email: chris.cooper@csl.com.au

    SOURCE CSL

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Case You Missed It: RGA Chair Governor Brian Kemp Details How President Trump and Republican Governors are Getting to Work for the American People

    Source: US Republican Governors Association

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, in an op-ed published in Fox News, Republican Governors Association (RGA) Chair Georgia Governor Brian Kemp detailed how Republican governors are working alongside President Trump to deliver results for the American people and bring back commonsense leadership.

    Read the full op-ed here and below.

    RGA CHAIR GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP: Republican governors ready to work alongside President Trump and bring back commonsense leadership
    Fox News
    February 19, 2025

    Last November, Americans soundly rejected the Democrats’ out-of-touch policies hurting hardworking families and undermining the future prosperity and freedoms of the American people.

    President Donald Trump’s message of improving the quality of life for working-class families across the country resonated with American voters, and now Republican governors stand ready to work alongside him to bring commonsense, conservative leadership to the entire country.

    It has been four years since Republican governors had a willing partner in the White House. The disastrous agenda of the Biden-Harris administration gave us a crisis at our southern border, 40-year-high inflation that sapped family bank accounts, a far-left bureaucracy that overregulated and overtaxed American job creators, and a more dangerous world than President Trump left them in 2020.

    Over the last four years, Republican governors were the last line of defense against the worst impulses of a runaway federal government. We balanced our budgets, cut taxes, created record jobs and investments, supported our men and women in law enforcement, provided students with greater opportunities to succeed inside and outside of the classroom, and put the hardworking men and women of our states first.

    When the Biden administration refused to take action to secure our southern border which emboldened the cartels and allowed for fentanyl to cross into our country, it was Republican governors who took action to protect the American people. When Joe Biden sacrificed American jobs at the altar of their extreme climate agenda, we stepped up to incorporate all forms of energy production to bring economic opportunity to our states and strengthen American independence from foreign energy supplies.

    Now, our states can support – and work hand in hand to implement – the Trump agenda that the American people voted overwhelmingly to support.

    Near the top of the list for me and my fellow governors is supporting the Trump administration on the ground to secure the border and deport criminal illegal aliens who are endangering our communities. Under Joe Biden, every state in America became a border state forced to deal with fentanyl and illicit drug trafficking, gang violence, and human trafficking thanks to the disastrous policies they chose to enact despite objections from Republican governors and many in Congress. Now, the federal government is once again following the law and fulfilling its duty to the American people, and we stand ready to support the president and the appropriate federal agencies to get the job done.

    When it comes to education, Republican governors and the Trump administration are committed to reversing the burdensome mandates that interfere with our children’s education and continuing commonsense policies that set our students up for success inside and outside of the classroom. Whether it’s recruiting and attaining highly qualified teachers, expanding school choice, keeping our schools safe, focusing on literacy and civic education, increasing investments in workforce training, or empowering parents – we’re going to keep working together to put students across the country first.

    It is also encouraging to see what DOGE is doing under the president’s direction to root out government waste, ridiculous spending projects, and bureaucratic nonsense. The American people have known for decades that Washington DC spends, taxes, and regulates like there is no tomorrow – but we now have an administration that is actually following through on what they told the voters they would do last fall. Every dollar DOGE saves the American taxpayer is one more dollar that can be returned to them, because at the end of the day, that is their money – not the government’s.

    Expanding beyond DOGE, the Trump administration has former governors like Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem who know how to streamline their agencies, rollback burdensome regulations, stop federal government lawfare that hamstrings the ability of states to create opportunity and innovate, and ultimately deliver results for the American people.

    These efforts to rein in an out-of-control federal bureaucracy will only help our nation’s economy recover from the stagnant Biden years and usher in a new American comeback in manufacturing, energy production, and overall job creation.

    Safe communities, thriving economies, balanced budgets, educational freedom, and fiscal responsibility – that’s the positive agenda that Republican governors and the Trump administration are offering hardworking Americans and their families. And it’s one that will ensure our country’s best days are still ahead of us.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: European courts provide increased clarity on women seeking international protection, EUAA report finds

    Source: European Asylum Support Office

    In 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) handed down three landmark judgments providing national authorities with more clarity when assessing applications for international protection lodged by women faced with different forms of gender-based violence. A new EUAA report examines how these EU-level and national court decisions are guiding national practices to shift to a more gender-sensitive approach in international protection.

    The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has published a report examining how courts interpreted the legal grounds to grant international protection to women fleeing violence and systematic discrimination. Over the last five years, there has been a significant legal shift in recognising and protecting this profile of applicants, with three landmark rulings by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in 2024 providing clearer legal grounds to Member States’ national authorities, as they consider asylum applications due to persecution or serious harm based on gender.

    In 2024, the CJEU ruled that women who are subjected to systematically imposed discriminatory measures by the State, amounting to persecution, may qualify for international protection on account of their gender and nationality. Already prior to this judgment, some national authorities had adapted their policies following the EUAA’s Country Guidance on Afghanistan of January 2023, which then served as one of the main sources for the judgment of the CJEU. The Agency continues to work closely with Member States’ national authorities to help ensure that this jurisprudence is then reflected in national practices. Courts in Denmark, France, Germany and Luxembourg applied this reasoning after hearing appeals on negative decisions from Afghan women who, were then, granted refugee status.

    The EUAA report highlights how, between 2020 and 2024, European courts have established case law that increasingly acknowledges persecution on account of gender; and, identifies the risk profiles of women who might then be members of a ‘particular social group’, as defined in the recast Qualification Directive. The case law referenced in the report notes that the risk profiles include women fleeing forced marriage, divorced women targeted by honour crimes, victims of sexual violence, women accused of witchcraft, women who have had an illegal abortion and those fleeing female genital mutilation/cutting.

    National courts in Finland, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands and Portugal also overturned decisions of asylum authorities when they failed to assess the need for special procedural guarantees that aim to ensure that women can effectively participate in the procedure for international protection. The cases highlighted the need to transfer vulnerable women from the border or accelerated procedure to the regular procedure for international protection, with sufficient safeguards in place.

    Background

    The cases presented in the report are extracted from the EUAA Case Law Database, a public database which serves as a centralised platform on jurisprudential developments related to international protection. It contains English language summaries of judgments related to international protection which are pronounced by national courts of EU+ countries, the CJEU, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and quasi-judicial bodies of the United Nations and the Human Rights Committee (CCPR).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Drone Operations Market Leading to Multi-Billion Dollar Revenue Opportunity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – A report from Verified Market Research said that the AI In Drone Market size is projected to reach USD 206.9 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 32.4% during the forecast period to 2031. The report said: “Developments in Technology: One of the main factors propelling the artificial intelligence (AI) market for drones is the quick development of AI technologies. Drone capabilities are improved by innovations like computer vision, machine learning, and real-time data processing, which enable advanced decision-making and autonomous navigation. These developments make it possible for drones to more effectively carry out difficult jobs like infrastructure inspection, precision farming, and search and rescue missions. Furthermore, a variety of businesses can incorporate drones into their operations as AI software becomes more widely available and reasonably priced, expanding the market. Demand in the industry is driven by the ongoing improvement of AI algorithms, which guarantee that drones can do ever-more-difficult tasks. Industry Acceptance: One of the main factors driving the market is the growing use of drones in a variety of sectors, such as construction, logistics, surveillance, and agriculture. Businesses are increasingly incorporating AI-enabled drones into their operations as they realize the efficiency, cost savings, and safety enhancements these technologies provide. AI drones improve crop monitoring and resource management in agriculture and expedite delivery procedures in logistics. Demand is further fueled by this cross-industry applicability, as businesses look to automation and improved data insights to gain a competitive edge. Drones’ increasing acceptance as vital instruments in contemporary operations propels market expansion and encourages innovation in the AI space. Active Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGTI), AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), Unusual Machines (NYSE: UMAC), Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI).

    Verified Market Research continued: “Cost Cutting: The market is expanding due to the declining costs of drone technology and AI integration. Drones and related AI software are becoming more affordable as manufacturers develop and competition rises, opening up these technologies to a wider variety of consumers. Drone adoption is made possible by lower costs, which makes it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to enter the market. Cost savings are also facilitated by the adoption of open-source software and improved manufacturing process efficiency. The market is seeing faster adoption rates as affordability rises, which prompts more investment in AI capabilities that boost drone applications and functions. The government, commercial, and military sectors are the main end-users that divide the AI In Drone Market. Recognizing that different businesses have diverse needs and use drones for different purposes, this division highlights the uses of AI-powered drones across a range of fields. The government sector uses AI to improve data analysis, automate repetitive jobs, and increase decision-making in areas including disaster response, surveillance, law enforcement, and agricultural monitoring. Drones can now swiftly and effectively process enormous volumes of data thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), which is especially useful for government tasks requiring real-time information, such as monitoring emergencies or evaluating and handling public safety issues. The commercial AI drone market sector encompasses a wide range of applications, such as media, construction, logistics, and agriculture.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Quantum Computing “Sky Traffic” Project Demonstrates High Accuracy in Initial Testing Leading to Expansion of Team and AI Drone Applications for Commercial and Defense – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces positive results from initial testing and an update on its Quantum Computing Sky Traffic project. An initial test using the Company’s AI algorithms and quantum computing to predict weather has resulted in a high level of accuracy for the parameters tested including actual temperatures versus predicted temperatures in the test which used 2016 data.

    Due in part to these encouraging results, ZenaTech is now growing its internal team over the next two months. As part of the ramp up, the Company is adding additional quantum, AI and hardware engineers, and optimization specialists and is engaged in recruiting staff from physics facilities at international universities, including researchers, instructors, and Ph.D. candidates.

    “The Sky Traffic project leverages AI and quantum computing to process vast data streams to improve the accuracy and speed of weather forecasting that can also apply to the innovation of many other commercial and defense applications utilizing drones. Our hiring strategy focuses on assembling a multidisciplinary team of quantum and AI specialists, and hardware and aerospace engineers to help us revolutionize autonomous drones. By combining quantum algorithms with advanced machine learning, we can optimize navigation, decision-making, and real-time data processing for next-generation aerial intelligence,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    ZenaTech launched the Sky Traffic project in November 2024, which will utilize its AI drones, quantum computing, and specialized quantum and AI teams to develop and test advanced applications for traffic management, weather forecasting, wildfire management and defense applications using large datasets, Amazon Web Services, and computing devices and platforms.

    AI Drones are used in weather forecasting to collect real-time atmospheric data from hard-to-reach areas, such as storm systems or remote regions, providing valuable input for weather models. Quantum computers can then analyze this vast and complex data much faster and more accurately, improving weather predictions and enhancing the ability to forecast extreme events like hurricanes, tornadoes, or wildfires.

    AI and quantum computing can work together to make defense drones smarter, faster, and more efficient using a single drone or a swarm of multiple drones. AI helps drones analyze data, recognize objects, and make decisions on their own, while quantum computing can process massive amounts of information much faster than regular computers. For example, a defense drone using AI can detect enemy movement, but adding quantum computing allows it to analyze complex battlefield data instantly and find the best flight path or strategy in real time. This combination improves reaction speed, mission accuracy, and overall drone performance, making them more effective for surveillance, reconnaissance, and security operations.

    Quantum computing is an emergent field of cutting-edge computer science harnessing the unique qualities of quantum mechanics to solve problems beyond the ability of even the most powerful classical computers of today, to process massively complicated mathematical problems and data at orders of magnitude faster speeds.

    The ZenaDrone 1000 is a multifunction autonomous drone, in a VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) quadcopter design with eight rotors; it is considered a medium-sized drone measuring 12X7 feet in size. It is designed for stable flight, maneuverability, heavy lift capabilities up to 40 kilos, incorporating innovative software technology, AI, sensors, and purpose-built attachments, along with compact and rugged hardware engineered for industrial and defense use for a variety of inspection, surveillance or tracking applications. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    QphoX B.V., a Dutch quantum technology startup that is developing leading frequency conversion systems for quantum applications, Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGTI), a pioneer in full-stack quantum-classical computing, and Qblox, a leading innovator in quantum control stack development, recently announced that their joint research demonstrating the ability to readout superconducting qubits with an optical transducer was published in Nature Physics.

    Quantum computing has the potential to drive transformative breakthroughs in fields such as advanced material design, artificial intelligence, and drug discovery. Of the quantum computing modalities, superconducting qubits are a leading platform towards realizing a practical quantum computer given their fast gate speeds and ability to leverage existing semiconductor industry manufacturing techniques. However, fault-tolerant quantum computing will likely require 10,000 to a million physical qubits. The sheer amount of wiring, amplifiers and microwave components required to operate such large numbers of qubits far exceeds the capacity of modern-day dilution refrigerators, a core component of a superconducting quantum computing system, in terms of both space and passive heat load.

    AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) recently announced the launch of the JUMP® 20-X, a next-generation, modular Group 3 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) designed to meet the dynamic demands of modern warfare. Setting a new benchmark for autonomous maritime operations, the JUMP 20-X delivers unrivaled versatility, efficiency, and precision in contested and complex environments.

    Unveiled at the 2025 International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX), the JUMP 20-X is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) medium uncrewed aircraft system (MUAS) engineered to revolutionize shipboard UAS operations. With an advanced heavy-fuel engine capable of running on multiple fuel types, JUMP 20-X enhances operational flexibility, simplifies refueling logistics, and ensures mission adaptability across diverse maritime and expeditionary environments.

    Unusual Machines (NYSE:UMAC) recently announced that its Fat Shark Aura FPV Camera has been added to the U.S. Defense Department’s Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Blue UAS Framework. It is the only camera on the Blue UAS list purpose-built for first person view (“FPV”) applications, providing a high-performance, NDAA-compliant option for defense and government users.

    This approval marks another step forward in Unusual Machines’ mission to supply NDAA-compliant FPV components for both commercial and defense applications. The Fat Shark Aura FPV Camera joins the Rotor Riot Brave F7 Flight Controller and Brave 55A ESC, both of which have already been approved under the Blue UAS Framework.

    Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI) recently announced that its Safe Pro AI subsidiary reached its latest milestone having processed over 1,000,000 real-world images and 20,000 explosive threat detections in Ukraine utilizing its patented AI-powered small object threat detection and drone image analysis and mapping technology.

    Sourced from real-world aerial imagery collected in Ukraine by organizations utilizing commercially available drones over the past two years, SafePro’s latest generation of small object detection models include one of the largest and widest arrays of labeled imagery of landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in existence today. Supported by the hyper scale of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud, this robust dataset enables the patented SpotlightAI™ ecosystem to rapidly detect over 150 types of surface-level explosive hazards, enabling government and humanitarian organizations to quickly assess threats on the ground with sub-centimeter precision. The Company intends to utilize its newly enhanced models to power new threat detection solutions designed for expanded domestic and international applications in defense, public safety and commercial markets.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia

    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup

    Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialnewsmedia/

    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty four hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:

    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s threats on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine and Panama revive old-school US imperialism of dominating other nations by force, after decades of nuclear deterrence

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Monica Duffy Toft, Professor of International Politics and Director of the Center for Strategic Studies, The Fletcher School, Tufts University

    Imperialist rhetoric is becoming a mark of President Donald Trump’s second term. From asserting that the U.S. will “take over” the Gaza Strip, Greenland and the Panama Canal to apparently siding with Russia in its war on Ukraine, Trump’s comments suggest a return to an old imperialist style of forcing foreign lands under American control.

    Imperialism is when a nation extends its power through territorial acquisition, economic dominance or political influence. Historically, imperialist leaders have used military conquest, economic coercion or diplomatic pressure to expand their dominions, and justified their foreign incursions as civilizing missions, economic opportunities or national security imperatives.

    The term “empire” often evokes the Romans, the Mughals or the British, but the U.S. is an imperial power, too. In the 19th and early 20th century, American presidents expanded U.S. territory westward across the continent and, later, overseas, acquiring Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, Guam and the Philippines.

    After that, outright territorial conquest mostly ceased, but the U.S. did not give up imperialism. As I trace in my 2023 book, “Dying by the Sword,” the country instead embraced a subtler, more strategic kind of expansionism. In this veiled imperialism, the U.S. exerted its global influence through economic, political and threatened military means, not direct confrontation.

    Embracing traditional U.S. imperialism would upend the rules that have kept the globe relatively stable since World War II. As an expert on U.S. foreign policy, I fear that would unleash fear, chaos – and possibly nuclear war.

    No redrawing borders

    One of the most fundamental principles of this post-war international system is the concept of sovereignty – the idea that a nation’s borders should remain intact.

    The United Nations Charter, signed in San Francisco in 1945, explicitly bars countries from obtaining territory through force. Outright annexation or territorial takeover is considered a direct violation of international law.

    Work by the late political scientist Mark Zacher outlines how, since World War II, the international community – including the U.S. – has largely upheld this standard.

    But imperialism still shapes world politics.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 is a blatant instance of imperial ambition justified by alleged historical grievances and national security concerns. Russia’s invasion set a dangerous precedent by undermining the principle that borders can’t be changed by force and that countries shouldn’t resort to aggression.

    Putin’s precedent, in turn, has raised concerns that another great power may attempt to forcibly redraw international borders.

    Take China, for example. President Xi Jinping has become increasingly aggressive toward Taiwan since 2019. If Putin’s invasion culminates with Russia successfully annexing parts of Ukraine – which the Trump administration has agreed with Russia should be part of any settlement – Xi may follow through on his threats to invade Taiwan.

    Respect for national sovereignty has made the world more stable and less violent.

    The decline of traditional imperialism after World War II led to a flourishing of independent nation-states. As former colonial powers gradually relinquished control of their holdings in the second half of the 20th century – voluntarily or after losing wars of independence – the number of sovereign countries increased dramatically. The U.N. had 51 member countries in 1945 and over 150 by 1970.

    The U.N. was founded on the idea that people of all countries should have a say in how they build their own futures. Today, 197 countries try to work together through the U.N. on a wide range of global issues, including defending human rights and reducing global poverty.

    When a major power like the U.S. openly embraces imperialist rhetoric, it further weakens the already fragile rules that keep this delicate collaboration working.

    Nonviolent imperialism

    Imperialism does not require military force. Great powers still exert influence over weaker nations, shaping their behavior through economic might and wealth, diplomacy and strategic alliances.

    The U.S. has long engaged in this form of influence. It has often pursued its imperialist agenda in what I would call a more “gentlemanly manner” than historical empires with their bloody physical conquests.

    During the Cold War, for example, the U.S. established extensive dominance over much of the globe. In Latin America and the Middle East, it used economic aid, military alliances and ideological persuasion rather than outright territorial expansion to exert its control. Russia did the same in Eastern Europe and its other spheres of influence.

    Demonstrators in Panama City insist ‘Panama Canal is Not For Sale’ following Donald Trump’s threats to seize the canal, Jan. 20, 2025.
    Arnulfo Franco/AFP via Getty Images

    Today, China excels at nonviolent imperialism. Its Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure construction project launched in 2013, has created deep economic dependencies among partner nations in Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Trade and diplomatic ties between China and those regions are much closer today as a result.

    Nuclear era

    A critical distinction between imperialism past and present is the presence of nuclear weapons.

    In previous eras, great powers frequently fought wars to expand their influence and settle disputes. Countries could attempt to seize territory with little risk to their survival, even in defeat.

    The sheer destructive potential of nuclear arsenals has changed this calculus. The Cold War doctrine of mutually assured destruction guarantees that if one country launches a nuclear weapon, it will quickly become the target of nuclear counterattack: annihilation for all sides.

    Any major war between nuclear-armed nations now carries the risk of massive, potentially planetary, destruction. This makes direct conquest an irrational, even suicidal strategy rather than a calculated political maneuver.

    And it makes Trump’s old-school imperial rhetoric particularly dangerous.

    If the U.S. tried to annex foreign territory, it would almost certainly provoke serious international conflict. That’s especially true of the most strategic places Trump has threatened to “take over,” like the Panama Canal, which links 1,920 ports across 170 countries.

    These imperialist threats, even if they’re not intended as serious policy proposals, are already ratcheting up global tensions.

    Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino — a pro-American ally — has flatly ruled out negotiating with the U.S. over control of the Panama Canal. Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, says its territory of Greenland is “not for sale.” And Palestinians in Gaza, for their part, fiercely reject Trump’s plan to move all of them out and turn their homeland into a “Middle East Riviera,” as have neighboring Arab countries, which could be expected to absorb millions of displaced Palestinians.

    Rhetoric shapes perception, and perception influences behavior. When an American president floats acquiring foreign territories as a viable policy option, it signals to both allies and enemies that the U.S. is no longer committed to the international order that has achieved relative global stability for the past 75 years.

    With wars raging in the Middle East and Europe, this is a risky time for reckless rhetoric.

    Monica Duffy Toft 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. Trump’s threats on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine and Panama revive old-school US imperialism of dominating other nations by force, after decades of nuclear deterrence – https://theconversation.com/trumps-threats-on-greenland-gaza-ukraine-and-panama-revive-old-school-us-imperialism-of-dominating-other-nations-by-force-after-decades-of-nuclear-deterrence-249327

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s move to closer ties with Russia does not mean betrayal of Ukraine, yet – in his first term, Trump was pretty tough on Putin

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Tatsiana Kulakevich, Associate Professor of Instruction in the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies, University of South Florida

    Traditional Russian wooden nesting dolls depict U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a gift shop in Moscow on Feb. 13, 2025. Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP via Getty Images

    The United States’ steadfast allegiance to Ukraine during that country’s three-year war against Russia appears to be quickly disintegrating under the Trump administration. President Donald Trump on Feb. 19, 2025, called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “a dictator” and falsely blamed him for the war that Russia initiated as part of a land grab in the countries’ border regions.

    Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said on Feb. 19 that Trump is trapped in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “disinformation space.”

    The intensifying bitterness comes as the U.S. and Russia started talks in Saudi Arabia, without including Ukraine, on how to end the conflict.

    The U.S. and Russia have long been adversaries, and the U.S., to date, has given Ukraine more than US$183 billion to help fight against Russia. But that funding came when Joe Biden was president. Trump does not appear to be similarly inclined toward Ukraine.

    Amy Lieberman, a politics editor at The Conversation U.S., spoke with Tatsiana Kulakevich, a scholar of Eastern European politics and international relations, to understand the implications of this sudden shift in U.S.-Russia policy under Trump.

    Kulakevich sees Trump’s moves that could be perceived as self-interested as instead part of a calculated strategy in preliminary discussions.

    An airplane passenger reads a Financial Times article about U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 19, 2025.
    Horacio Villalobos Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

    Can you explain the current dynamic between the U.S., Ukraine and Russia?

    People should not panic because the U.S. and Russia are only holding exploratory talks. We should not call them peace talks, per se, at least not yet. It was to be expected that Ukraine was not invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia because there is nothing to talk about yet. We don’t know what the U.S. and Russia are actually discussing besides agreeing to restore the normal functioning of each other’s diplomatic missions.

    People are perceiving the U.S. and Russia as being in love. However, Trump’s Russia policy has been more hawkish than often portrayed in the media. Looking at the record from the previous Trump administration, we can see that if something is not in the interests of the U.S., that is not going to be done. Trump does not do favors.

    He approved anti-tank missile sales to Ukraine in 2019. That same year, Trump withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, an agreement with Russia that limited what weapons each country could purchase, over Russian violations.

    In 2019, Trump also issued economic sanctions against a Russian ship involved in building the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. These sanctions tried to block Russia’s direct gas exports to Germany – this connection between Russia and Germany was seen by Ukraine as an economic threat.

    Based on Trump’s talks with Russia and remarks against Ukraine, it could seem like the U.S. and Russia are no longer adversaries. How do you perceive this?

    There are no clear indications that Russia and the U.S. have ceased to be adversaries. Despite Trump’s occasional use of terms like “friends” in diplomacy, his rhetoric often serves as a tactical maneuver rather than a genuine shift in alliances. A key example is his engagement with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, where Trump alternated between flattery and threats to extract concessions.

    Even if the U.S. is meeting with Russia and the public narrative seems to say otherwise, strategically, abandoning Ukraine is not in the United States’ best interests. One reason why is because the U.S. turning away from Ukraine would make Russia happy and China happy. Trump has treated China as a primary threat to the U.S., and China has supported Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also still saying that everyone, including Ukraine, will be at the table for eventual peace talks.

    The allegations that Russia was holding some information over Trump and blackmailing him started long before this presidential term and did not stop Trump from imposing countermeasures on Russia during his first term. The first Trump administration took more than 50 policy actions to counter Moscow, primarily in the form of public statements and sanctions.

    What does the U.S. gain from developing a diplomatic relationship with Russia?

    Trump is a transactional politician. American companies could profit from the U.S. aligning with Russia and Russian companies, as some Russian officials have said during the recent Saudi Arabia talks with the Trump administration. But the U.S. could also benefit economically from the Trump’s administration’s proposed deal with Ukraine to give the U.S. half of Ukraine’s estimated $11.5 trillion in rare earth minerals.

    Zelenskyy rejected that proposal this week, saying it does not come with the promise that the U.S. will continue to give security guarantees to Ukraine.

    Historically, since the Cold War, there has been a diplomatic triangle between the Soviet Union – later Russia – China and the U.S. And there has always been one side fighting against the two other sides. Trump trying to develop a better diplomatic relationship with Russia might mean he is trying to distance Russia from China.

    A similar dynamic is playing out between the U.S. and Belarus’ authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, a co-aggressor in the war in Ukraine. Lukashenko is close with both Russia and China. The U.S. administration is looking to relax sanctions on Belarusian banks and exports of potash, a key ingredient in fertilizer, in exchange for the release of Belarusian political opposition members who are imprisoned. There are over 1,200 political prisoners in Belarus. This U.S. foreign policy strategy is aimed at providing Lukashenko with room to grow less economically dependent on Russia and China.

    A worker clears snow from a cemetery in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, on Feb. 17, 2025. More than 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in combat since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.
    Pierre Crom/Getty Images

    Is this level of collaboration between the U.S. and Russia unprecedented?

    While U.S.-Russia relations are often defined by rivalry, history shows that pragmatic cooperation has occurred when both nations saw mutual benefits – whether this relates to arms control, space, counterterrorism, Arctic affairs or health.

    Moreover, the U.S. has always prioritized its own interests in its relationship with Russia. For example, the U.S. and its allies imposed sanctions on Russia’s uranium and nickel industries only in May 2024, over two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This was due to the United States’ strategic economic dependencies and concerns about market stability if it sanctioned uranium and nickel.

    Even after Russia invaded Crimea – an area of Ukraine that Russia claims as its own – in 2014 and provided support for Russian separatists in Ukraine’s Donbass region, the U.S. and other Western countries imposed largely symbolic sanctions. This included freezing assets of Russian individuals, restricting some financial transactions and limiting Russia’s access to Western technology.

    We should also notice that Trump in January 2025 promised to sanction Russia if it does not end the Ukraine war. The U.S. still has not removed any existing sanctions, which signals its commitment to a tough stance on Russia, despite perceptions of a close relationship between Trump and Putin.

    Given Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy, his tough rhetoric on Zelenskyy could be a deliberate negotiation strategy aimed at pressuring Ukraine into making greater concessions in potential peace talks, rather than signaling abandonment.

    Tatsiana Kulakevich 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. Trump’s move to closer ties with Russia does not mean betrayal of Ukraine, yet – in his first term, Trump was pretty tough on Putin – https://theconversation.com/trumps-move-to-closer-ties-with-russia-does-not-mean-betrayal-of-ukraine-yet-in-his-first-term-trump-was-pretty-tough-on-putin-250359

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How allies have helped the US gain independence, defend freedom and keep the peace – even as the US did the same for our friends

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Donald Heflin, Executive Director of the Edward R. Murrow Center and Senior Fellow of Diplomatic Practice, The Fletcher School, Tufts University

    French Gen. Jean de Rochambeau and American Gen. George Washington giving the last orders in October 1781 for the battle at Yorktown, where the British defeat ended the War of Independence. ‘Siege of Yorktown’ painting, Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images.

    Make Canada angry. Make Mexico angry. Make the members of NATO angry.

    During the first few weeks of the second Trump administration, President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a lot of things about longtime allies that caused frustration and outright friction among the leaders of those countries.

    Trump and Vance indeed appear to disdain close alliances, favoring an America First approach to the world. A New York Times headline characterized the relationship between the U.S. and Europe now as “A Strained Alliance.”

    As a former diplomat, I’m aware that how the U.S. treats its allies has been a crucial question in every presidency, since George Washington became the country’s first chief executive. On his way out of that job, Washington said something that Trump, Vance and their fellow America First advocates would probably embrace.

    In what’s known as his “Farewell Address,” Washington warned Americans against “entangling alliances.” Washington wanted America to treat all nations fairly, and warned against both permanent friendships and permanent enemies.

    The irony is that Washington would never have become president without the assistance of the not-yet-United-States’ first ally, France.

    In 1778, after two years of brilliant diplomacy by Benjamin Franklin, the not-yet-United States and the Kingdom of France signed a treaty of alliance as the American Colonies struggled to win their war for independence from Britain.

    France sent soldiers, money and ships to the American revolutionaries. Within three years, after a major intervention by the French fleet, the battle of Yorktown in 1781 effectively ended the war and America was independent.

    Isolationism, then war

    American political leaders largely heeded Washington’s warning against alliances throughout the 1800s. The Atlantic Ocean shielded the young nation from Europe’s problems and many conflicts, and America’s closest neighbors had smaller populations and less military might.

    Aside from the War of 1812, in which the U.S. fought the British, America largely found itself protected from the outside world’s problems.

    That began to change when Europe descended into the brutal trench warfare of World War I.

    Initially, American politicians avoided becoming involved. What would today be called an isolationist movement was strong, and its supporters felt that the war in Europe was being waged for the benefit of big business.

    But it was hard for the U.S.to maintain neutrality. German submarines sank ships crossing the Atlantic carrying American passengers. The economies of some of America’s biggest trading partners were in shreds; the democracies of Britain, France and other European countries were at risk.

    A Boston newspaper headline in 1915 blares the news of a British ocean liner sunk by a German torpedo.
    Serial and Government Publications Division, Library of Congress

    President Woodrow Wilson led the United States into the war in 1917 as an ally of the Western European nations. When he asked Congress for a declaration of war, Wilson touted the value of like-minded allies, saying, “A steadfast concert for peace can never be maintained except by a partnership of democratic nations.” The war was over within 16 months.

    Immediately after the war, the Allies – led by the U.S., France and Britain – stayed together to craft the peace agreements, feed the war-ravaged parts of Europe and intervene in Russia after the Communist Revolution there.

    Prosperity came along with the peace, helping the U.S. quickly develop into a global economic power.

    However, within a few years, American politicians returned to traditional isolationism in political and military matters and continued this attitude well into the 1930s. The worldwide Great Depression that began in 1929 was blamed on vulnerabilities in the global economy, and there was a strong sentiment among Americans that the U.S. should fix its internal problems rather than assist Europe with its problems.

    Alliance counters fascism

    As both Hitler and the Japanese Empire began to attack their neighbors in the late 1930s, it became clear to President Franklin Roosevelt and other American military and political leaders that the U.S. would get caught up in World War II. If nothing else, airplanes had erased America’s ability to hide behind the Atlantic Ocean.

    Though public opinion was divided, the U.S. began sending arms and other assistance to Britain and quietly began military planning with London. This was despite the fact that the U.S. was formally neutral, as the Roosevelt administration was pushing the limits of what a neutral nation can do for friendly nations without becoming a warring party.

    In January of 1941, Roosevelt gave his annual State of the Union speech to Congress. He appeared to prepare the country for possible intervention – both on behalf of allies abroad and for the preservation of American democracy:

    “The future and the safety of our country and of our democracy are overwhelmingly involved in events far beyond our borders. Armed defense of democratic existence is now being gallantly waged in four continents. If that defense fails, all the population and all the resources of Europe, and Asia, and Africa and Australasia will be dominated by conquerors. In times like these it is immature – and incidentally, untrue – for anybody to brag that an unprepared America, single-handed, and with one hand tied behind its back, can hold off the whole world.”

    When the Japanese attacked Hawaii in 1941 and Hitler declared war on the United States, America quickly entered World War II in an alliance with Britain, the Free French and others.
    Throughout the war, the Allies worked as a team on matters large and small. They defeated Germany in three and half years and Japan in less than four.

    As World War II ended, the wartime alliance produced two longer-term partnerships built on the understanding that working together had produced a powerful and effective counter to fascism.

    A ‘news bulletin’ from August 1945 issued by a predecessor of the United Nations.
    Foreign Policy In Focus

    Postwar alliances

    The first of these alliances is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. The original members were the U.S., Canada, Britain, France and others of the wartime Allies. There are now 32 members, including Poland, Hungary and Turkey.

    The aims of NATO were to keep the peace in Europe and contain the growing Communist threat from the Soviet Union. NATO’s supporters feel that, given that the wars in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s and in the Ukraine today are the only major conflicts in Europe in 80 years, the alliance has met its goals well. And NATO troops went to Afghanistan along with the U.S. military after 9/11.

    The other institution created by the wartime Allies is the United Nations.

    The U.N. is many things – a humanitarian aid organization, a forum for countries to raise their issues and a source of international law.

    However, it is also an alliance. The U.N. Security Council on several occasions authorized the use of force by members, such as in the first Gulf War against Iraq. And it has the power to send peacekeeping troops to conflict areas under the U.N. flag.

    Other U.S. allies with treaties or designations by Congress include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, three South American countries and six in the Middle East.

    In addition to these formal alliances, many of the same countries created institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization of American States and the European Union. The U.S. belongs to all of these except the European Union. During my 35-year diplomatic career, I worked with all of these institutions, particularly in efforts to stabilize Africa. They keep the peace and support development efforts with loans and grants.

    Admirers of this postwar liberal international order point to the limited number of major armed conflicts during the past 80 years, the globalized economy and international cooperation on important matters such as disease control and fighting terrorism.
    Detractors point to this system’s inability to stop some very deadly conflicts, such as Vietnam or Ukraine, and the large populations that haven’t done well under globalization as evidence of its flaws.

    The world would look dramatically different without the Allies’ victories in the two World Wars, the stable worldwide economic system and NATO’s and the U.N.’s keeping the world relatively peaceful.

    But the value of allies to Americans, even when they benefit from alliances, appears to have shifted between George Washington’s attitude – avoid them – and that of Franklin D. Roosevelt – go all in … eventually.

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

    – ref. How allies have helped the US gain independence, defend freedom and keep the peace – even as the US did the same for our friends – https://theconversation.com/how-allies-have-helped-the-us-gain-independence-defend-freedom-and-keep-the-peace-even-as-the-us-did-the-same-for-our-friends-248839

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Gruesome prospect of soldiers facing trial for Clone

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister:

    “Today’s announcement that the a file on SAS soldiers has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions is the inevitable consequence of the rash finding by the coroner.

    “We now face the gruesome prospect of the soldiers standing trial for relieving the community of a band of bloodthirsty terrorists who went out that night intent on murder.

    “There will be real anger across Northern Ireland – particularly among those who lost loved ones at the hands of the IRA – at this news.

    “When we have a system which puts the security forces, but never the terrorists, in the dock something is badly wrong.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Orion180 Makes Key Executive Moves to Drive Product Growth and Further Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MELBOURNE, Fla., Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orion180, a leading provider of innovative insurance solutions, today announced it has hired former The Hartford executive Chris DiMartino as Chief Underwriting Officer. In this role, DiMartino will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of underwriting, product development and management across its surplus and personal lines of business.

    DiMartino brings 27 years of experience in underwriting, actuarial science, and product management in commercial and personal lines P&C insurance. Prior to joining Orion180, he served as senior vice president of insurance services at AAA Northeast and held prominent leadership roles in his 20+ years at The Hartford, most recently serving as Head of Product for its $3 billion personal lines business. DiMartino is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS), a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), and a licensed attorney.

    “Bringing Chris on board marks a pivotal step in our company’s evolution,” said Ken Gregg, CEO and Founder of Orion180. “His deep expertise in underwriting and product management will be critical in enhancing our portfolio as we continue to aggressively grow product lines and expand to other States.”

    Additionally, Orion180 Chief Operations Officer (COO) Ryan Jesenik has been promoted to President, Insurance. In his expanded role, Jesenik will retain his responsibilities as COO while also leading growth strategy, ensuring daily operations align seamlessly with the company’s long-term goals.

    During Jesenik’s tenure as COO, Orion180 has been named to the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies list for two consecutive years, and he helped grow the company to $263M in in-force premium. He also supported the company’s homeowners, FLEX, and private residential flood insurance product launches, and the release of the innovative MY180 app allowing agents to seamlessly create new quotes and manage their book of business.

    “Ryan has been instrumental in helping Orion180 become one of the fastest growing home insurance companies in the U.S.,” said Gregg. “I look forward to our continued work together, advancing our vision of offering consumers and agents greater choice and unmatched flexibility to meet their everchanging needs.”

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

    Media Contact
    Ross Blume
    Fusion Public Relations
    Orion180@fusionpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Student Finance England mailing list 2025 to 2026

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Students from England can sign up to our mailing list to be told when full-time undergraduate applications open.

    Mailing list for 2025 to 2026

    Student Finance England (SFE) students can sign up to our mailing list to find out when full-time undergraduate applications open!

    It’s important for new and continuing SFE students to stay up to date so they can apply early for student finance for 2025 to 2026.

    They can find the sign up page through our social media posts and on our campaign page.

    Students, parents and university and college staff can also sign up to the mailing list to find out when applications open.

    Part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students

    Postgraduate applications will be available at the end of April. Part-time applications will be available from May.

    S##ocial media

    Follow us for regular updates throughout our campaign!

    Student Finance England

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SFEngland/

    X – https://x.com/SF_England

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/studentfinance_england/

    YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/SFEFILM

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Devon and Cornwall farmers called on to prevent run-off incidents

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Reports of rain washing loose soil off farm fields nearly doubles compared to same period last year.

    Soil run-off incidents nearly doubled in Devon and Cornwall last month

    The Environment Agency is calling on farmers in Devon and Cornwall to prevent loose soil washing off farm fields into rivers, roads and homes. 

    January saw 25 incidents of heavy rain carrying loose soil running from fields – nearly double the number of incidents reported the same time last year – with officers making 14 visits to farms to investigate and a further 11 visits planned. 

    Laura Bentley, a land management project officer with the Environment Agency, said:  

    The windows of dry weather in autumn can be so short that large farms don’t have time to get around all their land when soil conditions are right, to establish crop cover ahead of the winter rains.  

    Employing reduced tillage – minimal disturbance of the soil – and drilling seed into compacted earth no longer works in Devon and Cornwall in this changed climate. Winter cereals and cover crops aren’t taking, and bare, compacted soil is exposed to the elements and prone to run-off.

    Farmers are losing crops, top soil, organic matter and nutrients to run-off incidents plus the costs of recultivating and resowing fields, time, fuel, seed and fertiliser.  

    What can be done to prevent soil run-off pollution?

    Farmers can better prepare for winter weather by: 

    • digging a hole with a spade and looking to see if there is compaction, how deep it goes then remove it with the correct cultivation kit

    • having access to a range of cultivation equipment, capable of working the soils at different depths

    • risk assessing their land using the agency’s ALERT system – prioritising the highest risk areas for cultivation and drilling

    • having a Plan B if cover crops and winter cereals don’t establish

    • installing measures to prevent run-off from reaching property and watercourses

    Run-off can result in action being taken if it breaches the Farming Rules for Water and Environmental Permitting Regulations. The Environment Agency will give advice and guidance, but it will issue formal warnings and take enforcement action where needed. 

    Residents who see discoloured water running off farm fields which could threaten roads, rivers and properties can report it to the Environment Agency’s 24/7 incident hotline – 0800 807060. 

    Background

    ALERT 

    The free Environment Agency mapping tool ALERT stands for The Agricultural Land & Environment Risk and Opportunity Tool and is publicly available on the Farming Advice Service website to help all land managers.

    It will help assess a field’s risk for causing pollution or surface water flooding and takes slope, LiDAR data – which shows where water will flow in extreme weather events, and soil type into account to indicate the inherent risk of a field. ALERT helps inform land managers’ decision making and avoid planting high-risk crops in unsuitable fields or mitigating them.  

    Farming regulations involving water now in single booklet 

    To support farmers with compliance, the EA has launched a brand-new printed booklet, with all guidance on water-related agriculture regulations. 

    A summary of all the water-based regulatory guidance is now in one place. To receive your free copy, email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk or call the NCCC on 03708 506 506.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: FMQs: Greens call for White House apology for Vance lies

    Source: Scottish Greens

    20 Feb 2025 Health

    Abortion rights are healthcare and must be defended.

    More in Health

    The First Minister has been urged to back calls for a White House apology for the lies and misinformation peddled by Vice President JD Vance about safe access zones in Scotland.

    Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay introduced the bill that secured 200 metre wide safe access zones, or buffer zones, around abortion service providers to stop the intimidating anti-choice protests that were taking place across Scotland.

    In a speech last week, VP Vance claimed that people in Scotland were told that private prayer in their own homes would be against the law within a safe access zone and that people were encouraged to report anyone they thought guilty of “thought crime.” This has never been true.

    Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater condemned Vance’s comments and the planned anti-choice protests outside hospitals.

    In her first question to the First Minister, Ms Slater said:

    “This week, US Vice President JD Vance has spread misinformation about laws made in this Scottish Parliament.  

    “His claims about my colleague Gillian Mackay’s Safe Access Zones Act are grossly misleading.

    “Emboldened by Mr Vance’s comments, anti-choice groups have already started to target patients outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow, with more actions planned in coming weeks.

    “Last summer, members of this Parliament agreed overwhelmingly that everyone should be able to access abortion services free from harassment.

    “What is the First Minister doing to correct false claims and provide clarity to the public on what the buffer zones mean for them, and how will he protect safe access to healthcare in Scotland?”

    Following the First Minister’s response, in which he emphasised his support for safe access zones, Ms Slater urged the First Minister to back representations to the White House to correct the record.

    In her second question, Ms Slater said:

    “The White House manufactures mistruths, tech billionaires profit from them and bad faith actors spread them: disinformation is playing an increasingly dangerous role in our communities and in global politics.

    “Promoting lies and misinformation, at home and abroad, can have serious consequences for all our communities. Friendly countries do not tell lies about each other.

    “Does the First Minister agree that political leaders everywhere must stand up to disinformation – and will he ask Keir Starmer to demand an urgent apology from the White House when the Prime Minister meets Trump next week?”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: BsvCloud Launches 2025 Mining Contracts, Offering New Passive Income Opportunities through Cloud Mining

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    UXBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BsvCloud, a leading cloud mining platform, has announced the launch of its new mining contracts for 2025. These updated contracts provide users with an accessible and eco-friendly way to earn passive income through cryptocurrency mining without the need for complex setups or large initial investments.

    Flexible and Accessible Mining Contracts
    BsvCloud’s new 2025 mining contracts offer flexible investment plans starting at just $200, making it easier for both beginners and experienced investors to start mining. Users can choose from different contract tiers that match their financial goals, with the added benefit of renewable energy-powered mining operations.

    Sustainable Cloud Mining
    BsvCloud’s 2025 contracts focus on sustainability by using renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, for mining. This reduces costs and minimizes the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining, supporting greener energy practices.

    User-Friendly and Efficient Mining

    The new contracts come with a range of benefits designed to enhance the mining experience. BsvCloud users can enjoy:

    • Flexible Investment Options: Plans starting at just $200, making it easy for anyone to get involved.
    • High Profitability: The platform offers competitive returns, enabling users to earn passive income daily.
    • Fast Payouts: Withdrawals are processed quickly, often within five minutes of the request.
    • 24/7 Customer Support: BsvCloud provides round-the-clock support to assist users with any issues they may encounter.

    How to Get Started with BsvCloud

    Getting started with BsvCloud is simple. New users can sign up for free and begin earning passive income through cloud mining in just a few steps:

    1.   Sign Up: Create a free account on the BsvCloud platform. Sign up bonus 15$.
    2.   Choose a Mining Plan: Select an investment plan based on your budget and goals.

    3.   Start Mining: BsvCloud will begin mining on your behalf, and you can start earning passive income immediately.

    The Future of Cloud Mining with BsvCloud

    As BsvCloud continues to grow, it remains committed to providing its users with reliable, efficient, and sustainable cloud mining opportunities. With over 500,000 users worldwide, the platform is positioned as a leading choice for those looking to earn passive income through cryptocurrency mining.

    For more information about BsvCloud and to explore its new 2025 mining contracts, visit www.bsvcloud.com.

    About BsvCloud
    BsvCloud is a leading cloud mining platform that offers users the opportunity to earn passive income through mining popular cryptocurrencies. Founded in 2017, BsvCloud has grown to serve over 500,000 users worldwide, providing efficient, eco-friendly, and profitable cloud mining services.

    Media Contact:

    Website: https://bsvcloud.com/
    Company: BsvCloud
    Contact person: Tomas Clark
    Email: info@bsvcloud.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by BsvCloud. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in cloud mining and related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/406dd7bb-d1d0-4022-81d4-45246fb38f4e

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/745582ec-13f9-419a-8d93-da12ec441a0e

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1a7fc51d-b7c7-4e8f-a49b-1917ef90baeb

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Investing in Diversity | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Inclusive business strategies and economic policy targeting workforces, suppliers and companies’ broader ecosystems have in recent years emerged as increasingly mission-critical for business performance in all parts of the globe.

    In an era when innovation, adaptability and resilience are paramount, how are new champions of inclusive leadership reshaping the future of economic growth and competitiveness across the world?

    This session is part of the World Economic Forum’s Future of DEI workstream.

    Speakers: Luana Génot, Ebru Özdemir, Katy Talikowska, Jochen Wegner, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland

    The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.

    This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
    X ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #Davos2025 #WorldEconomicForum #wef25

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYm6PGUi9OU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Update 277 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has been relying on a single off-site power line for more than a week now after its only remaining back-up line was lost, once again highlighting an extremely fragile nuclear safety situation during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

    Nuclear power plants (NPPs) need a secure supply of external electricity to cool their reactors and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions. However, this has been a major challenge over the past three years, with the ZNPP temporarily losing all off-site power eight times.  

    In the latest incident affecting the reliability of the supply of power from the grid, its sole 330 kilovolt (kV) back-up power line was disconnected on 11 February and has not yet been fully restored. This leaves Europe’s largest NPP entirely dependent on its only remaining 750 kV line. Before the conflict, it had a total of 10 power lines – six 750 kV and four 330 kV – available.

    “The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant still needs reliable supplies of off-site power for cooling purposes, even though its six reactors have been shut down for more than two years now,” Director General Grossi said. “The vulnerability of the external power situation remains a deep source of concern for nuclear safety.”

    The ZNPP said the 330 kV line was disconnected last week due to the activation of the electrical protection system. The Ukrainian regulatory body informed the IAEA that it was the result of unspecified military activity and that the power line had been damaged. The IAEA team at the ZNPP currently continues to gather further information regarding the status of the back-up power supply to the site.

    Further underlining the constant risks to nuclear safety, the IAEA team based at the site heard an explosion close to the ZNPP on 12 February, coinciding with unconfirmed reports of a drone attack approximately 300 meters from the site. The team has over the past week continued to hear other daily explosions at varying distances from the ZNPP. No damage to the site has been reported.

    The IAEA team continues to carry out walkdowns across the ZNPP as part of the work to monitor and assess nuclear safety and security.

    The IAEA remains in contact with both sides regarding the next rotation of IAEA personnel at the ZNPP, after it was delayed last week due to intense military activity in the area.

    At the Chornobyl NPP site, firefighters are continuing to put out small fires that keep smouldering and spreading on the roof of the New Safe Confinement (NSC), after it was struck on 14 February by a drone that pierced a hole in the large structure built to cover the reactor destroyed in the 1986 accident.

    The IAEA team based at the site, which was granted unrestricted access to examine the impact of the explosion, conducts regular walkdowns and radiation measurements to independently monitor the situation. The team’s measurements continue to show normal gamma radiation dose rate values near the NSC compared to those recorded by the IAEA since it established a continuous presence at the site just over two years ago.

    The IAEA teams based at Ukraine’s other NPPs – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – have continued to report frequent air raid alarms over the past week and were also informed of the presence of drones within the areas surrounding the respective sites.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Restoring Scotland’s natural environment

    Source: Scottish Government

    New targets to enhance nature and protect biodiversity.

    Legislative proposals to help restore nature and protect biodiversity in Scotland have been introduced to Parliament.

    The Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, which will now be considered by MSPs, would place a duty on Ministers to set legally-binding nature restoration targets and will modernise how national parks and deer are managed.

    The legislation is a key part of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity and complements the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and related delivery plans. 

    Experts have warned that a decline in biodiversity will make the climate crisis worse while a changing climate will increase the rate of biodiversity loss. The Bill proposes actions to tackle the twin crises of climate change and nature loss with measures to protect biodiversity and reduce harmful carbon emissions.

    It will build on the high ambitions set out in the Biodiversity Strategy and Delivery Plan, which includes over 100 actions to tackle the nature crisis.

    If passed by Parliament in due course, the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill would:

    • place a duty on Scottish Ministers to set legally-binding targets for nature restoration
    • create a power to allow for future amendments to Environmental Impact Assessment legislation and the 1994 Habitats Regulations, to ensure that they remain fit for purpose over time and to flexibly adapt to future requirements, while ensuring that the legislative frameworks continue to effectively underpin environmental protection and assessment processes in Scotland.
    • modernise the aims of National Parks and powers of National Park Authorities
    • reform the way in which deer are managed through the implementation of many of the recommendations made by the Deer Working Group, through repealing the licensing of venison dealing, and by amending NatureScot’s powers of intervention.

    Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon said:

    “We all depend on nature – to provide our food, help prevent flooding, tackle the climate crisis and contribute to our wellbeing. But right now around 11% of species in Scotland are under threat and if we do not take urgent action, nature in Scotland will continue to decline and some important species might be lost forever.

    “Our proposals in this Bill can contribute to the Scottish Government’s priority of tackling the climate emergency. The twin crises of climate change and nature loss are interdependent and need to be tackled together.

    “Improving our biodiversity is one of the best chances we have to adapt to climate change and ensure we can continue to enjoy nature’s benefits, on which we all depend. However, government cannot do this alone – we must work in partnership with, and use the expertise of, land managers, farmers and crofters.

    “We are determined to promote biodiversity, to adapt to climate change, and to ensure we can continue to enjoy the benefits of Scotland’s wonderful nature – and this Bill will help achieve that.”

    NatureScot Chair Colin Galbraith said:

    “We welcome the introduction of the Natural Environment Bill, and we strongly support the inclusion of statutory targets to protect and restore Scotland’s nature. These are an essential part of achieving the vision set out in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy for the recovery of nature; helping to restore vital habitats and safeguard threatened species. They will also help us build resilience against the impacts of climate change while striving towards becoming a nature-positive and net-zero nation.

    “In particular, the proposed changes for deer legislation will help improve efforts to restore priority areas such as native woodlands and peatlands by reducing the impacts of deer grazing and trampling.”

    Background

    Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website

    Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The presentation of the book “Corporate Universities of Russia – 2024” was held at the HSE

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    More than 200 representatives of leading corporate universities and experts in the field of business education in Russia gathered at the HSE Higher School of Business (HSB) for the presentation of a book with the results of the third wave of research.

    Representatives of leading CU and corporate academies spoke at the panel discussion: the Bank of Russia, NLMK, UMMC, SberUniversity, Rosatom.

    The study of the population of corporate universities in the country was initiated by the HSE Graduate School of Economics. The pilot reference and analytical publication with the results of the first wave, presented in 2022, aroused great interest in the professional community.

    The project was continued, and in 2024 the study was conducted with the support of SberUniversity. The authors of the initiative idea and editors of the third book are Valery Katkalo, Director of the HSE School of Business and Natalia Shumkova, Deputy Director of the Business School for Corporate Training.

    Valery Katkalo and Natalia Osipchuk, CEO of SberUniversity, addressed the presentation participants with welcoming remarks.

    “Today, corporate universities in Russia are a unique point of intersection of transformation processes in education and business. The role of CUs is to be not just centers for professional retraining, but an environment that promotes organizational and personal development. I am confident that the book, which presents the results of the study “Corporate Universities of Russia – 2024″, carried out by the Higher School of Business of the National Research University Higher School of Economics with the support of SberUniversity, will be useful both for experienced players in the corporate training market and for companies that are just thinking about creating a corporate university,” emphasized Natalia Osipchuk.

    Katkalo Valery Sergeevich

    Director of the Higher School of Business, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Professor

    “The third wave of our study of the population of Russian CUs allowed us to identify a number of new quantitative and qualitative aspects of the development of their business models and product portfolios. In addition, at this stage of the study, we developed and tested an original concept of the typology of Russian CUs, which received high praise from the professional community.”

    In a brief overview of the key data and conclusions of the third wave of the study, Natalia Shumkova emphasized the increase in the number of project participants in 2024. A significantly new qualitative aspect of the study of corporate universities within the third stage of the project was the development of their original typology, taking into account the world experience of comparing the maturity stages of corporate universities. The authors summarized the accumulated experience of scientific typology of corporate universities, offering a pioneering attempt at a conceptual model for comparing the stages of evolution of Russian corporate universities. The book contains an article with the “Matrix of Maturity of Corporate Universities” developed by the authors and the experience of testing it based on the findings of the primary self-assessment from more than half of the participants in the “portrait gallery” of the 2024 study.

    The presentation continued with a panel discussion: “What is important for us to know about the development of corporate universities in Russia?”, moderated by Valery Katkalo. The discussion was attended by industry leaders: Andrey Afonin, Director of the Bank of Russia University, Polina Kolesova, Director of the NLMK Corporate University, Vyacheslav Lapin, Director of the University of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company, Natalia Osipchuk, CEO of SberUniversity, and Yulia Uzhakina, CEO of the Rosatom Corporate Academy.

    The discussion touched upon key issues of corporate university development in Russia. The speakers discussed the evolution of universities over the past 20-25 years, focusing on important stages of their development – from the first attempts to create them in the 1990s to today, when corporate universities are becoming key drivers of business development and change management. Corporate universities have become innovation centers that influence not only business, but also society – the experts agreed.

    A special atmosphere accompanied the entire presentation of the book “Corporate Universities of Russia – 2024”. A bright final chord of the community meeting was the announcement of the IV Forum of Corporate Training Leaders, the key ideas of the upcoming Forum were presented by Yulia Uzhakina. In 2025, it will be held at the site of the Rosatom Corporate Academy in Nizhny Novgorod.

    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 Russia: The Polytechnic University opened a board of Endowment Fund benefactors

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On the Polytechnic’s birthday, the traditional meeting of ambassadors and patrons was held with special solemnity. Its culmination was the opening of the board of benefactors of the SPbPU Endowment Fund.

    Before this, a festive award ceremony was held in the foyer of the Technopolis Polytech research building to honor the most active graduates and employees of the university, who contribute to its successful development and strengthening of its position among higher educational institutions of the city and the country.

    Opening the meeting, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov congratulated the guests on the birthday of the Polytechnic University and thanked them for their loyalty and love for their alma mater.

    “I am glad that today those who provide the university with significant financial, administrative, and informational assistance have gathered here again,” said Maxim Aleksandrovich. “This is a good initiative to annually recognize the contribution of benefactors and graduates to the development of the university and the implementation of its initiatives. The endowment fund is the calling card of a modern world-class university. As of the end of 2024, we have collected more than 110 million rubles. They are under the trust management of the management company, and the income we receive is directed to the development of the Polytechnic University. Endowments for institutes are being actively created. We really hope for the support of our graduates in forming the fund and are grateful for the assistance that has already been provided.”

    In 2024, when Polytechnic celebrated not only its anniversary, but also the anniversary of the university’s founder, an outstanding Russian statesman, financier and diplomat Sergei Yulievich Witte, a commemorative medal in his name was established at the university. It will be awarded to multiple benefactors of the SPbPU Endowment Fund for Development.

    The first medals for long-term fruitful cooperation and significant contribution to the Endowment Fund were received by Bank Saint Petersburg and VTB Bank.

    For assistance in developing the University Endowment Fund, the following were awarded the Witte Medal and the University’s gratitude: Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg LLC, Streamer NPO, and Arman Group.

    The following were personally awarded for their contribution to the development of the SPbPU Endowment Fund: Mikhail Silnikov, General Director and General Designer of NPO Spetsmaterialy; Vera Konsetova, General Director of AFK-AUDIT; Sergei Kopytov, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Petersburg Social Commercial Bank; Mikhail Grekov, Vice-Rector for Work with Branches of the Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State University of Railway Engineering; and Oleg Koval.

    The university staff also made a significant contribution to the development of the Endowment Fund: Vice-Rector for Economics and Finance of the Polytechnic University Alexander Rechinsky; Advisor to the Rector’s Office Vladimir Glukhov; Director of the Physics and Mechanical Institute Nikolay Ivanov; Director of the Higher School of Industrial Management Olga Kalinina; Director of the Higher School of Engineering and Economics Dmitry Rodionov; Director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” Sergey Salkutsan; Leading Specialist of the SPbPU History Museum Alexander Kobyshev.

    For contribution to the implementation cooperation agreements between the university and the State Hermitage Museum and active participation in the activities of the Polytechnic Ambassadors Community in 2024, the following were awarded the university’s gratitude: Deputy Director General of the State Hermitage Museum Alexey Bogdanov and the head of the ventilation, air conditioning, control and measuring instruments and automation systems sector of the Operations Department of the Staraya Derevnya Restoration and Storage Center of the State Hermitage Museum Kirill Tambovtsev.

    Also, for promoting the development of the community of ambassadors and the SPbPU Endowment Fund in 2024, awards were received by the head of the production preparation bureau of the chief technologist’s department of JSC Kronstadt Marine Plant Dmitry Gomonov and the head of the process automation department of the Information Systems Department of BorisHof Holding LLC, Ruslan Talipov.

    In 2024, in memory of Sergei Yulyevich Witte, the Academic Council decided to restore the Witte scholarships from the income from the management of the Polytechnic Endowment Fund. In accordance with historical tradition, the scholarships will be awarded to four students who have passed the next session with excellent marks and successfully passed the competitive selection. The scholarship will be 10,000 rubles, it will be paid for five months, and then, based on the results of the next session, the commission will determine new winners.

    The first Witte scholarship recipients were Yaroslav Kiyashko (Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity), Konstantin Fedorov (Institute of Energy), Anna Danilova (Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade) and Natalia Poluektova (Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade). At the ceremony, they were presented with scholarship certificates, memorable gifts from the university, and the girls were also given flowers.

    After the ceremony, the guests were invited to the opening of the board of benefactors of the SPbPU Endowment Fund. It is located next to the model of the Polytechnic University campus. The board reflects information about all major donors of the Endowment Fund since the year of its foundation.

    “Our fund has existed since 2012, and it was created for eternity. Therefore, if we participate in its work, it means that we are in touch with eternity,” said Yuri Levchenko, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Endowment Fund, Senior Vice President of VTB Bank. “Our fund, of course, is still small, compared to, say, Harvard University, but every year it grows thanks to your efforts, for which we are very grateful. And I encourage everyone to actively participate in this work, involve friends and acquaintances. We hope that our graduates will become successful businessmen, government officials, creative people, and will never forget the institute, and our fund will grow.”

    Vice-Rector Maxim Pasholikov explained that the plaque is removable, and if there are more donors, then by the university’s next birthday their names and the names of their companies will also appear in this place of honor.

    Photo archive

    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 Russia: Digital information panels decorate Polytech

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    Digital information panels have appeared at the Polytechnic University. An interesting and useful innovation is timed to coincide with the 126th anniversary of the university, which was celebrated on February 19. With the help of modern technologies, polytechnics will be able to easily and quickly obtain the necessary information.

    The Polytechnic University campus is constantly evolving and becoming more comfortable, convenient and informative. Actively introducing modern technologies into the daily life of the university, the SPbPU management decided to transfer paper and other visual media located on the campus to digital format.

    At the first stage, the number of posters, announcements and banners was reduced, replacing them with new information panels. Now polytechnics and guests of our university can comfortably study useful information materials, such as announcements of lectures, conferences and events. Presentation materials and commercials will also be broadcast on the panels. A film dedicated to the 125th anniversary of SPbPU is already being shown.

    The installation of video panels in our main buildings has become an important step in improving the university’s information environment. This modern solution allows us to quickly and clearly convey relevant information to students, contributing to the increased efficiency of the educational process. Now polytechnic students will be able to receive all the necessary information quickly and conveniently, thanks to modern visualization technologies, – emphasized Vice-Rector for Educational Activities Lyudmila Pankova.

    Currently, the information panels are located in the Academic Building No. 1, the Main Building and the Research Building of Technopolis Polytech. They are made in the new corporate style of the university, which will soon be available for viewing in the catalog.

    In connection with the new trends in education, all other processes in the university must also be restructured. This is why we are developing infrastructure transformations on campus: we started with information panels in the central buildings of the university. I am sure that students and employees will appreciate the convenience and efficiency of this format of information, – noted Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov.

    There is much that is new and interesting ahead for the Polytechnics; the work on transforming the university campus will expand and improve.

    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 Russia: Marat Khusnullin: An industrial park is planned to be created in Alchevsk, LPR

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    To ensure sustainable development of new regions, measures are taken to ensure long-term growth and unlock the potential of the territories. Master plans are developed and applied for their comprehensive development. Thus, according to this spatial planning document, in the city of Alchevsk in the Luhansk People’s Republic, along with the renovation of the housing stock and the modernization of the infrastructure, it is planned to create an industrial park. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

     

    “The development of regions involves making decisions that will work effectively in the long term. Ultimately, all changes should improve the quality of life of people. One of the tools that allows for a structural approach to the issue is a master plan. We apply its capabilities in new regions. For example, when developing a master plan for the city of Alchevsk in the LPR, the Unified Institute of Spatial Planning took into account, first of all, its historical industrial significance and advantageous transport location. That is why a decision was made to create an industrial park with an area of 82.5 hectares,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

     

    Marat Khusnullin added that the master plan as a whole proposes the development of the leading sector of the Alchevsk economy – metallurgy, as well as sectors that have the potential to be integrated into existing production chains. In this regard, it is planned to accelerate the restoration of the production capacities of the city-forming enterprise – the Alchevsk Metallurgical Plant, the construction of two transport and logistics centers with a total area of 121.5 thousand square meters, as well as a section of the federal highway “Northern Bypass of Alchevsk” with a length of more than 28 km, which will eliminate the movement of transit vehicles through the city.

     

    “In Alchevsk, major repairs of existing and construction of new apartment buildings are planned. Each district will have its own public and business center with service, cultural and sports facilities. This will relieve the core of the city center, while preserving its historical scale, the structure of streets and blocks,” added Dina Sattarova, director of the Federal Autonomous Institution “Unified Institute of Spatial Planning of the Russian Federation.”

    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: Atos successfully deploys new, innovative sport technologies during the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival Bakuriani 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

                                                                    News

    Atos successfully deploys new, innovative sport technologies during the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival Bakuriani 2025

    New, integrated technologies contributed to the event success and are now field-proven, ready to be deployed at a larger scale.

    Bakuriani, Georgia, and Paris, France, February 20, 2025 – Atos, a global leader in digital transformation and the Technology Partner of the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) Bakuriani 2025, today announces that its innovative IT services contributed to the success of the event from February 9 to 16, 2025. Atos delivered a comprehensive suite of digital services that enhanced fan experience, optimized event operations, and brought the Festival closer to audiences across Europe.

    Atos provided traditional Timing and Results services, ensuring accuracy and efficiency across all sports. It also powered the official event website and mobile application, a real-time results information system, and an interactive database allowing fans and stakeholders to effortlessly access key statistics and insights. Atos enabled the live streaming production and distribution of all competitions, enabling rights-holding broadcasters and media partners to seamlessly share the action with audiences worldwide.

    The Winter European Youth Olympic Festival was also the opportunity for Atos and the organizing committee to showcase innovative technologies which deepened the experience, immersion and engagement of stakeholders.

    • Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered Media Center for press and stakeholders

    During the event, Atos provided for the first time exclusive, automated and AI-powered media clips and highlights to official stakeholders, including Olympic Committees, federations, and accredited media outlets across Europe. Through a password-protected content management system, users could submit natural language requests for read-to-use video clips about an athlete, a sport, a result or a game situation, users received a corresponding ready-to-use video clip. The Atos AI-powered Media Center then automatically recovered, edited and customized footage for each type of user. This breakthrough technology is expected to incredibly speed up video dissemination for major events worldwide.

    • On- and Off-site immersion

    In collaboration with the Organizing Committee, an innovative solution has been developed to keep onsite attendees and online users informed about live events. The system combines real-time results with video highlights, providing a complete overview of ongoing competitions on a single screen. News feeds were also broadcast on giant screens at event venues, ensuring an immersive experience for all spectators.

    • An AI-powered chatbot

    The AI-powered chatbot designed to answer fan inquiries about Georgia, the Festival, and historical results, has proven its efficiency by providing instant, reliable information throughout the event.

    • SportEurope integrated, unified platform

    Atos developed SportEurope for the European Olympic Committees (EOC), an online fan ecosystem that integrates the event’s web presence, social media domains and marketing automation systems, ensuring continuous engagement with sports enthusiasts across Europe. Through strategic content creation in collaboration with athletes, European National Olympic Committees and European sports federations, SportEurope fosters a vibrant community around the Games.

    Atos developed the Winter Crystal gaming experience, a mobile game that places players in digitized environments of Georgian landmarks and EYOF venues. This interactive adventure involves solving games and completing challenges to explore the spirit of the Games while competing for the prestigious Winter Crystal award.

    “We are delighted that our technologies were instrumental in the success of the European Youth Olympic Festival” said Nacho Moros, Head of Atos Major Events. “This inspiring event was also the perfect venue to introduce new and innovative solutions and continue to set new benchmarks in digital transformation for major sporting events. We are confident these field-proven technologies will soon be deployed in world-class events”.

    “Atos provided a high level of professional service and made a significant contribution to the success of the Bakuriani 2025 Olympic Festival”, said Zurab Tuskia, Head of IT & Accreditation, EYOF Bakuriani 2025 OC. “We would like to thank Atos for their professional support, which was demonstrated through the prompt resolution of any issues that arose throughout our time together, as well as for the strong and friendly relationship that was formed between the IT department and the Atos team during the Olympic Festival.”         

    Key figures:

    • 8 sports operated, 5 venues in 3 host cities (Bakuriani, Batumi and Tbilisi).
    • Atos staff: 56 on site plus 10 on remote support
    • over 30 days on site operations.
    • over 150 laptops, 70 mobile phones, and Sport Specific devices.
    • 3.334 accreditations
    • over 200 live streaming hours.

    Digital achievements:

    • over 1 million Instagram views, 60,000 TikTok views, 60,000+ visits to sporteurope.org
    • AI-generated articles ranked among the Top 7 most viewed pages.
    • 2,000 active users on the app.
    • over 200 active users for the Winter Crystal mobile game.
    • over 100 users accessing the Gaudi multimedia repository & over 550 downloads. Notable users include over 40 European National Olympic Committees, Local Organizing Committees and Sport Federations.
    • 30% of Sport Europe users are opening the Email Marketing emails.

    Atos has been serving its partners and customers through a dedicated in-house sports and major events division (“Major Events”) for over 30 years, giving it an unmatched experience and the flexibility to serve its customers regardless of their exposure, size and scale. From global events to local competitions, Atos consistently strives to deliver technology excellence to its entire customer base. 

    Atos has been involved with the Olympic Movement since 1992 and the Paralympic Movement since 2002 and is the Official Digital Technology Partner of the European Olympic Committees, including the European Games 2027, as well as the official Digital partner for Special Olympics International. In addition, the company is also the Official Information Technology Partner of UEFA National Team Football. Most recently, Atos has been instrumental in delivering successful leading-edge IT services for iconic events such as UEFA EURO 2024™ in Germany and the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. 

    To learn more about Atos solutions for sporting events and major events, visit Atos major events. 

    ***

    About European Youth Olympics Festival Bakuriani 2025

    The EOC is an international non-governmental not-for-profit organization whose objective is to propagate the fundamental principles of Olympism at European level. Held under the patronage of the IOC, and the pride of the European Olympic Committees with almost 35 years of tradition, the EYOF is the first top European multi-sport event aimed at young athletes aged 14 to 18. There is a winter and a summer edition, which take place in two-year cycles, in odd-numbered years.

    The event is rich with Olympic traditions: from the burning flame to athletes’ and officials’ oaths. It is at the EYOF that many of Europe’s aspiring sports stars take their first steps on the international stage. And while some may look to the EYOF as a stepping-stone to Olympic greatness, all who participate take home friendships and experiences to last a lifetime.

    About Atos

    Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 82,000 employees and annual revenue of c. € 10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 69 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

    The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

    Press contact
    Laurent Massicot | laurent.massicot@atos.net | +33 (0)7 69 48 01 80

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sophos and Pax8 Announce Strategic Partnership to Streamline Security Management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OXFORD, United Kingdom, and DENVER, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sophos, a global leader of innovative security solutions for defeating cyberattacks, today announced a strategic partnership with Pax8, the leading cloud commerce marketplace. The collaboration introduces the most comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity solutions available to Pax8’s network of more than 40,000 managed service providers (MSPs). MSPs in the Pax8 network now have a complete one-stop shop of best-in-class cybersecurity solutions available from a single vendor – including Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR), Sophos Endpoint powered by Intercept X and Sophos Firewall. This revolutionizes opportunities for channel partners to streamline operations, simplify billing and significantly reduce the complexity of cybersecurity management across customers.

    According to the Sophos MSP Perspectives 2024 report, MSPs that consolidate their security stack with a single vendor can cut daily security management time by nearly 50% – a savings that jumps to 69% for those juggling six or more security vendors. By partnering with Pax8, Sophos is removing a key operational barrier for MSPs, enabling them to seamlessly manage cybersecurity through a single vendor platform to streamline solution integration and enhance efficiency while strengthening their security posture and simplifying cloud procurement cycles.

    “Sophos and Pax8 are strongly aligned in our mission to empower MSPs with best-in-class end-to-end security services and products while simplifying lifecycle management of these solutions and reducing operational overhead. MSPs want to align with vendors who are easy to work with and this agreement will make it even easier for MSPs to work with Sophos, something we’ve long been committed to,” said Joe Levy, CEO of Sophos. “With cybersecurity, speed and innovation are essential for defending against attackers. This partnership with Pax8 accelerates MSP access to critical cybersecurity tools, enabling them to better protect their customers in an increasingly complex and volatile threat landscape.”

    Key advantages of the Sophos and Pax8 partnership for MSPs include:

    • Driving new revenue opportunities for partners by providing the most comprehensive portfolio of security offerings by a single vendor on the Pax8 Marketplace.
    • Reducing overhead costs and freeing up partners’ billable hours by simplifying procurement and billing via a fully integrated Pax8 Marketplace experience.
    • Empowering partners with seamless experiences through coordinated MSP enablement, support and sales training initiatives.
    • Compatible and comprehensive 24/7 security for MSPs’ Microsoft Defender customers with Sophos’ MDR service for Microsoft environments.

    “MSPs today need solutions that align with the way they operate—cloud-first, flexible and easy to manage at scale. Pax8 is revolutionizing the way MSPs access and deploy cloud-based solutions, and cybersecurity is an important piece of the overall stack,” said Scott Chasin, Chief Executive Officer of Pax8. “By bringing Sophos’ innovative security offerings to our marketplace, Pax8 is providing our partners with access to enterprise-grade security solutions for their SMB customers in a way that simplifies management, reduces risk and drives profitability.”

    Comprehensive Security, Unparalleled Efficiency
    “MSPs say they could cut day to day management time almost in half by consolidating on a single cybersecurity platform – and Sophos enables them to achieve that goal. By managing all their customers’ cybersecurity in the cloud-based Sophos Central platform, MSPs can reduce workload and free up valuable billing hours,” said Raja Patel, Chief Product Officer, Sophos. “What’s more, with a complete portfolio of Sophos cybersecurity solutions at their fingertips, Pax8 MSPs enjoy extensive opportunities to sell additional revenue-generating products and services that meet their clients’ evolving cybersecurity needs.”

    Backed by real-time threat intelligence from Sophos X-Ops, a global team of elite threat hunters and security analysts, Sophos’ solutions provide proactive, AI-driven protection against cyberattacks. As the leading pure-play cybersecurity provider of MDR services, Sophos protects over 28,000 organizations globally. Insights from Sophos MDR further strengthens security by providing MSPs and their customers with unparalleled protection. Automated threat detection, managed response, and deep security insights across Sophos’s portfolios equip MSPs to enhance defenses, minimize risk exposure, deliver enterprise-grade protection and cut through the noise to reduce management complexity. 

    Better security for Microsoft environments

    More than 60% of Sophos MDR’s customers are managed via MSPs, giving Sophos unparalleled insights into attacks on MSP-managed environments. Sophos leverages these learnings to update customers’ defenses in real-time, optimizing their protection from ever-evolving attacks and providing peace of mind to both clients and partners. Furthermore, with Sophos’s robust MDR service for Microsoft environments, Pax8 MSPs can elevate the security of clients using Microsoft Defender while enabling their customers to see greater return on their Microsoft investments.

    The Sophos MDR service through Pax8 supports MSPs in several ways. They can either leverage Sophos’ managed service completely or to augment their customers’ in-house department, including coverage on nights and weekends, which are critical times to defend networks because they are when attackers often strike. For MSPs that provide in-house MDR services, the new AI Assistant in Sophos XDR enables operators of all skill levels to neutralize adversaries faster with existing threat investigation and response intelligence from frontline Sophos MDR analysts. 

    Availability 
    The Sophos offering will be available on the Pax8 Marketplace starting February 28, 2025. Pax8 partners interested in learning more about Sophos offerings coming to the Pax8 Marketplace can learn more and sign up at www.sophos.com/msp.

    About Sophos
    Sophos is a global leader and innovator of advanced security solutions for defeating cyberattacks. The company acquired Secureworks in February 2025, bringing together two pioneers that have redefined the cybersecurity industry with their innovative, native AI-optimized services, technologies and products. Sophos is now the largest pure-play Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider, supporting more than 28,000 organizations. In addition to MDR and other services, Sophos’ complete portfolio includes industry-leading endpoint, network, email, and cloud security that interoperate and adapt to defend through the Sophos Central platform. Secureworks provides the innovative, market-leading Taegis XDR/MDR, identity threat detection and response (ITDR), next-gen SIEM capabilities, managed risk, and a comprehensive set of advisory services. Sophos sells all these solutions through reseller partners, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) worldwide, defending more than 600,000 organizations worldwide from phishing, ransomware, data theft, other every day and state-sponsored cybercrimes. The solutions are powered by historical and real-time threat intelligence from Sophos X-Ops and the newly added Counter Threat Unit (CTU). Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K. More information is available at www.sophos.com.

    About Pax8
    Pax8 is the technology marketplace of the future, linking partners, vendors, and small to midsized businesses (SMBs) through AI-powered insights and comprehensive product support. With a global partner ecosystem of over 40,000 managed service providers, Pax8 empowers SMBs worldwide by providing software and services that unlock their growth potential and enhance their security. Committed to innovating cloud commerce at scale, Pax8 drives customer acquisition and solution consumption across its entire ecosystem.
    Follow Pax8 on Blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Greystone Housing Impact Investors Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 and Annual 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On February 20, 2025, Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP (NYSE: GHI) (the “Partnership”) announced financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024.

    Financial Highlights

    The Partnership reported the following results as of and for the three months ended December 31, 2024:

    • Net income of $0.39 per Beneficial Unit Certificate (“BUC”), basic and diluted
    • Cash Available for Distribution (“CAD”) of $0.18 per BUC
    • Total assets of $1.58 billion
    • Total Mortgage Revenue Bond (“MRB”) and Governmental Issuer Loan (“GIL”) investments of $1.25 billion

    The difference between reported net income per BUC and CAD per BUC is primarily due to the treatment of unrealized gains on the Partnership’s interest rate derivative positions. Unrealized gains of approximately $7.0 million are included in net income for the three months ended December 31, 2024. Unrealized gains are a result of the impact of increased market interest rates on the calculated fair value of the Partnership’s interest rate derivative positions. Unrealized gains and losses do not affect our cash earnings and are added back to net income when calculating the Partnership’s CAD. The Partnership received net cash from its interest rate derivative positions totaling approximately $1.3 million during the fourth quarter.

    The Partnership reported the following results for the year ended December 31, 2024:

    • Net income of $0.76 per BUC, basic and diluted
    • CAD of $0.95 per BUC

    In December 2024, the Partnership announced that the Board of Managers of Greystone AF Manager LLC declared a regular quarterly distribution to the Partnership’s BUC holders of $0.37 per BUC. The distribution was paid on January 31, 2025, to BUC holders of record as of the close of trading on December 31, 2024.

    Management Remarks

    “2024 was a challenging year from a number of different perspectives,” said Kenneth C. Rogozinski, the Partnership’s Chief Executive Officer. “The conditions in the multifamily markets, both higher interest rates and operating expenses, presented challenges to our joint venture equity investments. Interest rate volatility also impacted the efficiency of some of our securitization transactions. However, we are encouraged by the opportunities that we are starting to see in 2025. The dedicated pool of capital that we have from the new BlackRock construction lending joint venture is a powerful new tool for us to serve our affordable housing developer relationship base.”

    Recent Investment and Financing Activity

    The Partnership reported the following updates for the fourth quarter of 2024:

    • Advanced funds on MRB and taxable MRB investments totaling $36.8 million.
    • Advanced funds on GIL, taxable GIL and property loan investments totaling $32.0 million.
    • Advanced funds to joint venture equity investments totaling $11.2 million.
    • Received proceeds from the sale of an MRB totaling $11.5 million.
    • Entered into the 2024 PFA Securitization Transaction representing fixed rate, matched term, non-recourse and non-mark to market debt financing totaling $75.4 million.

    In January 2025, the Partnership received proceeds from the sale of Vantage at Tomball located in Tomball, Texas, totaling $14.2 million, inclusive of the Partnership’s initial investment commitment made in August 2020. The Partnership estimates it will not recognize any gain, loss, or CAD upon sale.

    Investment Portfolio Updates

    The Partnership announced the following updates regarding its investment portfolio:

    • All MRB and GIL investments are current on contractual principal and interest payments and the Partnership has received no requests for forbearance of contractual principal and interest payments from borrowers as of December 31, 2024.
    • The Partnership continues to execute its hedging strategy, primarily through interest rate swaps, to reduce the impact of changing market interest rates. The Partnership received net payments under its interest rate swap portfolio of approximately $1.3 million and $6.5 million during the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively. From January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024, the Partnership received net swap payments totaling $12.3 million or approximately $0.53 per BUC.
    • Six joint venture equity investment properties have completed construction, with three properties having previously achieved 90% occupancy. Four of the Partnership’s joint venture equity investments are currently under construction or in development, with none having experienced material supply chain disruptions for either construction materials or labor to date.

    Earnings Webcast & Conference Call

    The Partnership will host a conference call for investors on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Partnership’s Fourth Quarter and full-year 2024 results.

    For those interested in participating in the question-and-answer session, participants may dial-in toll free at (877) 407-8813. International participants may dial-in at +1 (201) 689-8521. No pin or code number is needed.

    The call is also being webcast live in listen-only mode. The webcast can be accessed via the Partnership’s website under “Events & Presentations” or via the following link:
    https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=T0wdPGmd

    It is recommended that you join 15 minutes before the conference call begins (although you may register, dial-in or access the webcast at any time during the call).

    A recorded replay of the webcast will be made available on the Partnership’s Investor Relations website at http://www.ghiinvestors.com.

    About Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP

    Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP was formed in 1998 under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act for the primary purpose of acquiring, holding, selling and otherwise dealing with a portfolio of mortgage revenue bonds which have been issued to provide construction and/or permanent financing for affordable multifamily, seniors and student housing properties. The Partnership is pursuing a business strategy of acquiring additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments on a leveraged basis. The Partnership expects and believes the interest earned on these mortgage revenue bonds is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The Partnership seeks to achieve its investment growth strategy by investing in additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments as permitted by its Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, dated December 5, 2022 (the “Partnership Agreement”), taking advantage of attractive financing structures available in the securities market, and entering into interest rate risk management instruments. Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP press releases are available at www.ghiinvestors.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Certain statements in this press release are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of statements that include, but are not limited to, phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “future,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “estimates,” “potential,” “continue,” or other similar words or phrases. Similarly, statements that describe objectives, plans, or goals also are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Partnership. The Partnership cautions readers that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, implied, or projected by such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: defaults on the mortgage loans securing our mortgage revenue bonds and governmental issuer loans; the competitive environment in which the Partnership operates; risks associated with investing in multifamily, student, senior citizen residential properties and commercial properties; general economic, geopolitical, and financial conditions, including the current and future impact of changing interest rates, inflation, and international conflicts (including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war) on business operations, employment, and financial conditions; uncertain conditions within the domestic and international macroeconomic environment, including monetary and fiscal policy and conditions in the investment, credit, interest rate, and derivatives markets; adverse reactions in U.S. financial markets related to actions of foreign central banks or the economic performance of foreign economies, including in particular China, Japan, the European Union, and the United Kingdom; the general condition of the real estate markets in the regions in which the Partnership operates, which may be unfavorably impacted by pressures in the commercial real estate sector, incrementally higher unemployment rates, persistent elevated inflation levels, and other factors; changes in interest rates and credit spreads, as well as the success of any hedging strategies the Partnership may undertake in relation to such changes, and the effect such changes may have on the relative spreads between the yield on investments and cost of financing; the aggregate effect of elevated inflation levels over the past several years, spurred by multiple factors including expansionary monetary and fiscal policy, higher commodity prices, a tight labor market, and low residential vacancy rates, which may result in continued elevated interest rate levels and increased market volatility; the Partnership’s ability to access debt and equity capital to finance its assets; current maturities of the Partnership’s financing arrangements and the Partnership’s ability to renew or refinance such financing arrangements; local, regional, national and international economic and credit market conditions; recapture of previously issued Low Income Housing Tax Credits in accordance with Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code; geographic concentration of properties related to investments held by the Partnership; changes in the U.S. corporate tax code and other government regulations affecting the Partnership’s business; and the other risks detailed in the Partnership’s SEC filings (including but not limited to, the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K). Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements.

    If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or if any of the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements proves to be incorrect, the developments and future events concerning the Partnership set forth in this press release may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our expectations and beliefs to change. The Partnership assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, unless obligated to do so under the federal securities laws.

    GREYSTONE HOUSING IMPACT INVESTORS LP
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (UNAUDITED)
     
        For the Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		     For the Years Ended December 31,
        2024     2023     2024     2023    
    Revenues:                                
      Investment income $ 20,056,000     $ 20,010,343     $ 80,976,706     $ 82,266,198    
      Other interest income   2,199,643       1,034,638       9,509,307       17,756,044    
      Property revenues   –               –       4,567,506    
      Other income   330,381       60,702       785,386       310,916    
    Total revenues   22,586,024       25,184,617       91,271,399       104,900,664    
    Expenses:                                
      Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)   –       573,255       –       2,663,868    
      Provision for credit losses (Note 10)   (24,000 )     (466,000 )     (1,036,308 )     (2,347,000 )  
      Depreciation and amortization   5,967       313,626       23,867       1,537,448    
      Interest expense   15,840,620       16,849,384       60,032,007       69,066,763    
      Net result from derivative transactions (Note 15)   (8,239,844 )     7,168,413       (8,495,426 )     (7,371,584 )  
      General and administrative   4,787,849       4,889,014       19,652,622       20,399,489    
    Total expenses   12,370,592       29,327,692       70,176,762       83,948,984    
    Other income:                                
      Gain on sale of real estate assets   –       10,363,363       63,739       10,363,363    
      Gain on sale of mortgage revenue bond   1,207,673       –       2,220,254       –    
      Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated entities   60,858       –       117,844       22,725,398    
      Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities   (1,315,042 )     (17,879 )     (2,140,694 )     (17,879 )  
    Income before income taxes   10,168,921       6,202,409       21,355,780       54,022,562    
      Income tax expense (benefit)   36,398       (1,515 )     32,447       10,866    
    Net income   10,132,523       6,203,924       21,323,333       54,011,696    
      Redeemable Preferred Unit distributions and accretion   (741,477 )     (622,590 )     (2,991,671 )     (2,868,578 )  
    Net income available to Partners $ 9,391,046     $ 5,581,334     $ 18,331,662     $ 51,143,118    
                                       
    Net income available to Partners allocated to:                                
      General Partner $ 390,766     $ 75,252     $ 479,602     $ 3,589,447    
      Limited Partners – BUCs   8,937,983       5,472,230       17,587,205       47,209,260    
      Limited Partners – Restricted units   62,297       33,852       264,855       344,411    
        $ 9,391,046     $ 5,581,334     $ 18,331,662     $ 51,143,118    
    BUC holders’ interest in net income per BUC, basic and diluted $ 0.39     $ 0.24   ** $ 0.76   * $ 2.06   **
    Weighted average number of BUCs outstanding, basic   23,115,162       22,947,795   **   23,071,141   *   22,929,966   **
    Weighted average number of BUCs outstanding, diluted   23,115,162       22,947,795   **   23,071,141   *   22,929,966   **
       
    * The amounts indicated above have been adjusted to reflect the distribution completed on April 30, 2024 in the form of additional BUCs at a ratio of 0.00417 BUCs for each BUC outstanding as of March 28, 2024 on a retroactive basis.
       
    ** On July 31, 2023, the Partnership completed a distribution in the form of additional BUCs at a ratio of 0.00448 BUCs for each BUC outstanding as of June 30, 2023 (the “Second Quarter 2023 BUCs Distribution”). On October 31, 2023, the Partnership completed a distribution in the form of additional BUCs at a ratio of 0.00418 BUCs for each BUC outstanding as of September 29, 2023 (the “Third Quarter 2023 BUCs Distribution”). On January 31, 2024, the Partnership completed a distribution in the form of additional BUCs at a ratio of 0.00415 BUCs for each BUC outstanding as of December 29, 2023 (the “Fourth Quarter 2023 BUCs Distribution”, collectively with the Second Quarter 2023 BUCs Distribution and the Third Quarter BUCs Distribution the “2023 BUCs Distributions”). The amounts indicated above have been adjusted to reflect the 2023 BUCs Distributions on a retroactive basis.
       

    Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Measures – Cash Available for Distribution

    The Partnership believes that CAD provides relevant information about the Partnership’s operations and is necessary, along with net income, for understanding its operating results. To calculate CAD, the Partnership begins with net income as computed in accordance with GAAP and adjusts for non-cash expenses or income consisting of depreciation expense, amortization expense related to deferred financing costs, amortization of premiums and discounts, fair value adjustments to derivative instruments, provisions for credit and loan losses, impairments on MRBs, GILs, real estate assets and property loans, deferred income tax expense (benefit), and restricted unit compensation expense. The Partnership also adjusts net income for the Partnership’s share of (earnings) losses of investments in unconsolidated entities as such amounts are primarily depreciation expenses and development costs that are expected to be recovered upon an exit event. The Partnership also deducts Tier 2 income (see Note 23 to the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements) distributable to the General Partner as defined in the Partnership Agreement and distributions and accretion for the Preferred Units. Net income is the GAAP measure most comparable to CAD. There is no generally accepted methodology for computing CAD, and the Partnership’s computation of CAD may not be comparable to CAD reported by other companies. Although the Partnership considers CAD to be a useful measure of the Partnership’s operating performance, CAD is a non-GAAP measure that should not be considered as an alternative to net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, or any other measures of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP.

    The following table shows the calculation of CAD (and a reconciliation of the Partnership’s net income, as determined in accordance with GAAP, to CAD) for the three months and years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (all per BUC amounts are presented giving effect to the BUCs Distributions described in Note 23 of the consolidated financial statements on a retroactive basis for all periods presented):

        For the Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		     For the Years Ended December 31,
        2024     2023     2024     2023    
    Net income $ 10,132,523     $ 6,203,924     $ 21,323,333     $ 54,011,696    
    Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives, net   (6,978,561 )     9,994,292       (2,097,900 )     3,173,398    
    Depreciation and amortization expense   5,967       313,626       23,867       1,537,448    
    Provision for credit losses (1)   (24,000 )     (466,000 )     (867,000 )     (2,347,000 )  
    Reversal of gain on sale of real estate assets (2)   –       (10,363,363 )     –       (10,363,363 )  
    Amortization of deferred financing costs   466,105       710,271       1,653,805       2,461,713    
    Restricted unit compensation expense   436,052       473,127       1,891,633       2,013,736    
    Deferred income taxes   1,164       2,796       2,435       (362 )  
    Redeemable Preferred Unit distributions and accretion   (741,477 )     (622,590 )     (2,991,671 )     (2,868,578 )  
    Tier 2 income allocable to the General Partner (3)   (309,858 )     (19,439 )     (309,858 )     (3,248,148 )  
    Recovery of prior credit loss (4)   (17,156 )     (17,156 )     (69,000 )     (68,812 )  
    Bond premium, discount and acquisition fee amortization, net
       of cash received    		   (90,310 )     (42,900 )     1,247,066       (182,284 )  
    (Earnings) losses from investments in unconsolidated entities   1,315,042       17,879       2,140,694       17,879    
    Total CAD $ 4,195,491     $ 6,184,467     $ 21,947,404     $ 44,137,323    
                                       
    Weighted average number of BUCs outstanding, basic   23,115,162       22,947,795       23,071,141       22,929,966    
    Net income per BUC, basic $ 0.39     $ 0.24     $ 0.76     $ 2.06    
    Total CAD per BUC, basic $ 0.18     $ 0.27     $ 0.95     $ 1.92    
    Cash Distributions declared, per BUC $ 0.37     $ 0.367     $ 1.478     $ 1.46    
    BUCs Distributions declared, per BUC (5) $ –     $ 0.07     $ 0.07     $ 0.21    
       
    (1) The adjustments reflect the change in allowances for credit losses which requires the Partnership to update estimates of expected credit losses for its investment portfolio at each reporting date. In connection with the final settlement of the bankruptcy estate of the Provision Center 2014-1 MRB in July 2024, the Partnership recovered approximately $169,000 of its previously recognized allowance credit loss which is not included as an adjustment to net income in the calculation of CAD.
       
    (2) The gain on sale of real estate assets from the sale of the Suites on Paseo MF Property represented a recovery of prior depreciation expense that was not reflected in the Partnership’s previously reported CAD, so the gain on sale was deducted from net income in determining CAD for 2023.
       
    (3) As described in Note 23 to the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements, Net Interest Income representing contingent interest and Net Residual Proceeds representing contingent interest (Tier 2 income) will be distributed 75% to the limited partners and BUC holders, as a class, and 25% to the General Partner. This adjustment represents 25% of Tier 2 income due to the General Partner.
       
      For the year ended December 31, 2024, Tier 2 income allocable to the General Partner consisted of approximately $310,000 related to the gain on sale of the Arbors at Hickory Ridge MRB in November 2024.
       
      For the year ended December 31, 2023, Tier 2 income allocable to the General Partner consisted of approximately $3.8 million related to the gains on sale of Vantage at Stone Creek and Vantage at Coventry in January 2023 and approximately $813,000 related to the gain on sale of Vantage at Conroe in June 2023, offset by a $1.4 million Tier 2 loss allocable to the General Partner related to the Provision Center 2014-1 MRB realized in January 2023 upon receipt of the majority of expected bankruptcy liquidation proceeds.
       
    (4) The Partnership determined there was a recovery of previously recognized impairment recorded for the Live 929 Apartments Series 2022A MRB prior to January 1, 2023. The Partnership is accreting the recovery of prior credit loss for this MRB into investment income over the term of the MRB consistent with applicable guidance. The accretion of recovery of value is presented as a reduction to current CAD as the original provision for credit loss was an addback for CAD calculation purposes in the period recognized.
       
    (5) The Partnership declared a distribution payable in the form of additional BUCs equal to $0.07 per BUC for outstanding BUCs as of the record date of March 28, 2024.
       
      The Partnership declared three separate distributions during 2023 each payable in the form of additional BUCs equal to $0.07 per BUC for outstanding BUCs as of the record dates of June 30, September 29, and December 29, 2023.
       

    MEDIA CONTACT:
    Karen Marotta
    Greystone
    212-896-9149
    Karen.Marotta@greyco.com

    INVESTOR CONTACT:
    Andy Grier
    Investors Relations
    402-952-1235

    The MIL Network –