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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Korea-Malaysia summit (November 2024)

    Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

    Korea-Latvia summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 28 hosted a summit at his office for visiting Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics on raising bilateral cooperation and analyzing regional and international situations.

    Both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sectors such as bio and pharmaceuticals, national security and the defense industry.

    Korea-Malaysia summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 25 hosted summit talks in Seoul with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was on an official visit to Korea, and adopted a joint statement on their newly formed strategic partnership.

    Both leaders welcomed the resumption of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement this year and agreed to accelerate efforts to conclude the deal next year. They also pledged to raise cooperation in infrastructure and supply chains for core minerals.

    Korea-Peru summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Nov. 16 held a bilateral summit at the Presidential Palace in Lima, Peru, and agreed to bolster cooperation in the defense sector and infrastructure.
    The two countries concluded memorandums of understanding on joint production of KF-21 fighter jet parts, development of naval ships (submarines) and cooperation in army ground equipment. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visits to Peru, Brazil for APEC, G20

    Korea-ASEAN summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 10 attended the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane, Laos, where he and ASEAN leaders agreed to form a comprehensive strategic partnership and launch joint projects in a range of sectors.

    They also agreed to stimulate trade and investment through a bilateral free trade agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, while creating a “conducive and favourable environment” for ASEAN and Korean business such as the ASEAN-ROK (Republic of Korea) Business Council.

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Japan summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 10 held a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a hotel in Vientiane, Laos, their first talks since the prime minister assumed office on Sept. 1. 

    Both leaders agreed on the growing need to raise bilateral cooperation in regional and global issues and expand the horizons for such collaboration on the global stage.

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Philippines summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol, on a state visit to the Philippines, on Oct. 7 agreed with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to form a bilateral strategic partnership at their summit held at the presidential Malacanang Palace in Manila.

    Both leaders also adopted a joint declaration on higher cooperation in all sectors including national security and economy like nuclear power plants. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Czechia summit (September 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sept. 19 discussed with Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague cooperation in strategic sectors including nuclear power plants. Both leaders also shared opinions on developing their bilateral strategic partnership.

    Korea-New Zealand summit (September 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Sept. 4 at their bilateral summit adopted a joint statement on stronger bilateral relations in trade, economy, science, human exchange, national security and international cooperation.

    Both leaders also agreed to elevate their Partnership for the 21st Century concluded in 2006 to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

    Korea-Germany summit (July 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 10 in Washington held bilateral talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
    President Yoon said he hopes to work more closely with Germany on global issues such as support for Ukraine, supply chain disruptions and the climate crisis. He also hailed Germany’s application to join the United Nations Command. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s US visit for NATO Summit

    Korea-Japan summit (July 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 10 in Washington held bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
    President Yoon said, “The recent signing by Russia and North Korea of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty and their accelerated closeness in military and economic ties are raising serious concern over global security as well as that of East Asia.”

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s US visit for NATO Summit

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Korea-Latvia summit (November 2024)

    Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

    Korea-Latvia summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 28 hosted a summit at his office for visiting Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics on raising bilateral cooperation and analyzing regional and international situations.

    Both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sectors such as bio and pharmaceuticals, national security and the defense industry.

    Korea-Malaysia summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 25 hosted summit talks in Seoul with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was on an official visit to Korea, and adopted a joint statement on their newly formed strategic partnership.

    Both leaders welcomed the resumption of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement this year and agreed to accelerate efforts to conclude the deal next year. They also pledged to raise cooperation in infrastructure and supply chains for core minerals.

    Korea-Peru summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Nov. 16 held a bilateral summit at the Presidential Palace in Lima, Peru, and agreed to bolster cooperation in the defense sector and infrastructure.
    The two countries concluded memorandums of understanding on joint production of KF-21 fighter jet parts, development of naval ships (submarines) and cooperation in army ground equipment. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visits to Peru, Brazil for APEC, G20

    Korea-ASEAN summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 10 attended the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane, Laos, where he and ASEAN leaders agreed to form a comprehensive strategic partnership and launch joint projects in a range of sectors.

    They also agreed to stimulate trade and investment through a bilateral free trade agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, while creating a “conducive and favourable environment” for ASEAN and Korean business such as the ASEAN-ROK (Republic of Korea) Business Council.

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Japan summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 10 held a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a hotel in Vientiane, Laos, their first talks since the prime minister assumed office on Sept. 1. 

    Both leaders agreed on the growing need to raise bilateral cooperation in regional and global issues and expand the horizons for such collaboration on the global stage.

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Philippines summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol, on a state visit to the Philippines, on Oct. 7 agreed with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to form a bilateral strategic partnership at their summit held at the presidential Malacanang Palace in Manila.

    Both leaders also adopted a joint declaration on higher cooperation in all sectors including national security and economy like nuclear power plants. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Czechia summit (September 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sept. 19 discussed with Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague cooperation in strategic sectors including nuclear power plants. Both leaders also shared opinions on developing their bilateral strategic partnership.

    Korea-New Zealand summit (September 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Sept. 4 at their bilateral summit adopted a joint statement on stronger bilateral relations in trade, economy, science, human exchange, national security and international cooperation.

    Both leaders also agreed to elevate their Partnership for the 21st Century concluded in 2006 to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

    Korea-Germany summit (July 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 10 in Washington held bilateral talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
    President Yoon said he hopes to work more closely with Germany on global issues such as support for Ukraine, supply chain disruptions and the climate crisis. He also hailed Germany’s application to join the United Nations Command. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s US visit for NATO Summit

    Korea-Japan summit (July 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 10 in Washington held bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
    President Yoon said, “The recent signing by Russia and North Korea of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty and their accelerated closeness in military and economic ties are raising serious concern over global security as well as that of East Asia.”

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s US visit for NATO Summit

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: UltiSat and Glacier Partner to Deliver Next-Generation, End-to-End Encrypted Communications

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHANTILLY, Va., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — UltiSat, a leading provider of global communications solutions, announces a strategic partnership with Glacier Security, an innovator in secure communications technology, to offer robust, all-in-one secure communications solutions. This partnership ensures that sensitive voice and video calls, texts and data remain secure through end-to-end encryption and obfuscation across multiple devices and operating systems.

    “Our collaboration with Glacier brings unparalleled security to our communications solutions,” said Jim Scott, President and CEO at UltiSat. “By combining our strengths, we are able to provide a comprehensive, encrypted communication platform that meets the highest standards of security for our customers.”

    UltiSat’s tailored connectivity platforms support voice, SMS, and data over commercial or private cellular, satellite, and terrestrial networks. The solution also integrates seamlessly with partner company applications and device operating systems, leveraging a multi-technology core network and expansive roaming relationships. This ensures that customers have reliable connectivity wherever their mission may take them.

    For more information about this partnership and the secure communication solutions offered by UltiSat and Glacier, please visit https://ultisat.com/what-we-offer/#wireless.

    About Glacier
    Glacier specializes in developing secure communications technology that protects data integrity and confidentiality. Their solutions are designed to meet the stringent security requirements of commercial, government and military customers, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected.

    About UltiSat
    UltiSat provides global end-to-end connectivity solutions and managed network services for land mobile, maritime, and airborne operations. Customers in government, humanitarian-aid, and critical infrastructure markets have unique communications requirements and greater demand for resiliency.   UltiSat has made substantial investments in the global logistics, security provisions, systems, and processes necessary to provide 24 x 7 support for customers with high consequence missions. Our portfolio includes a range of solutions leveraging satellite, terrestrial, wireless and cloud technologies, combined with in-house systems engineering and global field service. UltiSat leverages a 25+ year heritage deploying solutions in over 120 countries. UltiSat is a wholly owned subsidiary and separate operating company of Speedcast. For more information visit www.ultisat.com.

    For more information contact: lori.hawk@ultisat.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Warren’s Statement on Passing of Brady Williamson

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    February 18, 2025
    Senator Warren’s Statement on Passing of Brady Williamson
    Washington, D.C. – In response to the passing of Brady Williamson, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement:
    “My dear friend Brady Williamson died Sunday. He was a superb lawyer, a go-to advance guy, and a quietly remarkable person. I experienced a lot of life with Brady, from fighting to preserve bankruptcy protection for struggling families to shopping for my first apartment in Washington. For three decades – my entire time in advocacy and government – Brady was there with his always-calm counsel. He was a generous mentor to my staff. He always did his homework, and he was clear-eyed in our goal of rescuing families that were hanging onto the middle class by their fingernails. Brady understood that even if we changed only one person’s life, the fight would be worth it. I will miss his gentle reminders.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alleged serial arsonist faces federal charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    McALLEN, Texas – A 36-year-old McAllen resident has been charged with arson and possession of a destructive device, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Daniel Eduardo Rivera is expected to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker at 9:00 a.m.

    According to the criminal complaint, Rivera has allegedly been targeting an individual since 2022 by setting multiple fires to the victim’s residence and vehicles.

    The charges allege that in November 2022 at approximately 2:03 a.m., fire department officials responded to the victim’s residence due to a fire coming from a storage shed. They extinguished it, but authorities later determined it to be incendiary in nature, according to the complaint.  

    At approximately 1:10 p.m. that same day, the fire department was allegedly dispatched to the victim’s house for a second time where they discovered the  porch to be fully engulfed with fire seeping into the home. The charges allege they were again able to extinguish it but not before it had caused significant damage to the home. They also found a Molotov cocktail at the scene, according to the complaint.  

    According to the victim, Rivera had allegedly confronted him and threatened to kill his family at night and burn the victim’s house down.

    The complaint further alleges that in May 2024, fire officials responded to a vehicle fire in McAllen. It has already been extinguished, but authorities allegedly determined another Molotov cocktail was used in an attempt to set the car ablaze. The investigation links Rivera to that incident, according to the charges.

    If convicted, Rivera faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the arson and a maximum of 10 for possession of a destructive device.  

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and explosives is conducting the investigation with the assistance of the McAllen Fire Marshal’s Office, Fire and Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Fry and Devin V. Walker are prosecuting the case.

    A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Launch of the RBIDATA Mobile App by RBI

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Today, the Reserve Bank of India launched RBIDATA, a Mobile App, that offers macroeconomic and financial statistics relating to the Indian economy in a user-friendly and visually engaging format.

    The key features of the app include:

    • Access to over 11,000 different series of economic data to give a comprehensive view of the Indian economy.

    • Users can view time series data in graphs/charts and download data for analysis.

    • The app includes details such as data source, unit of measurement, frequency, recent updates. Additional notes are also provided to help users understand the graphs/charts better.

    • The ‘Popular Reports’ section features a series of frequently viewed reports.

    • ‘Search’ option allows users to access data directly from home screen, without the need to navigate various sections or publications.

    • The ‘Banking Outlet’ section helps users find banking facilities within 20 km of their location.

    • Users can access data about SAARC countries through the ‘SAARC Finance’ link in the app.

    This app offers quick access to the Database on the Indian Economy (DBIE – https://data.rbi.org.in) portal and aims to serve the researchers, students, and the general public. It is available for both iOS and Android users (version 12 and above). The app also lets users provide feedback to improve its functionality.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2024-2025/2193

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Africa has failed to deliver access to enough water for millions – a new approach is needed

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tracy Ledger, Head: Energy and Society Programme, University of Johannesburg

    South Africa is one of only 52 countries that guarantee access to water as a human right. “Access” from a human rights perspective means that water is physically accessible, clean and safe for consumption, and affordable. Section 27 of the country’s constitution stipulates that everyone has the right to access sufficient water.

    But South Africa is not doing well on meeting the standards of a full human rights approach to water access. In a recent paper, I and my colleagues at the Public Affairs Research Institute’s Just Transition Programme set out the extent of this failure, and mapped out what needs to be done to rectify the situation.

    The Just Transition Programme aims to contribute to a successful climate transition that prioritises social justice, equity and poverty reduction.

    Part of our research method is ethnography – spending time in communities struggling to access water. We do this to learn what concrete changes are required to improve people’s lives, from their own perspective.

    Physical access to water for households has increased significantly since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. Nevertheless, water quality and safety has declined over the past ten years. Almost half the country’s drinking water is considered unsafe
    for human consumption. Water service interruptions – sometimes lasting days – are becoming more common.



    Read more:
    Basic water services in South Africa are in decay after years of progress

    South Africa’s household poverty rate (the number of households who live below the upper bound poverty line) is now at 55%. We found that water is becoming more and more unaffordable for impoverished households. The result is that these families have to limit the amount of water they use. This worsens poverty and inequality.

    To solve this problem, the South African government needs to embrace a human rights approach to access to water, where people are given enough water to live a full life.

    What went wrong?

    The first problem is affordability. People cannot access water if they don’t have the money to pay for it, but most clean and safe water in South Africa must be paid for. Poverty is a key barrier to access.

    The United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation has emphasised that it is the responsibility of the state to assess whether households can afford to pay for water, without sacrificing other basic essential items such as food. It is up to governments to take steps to make water affordable.

    The country’s Free Basic Water policy was originally intended to address this issue. It guaranteed impoverished households access to a free 6,000 litres of water per month. This is roughly 200 litres per household of eight people per day. However, in practice this policy is not a meaningful solution, for two reasons:

    • the amount provided is an average of 25 litres of water per person per day. This is way below the World Health Organization recommendation of a minimum water allowance of between 50 and 100 litres of water per person per day.

    • many millions of poor households are excluded from the benefit because of poor implementation of the policy by municipalities.

    This situation reflects the failure to create, implement and oversee a regulatory environment that is necessary to realise affordable access to sufficient, clean water for all South Africans.

    The policy failures

    Firstly, water policy – at both national and municipal levels – has failed to take a human rights approach. A human rights approach requires that access to sufficient, quality and affordable water is the starting point for all policy making and resource allocation decisions. This has not been the case.

    Secondly, access to water has been narrowly defined as making water physically available without considering affordability. Most water access policy in South Africa includes statements declaring that water must be affordable for everyone. Unfortunately, all of these policy promises have remained exactly that – just promises.

    Meeting the goal of affordability requires more from the government than stating that water should be affordable. The state must develop affordability standards – in other words, calculate a water tariff that everyone can afford – and monitor it. At the moment, there is no national government oversight of water tariffs and so the affordability policy is effectively meaningless.



    Read more:
    The lack of water in South Africa is the result of a long history of injustice — and legislation should start there

    The actual state practices of tariff setting and approval, particularly in local municipalities, have not translated any of these promises into reality.

    Thirdly, many households are denied access to even the 25 litres of free water per person per day, because municipalities don’t always implement the free basic water policy as intended.



    Read more:
    Why ordinary people must have a say in water governance

    Fourthly, the state has failed to acknowledge the contradiction between providing universal access to services, and requiring municipalities to generate enough money to cover 90% of their running costs. Tariffs for water have increased at rates well above inflation over the past 20 years. But in a very impoverished environment where many people cannot afford to pay for water, up to two thirds of South Africa’s municipalities have been classified as being in financial distress.

    There is a fundamental – and currently insoluble – conflict between the tariffs that municipalities must charge in order to maintain fully funded budgets, and the tariffs that could be defined as affordable.

    What needs to be done?

    These actions should be taken in the short term:

    • the free basic water allowance must be increased

    • the household indigent policy, which determines how households can access free municipal services like water, must be restructured.

    • affordability standards must be developed in close consultation with affected communities. This is the only way to set water tariffs that are based on what households are actually able to pay.

    • there must be oversight of the provision of sufficient, affordable water for everyone.

    In the longer term, these two additional problems must be solved:

    • municipalities are losing revenue from water, particularly from leaking pipes and other infrastructure

    • the local government fiscal framework requires that municipalities earn a surplus on trading services such as water. This must be changed so that municipal finances prioritise affordability of water instead.

    The ethnographic research team for this work was led by Mahlatse Rampedi, who holds a master’s degree and has ten years of experience, together with Ntokozo Ndhlovu, who holds an honours degree.

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

    – ref. South Africa has failed to deliver access to enough water for millions – a new approach is needed – https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-failed-to-deliver-access-to-enough-water-for-millions-a-new-approach-is-needed-247831

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Construction on the New La Ronge Long Term Care Home Reaches Halfway Mark

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on February 18, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan announced today that construction on the new La Ronge Long-Term Care Home has reached 50 per cent completion. 

    Construction activities currently underway include completion of building envelope including glazing, interior partition walls, masonry brick installation, electrical and mechanical rough-ins, roof insulation and membrane and interior steel wall layout.

    “It is wonderful to see the progress being made on the new long-term care home in La Ronge,” Minister Responsible for Seniors Lori Carr said. “When complete, the new space will ensure seniors and other residents of the north can receive long-term care that meets their needs closer to home and their families.”

    The new three-story facility will consist of 80 private rooms with bathrooms, increasing capacity by 64 beds from the current space in the health centre. The home will also feature shared living areas, family rooms, a commercial kitchen and cafeteria, a serenity room and traditional healing space. 

    “We are very pleased to announce this project reaching 50 per cent completion,” SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister David Marit said. “This progress further highlights our commitment to create critical infrastructure that supports the needs of families in northern Saskatchewan. Together, we are building stronger communities that will serve generations to come.”

    The new long-term care home will be owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). 

    “We are thrilled to see the continued momentum of this new long-term care home project,” said Andrew McLetchie, Vice President, Integrated Northern Health, Saskatchewan Health Authority. “The SHA is committed to safe, quality care as close to home as possible. With significantly more capacity and amenities than the current facility, this new home will deliver on that commitment to residents of the La Ronge area.”

    The Government has committed approximately $100 million to the project. The La Ronge and Area Long-Term Care Funding Committee is working to raise funds to purchase furniture, fixtures and equipment. 

    “The La Ronge and Area Long-Term Care Fundraising Committee is proud to partner with the SHA to ensure the new facility is fully equipped to meet residents’ needs,” Fundraising Coordinator Jacob Page said. “Through community support, we are raising funds for the furniture, fixtures, and equipment that will make this space welcoming, functional, and culturally inclusive for those who will call it home.”

    Ledcor Construction Limited (Ledcor) began construction on the facility in July 2023 and it is expected to be substantially completed by early 2027.

    “Ledcor is proud to be working on the new La Ronge Long Term Care facility,” Regional Manager Laird Ritchie said. “This project is an opportunity to enhance the community by creating an inspiring and functional space that will benefit future generations. We are thrilled to have reached the 50 per cent completion milestone and look forward to continuing to apply our expertise to ensure the project’s successful completion and lasting impact. The project team has actively engaged with the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT), the local band, and the town during the recruitment process. Our commitment to using local trades and suppliers has been warmly welcomed.”

    Once residents can be moved into the new home, the current LTC space in the health centre will be renovated to improve program areas including therapies and add an adult day program and new hemodialysis unit. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Champion Safe Co. Surpasses Sales Goals at Recent Buying Group Shows, Achieving $2.4M Year-To-Date 2025 Sales and Outperforming Internal Projections

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Provo, UT, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Champion Safe Company (“Champion” or the “Company”) (championsafe.com) a leader in gun safes and vault doors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB), America’s Patriotic Brand (americanrebel.com), is proud to announce its continued strong momentum in 2025. Champion has surpassed its internal sales projections, achieving over $2.4 million in year-to-date revenue, with more than $610,000 generated at recent Nation’s Best Sports (NBS) and Sports Inc. buying group shows.

    Innovation Driving Growth

    A key factor behind this success is Champion’s latest product innovations, featuring enhanced security, refined aesthetics, and superior craftsmanship. Dealers at the NBS and Sports Inc. shows responded enthusiastically to the 2025 product lineup, recognizing Champion’s commitment to quality and performance in an increasingly competitive market.

    “Attending these early-year buying group shows is essential for us, and Champion has received an outstanding response to our updated product lineup,” said Thomas Mihalek, CEO of Champion Safe Company. “Dealers understand that quality and attention to detail are more important than ever, and Champion Safe excels in both areas. The strong sales performance at NBS and Sports Inc demonstrates the trust and demand for our products. We are committed to continuous growth and expansion through our innovative programming and enhanced manufacturing procedures. Our goal is to ensure that Champion remains the top choice for firearm dealers and security-focused customers.”

    Commitment to Dealers and Market Leadership

    Champion Safe remains dedicated to supporting its dealer network with industry-leading service, reliable inventory, and premium products that drive retail success. The company values its partnerships with buying group members and continues to provide cutting-edge solutions and tools to help dealers grow their businesses.

    “We are just beginning to see the results of the dramatic improvements across all aspects at Champion Safe Company that began almost immediately after appointing Mr. Mihalek as CEO of Champion in April 2024,” said Andy Ross, CEO of American Rebel Holdings, Inc. “Mr. Mihalek is the type of seasoned and successful outdoor industry and consumer products executive that we were looking for to lead and grow Champion. We are encouraged by the early results in FY2025 and are optimistic about continued growth and market share gains at Champion Safe Co. under Mr. Mihalek’s leadership.”

    For more information about Champion Safe and its lineup of high-security safes, visit www.championsafe.com.

    About Champion Safe Company

    Champion Safe Company has been at the forefront of safe manufacturing for over 25 years, offering a range of high-quality safes designed for ultimate security and fire protection. With a commitment to craftsmanship and innovation, Champion Safes are trusted by homeowners, gun owners, and businesses across the nation.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

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

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of the 2025 product innovations, actual revenues for fiscal 2025, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Company Contacts:
    jon.minder@americanrebel.com
    thomas.mihalek@americanrebel.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 2X Invests in AI-Enabled Marketing Solutions Through Strategic Partnership with Copy.ai

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MALVERN, Pa., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 2X, a leading provider of marketing as a service (MaaS), today announced a strategic partnership with Copy.ai, the enterprise-grade AI platform that optimizes sales and marketing workflows. By combining 2X’s global managed services model with Copy.ai’s cutting-edge AI capabilities, this partnership offers a subscription-based alternative to traditional in-house labor or high agency fees—enabling businesses to achieve scalable marketing impact with measurable ROI.

    With more than 66% of its revenue attributed to AI-driven approaches, 2X continues to set the benchmark for effective AI adoption in B2B marketing. Integrating Copy.ai’s platform further enhances 2X’s ability to deliver sustainable growth, productivity gains, and cost efficiencies across marketing, sales, and customer success.

    Transforming GTM Models with People, Process, and Technology

    Facing mounting pressures to move away from traditional, rigid staffing models, businesses are pivoting to alternative approaches that combine offshore delivery with AI for enhanced scalability and efficiency. In response, 2X integrates Copy.ai’s platform into its global delivery framework—ensuring every delivery resource is equipped with a Copy.ai license.

    Copy.ai powers its workflows with state-of-the-art foundational models by default, leveraging the leading large language models from enterprise partners. By continuously evaluating and onboarding the latest models, Copy.ai ensures that clients consistently receive best-in-class performance with an enterprise-grade, future-proof platform architecture that solves any go-to-market (GTM) use case. This partnership unites people, process, and technology into a comprehensive, subscription-based service that scales GTM efforts both efficiently and cost-effectively.

    “2X and Copy.ai share a commitment to delivering tangible impact that empowers our clients—CMOs and revenue leaders—to succeed both personally and professionally,” said Domenic Colasante, CEO of 2X. “I’m excited to partner with Copy.ai because their advanced, enterprise-grade capabilities enable us to drive measurable outcomes, from significant revenue growth to enhanced operational efficiency. Their proven track record in transforming marketing and sales workflows is exactly why we are so enthusiastic about this collaboration.”

    Revolutionizing Marketing and Sales Workflows

    Copy.ai’s platform goes beyond content workflows, delivering AI-powered solutions that streamline processes across sales, marketing, and customer success. Its capabilities include:

    • End-to-end workflow automation: Seamless integration from content creation to campaign execution and sales enablement
    • Enhanced productivity: AI-driven efficiencies that free in-house marketers to focus on strategic priorities
    • Superior client outcomes: Improved productivity, performance, measurable ROI, and increased pipeline impact

    “This partnership underscores our focus on delivering scalable solutions that generate substantial returns for clients,” said Lisa Cole, CMO of 2X. “By uniting offshore delivery with AI, we’re providing an efficient, high-impact model that aligns with businesses’ evolving needs for rapid, cost-effective growth.

    “I’m excited about our partnership with Copy.ai because it not only strengthens our innovative MaaS model but also reinforces our commitment to delivering scalable, high-impact solutions for our clients. By uniting offshore delivery with AI-powered workflows, we’re providing an efficient, high-impact model that aligns with businesses’ evolving needs for rapid, cost-effective growth.”

    Eliminating Go-to-Market Inefficiencies

    “GTM bloat stifles growth,” said Paul Yacoubian, co-founder and CEO of Copy.ai. “Many teams contend with unmanageable data and fragmented tools that slow progress. Copy.ai provides a clean-sheet approach that automates workflows, reduces costs, and opens new avenues for GTM strategies. Our partnership with 2X is a perfect fit—together, we are helping clients achieve multimillion-dollar returns and move beyond operational inefficiencies.”

    About 2X

    2X is the global leader in B2B marketing as a service (MaaS), offering a subscription-based alternative to traditional marketing models. With on-demand, AI-enabled marketing talent, 2X empowers marketing leaders to scale efficiently without increasing costs. Bringing global expertise, an AI-forward approach, and cutting-edge tools, 2X seamlessly integrates with in-house teams to deliver measurable results. Core services span creative and content production, campaign execution, marketing operations, MarTech management, and strategic advisory—enabling 2X to deliver end-to-end solutions that drive marketing impact.

    Backed by private equity firm Recognize Partners, 2X has a global team of over 1,000 professionals and is a trusted partner of platforms like 6sense, Salesforce, Adobe Marketo Engage, HubSpot, Google, and Planful. Recognized by Inc. and the Financial Times as one of the fastest-growing US companies, 2X continues to lead the industry by innovating on the marketing operating model. Learn more at 2X.marketing.

    About Copy.ai

    Copy.ai is the industry’s first AI-powered GTM platform, designed to eliminate inefficiencies and empower teams across sales, marketing, and customer success. Enterprise customers like ServiceNow, Juniper, and Siemens rely on Copy.ai to streamline workflows, unlock unstructured data, and drive growth. Backed by Wing Venture Capital, Sequoia Capital, Craft Ventures, and K5, Copy.ai powers over 17 million users worldwide.

    To learn more, visit copy.ai or follow us on LinkedIn.

    Media Contact:
    Audree Hernandez
    JMAC PR for 2X
    2X@jmacpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: DRC: Injured seek treatment from MSF-supported hospitals in Bukavu amid fighting

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Marcus Bachmann, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) head of programmes for South Kivu province, explains the situation in this part of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the conflict evolves.

    Marcus Bachmann, MSF head of programmes for South Kivu province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
    © Herwig Prammer/MSF

    What is the current situation in South Kivu?

    While the hotspot of the conflict between M23/AFC and Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and their respective allies has been North Kivu, neighbouring South Kivu province has also long been receiving displaced people and touched by the violence. In the first three weeks of 2025, with the intensification of the conflict, MSF supported health structures in northern South Kivu received more than 315 injured patients.

    In late January, M23 took control of Numbi, in the highlands of northern South Kivu, and of Minova, by the shores of Lake Kivu. Following the takeover of Goma, North Kivu’s capital, the group continued making quick advances in South Kivu. Last week, they captured the strategic towns of Kalehe and Kavumu.

    Over the weekend, M23 fighters progressively entered Bukavu, South Kivu’s capital and one of the most populated cities in eastern DRC, as FARDC troops and allied forces reportedly withdrew from the town. Major armed clashes haven’t taken place in Bukavu, but there has been widespread looting and shootings amid the chaos. The city has been quite empty, with hardly any traffic, and very few people walking in the streets, as many residents opted to stay at home and others left the town. The situation is still volatile.

    What is MSF doing in response?

    We were not running regular medical activities in Bukavu, but we have offices to coordinate activities in the province. However, we have now started support to four hospitals in the city to deal with big influxes of injured, and to reinforce capacity for treating victims and survivors of sexual violence. 

    By Monday 17 February, our supported hospitals in Bukavu had already received 48 injured patients with wounds from gunshots and shrapnel, as a result of the violence that has taken place over the last few days. In one of the hospitals, they received 42 of these patients; all the injured were civilians, including 11 people under 18 years of age, and 16 of them were women.

    In the north of South Kivu province, MSF continues to provide support to various departments of Minova General Referral hospital, three other health centres in Minova health zone, and Numbi health centre. These are areas where there are still thousands of displaced people.

    In Uvira, further south in South Kivu province, where our teams have been providing care for patients with mpox in recent months, the situation has also become quite concerning. Fighting has been reported on the road leading from Bukavu to Uvira, and the general hospital there is receiving dozens of injured people, including civilians.

    We are closely assessing the situation and exploring ways to scale up our emergency efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs of people in areas around Minova, Bukavu, and Uvira.

    As thousands of people have been crossing the border from South Kivu into Burundi to seek refuge in the province of Cibitoke, MSF immediately dispatched a team to assess the urgent needs and provide emergency assistance in cooperation with the Burundian authorities. MSF’s priority is to support access to basic healthcare through mobile clinics, improve sanitation and access to water, and fight epidemics such as measles and cholera.

    What are your main concerns?

    The spread of violence and armed clashes, as well as related logistic constraints such as the closure of airports and lake navigation routes, is affecting our ability to provide medical care in various parts of northern South Kivu province. We urge all the parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and medical infrastructure and personnel in all areas affected by the conflict

    Due to the volatility of the situation, there is a risk of humanitarian needs exacerbating, particularly among communities that have been displaced for a long time.

    We are also concerned about the potential surge in outbreaks of diseases, such as cholera. Our teams are prepared to respond if needed, including providing safe drinking water to communities.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Coffee, tea and cocoa costs see global food import bill soaring past $2 trillion

    Source: United Nations 4

    Economic Development

    The global food import bill is projected to exceed $2 trillion in 2024 – fuelled by the rising cost of everyone’s favourite hot drinks – according to the latest Food Outlook released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Thursday. 

    The biannual report, which focuses on developments affecting global food and animal feed markets, highlights that higher costs for cocoa, coffee, and tea are driving the increase, while disparities in import bills persist across income levels.

    Cocoa prices have soared nearly four times their ten-year average earlier this year, coffee prices have almost doubled, and tea prices are 15 per cent above long-term levels.

    Together, these commodities are responsible for over half of the projected increase in global food import expenditures, which FAO economists anticipate will rise by nearly 23 per cent in 2024.

    National disparities

    While high-income countries, which make up two-thirds of the global food import bill, will see a 4.4 per cent increase, import expenditures for middle and low-income countries are expected to decline.

    Lower-income countries may find some relief in reduced cereal and oilseed costs, although their per capita food intake for wheat and coarse grains is projected to decline, contrasting with an anticipated 1.5 per cent increase in rice consumption.

    FAO emphasises the crucial role food exports play in supporting many economies.

    For instance, coffee export earnings cover nearly 40 per cent of food import costs in Burundi and Ethiopia, while Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa exports entirely offset its food import bill. Similarly, tea exports account for more than half of Sri Lanka’s import costs.

    Mixed forecast

    FAO’s forecasts reveal a mixed picture for global food production and trade.

    Wheat and coarse grain output is expected to decrease but remain above consumption levels, while rice production is set for a record-breaking harvest in 2024/25 which could enable an increase in global rice consumption, reserves and international trade. 

    Production of meat and dairy is forecast to grow modestly while global fisheries output is expected to expand by 2.2 per cent, fuelled by aquaculture.

    Meanwhile, vegetable oils’ consumption may outpace production for the second consecutive season, leading to stock drawdowns.

    The report cautions that extreme weather, geopolitical tensions, and policy changes could destabilise production systems, further straining global food security.

    Olive oil prices spike alongside climate stress

    A special focus on olive oil details price spikes due to climate-related production declines.

    IFAD

    Compost made from a mixture of pine trees empty cones and cow dung helps olive trees grow in a sustainable way.

    In Spain, wholesale prices for cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil reached nearly $10,000 per tonne in January 2024, almost triple their 2022 levels.

    High temperatures, which force olive trees to conserve water for core functions instead of producing fruit, led to a nearly 50 per cent production cut for two years in a row.

    Although Spain’s next harvest is expected to surpass the 10-year average, high prices may constrain global consumption.

    Producers ought to consider more sustainable water and soil management practices, the report notes.

    Given the great potential for expansion in olive oil exports, governments might offer support to olive growers, such as insurance schemes and measures to control the spread of diseases, said FAO Economist Di Yang.

    Cheaper fertiliser…mostly

    The report also highlights a 50 per cent drop in fertiliser prices since their 2022 peak, thanks to falling natural gas prices and reduced trade barriers.

    FAO Economist Maria Antip noted however that phosphate fertilisers have resisted this trend, with ongoing trade barriers and geopolitical tensions posing risks to future supplies, particularly in Latin America and Asia.

    Additionally, the report underscores the potential of low-carbon ammonia, a key component of nitrogen-based fertilisers, as a sustainable alternative.

    However, while using renewable energy instead of natural gas is viable and investments to do so are underway, scaling up production will require targeted incentives to offset higher manufacturing costs and encourage adoption among farmers.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s lurking assault on Canada rests on endless lies and irrational populism

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ilan Kapoor, Professor, Critical Development Studies, York University, Canada

    United States President Donald Trump has temporarily put his trade war against Canada and Mexico on hold after vowing to slap 25 per cent tariffs on most Canadian and Mexican imports, although he’s imposed tariffs on all steel and aluminum, including from Canada.

    He has also upped the ante by threatening to increase tariffs should Canada carry through on its own threat of retaliatory tariffs, with the possibility of further sanctions in the spring following a U.S. government study investigating ways to address the country’s trade deficits.

    This is nothing less than an attempt at the economic subordination of Canada by its giant and — until very recently — friendly neighbour and ally. But what makes Trump’s impending trade war even more absurd is that it is based on a series of lies.

    Trade, drugs, migrants, banks

    Trump has claimed that the U.S. has a “US$200 or $250 billion” trade deficit with Canada. The American government’s own data show that the trade in goods deficit with Canada in 2024 was US$55 billion.

    But when you factor in services (in technology or finance), an area in which the U.S. currently enjoys a trade surplus, the annual U.S.-Canada annual trade deficit falls to US$45 billion. And if you exclude energy exports, sold to the U.S. at a discount, the trade scales tip decidedly in favour of the U.S.

    Then we also have Trump’s claim that tariffs are needed to penalize Canada for allowing an “invasion” of drugs (mainly fentanyl) and undocumented migrants into the U.S.

    But once again, figures from his own government agencies show that only 1.5 per cent of migrants apprehended in 2024, and a mere 0.2 per cent of all fentanyl impounded at U.S. borders in 2024, originated in Canada.

    Finally, just hours before the American reprieve on tariffs, Trump raised a new red herring: that Canada does not allow American banks into the country. But many U.S. banks do operate in Canada, making up half of the country’s foreign banking assets.

    The grip of populism

    So why such lies? I suggest that we need to look to nationalist populism for an explanation. A deep, often irrational, emotional bond underpins this form of populism.

    Just as was the case in his 2016 election campaign, Trump’s 2024 campaign successfully tapped into people’s frustrations and anxieties over everything from high food prices to the housing crisis and rising precarious employment as he promised once more to “make America great again.”

    Tariffs featured prominently, with Trump bidding to put “America First” by punishing the country’s three largest trading partners — Mexico, Canada and China — for their alleged “unfair” trade practices.

    These types of seductive populist slogans unite people under a common banner, soothing their anxieties. But the accompanying peril is their dependence on the construction of national enemies to unify the nation. In 2016, Trump singled out Muslims and Mexicans. Today it is migrants, trans people and America’s supposed three main trading villains.

    Dangerous sentiments

    Trump’s populism is therefore built on irrational, if not dangerous, sentiments: blind fear, pridefulness, xenophobia, transphobia, racism and aggression.

    No wonder he engages in both blatant falsehoods and unabashed bullying. His lies are integral to his continuing attempts to paint the U.S. as a victim, despite its global supremacy in many areas, thereby justifying attempts at subordinating America’s putative “enemies” and even its friends. Populist sentiment, precisely because it is rooted in the irrational exuberance of pride and unity, cares little about facts, logic or veracity.

    A case in point is Trump’s affirmation that the U.S. is “subsidizing” Canada as a result of the trade deficit. The allegation contravenes any economic sense — trade deficits are the result of market-driven imports exceeding exports — yet its deployment here evokes the anxiety-producing prospect that Canada is ripping off American taxpayers.

    Populist passion trumps rational argument. Bluster whips up national fervour.

    Much ado about nothing

    This is also why Canada’s efforts to appease Trump have yielded little to date. Days after Trump’s election win, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was quick to visit him at his Florida estate in an attempt to reassure him on fentanyl and migrants.

    The Canadian government then announced a $1.3 billion border security package and improved state oversight of the production of opioids.

    In the days leading up to Trump’s tariff executive order, Canadian federal ministers and provincial premiers also frantically engaged in a public relations offensive (interviews on American TV, meetings with congressional lawmakers and Trump’s cabinet nominees) aimed at changing minds. All to no avail.

    Trump finally blinked only a few hours before the Feb. 4 tariff deadline. All it took was the offer by Trudeau of measures that, for the most part, had already been included in the previously announced border security/fentanyl measures. It seems the repackaged deal was enough to allow the president to declare a victory, while granting Canada a mere temporary reprieve.



    Read more:
    Trump’s tariff threats show the brute power of an imperial presidency

    So all in all, much ado about not too much. Lots of theatrics and brinkmanship, but little advancement, especially on the supposed main problem to be addressed — trade deficits.

    The Trump administration has basically stuck to its populist platform, providing more evidence that rational decision-making does not play a role.

    Quite the opposite, in fact: attempts to appease Trump appear to have been taken as proof that his threats work, and more demands are undoubtedly in store. That’s evident by the continuing prospect of tariffs in March and the possibility of more to come afterwards (including on steel and aluminum).

    Self-defeating irrationality

    Trump’s tariff war is senseless. If the measures go ahead, they could plunge Canada into a painful recession requiring state stimulus to support the economy and jobs, and retaliatory and counter-retaliatory trade measures.

    This may well be Trump’s intention — he has declared he wants to annex Canada by “economic force” — but it is likely to backfire. Any future trade war will harm not just Canada, Mexico and China, but also the U.S.

    Canada’s counter-tariffs target Red States, where Trump derives most of his electoral support.

    And given the American dependence on Canada for some 50 per cent of its crude oil imports, Canada’s nuclear option is to impose export tariffs on oil to the U.S. That would cause American prices at the pump to increase dramatically overnight and prove highly unpopular.

    In the longer term, then, no one stands to win as a consequence of Trump’s irrational populist policy-making. In the meantime, expect not much else from Trump’s administration than more unpredictability, brinkmanship, intimidation … and, yes, lies.

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

    – ref. Trump’s lurking assault on Canada rests on endless lies and irrational populism – https://theconversation.com/trumps-lurking-assault-on-canada-rests-on-endless-lies-and-irrational-populism-249256

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd. Announces Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results Highlighting Strong Operating Cash Flow and Stable Gross Margins

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BEIJING, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd. (“Leishen Energy”), a leading provider of clean-energy equipment and integrated solutions for the oil and gas industry, today announced its fiscal year 2024 financial results, showcasing robust performance driven by effective cost management, strategic market expansion, and growing demand for the Company’s innovative product offerings.

    Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Highlights

    • Operating Cash Flow Grows 243%, rising to USD $15.07 million in fiscal year 2024, up from USD $4.39 million in fiscal year 2023, marking a more than 243% year-over-year increase. This sharp rise was driven by robust accounts receivable collections, efficiency gains, and disciplined costs.
    • Total Revenues were USD $69.07 million, compared to USD $73.08 million in fiscal year 2023, representing a 5.5% decrease year-over-year. The decline was primarily attributable to lower sales of clean-energy equipment in the domestic market, partially offset by growth in the Company’s new energy business.
    • Gross Profit totaled USD $16.03 million, down from USD $18.38 million in the prior year, reflecting a gross margin of 23.2% (25.1% in fiscal year 2023). The margin decrease was primarily driven by lower margins in oil and gas engineering technical services.
    • Net Income was USD $7.99 million, compared to USD $11.63 million in fiscal year 2023, reflecting a 31.3% decrease.
    • Operating Expenses rose from USD $6.49 million in fiscal year 2023 to USD $8.48 million in fiscal year 2024, largely due to higher selling and marketing costs associated with international market expansion, as well as increased research and development.
    • Net Income Attributable to Leishen Energy was USD $8.10 million, reflecting a decrease of USD $3.76 million year-over-year.

    Segment Performance

    1. Clean-Energy Equipment
      • Revenue declined by 14.6% year-over-year, to USD $33.82 million, mainly due to reduced domestic orders amid tighter market competition and lower selling prices for certain common products. The segment contributed 49.0% of total revenues.
    2. Digitalization and Integration Equipment
      • Revenue was USD $3.08 million, reflecting a modest year-over-year decline. Gross margin improved to 18.2% as the Company continued to streamline costs and enhance efficiency.
    3. New Energy Sales
      • Revenue grew 11.3%, reaching USD $25.82 million, driven by increased demand for natural gas. The Company added a major new client in fiscal year 2024, contributing over USD $1.5 million in revenue.
    4. Oil and Gas Engineering Technical Services
      • Revenue was USD $6.35 million, representing a decrease of 8.4% from the prior year, due to intensified pricing pressure and customers adopting lower-cost operating models. Despite increased competition, the Company continues to develop new projects at home and abroad.

    Management Commentary

    “We are pleased to report that while Leishen Energy experienced year-over-year declines in revenue and profitability in fiscal 2024, we have strengthened our position in new energy sales and increased our presence in international markets,” said Hongliang Li, Chief Executive Officer of Leishen Energy. “The successful expansion of our customer base—particularly in overseas regions—and ongoing investments in research and development underscore our commitment to delivering innovative, high-performance energy solutions.”

    Zhiping Yu, Chief Financial Officer, added: “As we navigate near-term market pressures, we remain focused on cost optimization and strategic capital allocation. We believe our prudent balance sheet management, coupled with targeted investments in key growth areas, will help us enhance our financial performance and maintain sustainable returns for our shareholders in the years to come.”

    Business Outlook

    The Company aims to capitalize on the following growth drivers and strategic initiatives in fiscal year 2025 and beyond:

    • International Expansion: Continued pursuit of overseas projects in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, including joint reserve warehouses of spare parts with major oilfields and new power plant operation and maintenance projects in Africa.
    • Technology and Innovation: Further investment in research and development to strengthen patented technologies, with 72 patents now held across clean-energy equipment, oil and gas engineering technical services, and new energy production and operation.
    • Customer Diversification: Ongoing efforts to deepen relationships with long-standing domestic clients while expanding the Company’s international customer pipeline, particularly in digitalization and integration equipment sales.
    • Operational Efficiencies: Enhancement of cost-control measures, rigorous supply chain management, and new supplier partnerships to mitigate inflationary pressures and disruptions.
    LEISHEN ENERGY HOLDING CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
        2024     2023     Variance  
        Amount     % of
    revenue    		     Amount     % of
    revenue    		     Amount     %  
    Revenues   $ 69,073,374       100.0 %   $ 73,084,448       100.0 %   $ (4,011,074 )     (5.5 )%
    Cost of revenues     (53,038,855 )     (76.8 )%     (54,705,407 )     (74.9 )%     1,666,552       (3.0 )%
    Gross profit     16,034,519       23.2 %     18,379,041       25.1 %     (2,344,522 )     (12.8 )%
                                                     
    Operating expenses:                                                
    Selling and marketing     2,053,194       3.0 %     775,957       1.1 %     1,277,237       164.6 %
    General and administrative     5,979,890       8.7 %     5,553,912       7.6 %     425,978       7.7 %
    Research and development     449,542       0.7 %     158,657       0.2 %     290,885       183.3 %
    Total operating expenses     8,482,626       12.4 %     6,488,526       8.9 %     1,994,100       30.7 %
                                                     
    Income from operations     7,551,893       10.8 %     11,890,515       16.2 %     (4,338,622 )     (36.5 )%
                                                     
    Other income (loss):                                                
    Interest expense     (57,018 )     (0.1 )%     (67,964 )     (0.1 )%     10,946       (16.1 )%
    Exchange (loss) gains     (18,107 )     0.0 %     280,538       0.4 %     (298,645 )     (106.5 )%
    Gain from equity investment     81,150       0.1 %     80,616       0.10 %     534       0.7 %
    Net investment income     445,271       0.6 %     108,671       0.1 %     336,600       309.7 %
    Other expenses, net     171,845       0.2 %     71,850       0.0 %     99,995       139.2 %
    Total other income, net     623,141       0.8 %     473,711       0.6 %     149,430       31.5 %
                                                     
    Income before income taxes     8,175,034       11.6 %     12,364,226       16.8 %     (4,189,192 )     (33.9 )%
                                                     
    Provision for income taxes     184,818       0.3 %     729,506       1.0 %     (544,688 )     (74.7 )%
                                                     
    Net income     7,990,216       11.3 %     11,634,720       15.8 %     (3,644,504 )     (31.3 )%
    Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests     (105,655 )     (0.2 )%     (223,870 )     (0.3 )%     118,215       (52.8 )%
    Net income attributable to Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd.   $ 8,095,871       11.5 %   $ 11,858,590       16.1 %   $ (3,762,719 )     (31.7 )%
    LEISHEN ENERGY HOLDING CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
     
      As of September 30,
      2024   2023
      US$   US$
    ASSETS              
    Current Assets:              
    Cash $ 5,811,798     $ 4,567,608  
    Restricted cash   1,489,216       –  
    Short-term investments   17,850,648       7,234,607  
    Accounts receivable, net   21,826,297       30,742,914  
    Notes receivable   1,054,528       1,304,004  
    Advance to suppliers, net   5,896,595       5,637,829  
    Inventories   5,396,634       7,877,202  
    Due from related parties   31,535       44,848  
    Loan receivable – related party   822,878       –  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net   1,567,060       1,351,049  
    Total current assets   61,747,189       58,760,061  
                   
    Non-current assets:              
    Long-term investments   1,758,515       1,670,461  
    Deferred offering costs   437,653       271,155  
    Property and equipment, net   4,111,919       3,838,135  
    Intangible assets   140,070       152,901  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets, net   668,259       712,065  
    Loans receivable, non-current   725,699       –  
    Other non-current assets   44,746       52,351  
    Total non-current assets   7,886,861       6,697,068  
                   
    Total Assets $ 69,634,050     $ 65,457,129  
                   
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY              
    Current Liabilities:              
    Short-term loans $ 50,899     $ 1,090,378  
    Accounts payable   10,731,238       11,758,870  
    Advance from customers   2,292,728       1,465,285  
    Taxes payable   3,418,725       2,755,661  
    Due to related parties   9,239,059       13,387,546  
    Operating lease liabilities   68,291       62,057  
    Other payables and other current liabilities   1,339,969       1,303,371  
    Total current liabilities   27,140,909       31,823,168  
                   
    Non-current Liabilities:              
    Long-term loans   1,127,380       49,676  
    Deferred tax liabilities, net   307,513       1,175,703  
    Operating lease liabilities, non-current   602,735       650,007  
    Total non-current liabilities   2,037,628       1,875,386  
                   
    Total Liabilities   29,178,537       33,698,554  
                   
    Equity:              
    Ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 15,500,000 shares issued and outstanding*   15,500       15,500  
    Subscription receivable   (15,500 )     (15,500 )
    Additional paid-in capital   1,617,966       1,617,966  
    Statutory reserves   1,690,994       1,565,649  
    Retained earnings   37,339,006       29,368,480  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (861,374 )     (1,746,809 )
    Total equity attributable to Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd   39,786,592       30,805,286  
    Non-controlling interests   668,921       953,289  
    Total Equity   40,455,513       31,758,575  
                   
    Total Liabilities and Equity $ 69,634,050     $ 65,457,129  
                   

    About Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd.

    The Leishen Group was founded in 2007 and is a China-based provider of clean-energy equipment and integrated solutions for the oil and gas industry, with a commitment to providing customers with high-performance, safe and cost-effective energy solutions. Our major lines of business include (i) sale of clean-energy industry; (ii) new energy production and operation; (iii) digitalization and integration equipment; and (iv) oil and gas engineering technical services. At present, the Group holds more than 70 patents and software copyrights, forming a comprehensive ecosystem of core technical capabilities. Currently, our business operations have expanded beyond the PRC to Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, and our service abilities and quality have been widely recognized and praised by foreign customers. Efficient, safe and energy-saving equipment combined with professional technical services have enabled our brand to gain positive attention and recognition from our customers and enabled us to become a well-known equipment and services provider in the oil and gas industry. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: www.r-egroup.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company’s share offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the offering will be successfully completed. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “going forward”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “potential”, “predict”, “propose”, “seek”, “should”, “will”, “would” or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    For more information, please contact:

    Investor Relations

    Michael Wei
    Email:hwey@horizonconsultancy.co

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NextNRG Inc. Announces Fleet Fueling Agreement with Florida Beauty, a Division of Mogul Energy International, Inc., Supporting High-Demand Floral Logistics

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NextNRG Inc. (“NextNRG” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: NXXT), a pioneer in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications for energy solutions, today announced its fueling-division EzFill, has entered into a fleet fueling agreement with Florida Beauty, a division of Mogul Energy International, Inc. (OTCMARKETS: MGUY), a publicly traded company specializing in refrigerated logistics and the transportation of time- and temperature-sensitive cargo.

    This strategic collaboration highlights NextNRG’s focus on rapidly expanding its commercial fleet fueling services while providing additional shareholder value for both companies through operational synergies and innovative solutions. Under the agreement, NextNRG will deliver mobile fueling solutions to Florida Beauty’s fleet of over 200 semi-trucks and 300 refrigerated trailers.

    Florida Beauty is one of the nation’s largest floral logistics companies and plays a key role in the transportation of fresh-cut flowers and other perishable goods across the country. During peak season times, Florida Beauty anticipates more than 1,000 loads leaving its facilities in Miami, FL and Ventura CA to support flower distribution.

    As a high-volume carrier, Florida Beauty relies on efficient fueling logistics to maintain supply efficiency during high demand periods like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, when supply chain reliability is critical.

    With floral imports exceeding 1.1 billion stems annually, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a consistent fuel supply is essential for minimizing downtime and ensuring timely deliveries. Miami International Airport handles nearly 90% of the nation’s fresh-cut flower imports during peak seasons, making it a critical hub for floral logistics. NextNRG’s fleet fueling services help companies like Florida Beauty operate efficiently, reducing disruptions and optimizing delivery operations.

    “As one of the nation’s largest transporters of fresh-cut flowers arriving from South America to Miami, and with over 40 years of experience in nationwide floral logistics, we take great pride in streamlining our operations,” said Ronen Koubi, CEO of Mogul Energy International, Inc. “Florida Beauty spends approximately $12 million annually refueling its massive fleet. With NextNRG, we can significantly improve efficiency by having fuel delivered directly to us, saving time and labor costs while reducing operational disruptions. Additionally, we look forward to continuing discussions with NextNRG about the electrification of our fleet and the deployment of a smart microgrid and wireless charging solutions at our headquarters.”

    “This Agreement with Florida Beauty reflects the value of combining innovative fueling solutions with the needs of high-volume logistics providers,” said, Michael D. Farkas CEO and Executive Chairman of NextNRG. “By working together, we will help Florida Beauty maximize operational efficiency while reinforcing our commitment to delivering tailored solutions for industries where uptime and reliability are essential. This agreement brings significant value to both organizations, strengthening shareholder confidence and positioning NextNRG as the go-to fueling solution for fleet operators in perishable goods logistics.”

    About NextNRG, Inc. (f/k/a EzFill Holdings, Inc.)

    NextNRG Holding Corp. (NextNRG) and EzFill have merged to form a combined entity focused on renewable energy, mobile fueling, and next-generation energy infrastructure. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies, NextNRG is developing an integrated ecosystem that combines solar energy generation, battery storage, wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging, and on-demand fuel delivery.

    At the core of NextNRG’s strategy is the deployment of NextNRG Smart Microgrids, which utilize AI-driven energy management alongside solar power and battery storage to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs, and improve grid resiliency. These microgrids are designed to serve commercial properties, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, parking garages, rural and tribal lands, recreational facilities, and government properties, expanding energy accessibility while supporting decarbonization initiatives.

    Following the merger with EzFill, NextNRG is integrating sustainable energy solutions into mobile fueling operations. The company will provide renewable energy to its fueling partners, supporting more efficient fuel delivery while advancing clean energy adoption. It continues to expand its growing fleet of fuel delivery trucks and national footprint, including the acquisition of Yoshi Mobility’s fuel division, further solidifying its position as a leader in the on-demand fueling industry.

    By combining renewable energy innovation with mobile fueling expertise, NextNRG is building a sustainable energy ecosystem that bridges traditional fuel needs with AI-powered clean energy solutions.

    The combined entity, NextNRG, trades under the symbol NXXT on the Nasdaq Capital Market. To find out more visit NextNRG.com.

    About Mogul Energy International, Inc.

    Mogul Energy International, Inc. (OTCMARKETS: MGUY), operating under the Florida Beauty brand, provides transportation, logistics, and warehouse consolidation and distribution services for perishable and other time- and temperature-sensitive cargo. With over 40 years of experience, Mogul Energy specializes in refrigerated long-haul, regional, and dedicated deliveries for industries such as floral, produce, plants, dairy, poultry, and meats, as well as dry, high-value commodities. Operating one of the largest floral transportation fleets in the U.S., Mogul Energy plays a vital role in the timely and efficient delivery of perishable goods.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “hopes,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those related to trade disputes, regulatory changes, or disruptions in the supply chain that could impact the floral logistics sector.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Jeff Ramson, CEO
    PCG Advisory, Inc. 
    jramson@pcgadvisory.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Major League Soccer kicks off 30th season this weekend on MLS Season Pass

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Major League Soccer kicks off 30th season this weekend on MLS Season Pass

    February 18, 2025

    UPDATE

    Major League Soccer kicks off 30th season this weekend on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

    Major League Soccer kicks off its 30th season this Saturday on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with all 30 teams taking the pitch for MLS is Back weekend.

    Fans in more than 100 countries and regions can sign up for MLS Season Pass to access every MLS game with no blackouts, along with in-depth coverage and analysis, exclusive content, and more — including the annual Leagues Cup tournament, Campeones Cup, MLS All-Star Game, Audi MLS Cup Playoffs games, and select MLS NEXT Pro matches. The full regular-season schedule can be found at mlssoccer.com.

    “With new ways to watch, expansive programming, and incredible exclusive content, this will be Major League Soccer’s biggest season yet,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Sports, and Beats. “We’re excited to bring fans around the world closer to the game than ever before.”

    30th Season Sleeve Patches

    To celebrate the league’s 30th season, the left sleeve of every club’s first-team player kit will feature a bespoke Apple TV sleeve patch. Inspired by each club’s distinctive crest, color palette, and visual identity, the patches will be worn by players for the duration of the 2025 season.

    An Exclusive Lionel Messi Interview with Zane Lowe

    On Friday, February 28, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and reigning MLS MVP Lionel Messi joins Apple Music’s Zane Lowe for an exclusive in-depth interview exploring the global superstar’s past, present, and future. In the rare sit-down conversation, Messi opens up about coming to Inter Miami, the growth and momentum of MLS, the evolution of his playing style, the role of music in his life, fatherhood, and more. Fans can enjoy a preview of the interview below, and tune in to the full interview next week on Apple Music, YouTube, and MLS Season Pass.

    MLS Season Pass Now Available on Android

    The Apple TV app — home of MLS Season Pass — is now available to download from Google Play on Android mobile devices, including phones, tablets, and foldables. Available around the world,1 the app was built from the ground up to deliver Android users a familiar and intuitive interface. Android users can subscribe to MLS Season Pass using their Google Play account on Android mobile and Google TV devices.

    The Launch of Sunday Night Soccer

    MLS Season Pass will broadcast a featured game of the week on Sunday evenings under the banner Sunday Night Soccer, with enhanced production and dedicated studio programming. Sunday Night Soccer matches will be available to stream for Apple TV+ subscribers and will be preceded by new preview shows, MLS Countdown and MLS La Previa. MLS Wrap Up and MLS El Resumen will move to Sunday evenings following the Sunday match to highlight and recap the full week of matches, giving fans a more comprehensive view of all the week’s action, with first-rate commentary and analysis, along with can’t-miss highlights. The inaugural Sunday Night Soccer matchup will showcase the league’s newest franchise, San Diego FC, as it makes its debut against reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy on February 23 at 7 p.m. ET. The match will also broadcast live in Times Square.

    More Ways to Watch

    T-Mobile is giving qualified T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers — including businesses — a promotional offer for complimentary access to MLS Season Pass all season long, with no blackout dates. Starting today, T-Mobile customers can redeem the offer for a limited time via T-Mobile Tuesdays in the T-Life app.

    MLS Season Pass subscriptions are also available via DIRECTV, with live matches available in the DIRECTV satellite guide on channels 480 through 495, similar to the viewing experience for other league packages. Customers who subscribe through DIRECTV will also be able to access MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app. DIRECTV customers can access a free preview on DIRECTV channels from February 22 to March 1, after which they will be able to subscribe to MLS Season Pass through DIRECTV channels. This offering expands upon DIRECTV’s exclusive rights to provide MLS Season Pass to commercial establishments, which has been available to DIRECTV for BUSINESS’s vast network of more than 300,000 sports bars, restaurants, and more since the 2023 season.

    Xfinity customers can enjoy an integrated MLS Season Pass viewing experience, with the ability to sign up directly through Xfinity and watch live matches seamlessly within the channel guide on X1 and the Xfinity Stream app, and the Apple TV app. Comcast and Apple are also providing free access to MLS 360 for all Xfinity customers throughout the season via separate MLS 360 channels. Xfinity customers can access a free preview of MLS Season Pass from February 22 to March 2, after which they’ll be able to subscribe directly through Xfinity.

    Onside: Major League Soccer on Apple TV+

    On Friday, February 21, Apple TV+ will premiere the highly anticipated eight-part panoramic documentary event Onside: Major League Soccer. Produced for Apple by the dynamic sports storytellers Box to Box Films, in partnership with Major League Soccer, the docuseries provides unprecedented access to players, coaches, and clubs, and explores the electrifying moments and captivating stories that made the 2024 season unforgettable. The first episode will be available for all MLS Season Pass subscribers from February 21 to March 3. Watch the official trailer.

    Follow MLS on the Apple Sports App

    Fans can stay up to date on scores, stats, standings, and their favorite clubs throughout the MLS season on the free Apple Sports app for iPhone.2 Users can easily navigate between scores and upcoming games; explore play-by-play information, team stats, lineup details, and live betting odds; and tap to watch matches on MLS Season Pass in the Apple TV app.3 Apple Sports also seamlessly syncs with favorites selected within the My Sports experience, including in the Apple TV app and Apple News. With iOS 18 and watchOS 11, the Apple Sports app now offers Live Activities for all MLS matches, delivering live scores and play-by-play info at a quick glance to a user’s iPhone and Apple Watch Lock Screens.4

    Subscribing to MLS Season Pass

    MLS Season Pass is available through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, Android devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, as well as on the web at tv.apple.com. Fans can also access MLS Season Pass from the Apple TV app on Apple Vision Pro, where they can watch games alongside other apps in their physical space; within an Environment, so the screen feels 100 feet wide; and in Spatial Audio for an even more immersive viewing experience.

    Fans can sign up for MLS Season Pass for $14.99 per month during the season, or $99 for the full season, and Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up at a special price of $12.99 per month, or $79 per season. A subscription to MLS Season Pass for this season will be included with each full-season MLS club ticket account. Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share the subscription using their own Apple ID and password. For more information, and to subscribe to MLS Season Pass, visit apple.co/_MLS_.

    1. Availability may vary by region.
    2. Available in the U.S., the UK, and Canada.
    3. A subscription is required.
    4. Live Activities require iOS 18 and watchOS 11 or later.

    Press Contacts

    Sam Citron

    Apple

    citron@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Coop Pank extends authorities of Margus Rink as a Member of the Supervisory Board of Coop Liising AS

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Today, on January 18th, 2025, the Coop Pank AS decided to extend the term of office of Mr. Margus Rink, a Member of the Supervisory Board of Coop Liising AS a subsidiaries of Coop Pank AS, for a another 3-years term effective as of the end of his previous term.

    Margus Rink has been the Chairman of the Management Board of Coop Pank AS since 2017. He is also a member of the Supervisory Board of bank’s subsidiaries Coop Liising AS and Coop Kindlustusmaakler AS. Margus Rink is a member of the Council of the Estonian Banking Association and member of the management board of Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Margus Rink obtained a master’s degree in business administration from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tartu in 2000 and a bachelor’s degree in financial accounting and analysis from the same university in 1994.
    Margus Rink currently owns 806 000 shares in Coop Pank and 7 subordinated bonds of Coop Pank.

    Coop Pank, based on Estonian capital, is one of the five universal banks operating in Estonia. The bank has 209 500 everyday banking customers. Coop Pank uses the synergies between retail and banking and brings everyday banking services close to people’s homes. The majority shareholder of the bank is the domestic retail chain Coop Eesti, whose sales network includes 320 stores.

    Additional information:
    Katre Tatrik
    Communication Manager
    Tel: +372 5151 859
    E-mail: katre.tatrik@cooppank.ee

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Strengthens Intellectual Property Portfolio with Four New Patent Applications Updated

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Protections Surrounding Key Enabling ALIP Technology Adds to NANO Nuclear’s Stable of Granted or Acquired Patents and Patent Applications

    New York, N.Y., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced that it has filed four new separate utility patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) related to NANO Nuclear’s Annular Linear Induction Pump (ALIP) technology.

    The ALIP technology, a thermal management and distribution system which is based on electromagnetic (rather than mechanical) pumps, is a core technology in the development of advanced molten-salt and liquid-metal nuclear reactors. By utilizing a time-varying magnetic field, ALIPs enable the movement of conductive fluids without mechanical components, reducing wear and maintenance requirements while increasing efficiency.

    The ALIP technology, acquired by NANO Nuclear last year and part of its suite of energy systems, is considered a key-enabling technology for the development of advanced nuclear reactors, not only for NANO Nuclear’s microreactors in development but as a third-party commercial opportunity for other advanced nuclear reactor systems.

    In addition to enhancing energy conversion cycles, optimizing thermal management, and ensuring operational longevity in high-temperature applications across the energy, propulsion, and industrial sectors, applications of the ALIP technology extend beyond nuclear energy to space power and propulsion systems, industrial cooling systems, and defense applications, positioning NANO Nuclear at the forefront of emerging high-performance fluid control markets.

    A U.S. Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III project is ongoing to refine the ALIP technology, led by inventor and NANO Nuclear’s Head of Thermal Hydraulics and Space Program Dr. Carlos O. Maidana, with a view to separately commercialize the technology as a component for liquid metal and all molten salt-based nuclear reactors.

    Figure 1 – NANO Nuclear Energy’s Annular Linear Induction Pump (ALIP) technology cross-sectional visualization.

    “The development and eventual commercialization of the ALIP technology is essential for advancing next-generation nuclear reactor solutions,” said Carlos O. Maidana, Ph.D., Head of Thermal Hydraulics and Space Program of NANO Nuclear Energy. “Filing these utility patents highlights our commitment to leading the charge in next-generation technologies that are critical to the ongoing evolution of advanced energy systems. I’m pleased to have housed these inventions within NANO Nuclear and to lead the team to progress and refine this technology.”

    The newly filed patent applications include:

    1. Patent Application # 19/030,148, titled “Integrated platform and method for optimizing an electromagnetic pump,” relates to the development of software for the design of annular linear induction pumps.
    2. Patent Application # 19/030,130, titled “Electromagnetic pump system and method for moving conducting fluid,” relates to the design of the next generation of annular linear induction pumps.
    3. Patent Application # 19/030,098, titled “Electromagnetic pump and method for manufacturing the same,” relates to the advanced manufacturing of annular linear induction pumps.
    4. Patent Application # 19/030,068, titled “Cooling system for electromagnetic pump system,” relates to the design of a micro-channel cooling system, using advanced manufacturing methods, for annular linear induction pumps operating at very high temperature.

    These intellectual properties are expected to provide enhanced component life span and operation metrics in all advanced molten-salt and liquid-metal reactors, including NANO Nuclear’s KRONOS MMR™, LOKI MMR™, and ODIN portable microreactor, all of which are currently in development.

    “The filing of these additional utility patents further bolsters our intellectual property portfolio and helps to ensure the protection of our progress in developing this key enabling technology,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Reactor Development of NANO Nuclear Energy. “We believe that the ALIP technology will be instrumental in the development and optimization of the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors, and I’m pleased with the progress Dr. Maidana has overseen through the SBIR Phase III program. We look forward to continuing our progress with ALIP with a view towards including in it our own microreactors in development as well as seeking to separately commercialize it as soon as possible.”

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors. NANO Nuclear is also developing patented stationary KRONOS MMR™ Energy System and space focused, portable LOKI MMR™.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

    For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

    For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:
    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:

    NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN
    NANO Nuclear Energy YOUTUBE
    NANO Nuclear Energy X PLATFORM

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release, forward-looking statements include those related to (i) the anticipated benefits to NANO Nuclear of the patent applications described herein and (ii) the future prospects for the ALIP technology generally as part of NANO Nuclear’s reactors in development or via separate commercialization. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues, securing intellectual property protection, and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sweed Establishes Largest Development Team in the Cannabis Industry

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sweed, the leading enterprise retail technology platform for the cannabis industry, is now also the largest technology development team in the industry. The company announced today that through recent hires and expansions of the in-house development team, Sweed now boasts the largest and most innovative team of developers of any cannabis-specific technology platform. Sweed, which recently announced the successful completion of its SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type II audits, has emerged as the unmatched leader in product innovation and agility, providing cannabis retail clients with best-in-class digital solutions. The Sweed development team has grown by 41% since Q1 2024. The increased scale of the development team is being deployed to provide innovation and enhanced services across the native eCommerce, point-of-sale, inventory management, logistics, payment processing, and other integral programs built into the Sweed platform.

    Establishing the largest development team in the cannabis industry is critical to the advancements that Sweed is bringing to market. As industry experts in both retail technology and the specific needs and challenges that face the cannabis industry, Sweed is looking ahead at the impact of automation and functional A.I. tools on the future of the cannabis retail market. Creating smarter, more actionable, and responsive tools will help retailers provide better service to their customers, thereby increasing customer retention and loyalty, while also expanding cart sizes. Customizing offers and menus, maximizing the value of each communication, streamlining workflow between inventory and sales, and ultimately providing revenue-driving support to retailers are all areas of focus Sweed is enhancing. With the largest development team, an expansive AI-powered platform, and a deep commitment to innovation, Sweed is setting the new standard for dispensary technology–one that is efficient, scalable, and built for 2025 and beyond.

    “Reaching this level of bandwidth for our development team highlights our view that Sweed is an innovation and technology company leading the cannabis industry forward to a more profitable and scalable future,” said Rocco Del Priore, Co-Founder of Sweed. “The cannabis industry is littered with technology solutions that do part of the job for retailers, but our goal is to constantly raise the bar – which we often set ourselves – to offer the best solution across every digital need our customers might have. We’re immensely proud to have the industry’s largest development team, and we’re excited by the possibilities that lay ahead as we help advance this industry with tools and services that exceed anything currently on the market.”

    Sweed pioneered the concept of cohesive cannabis retail solutions, creating the first platform to connect operations, marketing, and compliance seamlessly. Since its inception, the company has focused on refining technology to meet the evolving needs of cannabis businesses. Providing enterprise-grade capabilities that are intuitive, scalable, and deeply rooted in the industry’s unique requirements has enabled Sweed to become the preferred technology partner of the industry’s most forward-looking companies. Throughout 2025 Sweed will be unveiling industry-first advancements to its already leading technology offerings, giving cannabis retailers insights and impactful upgrades to help them scale their dispensary operations.

    About Sweed
    Sweed is redefining cannabis retail management with its cohesive platform, seamlessly combining Point of Sale, eCommerce, and Marketing & Loyalty solutions. As the original enterprise-grade platform purpose-built for multi-location scalability, Sweed empowers retailers to efficiently manage sales, customer engagement, marketing, and inventory — all from one system. By delivering a tailored, data-driven experience without relying on external integrations, Sweed enables cannabis retailers to drive growth and deliver exceptional customer experiences. For more information, visit https://sweedpos.com/.

    Contact
    Oak PR
    sweed@oakpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ITS Logistics February Port Rail Ramp Index: Potential Effects of Tariffs and Impact on Trade Lanes Signify Most Pressing Unknown Supply Chain Threat

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RENO, Nev., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ITS Logistics today released the February forecast for the ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index. This month the index reveals that operations have returned to normal in all regions following the Lunar New Year peak and light inventory front loading to avoid anticipated bottlenecks. In addition, the most significant current unknowns for the industry are the potential effects of tariffs and their impact on trade lanes. 

    “Though changing booking patterns and front loading inventory can help with savings in the short-term, these strategies usually lead to additional cost and material flow problems,” said Paul Brashier, Vice President of Global Supply Chain for ITS Logistics. “The consensus from most experienced shippers is to not be reactionary, as this issue will continue to be very fluid, and the timing and duration of disruptions is unknown.” 

    In an effort to promote fairer trade and enhance the appeal of U.S. goods, President Trump has called for agencies to explore reciprocal tariffs aimed at increasing America’s revenue. This move, however, risks sparking a global trade war, potentially worsening inflation.

    Last week, the President signed a memorandum proposing a 25% tariff on non-energy imports from Canada and a 10% tariff on imports of Canadian energy—primarily crude oil. He also signed proclamations to help bolster tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. to help minimize attempts by China and Russia to evade penalties. To encourage this change, an incremental 10% tariff on imports from China was established, along with an executive order to place a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico, which has been postponed until March. 

    While the tariffs have not yet been imposed, the signing of the memo allows the current presidential administration to begin a review process to initiate them. As the industry awaits further action from the administration, ocean carrier RFP season is approaching, and professionals should begin seeing volumes shift back to the East and Gulf Coast ports as Red Sea diversions and labor disruptions are not expected to be a concern in 2025.

    “We suggest companies consider moving bookings to the East and Gulf Coast ports now that the labor issues have been resolved,” continued Brashier. “Earlier in the month, the wage scale committee for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) approved a tentative six-year agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance from early January. Members are now expected to vote on their new master contract regarding the East and Gulf Coast ports on February 25.”

    ITS Logistics offers a full suite of network transportation solutions across North America and distribution and fulfillment services to 95% of the U.S. population within two days. These services include drayage and intermodal in 22 coastal ports and 30 rail ramps, a full suite of asset and asset-lite transportation solutions, omnichannel distribution and fulfillment, LTL, and outbound small parcel.

    The ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index forecasts port container and dray operations for the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf regions. Ocean and domestic container rail ramp operations are also highlighted in the index for both the West Inland and East Inland regions. Visit here for a full comprehensive copy of the index with expected forecasts for the US port and rail ramps.

    About ITS Logistics
    ITS Logistics is one of North America’s fastest-growing, asset-based modern 3PLs, providing solutions for the industry’s most complicated supply chain challenges. With a people-first culture committed to excellence, the company relentlessly strives to deliver unmatched value through best-in-class service, expertise, and innovation. The ITS Logistics portfolio features North America’s #19 asset-lite freight brokerage, the #12 drayage and intermodal solution, a top 50 dedicated fleet, an innovative cloud-based technology ecosystem, and a nationwide distribution and fulfillment network.

    Media Contact
    Amber Good
    LeadCoverage
    amber@leadcoverage.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/128e7687-6bfd-4f21-af3a-442b9cc93409

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Philly’s Chinatown has a rich tradition of activism – the Sixers arena fight was just one of many to preserve the neighborhood

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Vivian Truong, Assistant Professor of History, Swarthmore College

    Save Chinatown protesters take to the streets on Sept. 7, 2024. Zachary Kreines, CC BY-NC-ND

    Visitors commonly view Philadelphia’s Chinatown as a place to eat Chinese food and appreciate Chinese culture. But for longtime members of the Chinatown community, the neighborhood – home to over over 5,000 residents – is also defined by its tenacity and survival.

    Chinatown’s rich tradition of activism was on full display for the past two and half years, as residents and allies fiercely opposed the Philadelphia 76ers’ plans to build a basketball arena in the Market East neighborhood at the southern edge of Chinatown.

    A city-sponsored community impact study found that the arena could have resulted in the “loss of Chinatown’s core identity and regional significance.” It estimated that half of the neighborhood’s small businesses would have suffered due to increased congestion, potential rent increases and a new demographic less likely to patronize the area’s ethnic businesses.

    While the reason for the Sixers’ sudden decision to scrap the Market East arena plan remains unclear, the announcement in January 2025 came as a relief to Chinatown community members who felt they had averted yet another threat to their neighborhood’s existence.

    I’m a historian whose research focuses on Asian Americans, cities and social movements, and I’ve seen how urban residents take the existence of Chinatowns in major cities across the country – and even globally, from London to Havana, Cuba, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – for granted. Chinatowns continue to exist and thrive thanks to the residents and allies who fight for them.

    The fight over the Sixers arena was only the latest struggle in over 50 years of community organizing in Philadelphia’s Chinatown.

    Friendship Gate, erected in the 1980s, serves as a symbolic entrance to Philadelphia’s Chinatown.
    Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    A refuge from xenophobia

    Like other American Chinatowns, Philadelphia’s formed during an era of virulent anti-Chinese racism. The neighborhood was established in the 1870s as a refuge for immigrants fleeing the American West, where white railroad workers and miners declared “The Chinese must go!”.

    Among the earliest businesses were a handful of laundries and a restaurant on the 900 block of Race Street, just north of Philadelphia’s main commercial district.

    In the era of anti-Chinese immigration laws from 1875 to 1943, Chinatowns were associated with opium-smoking, gambling and prostitution. Law enforcement targeted and stigmatized the Philadelphia neighborhood as a center of vice and danger. Meanwhile, city and private developers had their eyes on Chinatown as early as the 1920s.

    In 1923, the Bell Telephone Company purchased additional real estate along the corridor for its new high-rise building and parking lot, displacing Chinese residents. In the same decade, the city used eminent domain to demolish blocks of housing to make way for the Broad-Ridge Spur connecting the Eighth Street and Vine Street subway stations. A Philadelphia Evening Bulletin article in 1934 declared Chinatown to be “a thing of the past.”

    As the city began to accommodate more car owners, Race Street was remade as a major thoroughfare to the Delaware Valley Bridge, now called the Ben Franklin Bridge. In 1926, the year the bridge was completed, the Bulletin declared that “The Delaware River Bridge has come and Chinatown must go,” echoing the xenophobic slogans that drove Chinese workers out of western states half a century earlier.

    But Chinatown persisted.

    As restrictions on immigration from China loosened after World War II, more Chinese women immigrated to the U.S. The neighborhood transformed from a bachelor society of aging workers to a growing intergenerational community of families.

    ‘Save Chinatown’ movement forms

    During the social upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s, Philadelphia’s Chinatown youth took inspiration from the Black Power and anti-war movements to fight for their community.

    In 1966, the city proposed the expansion of Vine Street into an expressway that would have demolished large swaths of Chinatown, including the beloved Holy Redeemer church and school. Established for Chinese American Catholics in 1941, Holy Redeemer hosted neighborhood meetings and recreational events as well as religious services. The Vine Street Expressway project was one instance of the national phenomenon of urban renewal, which aimed to clear and redevelop areas designated as blighted.

    The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation nonprofit worked with Yellow Seeds, a group of radical Asian American youth who opposed U.S. racism and imperialism, and other Chinatown community members to fight construction of the expressway.

    These groups comprised the 1970s Save Chinatown movement. They held numerous protests, made frequent media appearances and used the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act to craft their strategy. They demanded an environmental impact statement, which, when issued in 1983, recommended a much smaller expressway than originally designed. Holy Redeemer was saved. The final plans also scrapped two off-ramps that would have cut through the neighborhood. Construction on the expressway was completed in 1991.

    Resisting a prison, baseball stadium and casino

    The Save Chinatown movement continued through the decades as community members successfully fought the construction of a federal prison in 1993, a baseball stadium in 2000 and a casino in 2008 – all proposed for sites in or bordering Chinatown.

    “The future of Chinatown is going to be a huge battle,” activist Debbie Wei stated in a 2002 documentary released after the conclusion of the baseball stadium fight a few years earlier. “We’re going to fight it, and my children are probably going to have to fight it as well.”

    ‘Look Forward and Carry on the Past: Stories from Philadelphia’s Chinatown’ (2002). Debbie Wei’s reflections on the future of Chinatown begin at 25:28.

    Her words were prescient. Her daughter Kaia Chau emerged as a key leader of the campaign against the Sixers arena 20 years later.

    Chau co-founded Students for the Preservation of Chinatown with fellow student leader Taryn Flaherty. The group organized teach-ins, galvanized Philadelphia-area students to join protests, and highlighted arena developers’ ties to local universities, including the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. By focusing on the developers, students made connections between the arena proposal and the gentrification of West Philadelphia, including the demolition of the University City Townhomes, an affordable housing complex whose residents were mostly Black.

    The movement against the Sixers arena became part of a multiracial, citywide fight against displacement. As Rev. Gregory Holston of Black Philly 4 Chinatown, part of the Save Chinatown coalition, put it: “In North Philadelphia, in West Philadelphia, in South Philadelphia, the same process is happening over and over and over again, where people are pushing and displacing people of color out of this city.”

    Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood celebrates the Lunar New Year in 2024, the Year of the Dragon.
    Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images

    Thriving intergenerational community

    Activists have also created new housing, educational and arts institutions to keep Chinatown a family-friendly neighborhood.

    The location where the prison was planned in 1993 is now Hing Wah Yuen, a 51-unit mixed-income affordable housing complex developed by the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation – the same organization that led the fight against the Vine Street Expressway in the 1970s.

    After the plans for the baseball stadium were scrapped in 2000, the grassroots Chinatown-based organization Asian Americans United partnered with the arts and culture organization Philadelphia Folklore Project to found the Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures School in 2005.

    The K-8 school, located in the footprint of the proposed stadium, teaches Mandarin and emphasizes art and music classes that reflect students’ cultural background.

    More recently, recognizing the need for more “third places” for youth beyond home and school, student leaders Chau and Flaherty launched the Ginger Arts Center in 2024. The organization provides a recreational space and arts programs for young people in Chinatown.

    The community institutions that have sprung up in the wake of defeated development projects illustrate how Chinatown is not a thing of the past, nor is it solely a food and culture destination to be consumed.

    Rather, Chinatown is a thriving community that has long fought to survive, reinvent itself and determine its own future – one that carries the legacy of previous generations of resistance.

    Read more of our stories about Philadelphia.

    Vivian Truong 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. Philly’s Chinatown has a rich tradition of activism – the Sixers arena fight was just one of many to preserve the neighborhood – https://theconversation.com/phillys-chinatown-has-a-rich-tradition-of-activism-the-sixers-arena-fight-was-just-one-of-many-to-preserve-the-neighborhood-247549

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Firing civil servants and dismantling government departments is how aspiring strongmen consolidate personal power – lessons from around the globe

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Erica Frantz, Associate Professor of Political Science, Michigan State University

    A leader bent on expanding his own power would see the government’s bureaucracy as a key target. Andry Djumantara – iStock/Getty Images Plus

    With the recent confirmations of Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – two of the most controversial of President Donald Trump’s high-level administration nominees – the president’s attempt to remake government as a home for political loyalists continues.

    Soon after coming to office for a second term, Trump aggressively sought to overhaul Washington and bring the federal government in line with his political agenda. He is spearheading an effort to purge the government’s ranks of people he perceived as his opponents and slash the size of long-standing bureaucratic agencies – in some instances dismantling them entirely.

    At the helm of much of this is businessman Elon Musk, who is not only the world’s richest man but also the largest donor of the 2024 election and the owner of multiple businesses that benefit from lucrative government contracts.

    Musk – and a small cohort of young engineers loyal to him but with little experience in government – descended on Washington, announced their control over multiple government agencies, fired career civil servants, and even strong-armed access to government payment systems at the Treasury Department, where the inspector general had just been sacked.

    This unprecedented sequence of events in the U.S. has left many observers in a daze, struggling to make sense of the dramatic reshaping of the bureaucracy under way.

    Yet, as researchers on authoritarian politics, it is no surprise to us that a leader bent on expanding his own power, such as Trump, would see the bureaucracy as a key target. Here’s why.

    Elon Musk, standing next to President Donald Trump, explains his theory concerning government bureaucracy.

    Dismantle democracy from within

    A well-functioning bureaucracy is an organization of highly qualified civil servants who follow established rules to prevent abuses of power. Bureaucracies, in this way, are an important part of democracy that constrain executive behavior.

    For this reason, aspiring strongmen are especially likely to go after them. Whether by shuffling the personnel of agencies, creating new ones, or limiting their capacity for oversight, a common tactic among power-hungry leaders is establishing control over the government’s bureaucracy. Following a failed coup attempt in 2016, for example, Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdoğan fired or detained as many as 100,000 government workers.

    In the short term, greater executive control over the bureaucracy gives these leaders a valuable tool for rewarding their elite supporters, especially as diminished government oversight increases opportunities for corruption and the dispersion of rewards to such insiders. Erdoğan, for example, by 2017 had worked to fill lower-level bureaucratic positions with loyalists of his party, the AKP, to ensure the party’s influence over corruption investigations.

    In the long term, this hollowing out and reshaping of the bureaucracy is part of a broader plan in which aspiring autocrats usurp control over all institutions that can constrain them, such as the legislature and the courts. As we document in our book, “The Origins of Elected Strongmen,” attacks on the bureaucracy constitute a significant step in a larger process in which elected leaders dismantle democracy from within.

    Take control of bureaucracy

    The seemingly bizarre series of events that have transpired in Washington since Trump came to power are highly consistent with other countries where democracy has been dismantled.

    Take Benin, for example. Its leader, Patrice Talon – one of the wealthiest people in Africa – came to power in democratic elections in 2016.

    Soon after taking control, Talon created new agencies housed in the executive office and defunded existing ones, as a means of skirting bureaucratic constraints to his rule. The central affairs of the state were in the hands of an informal cabinet, initially led by Olivier Boko, a wealthy businessman considered to be Talon’s right-hand man despite not having any official position in government.

    Talon and his inner circle used this control over the state to enrich themselves, turning the country into what one journalist referred to as “a company in the hands of Talon and his very close clique.”

    Consolidating control over the bureaucracy was just one step in a larger process of turning Benin into an autocratic state. Talon eventually amassed greater power and influence over key state institutions, such as the judiciary, and intervened in the electoral process to ensure his continued rule. By 2021, Benin could no longer be considered a democracy.

    Purge civil service

    A similar dynamic occurred in Hungary. After governing relatively conventionally for one term, Prime Minister Viktor Orban was defeated in elections in 2002. He blamed that outcome on unfriendly media and never accepted the results as legitimate.

    Orban returned to office in 2010, bent on retribution.

    Orban ordered mass firings of civil servants and put allies of his party, Fidesz, in crucial roles. He also used the dismantling of bureaucratic constraints to pad the pockets of the elites whose support he needed to maintain power.

    As a Hungarian former politician wrote in 2016, “While the mafia state derails the bureaucratic administration, it organizes, monopolizes the channels of corruption and keeps them in order.”

    Likewise in Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez had his cronies draw up a blacklist of civil servants to be purged for signing a petition in support of a referendum to determine whether Chávez should be recalled from office in 2004; government employees who signed were subsequently fired from their jobs.

    More than a decade later, Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s current leader, would conduct his own purge of civil servants after they signed a petition to hold another recall referendum. After multiple rounds of government and military purges, Maduro was able to overturn an election he lost and jail his opponents, knowing full well the judges and generals would follow his orders.

    Benin’s leader, Patrice Talon, consolidated control over the bureaucracy as part of a larger process of turning the country into an autocratic state.
    Yanick Folly/AFP via Getty Images

    Foster culture of secrecy and suspicion

    Orban and Chavez, like Talon, were democratically elected but went on to undermine democracy.

    In environments where loyalty to the leader is prioritized over all else, and purges can happen at a moment’s notice, few people are willing to speak up about abuses of power or stand in the way of a power grab.

    Fostering a culture of secrecy and mutual suspicion among government officials is intentional and serves the leader’s interests.

    As a World Bank report highlighted in 1983, in President Mobutu Sese Seko’s Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo, the bureaucracy had been “privatized by the ruling clique,” creating a climate in which “fear and repression … prevented any serious threat from dissenting groups.”

    When leaders gain full power over the bureaucracy, they use it to reward and punish ordinary citizens as well. This was a tried-and-true tactic under the PRI’s rule in Mexico for much of the 20th century, where citizens who supported the PRI were more likely to receive government benefits.

    In short, when aspiring autocrats come to power, career bureaucrats are a common target, often replaced by unqualified loyalists who would never be hired for the position based on merit. Recent events in the U.S., as unprecedented as they may seem, are precisely what we would expect with the return of Trump, a would-be autocrat, to power.

    Andrea Kendall-Taylor is affiliated with the Center for New American Security.

    Joe Wright has received funding from the Charles Koch Foundation.

    Erica Frantz 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. Firing civil servants and dismantling government departments is how aspiring strongmen consolidate personal power – lessons from around the globe – https://theconversation.com/firing-civil-servants-and-dismantling-government-departments-is-how-aspiring-strongmen-consolidate-personal-power-lessons-from-around-the-globe-249089

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Flagship North Paddington Community Hub to launch this Spring | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Westminster Council’s flagship Community Hub will launch in North Paddington in March. The new facility at Ernest Harris House will bring services and support into the heart of the local community.

    Community Hubs are a central part of the council’s commitment to building a Fairer Westminster, by making it easier for residents to access activities and support in their area. They act as a single front door where residents can get advice on housing, finances, employment & benefits, and IT literacy. The council launched two mini-hubs at Victoria Library and Charing Cross Library last year.

    The Exchange at Ernest Harriss House will be Westminster’s first full Community Hub and will provide local residents with access to a wide range of activities, services, and support, tailored to the needs of the community. Operated by the trusted North Paddington Foodbank, an established local charity with a strong track record of supporting the community, The Exchange will collaborate with a range of partners to ensure the hub meets the diverse needs of its users.

    Proposed activities available at this centre include coffee mornings, lunch clubs, health and wellbeing activities for older people, income, housing and employment advice, homework clubs, baking and cooking workshops, recovery group sessions, arts and crafts, community health groups and advice services.

    This initiative represents the culmination of 18 months of collaboration between the council, local residents, and partners. Community members have been instrumental in co-designing the hub, influencing everything from its design and materials to the activities on offer and even the selection of the operator. The co-design process reflects the Council’s commitment to working differently under the Fairer Westminster plan, placing community voices at the heart of decision-making.

    Councillor Cara Sanquest, Cabinet Member for Communities, said:

    “I’m really pleased that Westminster City Council is opening a brand new Community Hub in the heart of North Paddington. This new public space will provide a place for local people in some of our most deprived wards to speak to council staff face to face, and to access support from the foodbank, as well as an exciting programme of cultural and social activities and support.

    I’m proud that this new hub has been co-designed with local residents. We spoke with over 400 residents to find out they would like at the community hub, and I’m excited that we have been able to give local people real decision making power to shape the services and support in their local area.”

    Thomas Delap, Chief Executive, North Paddington Foodbank, said:

    “The opening of The Exchange at Ernest Harriss House is a major step in tackling poverty, reducing health inequalities, and creating a truly welcoming space for everyone in the community. At NPFB, we’re proud to be leading this initiative—offering not just vital support, but opportunities for people to try something new or simply connect with friends over coffee. The hub will be a place where residents can access the help they need, engage in a rich cultural programme, and build lasting relationships—a true celebration of our diverse community.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Consultation for Central Lancashire Local Plan Live on Monday 24 February

    Source: City of Preston

    Following the release of the Publication version of the Central Lancashire Local Plan (CLLP) in January, consultation will go live on Monday, 24 February from 2pm concluding on Monday, 14 April at 11.59pm. The consultation will provide stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the new local plan, before it’s submitted to the Secretary of State in Summer 2025.

    The CLLP is a strategic plan for the area of Chorley, South Ribble and Preston and sets out the three councils’ approach to managing and delivering development (residential, employment and other infrastructure) and protecting the environment for the three districts between 2023 and 2041.

    It is an important strategy which supports delivery of corporate ambitions and objectives, such as provision of affordable housing, tackling health and social inequalities and tackling the climate emergency.

    The consultation will include a series of in-person events across Preston, Chorley, and South Ribble, along with the option to complete the online survey Citizen Space – Central Lancashire Local Plan. The events start on Monday 24 February and are being held across each Borough, with anyone welcome to attend whichever is most convenient to them.

    Councillor Amber Afzal, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulation, said:

    “This phase of the Central Lancashire Local Plan is crucial in shaping Preston’s future, aligning with the City Council’s vision for a growing, thriving community.

    “Our focus is on delivering the right types of homes, including more affordable housing, to help tackle health and social inequalities.

    “We encourage residents, businesses, and stakeholders to get involved and share their feedback through the consultation.”

    Face-to-face events in Preston

    • Wednesday 26 February, Preston Markets, 11am to 2pm
    • Wednesday 5 March, UCLan Cottam Campus, 3pm to 6om
    • Thursday 6 March, Grimsargh Village Hall, 3.30pm to 6.30pm
    • Thursday 13 March, Preston Town Hall, 3pm to 7pm
    • Thursday 20 March, Fulwood Methodist Church, 3pm to 7pm

    Map address for face to face events

    Preston Markets, Earl Street, Preston, PR1 2JA.
    UCLan Sports Arena, Tom Benson Way, Cottam, Preston, PR2 1SG.
    Grimsargh Village Hall, Preston Road, Grimsargh, Preston PR2 5JS.
    Preston Town Hall, Lancaster Road, PR1 2RL.
    Fulwood Methodist Church, Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Preston PR2 8EA.

    More information

    Central Lancashire Local Plan

    For full details of the plan see Frequently Asked Questions: FAQs – Central Lancashire Local Plan.

    Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Have your say on plans to transform Seafield into a new environmentally friendly neighbourhood

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The Council is inviting residents to share their views on the regeneration of Seafield to make sure it responds to the needs and wishes of the local community.

    As a key site for delivering the goals set out in the Edinburgh City Plan 2030, plans for the narrow stretch of land include a new promenade, GP surgery and opportunities for new shops and workplaces.

    The coastal site could also include as many as 2,700 new homes, with 35% of homes being affordable, to address the Capital’s housing emergency. Future residents will benefit from the provision of a heat network which will help keep energy bills down whilst contributing to the city’s net zero targets.

    The consultation, which closes on Wednesday 30 April 2025, will build on the first two stages of engagement and consultation carried out to date. Residents can attend a drop-in session to discuss the plans, or they can take part in an online survey via the Consultation Hub.

    Planning Convener James Dalgleish said:

    Our draft plan to transform Seafield into a new environmentally friendly neighbourhood will take us one step further to tackling our housing emergency and reaching net zero by 2030.

    This is a chance for residents to shape the future of the area – whether it’s about improving transport links, preserving green spaces or introducing new community facilities and we’re eager to hear everyone’s ideas for a Seafield that serves the whole community.

    I’d encourage everyone to share their views with us by filling in our online survey or coming along to one of our consultation drop-in events.

     The in-person events will take place on the following dates and times:

    • Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue, Edinburgh, EH15 1AU, Saturday 8 March 10:30-1:30pm
    • Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH6 4AE, Friday 21 March 12:30-3:30pm
    • Craigentinny Community Centre, 9 Loaning Road, Edinburgh, EH7 6JE, Saturday 22 March 10:30-1:30pm

    Published: February 18th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Reliance Global Group Expands RELI Exchange Commercial Quote & Bind InsurTech Platform Following Successful Beta Launch

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAKEWOOD, N.J., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Reliance Global Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: RELI) (“Reliance”, “we” or the “Company”) today announced a significant expansion of its Commercial Quote & Bind InsurTech solution on RELI Exchange, building off the highly successful beta launch late last year. This expansion brings additional carriers and more product offerings to RELI Exchange’s agent distribution channel, with plans to continuously introduce new lines of business and carriers in the coming months.

    “At Reliance, our mission is to empower agents with best-in-class InsurTech solutions that maximize efficiency and drive business growth,” said Ezra Beyman, Chairman and CEO of Reliance. “By expanding our network of carriers and product lines, we are providing our agency partners with the tools they need to serve clients more quickly and effectively. These enhancements will enable agents to connect with more prospects, write more policies, and ultimately build their businesses and increase their earnings.”

    “Strategic technology integration remains a key driver of our continued success, and the enhanced RELI Exchange platform is a testament to this commitment. With its ability to seamlessly quote and bind a broader range of commercial insurance policies, RELI Exchange continues to strengthen its position as a leading InsurTech provider—leveraging automation to optimize the insurance purchasing experience for both agents and their clients,” added Mr. Beyman.

    “This expansion marks another milestone in our vision to make RELI Exchange the most powerful and comprehensive agency partner platform in the industry,” said Moshe Fishman, Director of InsurTech and Operations at Reliance. “By continuously adding new carriers and insurance products, we are ensuring that our agents remain at the forefront of the industry, equipped with the latest technology to drive their success.”

    About Reliance Global Group, Inc.

    Reliance Global Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RELI) is an InsurTech pioneer, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud-based technologies, to transform and improve efficiencies in the insurance agency/brokerage industry. The Company’s business-to-business InsurTech platform, RELI Exchange, provides independent insurance agencies an entire suite of business development tools, enabling them to effectively compete with large-scale national insurance agencies, while reducing back-office cost and burden. The Company’s business-to-consumer platform, 5minuteinsure.com, utilizes AI and data mining, to provide competitive online insurance quotes within minutes to everyday consumers seeking to purchase auto, home, and life insurance. In addition, the Company operates its own portfolio of select retail “brick and mortar” insurance agencies which are leaders and pioneers in their respective regions throughout the United States, offering a wide variety of insurance products. Further information about the Company can be found at https://www.relianceglobalgroup.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions and include statements such as the Company having built a best-in-class InsurTech platform, making RELI Exchange an even more compelling value proposition and further accelerating growth of the platform, rolling out several other services in the near future to RELI Exchange agency partners, building RELI Exchange into the largest agency partner network in the U.S., the Company moving in the right direction and the Company’s highly scalable business model driving significant shareholder value. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and elsewhere ,and risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s ability to generate the revenue anticipated and the ability to build the RELI Exchange into the largest agency partner network in the U.S., and the other factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 as the same may be updated from time to time. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

    Contact:
    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    Tel: +1 (212) 671-1020
    Email: RELI@crescendo-ir.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trans people affirmed their gender without medical help in medieval Europe − history shows how identity transcends medicine and law

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sarah Barringer, Ph.D. Candidate in English, University of Iowa

    The Lady and the Unicorn: Sight. Unknown/Musée de Cluny, Paris via Didier Descouens/Wikimedia Commons

    Restrictions on medical care for transgender youth assume that without the ability to medically transition, trans people will vanish.

    As of 2024, 26 U.S. states have banned gender-affirming care for young people. Less than a month into office, President Donald Trump issued numerous executive orders targeting transgender people, including a mandate to use “sex” instead of “gender” on passports, visas and global entry cards, as well as a ban on gender-affirming care for young people. These actions foreground the upcoming Supreme Court case of U.S. vs. Skrmetti which promises to shape the future of gender-affirming health care in the U.S., including restrictions or bans.

    History, however, shows that withholding health care does not make transgender people go away. Scholarship of medieval literature and historical records reveals how transgender people transitioned even without a robust medical system – instead, they changed their clothes, name and social position.

    Surgery in medieval times

    Surgery was not a widespread practice in the medieval period. While it gained some traction in the 1300s, surgery was limited to southern France and northern Italy. Even there, surgery was dangerous and the risk of infection high.

    Cutting off fleshy bits is an old practice and, potential dangers aside, removing a penis or breasts wasn’t impossible. But amputating functioning limbs was nearly always a form of punishment. Medieval people, including surgeons and patients, likely would not have had positive views of surgery that involved removing working body parts.

    Illustration from a Latin translation of Albucasis’ Chirurgia, depicting surgical instruments.
    Wellcome Collection

    Surgeons in the 14th century were increasingly thinking about how to perform surgery on those with both male and female genitalia – people now called intersex. But they thought about this in terms of “correcting” genitalia to make it more apparently male or female – an attitude still present today. Historically, the procedure was probably performed on adults, but today it is usually performed on children. Both then and now, the surgery often disregards the patient’s wishes and is not medically necessary, at times leading to complications later. For patients deemed female, excess flesh could be cut away, and for patients deemed male, the vulva could be cauterized to close it.

    There is, however, at least one historical example of a transgender individual receiving surgery. In 1300, near Bern, Switzerland, an unnamed woman was legally separated from her husband because she was unable to have sex with him. Soon after, the woman headed to Bologna, which was the surgery capital of Europe at the time. There, a surgeon cut open the woman’s vulva, revealing a penis and testicles. The account ends, “Back home, he took a wife, did rural work, and had legitimate and sufficient intercourse with his wife.”

    The story presents the possibility of medical transition, possibly even a desire for it. But given the limits of surgical techniques and ideologies at the time, these forms of medical transition were unlikely to be common.

    Transitioning without medicine

    To transition without medicine, medieval transgender people relied on changes they could make themselves. They cut their hair, put on different clothes, changed their names, and found new places in society.

    In 1388, a young woman named Catherine in Rottweil, Germany, “put on men’s clothes, declared herself to be a man, and called herself John.” John went on to marry a woman and later developed breasts. This caused some initial consternation – the city council of Rottweil sent John and his wife to court. However, the court did not see breasts as inhibiting John’s masculinity and the couple went home without facing any charges.

    In 1395, a transgender woman named Eleanor Rykener appeared before a court in London, England, after she was caught working as a prostitute. The court clerk wrote “that a certain Anna … first taught [her] to practice this detestable vice in the manner of a woman. [She] further said that a certain Elizabeth Bronderer first dressed [her] in women’s clothing” and later she took on work as an embroideress and tapster, a sort of bartender. The account is Rykener’s own, but the court clerk editorialized it, notably adding the phrase “detestable vice” in reference to prostitution.

    Detail of lovers in bed, Aldobrandino of Siena, Le Régime du corps, northern France. 13th century.
    British Library Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts/Sloane MS 2435, f. 9v.

    Rykener’s account reveals that there were a number of people interested in helping her transition – people who helped her dress, taught her how to behave, provided her employment and supported her choice of a new name. Community was a more important part of her transition than transforming her body. Based on the record, she apparently did not make an effort to create breasts.

    Another account appeared in 1355 in Venice, Italy, concerning Rolandina Ronchaia. While John declared himself male, and Rykener was very active in her transition, Ronchaia’s transition was spurred on by the perceptions of others. She argued that she had always had a “feminine face, voice and gestures,” and was often mistaken for a woman. She also had breasts, “in women’s fashion.” One night, a man came to have sex with her, and Ronchaia, “wishing to connect like a woman, hid [her] own penis and took the man’s penis.” After that, she moved to Venice, where, although she continued to wear men’s clothes, she was still perceived as a woman.

    Ronchaia’s account is unique because it emphasizes her body and her desire to change it by hiding her penis. But this was still a matter of what she herself could do to express her gender, rather than a medical transition.

    A long transgender history

    The accounts of medieval transgender individuals are limited – not only in number but in length. A lot of things did not get written down, and people were not talking about transgender people the way we are now.

    Historical accounts of transgender individuals are almost always in court records, which reflect the concerns of the court more clearly than the concerns of its subjects. The court was especially worried about sexual activity between men, which both overemphasizes the importance of sex in medieval transgender people’s lives and often obscures that these accounts are even about transgender people. Eleanor Ryekener’s account frequently misgenders her and refers to her as “John.”

    But it’s clear that transgender people existed in the medieval period, even when medical care was unavailable to them.

    A court document from the interrogation of John Rykener.
    Internet Medieval Source Book/Wikimedia Commons

    It is also the case that many of these individuals – Rykener is a likely exception – were probably intersex, and their experience would be different from those who were not. Intersex people were legally recognized and allowed some leeway if they chose to transition as an adult. This is starkly apparent in an account from Lille, France, in 1458, where a transgender woman was accused of sodomy and burned at the stake. She claimed “to have both sexes,” but the account says this was not the case. While being demonstrably intersex may not have saved her, that she claimed she was is telling.

    Gender transition has a long history, going even further back than the medieval period. Then as now, the local community played a vital role in aiding an individual’s transition. Unlike the medieval period, most modern societies have far greater access to medical care. Despite current restrictions, transgender people have far more options for transition than they once did.

    Medieval modes of transitioning are not a solution to current denials of medical care. But medieval transgender lives do illuminate that transgender people will not vanish even when the legal and medical systems strive to erase them.

    Sarah Barringer 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. Trans people affirmed their gender without medical help in medieval Europe − history shows how identity transcends medicine and law – https://theconversation.com/trans-people-affirmed-their-gender-without-medical-help-in-medieval-europe-history-shows-how-identity-transcends-medicine-and-law-248559

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can adults learn to develop absolute pitch? Our research challenges a longstanding myth

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Yetta Kwailing Wong, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Surrey

    True Touch Lifestyle/Shutterstock

    Absolute pitch has long been viewed as a kind of musical superpower. It refers to the ability to identify or produce a tone, like an A or a C-sharp, without any provided reference point.

    With only 12 possible answers, naming the pitch of a tone may seem easy. However, it is somehow incredibly difficult for most musicians, including the professionally trained ones.

    Adding to this mystery, for gifted musicians and composers such as Mozart, Chopin, and Beethoven, absolute pitch can feel as intuitive as recognising the colour red, reinforcing the widespread belief that absolute pitch – also referred to by many people as perfect pitch – is a rare, exceptional talent.

    For decades, many scientists and musicians believed that you either had absolute pitch – or you didn’t. If you are not the lucky ones who carry special genes and have started musical training during early childhood, you were thought to have missed the opportunity entirely. Our new research, however, suggests this isn’t actually true.

    Our research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that absolute pitch remains a learnable skill in adulthood – many adults can train their way to levels of performance comparable to individuals who naturally possess this skill in everyday life.

    Intense training

    To help adults progressively learn to identify tones, our research team designed an eight-week online training programme. On average, 12 musicians dedicated 21 hours and completed over 15,000 pitch naming exercises. These involved hearing a piano or guitar note (within three octaves) for 800 milliseconds and having to name it within a certain amount of time. The participants had to complete 25 hours of training online over eight weeks. The training included a total of 288 training levels, with 24 levels for each additional pitch.

    The training required really hard work – participants did not only learn to name the tones accurately, but also very quickly. Over time, the difficulty ramped up as more tones were introduced, and the time allowed for response was further tightened.

    We carefully avoided common pitfalls in previous studies. By including a wide range of tones, we ensured that they learned to identify the pitch class – the fundamental quality that makes a note sound like a C, D or E, regardless of whether the tone sounds high or low.

    This approach truly captures the essence of absolute pitch. We eliminated feedback during testing, so participants could not rely on their working memory as a crutch. To rule out “lucky guessing,” we required participants to repeatedly demonstrate their abilities with strict criteria for success.

    Effort vs talent

    By the end of the training, participants had made remarkable progress. On average, they could correctly identify more than seven musical notes almost every time, taking as little as one or two seconds to respond. Their ability to identify the correct notes more than doubled.

    Even when they made mistakes, their responses got 43% closer to the correct answer. These impressive gains were also found for notes they hadn’t been specifically trained to recognise, suggesting they were learning something deeper about pitch perception.

    Notably, two participants mastered all 12 pitches with performance comparable to that of possessors of absolute pitch in the real world.

    What made learning absolute pitch in adulthood possible now, given a century of unconvincing findings? The human brain and perceptual systems are highly adaptable, and this holds well into adulthood. Through practice and feedback, adults can improve their ability to recognise and distinguish sensory inputs, such as visual patterns and speech sounds.

    Our training takes advantage of this amazing potential of the human perceptual system to learn. What we have done differently from previous efforts was ultimately that we designed an effective learning experience, including the right learning materials, effective feedback and changes in difficulty for each learner – all while making it fun.

    Together with motivated learners, learning absolute pitch in adulthood was made possible.

    Music training and beyond

    The fact that absolute pitch was previously thought to be locked behind a genetic lottery or early musical exposure has sadly discouraged countless musicians and music educators from learning or teaching it.

    Our findings offer an encouraging counter-narrative – absolute pitch is not just for the lucky few. With a well-designed learning tool, it is a skill that many adults can cultivate.

    More broadly, our findings demonstrate how science can challenge deep-rooted assumptions about human abilities. Instead of being fixed by biology or early experiences, many skills can still be developed and improved well into adulthood.

    This shift in understanding could inspire us to adopt a growth mindset, showing that it is never too late to learn and improve, no matter what you think might hold you back.

    So, if you have ever dreamed of identifying musical notes like a virtuoso, it is not too late to work on it now.

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

    – ref. Can adults learn to develop absolute pitch? Our research challenges a longstanding myth – https://theconversation.com/can-adults-learn-to-develop-absolute-pitch-our-research-challenges-a-longstanding-myth-248907

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Oscar-nominated screenwriters attempt to craft authentic dialogue, dialects and accents

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chris C. Palmer, Professor of English, Kennesaw State University

    Editors deployed AI to make the Hungarian dialogue in ‘The Brutalist’ sound more authentic. A24/TNS

    The 2025 slate of Oscar nominees recognizes many writers, directors and actors whose scripts and performances don’t necessarily reflect their own cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

    Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley, both white, co-wrote “Sing Sing,” a story about rehabilitation through art in a maximum security prison where the characters are almost entirely people of color.

    Meg LeFauve has now earned her second nomination for penning a script that gives voice the gamut of emotions surging through a young girl in “Inside Out 2.” She’s in her 50s.

    The director of “Conclave,” Edward Berger, its writer, Peter Straughan, and its lead actor, Ralph Fiennes, are all self-proclaimed lapsed Catholics. Yet they brought to life a political thriller set in the Vatican.

    “The Brutalist” was written entirely in English, but much of the film’s dialogue is in Hungarian, with two leads who are not native Hungarian speakers.

    Most screenwriters endeavor to craft characters outside their own backgrounds and experiences. But concerns about authentic language representation and cultural accuracy persist, and accusations of cultural appropriation and lazy research are commonplace.

    “Emilia Pérez,” for example, has been heavily criticized not only for unrealistic portrayals of gender transition but also for inauthentic depictions of Mexican culture and accents.

    The film’s director, Jacques Audiard, has even claimed his lack of knowledge of Spanish has been an artistic benefit. He says it gives him “a quality of detachment” to emphasize “emotion” rather than “focus too strongly on the accent, the punctuation.”

    His lack of interest in precise depictions of language and culture contrasts sharply with our recent research, which shows ample interest from practicing screenwriters in accurately representing dialects and accents in scripts.

    Wanting to get it right

    We surveyed over 50 current members of the Writers Guild of America, and they broadly told us that sensitivity to linguistic representation has increased since the 2010s.

    Several commented that there’s been more commitment to hiring writers who represent the characters’ voices and backgrounds. There’s also more “freedom to include diverse characters and worlds… but a commensurate emphasis on authenticity and a higher bar for what that means,” as one writer explained.

    “Authenticity” was consistently cited in our survey as a principal consideration when writing dialogue. Other concerns included scripts’ intelligibility, historical accuracy and believability.

    In most cases, screenwriters aspire to write dialogue that sounds authentic. But it’s not easy – and often requires collaboration to get it right. Writers noted how they’ll adjust their dialogue based on production needs, such as budgetary concerns, input from actors and directors, and feedback from dialect coaches and historical consultants.

    For example, spec scripts – or noncommissioned film scripts – are written before any casting or production decisions are made. The dialogue in these scripts will likely change once actors and other creatives are attached to the project.

    Recipes for capturing linguistic nuance

    In our study, we also reviewed screenwriting manuals published as far back as 1946.

    Manuals didn’t begin to raise explicit ethical concerns, such as the use of inaccurate linguistic stereotypes in dialogue, until the 1980s. For example, many older films, such as “Gone with the Wind,” often used phonetic spelling in their scripts, with features such as g-dropping – “quittin’” for “quitting” – to mark only the speech of lower-class or racially marginalized characters, despite the fact that all people, regardless of background, have accents.

    Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn and Tim Robbins look over a script on the set of the death row drama ‘Dead Man Walking,’ which was set in Louisiana.
    Demmie Todd/Fotos International via Getty Images

    Writing in heavy phonetics is generally discouraged in modern screenwriting.

    There are practical reasons for this. Scripts are read before they’re seen and therefore must first appeal to the not so general audience of executives who buy them. As one writer explained, “My script is targeted towards them.”

    Take “Trainspotting.” Irvine Welsh’s 1993 novel about a group of heroin addicts in Edinburgh was written with heavy phonetics to capture the characters’ Scottish dialect: “ah wouldnae git tae watch it.” But the screenplay uses lines without phonetics, such as, “I wouldn’t have bothered.”

    In this respect, there’s a notable difference in novels and their respective adaptations. One surveyed writer avoids dialectal markers and will “default to standard American English unless there is a reason not to.”

    That doesn’t mean the actors in “Trainspotting” should speak in an American English accent. Instead, screenwriters might simply indicate the use of language and dialect when describing the scene in a script or, as one surveyed screenwriter explained, “make a note in the parenthetical that ‘Brynn speaks with a heavy West Virginia accent’” to flag the work that “the actor, dialogue coach, and writer will need to do together.”

    This method is employed in “The Brutalist.” The film is partly in Hungarian, but writer and director Brady Corbet and his Norwegian co-writer, Mona Fastvold, wrote the Hungarian dialogue in standard English. They then used parentheticals to indicate any non-English delivery of dialogue. The film’s stars, Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, worked with a dialect coach to hone their accents.

    “Anora,” which tells the story of an exotic dancer in a whirlwind romance, features characters who speak Russian, Armenian and English with varying degrees of fluency. Even though the characters frequently switch between these languages, the entire script is in unbroken English. Code-switching is simply marked with “Russian,” “Armenian” or “English” in the script before a piece of dialogue.

    ‘Anora’ featured characters who switched between Russian, Armenian and English.

    But limiting oneself to standard U.S. English restricts diversity in the written dialogue itself. Some writers may want to use dialect or language to convey character authenticity on the page.

    Our survey respondents described this as “flavor” – the strategic use of dialectal words or phrases to create distinct voices, with limited phonetics. Jesse Eisenberg, in his Oscar-nominated script “A Real Pain,” lightly blends American English with occasional Yiddish words to great effect: “… landed in Galveston for some fakakta reason,” or “crazy” reason.

    AI chimes in

    Attempts at authenticity can become muddied when AI gets involved.

    When making “The Brutalist,” Corbet controversially used AI technology to refine the movie’s Hungarian dialogue.

    Some questioned the film’s authenticity due to the use of AI, arguing that nothing can be authentic if it’s achieved artificially.

    But the film’s creators, including editor and native Hungarian speaker Dávid Jancsó, defended this choice. They argued the technology actually enhanced the language’s authenticity, particularly since Hungarian’s system of vowels and consonants is especially hard for nonnative speakers to capture accurately.

    Whether writers use phonetics or standard language, and whether producers use AI or dialect coaches, questions of ethics and linguistic authenticity will remain. It’s important to research language choices and dialogue, and to consult the diverse speakers portrayed in scripts.

    These are among the many essential checks and balances that are becoming bigger parts of the filmmaking process.

    Mitchell Olson is affiliated with Carter Stanton, Creative Executive at Brookstreet Pictures, which was a co-producer of “The Brutalist.” He’s also an acquaintance of Meg LeFauve. He has no stake in the performance of their work outside of having professional relationships.

    Chris C. Palmer 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 Oscar-nominated screenwriters attempt to craft authentic dialogue, dialects and accents – https://theconversation.com/how-oscar-nominated-screenwriters-attempt-to-craft-authentic-dialogue-dialects-and-accents-247658

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Deporting millions of immigrants would shock the US economy, increasing housing, food and other prices

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Francisco I. Pedraza, Professor of political scinece, Arizona State University

    Immigrant farmworkers pick strawberries in California in April 2024. Visions of America/Joe Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    One of President Donald Trump’s major promises during the 2024 presidential campaign was to launch mass deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization.

    The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has said that, since January 2025, it is detaining and planning to deport 600 to 1,100 immigrants a day. That marks an increase from the average 282 immigration arrests that happened each day in September 2024 under the Biden administration.

    The current trend would place the Trump administration on track to apprehend 25,000 immigrants in Trump’s first month in office. On an annual basis, this is about 300,000 – far from the “millions and millions” of immigrants Trump promised to deport.

    A lack of funding, immigration officers, immigration detention centers and other resources has reportedly impeded the administration’s deportation work.

    The Trump administration is seeking US$175 billion from Congress to use for the next four years on immigration enforcement, Axios reported on Feb. 11, 2025.

    If Trump does make good on his promise of mass deportations, our research shows that removing millions of immigrants would be costly for everyone in the U.S., including American citizens and businesses.

    Immigrant farmworkers protest in New York City in May 2022.
    Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

    Food costs will increase

    One important factor is that mass deportations would weaken key industries in the U.S. that rely on immigrant workers, including those living in the U.S. illegally.

    Overall, immigrants without legal authorization make up about 5% of the total U.S. workforce.

    But that overall percentage doesn’t reflect these immigrants’ concentrated presence within various industries. Approximately half of U.S. farmworkers are living in the country without legal authorization, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    Some of these immigrant farmworkers are skilled supervisors who make decisions about planting and harvesting. Others know how to use and maintain tractors, loaders, diggers, rakers, fertilizer sprayers, irrigation systems, and other machines crucial to farm operations.

    If those workers were to be suddenly removed from the country, Americans would see an increase in food costs, including what they spend on groceries and at restaurants.

    With fewer available workers to pick fruits and vegetables and prepare the food for shipment and distribution, the domestic production of food could decrease, leading to higher costs and more imports.

    National estimates of the restaurant and food preparation workforce, meanwhile, indicate that between 10% and 15% of those workers are immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.

    Past state-level immigration enforcement policies offer an idea of what could happen at the national level if Trump were to carry out widespread deportations.

    For example, a 2011 Alabama law called HB-56 directed local police officers to investigate the immigration status of drivers stopped for speeding. It also prohibited landlords from renting properties to immigrants who do not have legal authorization to work or live in the country. That law and its resulting effects prompted some Alabama-based immigrant workers to leave the state following workplace raids.

    Their departure wound up costing the state an estimated $2.3 billion to $10.8 billion loss in Alabama’s annual gross domestic product due to the loss of workers and economic output.

    Other industries that rely on immigrants

    Part of the challenge of mass deportations for industries like construction, nearly a quarter of whose workers are living without legal authorization, is that their workforce is highly skilled and not easily replaced. Immigrant workers are particularly involved in home construction and specialize in such tasks as ceiling and flooring installation as well as roofing and drywall work.

    Fewer available workers would mean slower home construction, which in turn would make housing more expensive, further compounding existing problems of housing supply and affordability.

    Shocks from deportations would also slow commercial and public infrastructure construction. Six construction workers, for example, died in April 2024 in the sudden collapse of the Baltimore Key Bridge in Maryland. All of them were Latino immigrants living in the U.S. without legal documentation.

    Examining the arguments

    Trump administration officials and other politicians have argued that deporting large numbers of immigrants would help the country save money, since fewer people will use federal and state funds by attending public schools or receiving temporary shelter.

    Trump said in November 2024 that there is “no price tag” for large-scale deportations.

    “It’s not a question of price tag,” Trump said. “We have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here,” Trump told NBC News.

    Trump and his supporters also argue that deporting immigrants would mean more jobs for American workers.

    But there is compelling evidence to the contrary.

    First, immigrants are filling labor shortages and doing jobs that many Americans don’t want to do, ones that might be unsafe or poorly paid.

    Even if Americans were willing to do those jobs, there simply aren’t enough Americans in the workforce to fill existing labor vacuums, let alone an enlarged one following deportations.

    Second, for employers, having fewer workers in the country translates into higher wages, which in turn means less capital to adapt and grow. For businesses based on consumer debt – think mortgages, car loans and credit cards – deportations would disrupt the financial sector by removing responsible borrowers who make consistent payments.

    Third, immigrants living without legal documentation in the U.S. pay more than $96 billion in federal, state and local taxes per year and consume fewer public benefits than citizens.

    Immigrants without legal authorization are not eligible for Social Security benefits and can’t enroll in Medicare or many other safety net programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

    A Guatemalan immigrant worker buys pipes for a plumbing job on a house remodel in New Philadelphia, Ohio, on Jan. 27, 2025.
    Rebecca Kiger for The Washington Post via Getty Images

    The bottom line

    In other words, people who are living and working in the U.S. without legal authorization are helping to pay, through taxes, the costs of caring for Americans as they age and begin to draw on the nation’s retirement and health care programs.

    The burden from recent inflation notwithstanding, an economy supported by immigrants living illegally in the U.S. protects Americans.

    The U.S. would be unable to dodge the economic shocks and high costs that mass deportations would bring about.

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

    – ref. Deporting millions of immigrants would shock the US economy, increasing housing, food and other prices – https://theconversation.com/deporting-millions-of-immigrants-would-shock-the-us-economy-increasing-housing-food-and-other-prices-245342

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –