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  • MIL-OSI Security: DPAA Conducts Honorable Carry Ceremony from Philippine Mission

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  –  

    On 28 January, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency conducted an honorable carry ceremony to honor service members from World War II at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

    An honorable carry ceremony is a tradition that honors unknown service members as they return to American soil for the first time in over 80 years.

    The 18 U.S. flag-draped transfer cases contained the potential remains of 36 unknown World War II service members who were interred at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. The cases were repatriated to the DPAA’s laboratory in Hawaii for identification and analysis.

    “Thirty-five of these brave individuals perished in captivity at the Cabanatuan prison camp, while one gave their life in the Tokyo Prison Fire during World War II,” said John M. Figuerres, the DPAA’s acting deputy director for operations.

    These service members were among those who fought bravely at the battles of Bataan and Corregidor in 1942. With no supplies, reinforcements or hope of relief, they held their ground longer than any Allied force against the Imperial Japanese army’s initial attacks.

    “After being forced to surrender, many of these service members suffered through the brutal 65-mile Bataan Death March and lost their lives while being held as prisoners,” Figuerres explained.

    The DPAA launched the Cabanatuan Project in 2014 and has since accounted for more than 90 personnel. However, more than 900 individuals remain unaccounted for.
    “As part of its ongoing efforts, the agency’s annual goal is to conduct two Philippine disinterments and repatriate about 70 transfer cases”, said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jordan Underwood, DPAA team leader for the disinterment.

    Additionally, the DPAA continues working to identify service members who perished in the Tokyo Military Prison in May 1945, initiating the Tokyo Prison Fire Project in 2022. Dozens of American Airmen who were being held in the Tokyo Military Prison died during the Allied firebombing of the Japanese capitol in March 1945, trapped amidst the blaze engulfing the city.

    The agency identifies potential remains using a wide variety of methods, some examples include anthropological testing, dental analysis and DNA testing in partnership with the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System.

    “The DPAA’s mission is to account for missing personnel from past conflicts. We hope to identify these service members and return them home. One family member once told me that it’s not about providing closure, but about closing a chapter of their family history, and I think that’s a great way to describe it”, said Dr. Carrie LeGarde, a DPAA scientific recovery expert. “We cannot achieve this without bringing these remains back to the DPAA laboratory.”

    For the men and women of the DPAA, an honorable carry is both a solemn occasion, and a triumph.

    “Today, after more than 84 years away from their homeland, we honor their return to the United States,” Figuerres said. “Their sacrifice stands as a testament to the extraordinary courage and resilience of the Greatest Generation. Our mission to identify these heroes continues, ensuring their legacy is preserved and their sacrifice to our nation is never forgotten.”

    For more information about the DPAA’s efforts to recover POW/MIA remains, visit https://www.dpaa.mil.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden Join Effort Raising Alarm Over Trump Administration Chaos at Critical National Security Agencies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    February 04, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley — a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – and Ron Wyden joined an effort led by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) that raises the alarm of the growing chaos and dysfunction at the U.S. Department of State and the Trump Administration’s illegal attempt to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID is a critical pillar of U.S. national security strategy, providing lifesaving aid and development support around the world to help advance America’s interests. On Monday, personnel at USAID were not permitted to enter the agency’s headquarters, and Elon Musk announced that President Donald Trump agreed to close the agency and move it under the State Department – which Trump has no legal authority to do. The Trump Administration, led by Musk, has also furloughed thousands of government employees, including two top security officials who denied the Department of Government Efficiency access to classified documents and systems.

    “…We are deeply concerned by reports of not only growing chaos and dysfunction at the Department of State, but the Administration’s brazen and illegal attempts to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Mass personnel furloughs of dubious legality and abrupt, blanket stop-work orders without regard to relevant appropriations laws are causing immediate harm to U.S. national security, placing U.S. citizens at risk, disrupting life-saving work and breaking the U.S. government’s contractual obligations to private sector partners,” wrote the senators.

    The senators continued, “The Administration’s failure to consult with Congress prior to taking these steps violates the law and impedes Congress’s constitutional duty to conduct oversight of funding, personnel and the nation’s foreign policy. The Administration’s failure to expend funds appropriated on a bipartisan basis by Congress would violate the Impoundment Control Act.”

    “Foreign assistance is critical to supporting U.S. strategic interests around the world. Foreign assistance protects U.S. national security, advances U.S. values, and ensures the U.S. is the partner of choice for everything from defense procurement to cutting edge scientific research. China, Russia and Iran are already moving rapidly to exploit the vacuum and instability left by the U.S.’s sudden global retreat,” wrote the senators.

    They continued, “Every Administration has the right to review and adjust ongoing assistance programming. However, attempting to arbitrarily turn off core functions of a critical U.S. national security agency, without Congressional consideration or any metric-based review and absent legal authority to do so, is unprecedented and deeply disturbing.”

    The letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio is led by Kaine, and signed by Merkley, Wyden, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Angus S. King (I-ME), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

    The full text of the letter is available here and below.

    Dear Secretary Rubio:

    The effective administration of U.S. foreign assistance is critical to advancing core U.S. national security priorities, including countering the influence of China, Russia and Iran. As you acknowledged at your confirmation hearing, pushing back on China in particular is a top bipartisan priority.

    As such, we are deeply concerned by reports of not only growing chaos and dysfunction at the Department of State, but the Administration’s brazen and illegal attempts to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Mass personnel furloughs of dubious legality and abrupt, blanket stop-work orders without regard to relevant appropriations laws are causing immediate harm to U.S. national security, placing U.S. citizens at risk, disrupting life-saving work and breaking the U.S. government’s contractual obligations to private sector partners.

    The Administration’s failure to consult with Congress prior to taking these steps violates the law and impedes Congress’s constitutional duty to conduct oversight of funding, personnel and the nation’s foreign policy. The Administration’s failure to expend funds appropriated on a bipartisan basis by Congress would violate the Impoundment Control Act.

    Foreign assistance is critical to supporting U.S. strategic interests around the world. Foreign assistance protects U.S. national security, advances U.S. values, and ensures the U.S. is the partner of choice for everything from defense procurement to cutting edge scientific research. China, Russia and Iran are already moving rapidly to exploit the vacuum and instability left by the U.S.’s sudden global retreat.

    Every Administration has the right to review and adjust ongoing assistance programming. However, attempting to arbitrarily turn off core functions of a critical U.S. national security agency, without Congressional consideration or any metric-based review and absent legal authority to do so, is unprecedented and deeply disturbing.

    We request immediate clarification on the following:

    Status of USAID:

    1. Confirmation of your understanding that any effort to abolish USAID or merge USAID into the Department of State absent Congressional consultation and approval is illegal.
    2. Confirmation of your understanding that adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran are quickly moving into the vacuum left by suspended USAID programs. 
    3. The Department of State’s assessment of Mr. Elon Musk’s financial ties to China and the impact of these ties to the decision-making process of Mr. Musk and his employees.
    4. Confirmation that neither you nor any member of your leadership team are taking direction from Mr. Musk with regards to the work of the Department of State or USAID, personnel or financial decisions for either agency, or any other matters relevant to U.S. national security. 
    5. Confirmation of the names and employment status of individuals directed by Mr. Musk to engage with USAID staff, the qualifications of these individuals, and the level of their security clearances – if any.

    Personnel:

    1. Confirmation of your understanding that any unauthorized access by or disclosure of classified information to individuals without appropriate security clearance could be considered a criminal offense.
    2. The legal authority and rationale under which, on January 28, more than 50 senior career civil and foreign service USAID officials were placed on administrative leave. This move was not only unprecedented, but also inconsistent with the Office of Personnel Management’s own guidelines for the use of administrative leave.
    3. The legal authority under which, on January 28, approximately 390 USAID Institutional Support Contractors (ISCs) were given stop-work orders, and clarification of which Administration official directed the implementation of this termination.
    4. Whether any Department of State career civil and foreign service or contractors have been placed on administrative leave or removed from their roles as a result of or relating to the assistance freeze or any directives from the Office of Foreign Assistance.
    5. Clarification of which Administration official directed the implementation of this mass furlough.
    6. Clarification of whether these individuals were directed to be terminated without cause.
    7. Confirmation that personnel will not face retaliation or retribution for performing their duties under the previous Administration’s policy direction.
    8. Under what authorities and by which official’s directive career civil service, foreign service, and Personal Services Contractors (PSC), and those under other hiring authorities have been removed from their roles or limited in their ability to execute their work.
    9. Confirmation that further career civil service, foreign service and USAID contractors will not be removed from their roles without cause or receive stop work orders.
    10. Whether, upon full resumption of legally mandated foreign assistance activities, the Administration intends to re-hire contractors who have been removed from their roles.
    11. Any additional guidance provided to State and USAID staff regarding the foreign assistance freeze, including confirmation of whether direct hires, contractors, or implementing organizations have been directed not to speak publicly about the foreign assistance freeze.
    12. Public identification of the individual currently serving as the Director or Acting Director of the State Department’s Office of Foreign Assistance and as Acting Deputy Administrator of USAID, and the dates upon which this individual was appointed to each position.
    13. Confirmation of your understanding that the State Department’s Director of Foreign Assistance has no authority to issue personnel directives for USAID.

    Resumption of Foreign Assistance:

    1. The specific process and anticipated timeframe for activities to receive exemptions or waivers, as referenced in your January 28, 2025 directive to State and USAID staff.
    2. The mechanisms and metrics established for this waiver process.
    3. The timeline for full resumption of legally mandated foreign assistance activities.
    4. Clarification of what risk assessment or analysis of potential risk to U.S. national security interests were conducted prior to the decision to freeze foreign assistance activities.
    5. Confirmation of the Department of State’s obligation to comply with U.S. contract law and your responsibility as Secretary of State ensure the Department honors its commitments to contracting partners.

    We welcome your urgent attention to these questions. We and our staff stand ready to work with you to ensure U.S. foreign assistance funding continues to be deployed effectively to protect American citizens, at home and abroad.

    Respectfully,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Increase in Q fever cases

    Source: Government of Victoria 3

    Key messages

    • Q fever is an infectious disease that is spread from animals to humans.
    • There has been a significant increase in cases in 2024 compared to recent years.
    • Q fever can cause long-term health complications including heart disease and chronic fatigue, which can last for many years.
    • People who work with animals, particularly cattle, sheep and goats, or animal products are at a higher risk of Q fever.
    • There is an effective vaccine that can protect against Q fever, and the best option for protection if you are in a high-risk category. You must be tested for previous exposure to Q fever before you can receive the vaccine.
    • There are other preventative measures people and workplaces can undertake in high-risk settings.
    • Q fever can be treated with antibiotics. If you receive early treatment, you’re likely to recover sooner and have a lower risk of long-term complications.

    What is the issue?

    Q fever is a disease caused by infection with Coxiella burnetii bacteria. It is mainly spread to humans from cattle, sheep and goats, but can also spread from other domestic and wild animals such as kangaroos, camels, rodents, cats, dogs, birds and wallabies. The bacteria can stay in the environment for long periods of time and survive disinfection and harsh conditions. This means dust, hay and other small particles may also carry the bacteria.

    Cases of Q fever in Victoria are increasing. There were 77 cases of Q fever notified in 2024, a significant increase compared to the previous five years. There have been five outbreaks of Q fever notified in Victoria in 2024 (all reported between August and December).

    Who is at risk?

    People who work with animals, animal products and animal waste in high-risk occupational groups are at increased risk. These include people in the following occupations:

    abattoir and meat workers (such as workers involved in slaughtering, skinning, meat processing, rendering; by-products workers; meat inspectors and packers; administration staff; and maintenance workers)

    • agriculture, livestock and dairy farm workers
    • stockyard/feedlot workers and transporters of animals, animal products and animal waste
    • shearers, wool classers/sorters, pelt and hide processors
    • knackery and tannery workers
    • pet food manufacturing workers
    • veterinarians, veterinary nurses/students/researchers, and others who work with veterinary specimens
    • agriculture college staff and students (working with high-risk animals)
    • animal shooters/hunters
    • laboratory personnel who work with materials containing viable C. burnetii (e.g. birth products of infected animals/humans, tissue culture)
    • wildlife/zoo workers and animal trainers (working with high-risk animals)
    • other people exposed to high-risk animals and/or products derived from these animals (including contractors or maintenance workers)

    There are other groups who may be at increased risk of Q fever. This can include:

    • family members of workers in high-risk occupations listed above (from exposure to contaminated clothes, boots or equipment)
    • visitors to at-risk environments (e.g. farms, abattoirs, animal saleyards, agricultural shows).
    • people living on or in close proximity to a high-risk industry and people living downwind or near livestock transport routes.

    Symptoms and transmission

    Symptoms

    Many people with Q fever have no symptoms or a mild illness. Some people may have a severe flu-like illness. Symptoms can include fever, sweats or chills, headaches, muscle/joint pain, fatigue, cough and weight loss. Patients may also develop hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) or pneumonia (infection of the lungs).

    The incubation period is typically 14 to 21 days but can range from 4 days to 6 weeks.

    While most people with Q fever make a full recovery, occasionally it can cause long-term complications such as heart disease, bone and joint infections and vascular infections. These complications are more common for pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems or previous heart problems.

    Approximately 10 to 15 per cent of people with severe infections develop chronic fatigue, also known as Q fever fatigue syndrome, which can last for many years.

    Transmission

    Q fever is most commonly transmitted to humans through inhalation of dust or aerosols contaminated with bacteria from birth fluids, faeces, urine, or blood of infected animals in circumstances such as:

    • animal birthing
    • animal slaughter, skinning and meat processing
    • herding
    • shearing and wool processing
    • work with animal manure
    • transport of infected animals
    • mowing in or through areas where there are livestock or wild animals
    • veterinary procedures

    Contaminated dust or aerosols may potentially travel considerable distances from the source to cause exposure.

    Recommendations

    At-risk groups

    People working in high-risk occupational groups are strongly recommended to be vaccinated against Q fever which provides a high level of protection.

    However, people who have previously had Q fever or have already received the Q fever vaccine should not be vaccinated due to the risk of adverse reactions (severe local reactions). It is necessary to be screened for previous exposure prior to vaccination. Contact your Local Public Health UnitExternal Link for a list of Q fever vaccine providers in your area and discuss further with a doctor.

    Individuals, companies and employers can take steps to reduce the risk of exposure to Q fever through workplace design and safe work practices. If there are difficulties in obtaining the vaccine, or people are unable to be vaccinated, actions that can be taken to reduce exposure include, but are not limited to:

    • Washing hands and arms thoroughly in soapy water after any contact with animals.
    • Wearing a properly fitted P2 mask (available from pharmacies and hardware stores) and gloves in handling and disposing of animal products, waste, placentas and aborted foetuses.
    • Keeping personal protective equipment (PPE) and contaminated clothing at the workplace and appropriately bagging and washing them on site where possible, to reduce the risk of infection to households from taking them home.
    • Appropriately managing and disposing of animal products and animal waste to prevent spread of C. burnetii bacteria.
    • Minimising dust and aerosols in slaughter and animal housing areas.
    • Ensuring that if symptoms develop, individuals and staff know to seek early medical attention and let their doctor know about the exposure risk.

    Employers of at-risk industries

    • Identify co-exposed individuals (e.g. those at the same workplace) and advise them of early signs and symptoms of Q fever to aid early diagnosis and treatment.
    • Ensure workplace design and safe work practices are adhered to (by employees and all visitors and contractors to the premises)

    If employees are unable to be vaccinated, ensure a properly fitted P2 mask and other appropriate PPE is used or they are restricted to lower-risk areas (i.e. away from areas where they may be exposed such as kill floors, offal rooms and rendering areas or where they will not be handling animals, noting there may be no lower-risk areas at some worksites).

    See WorkSafe’s Q fever Guidance NoteExternal Link for further information for employers about preventing transmission of Q fever in the workplace.

    Health professionals

    Clinicians should be aware of the increase in cases and test individuals with compatible illness and potential exposure.

    • Offering early antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of chronic Q fever.
    • Q fever infection is a ‘routine’ notifiable condition and must be notified by medical practitioners and pathology services in writing within 5 days of diagnosis.
    • A Q fever vaccination is available for those working in high-risk industries. Specialist training is recommended prior to undertaking screening and administering the vaccine.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Votes to Confirm Chris Wright for Energy Secretary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after Chris Wright was confirmed as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy:

    “Chris Wright has a wealth of experience in the oil and gas sector and a long record as an advocate for economic growth and American entrepreneurship. I am confident that with Chris at the helm, we will put the full force of Texas’ energy sector back on display and once again unleash affordable, reliable, secure energy here at home and around the world.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Woodblock prints add to holiday’s traditional flavor

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Xu Jiahui, a national inheritor of Liangping woodblock New Year painting, colors a woodblock print at his workshop in Chongqing’s Liangping district on Jan 14. HUANG WEI/XINHUA

    As Wen Li attached her handmade Liangping woodblock print featuring door gods — an item of national intangible cultural heritage — to her front door, she knew this Spring Festival would be unforgettable for her family.

    Wen, 32, from Yihe, a village in Panlong township of Liangping district, Chongqing, recently took part in a celebration activity in the district, for which she had personally crafted a woodblock print.

    “When every household in our village hangs up traditional well-wishing Chinese couplets and woodblock prints on their doors, I can feel that the New Year is in the air,” she said.

    According to the local cultural and tourism commission, over 50,000 copies of woodblock prints and couplets were distributed in 33 townships in Liangping at themed events.

    The local government has also collaborated with multiple platforms to enhance the festive atmosphere, with the prints being offered as gifts at several local shopping malls.

    On Jan 10, over 1,000 students completed a massive Liangping woodblock New Year painting spanning approximately 1,000 square meters on the playground of Chongqing Liangping Vocational Education Center.

    Under the guidance of Xu Jiahui, a national inheritor of Liangping woodblock New Year painting, the students completed the art work, titled Generals as Door Gods.

    Woodblock paintings have been well received in many places. From January to February, Liangping woodblock New Year painting exhibitions are taking place in multiple districts of the municipality, as well as in Xiong’an New Area and Handan in Hebei province. In Beijing, the paintings are currently being exhibited at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, local authorities said.

    The custom of New Year paintings is one of the important traditional activities to celebrate Spring Festival.

    Woodblock printing was invented in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). As this art form developed and became more and more popular among Chinese people, its content and functions also increased.

    On Dec 4, the Spring Festival and the social practices associated with the celebration of the traditional Chinese New Year, were added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Liangping woodblock New Year paintings played a role in the application process, local authorities said.

    In May 2006, the art form of Liangping woodblock New Year painting was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage items.

    “I believe our intangible cultural heritage should be presented in its good old traditional form,” said Xu, who is 59, and has dedicated 48 years to studying the craft.

    Situated in northeastern Chongqing, Liangping is renowned for its rich intangible cultural heritage, boasting five national-level, 26 municipal-level, and 124 county-level items.

    Recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for its unique Spring Festival customs, folk culture and art heritage, Liangping is particularly celebrated for its woodblock New Year paintings and bamboo curtains, both of which hold national geographical indication trademarks.

    Building on this cultural legacy, the district has established five primary and secondary schools dedicated to preserving traditional Chinese culture and art. Additionally, it has developed 13 city-level experimental bases for intangible heritage inheritance, and offered over 120 special interest classes, engaging more than 10,000 students in the vibrant traditions of Liangping.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Cultural vibes eagerly embraced by holiday travelers

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Residents watch a dragon dance performance in Xinghua, Jiangsu province, on Sunday during Spring Festival celebrations. Various events, including folk activities and intangible cultural heritage displays, have been held across China to celebrate Spring Festival. [Zhou Shegen / XINHUA]

    Surrounded by crowds and patting the head of a fish-shaped lantern for good luck, 27-year-old Tian Jialiang immersed himself in the rich, festive vibes of Spring Festival in Zhanqi village of Shexian, Anhui province.

    Tian, who is a native of Nanchang in the neighboring province of Jiangxi, was on a four-day self-driving tour to Huangshan, Anhui, with four friends.

    “Spring Festival is one of the most important traditional holidays to the Chinese people. We came here for the village’s strong new year atmosphere and celebrations, where the performers mimic fishes’ movements to bring good luck and fortune. I think it is the essence of the festival,” Tian said.

    Spring Festival, which was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December, has seen people’s passion skyrocket for tourism destinations highlighting cultural vibes or folk customs.

    This year’s Spring Festival fell on Jan 29, the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, and marked the beginning of the Year of the Snake. People in China enjoyed an eight-day break, from Jan 28 to Tuesday.

    Reports from travel agencies showed that cultural tourism destinations were in vogue during the holiday.

    Travel portal Qunar said that cities with festive celebrations or folk customs, including Huangshan in Anhui, Chaozhou and Shantou in Guangdong province, and Quanzhou in Fujian province, were among the most sought-after destinations by its users during the holiday. These places are well known for folk events, including fish-shaped lantern shows, lion dances and hairpin flowers.

    Huangshan saw its hotel room bookings double year-on-year during the holiday.

    Another travel portal, Fliggy, said travelers have shown an increasing interest in immersive tourism events featuring Chinese cultural elements, including visiting temple fairs, wearing traditional Chinese hanfu attire for photo shoots, and appreciating lantern shows. It said that sales of tourism products related to folk custom performances grew 36 percent year-on-year on its platform.

    Liu Gengshuo, 30, who is from the northeastern province of Jilin, booked photo-shooting services featuring traditional hanfu clothing for his wife in Datong, Shanxi province, for the Spring Festival holiday.

    “It has long been our wish to embrace Chinese New Year in Datong, a city that enjoys a long-standing history and is home to much historical architecture, including temples,” Liu said. “The city is filled with a festive atmosphere and beautiful decorations. We will come again for another visit.”

    Qi Chunguang, vice-president of online travel agency Tuniu, said the addition of Spring Festival to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list has greatly increased people’s enthusiasm for traditional Chinese culture, and this turned places with intangible cultural events into hot tourism destinations over the holiday period.

    Some history and culture museums have also been popular, Qi said.

    “People have shown great demand and interest in high-quality travels, as they wish to explore the destination’s cultural and social practices with immersive events. I think the trend will keep the tourism industry developing this year,” he said.

    Chinese travelers also showed strong consumption power and a desire for overseas tourism destinations during the Spring Festival holiday. Figures from Fliggy showed that international cruise bookings surged 229 percent at its platform for the holiday period, and overseas destinations such as the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, as well as countries in Southeast Asia, were top choices for people from the Chinese mainland.

    Cai Muzi, an analyst at travel portal Qunar, said that Thailand continues to rank near the top of Chinese people’s favorite overseas destinations because of the shorter travel hours, visa-free policy, milder climate and cheaper travel costs.

    According to Qunar, Chinese travelers set foot in more than 2,100 cities worldwide during the holiday, with the number increasing 50 percent year-on-year. In addition to Southeast Asian countries and regions, destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, ranging from Hungary and Norway to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, saw an increase in tourism visits by Chinese.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: S. Korea’s court holds 5th hearing of Yoon’s impeachment trial

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    South Korea’s constitutional court on Tuesday held the fifth hearing of impeachment trial on President Yoon Suk-yeol, with the arrested president being present for the third time.

    Yoon presented himself at the courtroom in central Seoul at about 2:00 p.m. local time (0500 GMT) after attending the third and fourth hearings last month.

    During the fifth hearing, Yoon said that “nothing really happened” on the night of Dec. 3 last year when he declared an emergency martial law, denying allegations that he ordered martial law troops to drag lawmakers out of the hall of the National Assembly that revoked the martial law hours later.

    Throughout the midnight hours, military helicopters landed at the National Assembly and hundreds of armed special forces troops broke into the parliamentary building, TV footage showed.

    Under the constitution, a president is required to report the martial law imposition to the National Assembly, the sole body with the right to repeal martial law.

    Yoon claimed that he intended to appeal to people in the form of martial law and lift it when the parliament voted against it, but he noted that such intention was shared only with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, not with other cabinet members.

    According to the prosecution’s indictment, Yoon urged military commanders over phone to push martial law troops into the parliamentary chamber, where the lawmakers gathered to lift the martial law, by “firing guns” and “using axes” to break the door open.

    Lee Jin-woo, former chief of the Capital Defense Command accused of his involvement in the martial law imposition, refused to testify during the hearing, saying he was restricted in testimony as his own criminal case was underway.

    Lee only admitted that he talked with Yoon on the phone on the night of the martial law declaration.

    Yeo In-hyung, former head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, also refused to testify that he had received orders from the former defense minister to arrest and detain politicians, including chiefs of the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party.

    Officially confirming Yoon’s direct order to arrest the politicians, Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, said in the hearing that Yoon gave him orders to help the defense counterintelligence command “round up all” of the politicians.

    Hong told lawmakers last month that he was given the orders over phone around 20 minutes after the martial law declaration.

    Yoon testified that his instructions to assist the defense counterintelligence command had nothing to do with the martial law imposition.

    Next hearings were scheduled to be held on Feb. 6, 11 and 13.

    The motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Dec. 14 last year and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon’s presidential power is suspended.

    Yoon was apprehended in the presidential office on Jan. 15, becoming the country’s first sitting president to be arrested.

    Yoon, who was named as a suspected ringleader of insurrection, was indicted under detention on Jan. 26, becoming the country’s first incumbent president to be put on trial in custody.

    The South Korean president was accused of conspiring with the former defense minister, who had already been indicted under detention, to declare unconstitutional, illegal martial law and dispatch armed forces into the National Assembly.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Construction commences to bring vacant public homes back into use to house people in need

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 5 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Homelessness, Minister for Housing

    Work has started on the refurbishing and repairing ‘The Three Sisters’ also known as the Wade Street Towers in Telopea. This will breathe new life into nearly 150 vacant public housing units that were originally set for demolition under the former Government.

    This comes as the Minns Labor Government ended it’s ‘dud-deal’ partnership with Frasers in October 2024 that would have seen the privatisation, demolition of the towers and with skyrocketing costs and lengthy delays.

    The refurbishment of 148 units in the Wade Street Towers is the first important step to help people in need get a safe roof over their head.

    Work is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Once complete, the Wade Street Towers will provide around 240 residents a safe place to call home for the next 5-10 years while longer term renewal plans for Telopea are developed.

    The commencement of these works also marks the one-year anniversary since the establishment of Homes NSW by the Minns Labor Government, bringing the management of public homes and tenants under one roof to rebuild a broken public housing system.

    This is part of the NSW Government’s historic $6.6 Billion Building Homes for NSW Program which will build up to 30,000 homes as well as 8400 public homes.

    Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

    “Last year we put an end to the Liberal/National’s dud-deal which left the future of Telopea at a standstill and nearly 150 homes sitting empty in the middle of a housing crisis. This is a commonsense practical approach to help tackle the housing crisis and get homes built quickly.

    “We have taken more action in 1 year than the former Government made in 12 years. Getting people in safe, modern homes is what we are focused on.”

    Since the announcement to scrap the former Government’s dud-deal we have had an outpouring of support from the community who have been waiting for action. Today is another step forward to build more homes to help those who need it most.

    “This project is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to put people back at the heart of housing and rebuild our state’s public and affordable housing system.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal alien gets life sentence for ongoing sexual abuse of minor child

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    McALLEN, Texas – A 35-year-old Mexican citizen who illegally resided in Palmview has been sentenced for producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of a family member and coercing the production of CSAM using various chat platforms, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Jesus Adrian Barraza-Vega pleaded guilty Oct. 9, 2024.

    U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton has now sentenced Barraza-Vega to serve the rest of his life in prison. The court further ordered him to pay $3,0o0 in restitution to a known victim and a total of $60,000 in fines.

    At the hearing, the minor victim was present with family and provided a victim letter addressed to Barraza-Vega describing the harm he had caused her. In addition, the court heard that Barraza-Vega’s ongoing abuse of a minor family member continued until just days before his encounter with law enforcement.

    “Our sincere hope is that the children who Barraza-Vega victimized can now have some measure of peace,” said Ganjei. “Crimes against children committed in the Southern District of Texas will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. The life sentence handed down today against Mr. Barraza-Vega should be a warning to other would-be abusers.”

    “Children deserve to be safe. Whether online or in their own homes, we all have a duty to protect those most vulnerable to exploitation,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “The FBI works day and night to ensure predators like this are brought to justice. We hope this sentence might bring some sense of closure and healing for the victims and their families.”

    On July 3, 2023, New York authorities discovered inappropriate images were being sent to an eight-year-old minor. A review of the conversation revealed the minor victim had sent sexually explicit videos of herself to an unknown individual using TextNow and WhatsApp. During the course of the conversation, the individual pretended to be a 13-year-old male. He sent images depicting a male’s genitalia and messages that were sexually explicit in nature, including requests for the minor victim to engage in sexual acts.

    Law enforcement conducted a search and determined the subscriber information for the IP address information returned to addresses where Barraza-Vega had previously resided including his current location in Palmview.

    During an interview with Barraza-Vega, he confirmed his prior residences, email addresses and phone number, and that he used TextNow and WhatsApp. All matched the information linked to the accounts used to coerce and entice the production of CSAM from the minor victim in New York.

    In February 2024, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant for a cellphone identified as belonging to Barraza-Vega. The forensic extraction revealed CSAM including videos and images of a minor relative. The material included images and videos of Barraza-Vega engaging in various sexual acts with this victim. The videos and images dated from on or about Nov. 11, 2020, to on or about Jan. 18, 2024.

    FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol and police departments in Mission and Palmview.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Booker introduce bill to give more small businesses access to disaster loans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations and Banking Committees, today joined Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in introducing the Small Business Disaster Damage Fairness Act of 2025. The bill would allow borrowers to get a Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster assistance loan for up to $50,000, rather than the current $14,000, without pledging collateral. 

    “Too many small business owners can’t put up collateral for a loan when disaster strikes. As a result, they can’t re-open their doors. My bill would make sure small businesses can get back to serving their communities after disasters hit,” said Kennedy. 

    The SBA’s Disaster Loan Program is designed to help homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofits repair, rebuild and recover from disaster-related losses. In 2024, there were 27 weather-related disasters that caused at least $1 billion in damage. 

    “New Jerseyans are unfortunately too familiar with the impacts of extreme weather, from hurricanes to major flooding events. The last thing homeowners and small businesses should need to worry about is how they will access the funding they need to rebuild after a storm. This bill will help ensure small businesses everywhere have the support they need to recover in the wake of a disaster,” said Booker. 

    The bill also codifies the Government Accountability Office (GAO)’s recommendation to distinguish between rural and urban communities for outreach and instructs the GAO to further report the Disaster Loan Program’s default rate.

    Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) cosponsored the bill.

    The full bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on Voting Against Doug Collins for VA Secretary, Reports of DOGE at VA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray: “We should all be deeply concerned about what it could mean to give Elon Musk and his cronies free rein at VA—I am already hearing that DOGE may have barged into VA today.  Musk and his associates already have the personal financial information of every veteran receiving disability or education benefits because of their illegal data mining at the Department of Treasury.  Will they now look at private health records of veterans?  What else will they do that could put the health and safety of our veterans at risk? If Vought and Musk push to cut veterans benefits and limit healthcare eligibility as Project 2025 has outlined—would Doug Collins stand up to them?”

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, released the following statement after voting no on the nomination of Doug Collins to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs:

    “Right now, the Trump administration is illegally withholding funding from communities across America, and they are ransacking and effectively gutting entire federal agencies—this kind of lawlessness is putting our economy, national security, and future at risk.

    “Today I voted NO to confirm Doug Collins as VA Secretary because at this point I have not seen a single cabinet secretary stand up to Trump’s illegal power grab. We should all be deeply concerned about what it could mean to give Elon Musk and his cronies free rein at VA—I am already hearing that DOGE may have barged into VA today.  Musk and his associates already have the personal financial information of every veteran receiving disability or education benefits because of their illegal data mining at the Department of Treasury.  Will they now look at private health records of veterans?  What else will they do that could put the health and safety of our veterans at risk? If Vought and Musk push to cut veterans benefits and limit healthcare eligibility as Project 2025 has outlined—would Doug Collins stand up to them? If this administration continues to press VA doctors, nurses, and support staff to resign—will Collins push back? I cannot confidently say he would.  

    “I had a productive meeting with Mr. Collins prior to his hearing and we will need to work together on many issues, including getting the Electronic Health Record system fixed, but I cannot vote to confirm him as Trump dismantles government and breaks the law. As I work with Mr. Collins to support our veterans, I will also be pressing him to follow the laws as intended by Congress.”

    Senator Murray was the first woman to join the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the first woman to chair the Committee—as the daughter of a World War II veteran, supporting veterans and their families has always been an important priority for her. Senator Murray has fought throughout her career for increased benefits for veterans, housing assistance, better access to veterans’ clinics throughout Washington state, and more accountability from the VA.

    Advocating for women veterans in particular has been a longtime focus for Senator Murray, and as Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee in 2010, Senator Murray passed her landmark Women Veterans Health Improvement Act into law. Murray has worked to permanently authorize the VA child care pilot program to increase access to free, quality child care for veterans during their appointments, make much-needed improvements to the women veterans call center, and fix a loophole that left veterans footing the bill for medically-necessary emergency newborn transportation that VA should be covering. Murray introduced and helped pass the Deborah Sampson Act, legislation to address gender disparities at VA that established a dedicated Office of Women’s Health at VA and required every VA health facility to have a dedicated women’s health primary care provider, among other things. Murray also helped to pass the MAMMO Act to expand access to high-quality breast cancer screening and treatment services for veterans. Senator Murray leads the Veteran Families Health Services Act, comprehensive legislation that would expand fertility treatments—including IVF—and family-building services for servicemembers and veterans who are unable to conceive without assistance, and she has sought unanimous consent to pass the legislation on multiple occasions. Last March, Murray applauded VA’s move to expand IVF services to eligible unmarried veterans and eligible veterans in same-sex marriages, and allowing veterans to use donated gametes in IVF services. 

    Senator Murray has been conducting oversight on the flawed Electronic Health Record system rollout in Washington state since the Trump Administration first negotiated the contract with Cerner (later acquired by Oracle), and at every point in the process since then. Murray has consistently pushed VA on its failed implementation of EHR—conducting oversight, holding the administration accountable, and calling on VA to halt deployment of EHR until they get it right in Washington state. In March 2023, Murray introduced comprehensive legislation that would require VA to implement a series of EHR reforms to better serve veterans, medical personnel, and taxpayers. In the Fiscal Year 2024 funding bills, Senator Murray negotiated and passed as Chair of the Appropriations Committee stronger language to hold VA and Cerner accountable for the rollout of the EHR system, and in May 2024, she sent a letter urging VA to consider feedback on the system from providers and veterans in Spokane and Walla Walla and reiterating that VA must not move forward on the rollout of EHR until the myriad issues that have plagued the system in the locations where it has been launched are fixed.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Call on Trump Admin to Address the Illegal Effort to Dismantle USAID

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, and Tim Kaine, along with 35 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing their deep concern regarding the illegal attempt by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) officials to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

    “We are deeply concerned by reports of not only growing chaos and dysfunction at the Department of State, but the Administration’s brazen and illegal attempts to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),” wrote the senators. “Mass personnel furloughs of dubious legality and abrupt, blanket stop-work orders without regard to relevant appropriations laws are causing immediate harm to U.S. national security, placing U.S. citizens at risk, disrupting life-saving work and breaking the U.S. government’s contractual obligations to private sector partners.”

    The senators continued: “The Administration’s failure to consult with Congress prior to taking these steps violates the law and impedes Congress’s constitutional duty to conduct oversight of funding, personnel and the nation’s foreign policy.”

    USAID is a critical pillar of U.S. national security strategy, providing lifesaving aid and development support around the world.

    This week, USAID workers were denied access to the agency’s headquarters and the White House threatened to close the agency and move it under the State Department without the necessary congressional approval. The administration has also furloughed thousands of senior career civil servants, including two top security officials who had denied DOGE officials access to classified documents and systems without the proper clearances.

    In their letter, the senators called on Secretary Rubio to address the dysfunction created by these illegal actions and clarify the status of the funding that’s been legally approved by Congress.

    Full text of the letter available HERE and below.

    Dear Secretary Rubio:

    The effective administration of U.S. foreign assistance is critical to advancing core U.S. national security priorities, including countering the influence of China, Russia and Iran. As you acknowledged at your confirmation hearing, pushing back on China in particular is a top bipartisan priority.

    As such, we are deeply concerned by reports of not only growing chaos and dysfunction at the Department of State, but the Administration’s brazen and illegal attempts to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Mass personnel furloughs of dubious legality and abrupt, blanket stop-work orders without regard to relevant appropriations laws are causing immediate harm to U.S. national security, placing U.S. citizens at risk, disrupting life-saving work and breaking the U.S. government’s contractual obligations to private sector partners.

    The Administration’s failure to consult with Congress prior to taking these steps violates the law and impedes Congress’s constitutional duty to conduct oversight of funding, personnel and the nation’s foreign policy. The Administration’s failure to expend funds appropriated on a bipartisan basis by Congress would violate the Impoundment Control Act.

    Foreign assistance is critical to supporting U.S. strategic interests around the world. Foreign assistance protects U.S. national security, advances U.S. values, and ensures the U.S. is the partner of choice for everything from defense procurement to cutting edge scientific research. China, Russia and Iran are already moving rapidly to exploit the vacuum and instability left by the U.S.’s sudden global retreat.

    Every Administration has the right to review and adjust ongoing assistance programming. However, attempting to arbitrarily turn off core functions of a critical U.S. national security agency, without Congressional consideration or any metric-based review and absent legal authority to do so, is unprecedented and deeply disturbing.

    We request immediate clarification on the following:

    Status of USAID:

    • Confirmation of your understanding that any effort to abolish USAID or merge USAID into the Department of State absent Congressional consultation and approval is illegal.
    • Confirmation of your understanding that adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran are quickly moving into the vacuum left by suspended USAID programs.
    • The Department of State’s assessment of Mr. Elon Musk’s financial ties to China and the impact of these ties to the decision-making process of Mr. Musk and his employees.
    • Confirmation that neither you nor any member of your leadership team are taking direction from Mr. Musk with regards to the work of the Department of State or USAID, personnel or financial decisions for either agency, or any other matters relevant to U.S. national security.
    • Confirmation of the names and employment status of individuals directed by Mr. Musk to engage with USAID staff, the qualifications of these individuals, and the level of their security clearances – if any.

    Personnel:

    • Confirmation of your understanding that any unauthorized access by or disclosure of classified information to individuals without appropriate security clearance could be considered a criminal offense.
    • The legal authority and rationale under which, on January 28, more than 50 senior career civil and foreign service USAID officials were placed on administrative leave. This move was not only unprecedented, but also inconsistent with the Office of Personnel Management’s own guidelines for the use of administrative leave.
    • The legal authority under which, on January 28, approximately 390 USAID Institutional Support Contractors (ISCs) were given stop-work orders, and clarification of which Administration official directed the implementation of this termination.
    • Whether any Department of State career civil and foreign service or contractors have been placed on administrative leave or removed from their roles as a result of or relating to the assistance freeze or any directives from the Office of Foreign Assistance.
    • Clarification of which Administration official directed the implementation of this mass furlough.
    • Clarification of whether these individuals were directed to be terminated without cause.
    • Confirmation that personnel will not face retaliation or retribution for performing their duties under the previous Administration’s policy direction.
    • Under what authorities and by which official’s directive career civil service, foreign service, and Personal Services Contractors (PSC), and those under other hiring authorities have been removed from their roles or limited in their ability to execute their work.
    • Confirmation that further career civil service, foreign service and USAID contractors will not be removed from their roles without cause or receive stop work orders.
    • Whether, upon full resumption of legally mandated foreign assistance activities, the Administration intends to re-hire contractors who have been removed from their roles.
    • Any additional guidance provided to State and USAID staff regarding the foreign assistance freeze, including confirmation of whether direct hires, contractors, or implementing organizations have been directed not to speak publicly about the foreign assistance freeze.
    • Public identification of the individual currently serving as the Director or Acting Director of the State Department’s Office of Foreign Assistance and as Acting Deputy Administrator of USAID, and the dates upon which this individual was appointed to each position.
    • Confirmation of your understanding that the State Department’s Director of Foreign Assistance has no authority to issue personnel directives for USAID.

    Resumption of Foreign Assistance:

    • The specific process and anticipated timeframe for activities to receive exemptions or waivers, as referenced in your January 28, 2025 directive to State and USAID staff.
    • The mechanisms and metrics established for this waiver process.
    • The timeline for full resumption of legally mandated foreign assistance activities.
    • Clarification of what risk assessment or analysis of potential risk to U.S. national security interests were conducted prior to the decision to freeze foreign assistance activities.
    • Confirmation of the Department of State’s obligation to comply with U.S. contract law and your responsibility as Secretary of State ensure the Department honors its commitments to contracting partners.

    We welcome your urgent attention to these questions. We and our staff stand ready to work with you to ensure U.S. foreign assistance funding continues to be deployed effectively to protect American citizens, at home and abroad.

    Respectfully,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Reminder: Full night closures begin on Wellington State Highway 1 urban motorway next week

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Wellington drivers need to be ready for major maintenance works on Wellington’s urban motorway next week.

    Full night closures, north and southbound, are planned from Sunday 9 February to Thursday 13 February, between 9pm and 4:30am.

    The works are weather-dependent, so closures may be delayed into the following week if required.

    While the resurfacing and maintenance work is underway, the motorway will be closed to northbound traffic between Karo Drive and Ngauranga Interchange.

    It will also be closed to southbound traffic between the Terrace offramp and Vivian Street.

    Drivers will have to use alternate routes to get in and out of Wellington city, and it means it will take drivers a little longer to get in and out of the central city.

    Road users must plan ahead and allow extra time for their trips– particularly if they are heading to Wellington Hospital or Wellington Airport.

    Planned works

    Resurfacing work is planned for around five lane kilometres of the motorway’s northbound lanes between Aotea Quay onramp and the Ngauranga Interchange. This will help make the  road’s surface safer and smoother.

    To make the most of the closure and ensure as much work can be completed as possible, the Terrace Tunnel will also be closed for its annual Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) inspection. Because it is a vital piece of infrastructure, the tunnel must be inspected, tested, and maintained regularly.

    Road crews will also complete  other essential maintenance work during the closures. This includes renewing digital signs, streetlight maintenance, sign gantry assessments, carrying out structural inspections on overbridges and on and offramps, assessing safety barriers, clearing drains, removing graffiti, and clearing rubbish.

    Works schedule and detour routes

    • Sunday, 9 February to Thursday 13 February. 9pm – 4:30am.
    • Traffic management set up from 7 pm – drivers can expect delays during this time.

    Northbound closure

    • SH1 Urban Motorway closed between Karo Drive and Ngauranga Interchange
    • All northbound on and offramps will be closed – Clifton onramp, Tinakori onramp, Tinakori offramp, May Street onramp and Aotea Quay onramp. 
    • Drivers should detour via Karo Drive – Willis Street – Customhouse/Waterloo/Aotea Quay – Hutt Road – Ngauranga Interchange. See the detour map below.

    Southbound closure

    • SH1 Urban Motorway closed to southbound traffic between The Terrace offramp and Vivian Street
    • Drivers should detour via The Terrace offramp and Ghuznee/Victoria/Vivian Streets. See the detour map below.

    View larger map [PDF, 283 KB]

    More information

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jefferson, U.S. Economic Outlook and Monetary Policy

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Thank you, Professor Smith. It is an honor to be speaking to you today here at Lafayette College.1 I am glad to have the opportunity to return to such a historically important place as Easton, Pennsylvania, and the Lehigh Valley. This area was part of this country’s colonial beginnings, it was instrumental in the rising of the industrial age, and, as the home to Crayola, it very literally played a role in coloring how we see the world. Today, this region is leading the way forward with its many outstanding institutions of higher education, very prominently including, of course, Lafayette College.

    Today, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my outlook for the U.S. economy and my views of appropriate monetary policy. This is a useful time to do that, as my colleagues and I on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the Federal Reserve’s primary monetary policymaking body, held our first meeting of 2025 just last week.
    Overall, the U.S. economy is starting the year in a good position. I expect inflation’s slow descent to continue, and I anticipate that economic growth and labor market conditions will remain solid. I have learned, however, that it is wise to be humble about my projections. There is always a great deal of uncertainty around any economic forecast, and currently we face additional uncertainties about the exact shape of government policies, as well as their economic implications.
    Last week, my FOMC colleagues and I discussed the latest economic developments and reviewed data that arrived since our previous policy meeting in December. At the conclusion of that meeting, I voted in support of the Committee’s decision to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 4-1/4 to 4-1/2 percent. This decision was made in support of our goals to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. I remain focused on setting policy to achieve the dual-mandate goals given to us by Congress: maximum employment and stable prices. Sound monetary policy and positive supply-side developments have contributed to the achievement of sustained economic growth in recent years, the return of low unemployment, and inflation moving sustainably toward our 2 percent objective. I remain committed to returning inflation to our target while sustaining the solid labor market. Now is an appropriate time to assess the path forward for the economy. I am happy to be here today to share my views with you.
    Economic ActivityThe U.S. economy appears to be maintaining its momentum after growing at a solid pace last year. Last year’s growth was notable because many private forecasters in 2023 projected a significant downturn sometime in 2024.2 However, data over the past year painted a very different picture. GDP grew 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to last week’s data release.3 As you can see in figure 1, that extends a stretch of solid quarterly growth over the past couple of years. Shortly, when I discuss the labor market, I will say more related to the large swing in GDP growth in 2020 that stands out in this chart. For all of 2024, the economy grew 2.5 percent, which is a modest slowing from the 3.2 percent growth in 2023. The economy has been benefiting from positive supply developments, including more workers joining the labor force and higher labor productivity.
    The resilience of American consumers is the driving force behind the solid economic growth seen in recent quarters. Household spending, adjusted for inflation, grew 3.2 percent in 2024, slightly stronger than in 2023. The consumer spending data we have received recently have surprised me to the upside. As you can see in figure 2, personal consumption increased at a faster pace each quarter last year. Nominal retail sales rose briskly in the second half of last year. Private-sector data are consistent with GDP figures. According to private surveys of businesses, activity in the services sector, which accounts for about two-thirds of all consumer spending, has been on a general upward trajectory since mid-2020.4
    Elsewhere in the economy, growth has been less robust. Residential investment has been fairly flat over the past three quarters, and growth of business fixed investment cooled last year from its strong 2023 pace. Much of the equipment investment that did take place came from imports. Indeed, domestic manufacturing industrial production was flat last year. Overall, I see the economy as continuing to grow at a healthy pace this year, though I anticipate growth to be slightly lower than what we observed in 2024. Households and firms face an uncertain environment, and that tends to lower consumer spending and business investment. If consumer spending continues to grow at the same pace as it has in the past two years, however, that could cause me to revise up my outlook for overall economic growth.
    Labor MarketTurning to employment, I see the labor market as being in a solid position, with conditions broadly returning to balance after a period of being overheated. It’s helpful to step back and look at the labor market’s path over the past five years. Looking at figure 3, you can see that the unemployment rate surged in early 2020, peaking at 14.8 percent in April 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic first took hold and a wide swath of the global economy was shutdown. The unemployment rate subsequently fell swiftly as the economy recovered. By April 2023, it touched 3.4 percent, a half-century low. At that point, many employers reported that they were struggling to fill openings. Then, over the latter part of 2023 and early 2024, the unemployment rate rose nearly a percentage point, an unusual pattern outside of a recession. As a policymaker, I took note of this rise when considering our dual-mandate objectives. Now, I have also taken note that the unemployment rate has effectively held steady since the middle of last year. I view that as a sign that downside risks in the labor market have abated.
    The latest jobs report showed that the unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in December, the same reading as in June 2024.5 That is low by historical standards and close to estimates of the longer-run rate that is consistent with our employment mandate. In the three months ending in December, payrolls rose by an average of 170,000 jobs a month. While employment growth has eased somewhat from the early part of last year, the steady unemployment rate suggests that payroll gains have been sufficient to absorb new entrants to the labor market. The general moderation in hiring is consistent with other measures showing that the demand for labor has come into better balance with the supply of workers.
    Looking at figure 4, you can see that as of November, there were 1.2 job openings for every unemployed person seeking work. That ratio is down from 2.0 in 2022, when the labor market was overheated. Also notice that the current vacancy-to-unemployment ratio is just a little below its value before the pandemic took hold. And while hiring has eased from the pace in 2023, layoffs have not increased. As you can see in figure 5, the number of Americans seeking first-time unemployment benefits has trended at historically low levels for the past three years. Consistent with a moderation in hiring and a steady unemployment rate, workers’ wage gains have slowed from when the labor market was overheated. Still, the pace of increase in average hourly earnings has been healthy, increasing 3.9 percent during the 12 months ending in December, and shows that, on average, worker pay has grown at a faster rate than the rate of inflation.
    Looking broadly across the past several months, I see a labor market that is in solid condition and not a source of significant inflationary pressure. While the downside risks of a rapidly weakening labor market appear to have lessened, I expect some further softening that could cause the unemployment rate to edge just slightly higher this year but stay in a range consistent with recent readings.
    InflationThinking about the other component of our dual mandate, inflation has come down a great deal over the past two and a half years but remains somewhat elevated relative to our 2 percent objective. Inflation, as measured by the 12-month change in the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, peaked at 7.2 percent in June 2022. Looking at the blue line in figure 6, you can see that it has since come down to 2.6 percent as of this past December. Economists also pay close attention to core inflation, which excludes often volatile food and energy costs. That core PCE inflation figure, shown by the red dashed line, peaked at 5.6 percent in 2022. By December 2024, it had eased to 2.8 percent. Annualized inflation over the past three months has been closer to our 2 percent objective. As you can see, the path of disinflation has been bumpy. I expect that to continue to be the case.
    I find it helpful to look at the components of inflation to better understand underlying trends. Looking at figure 7, core goods inflation, the blue line, is running close to pre-pandemic levels, reflecting a better alignment between supply and demand after pandemic-related distortions. Nonhousing services inflation, the red dashed line, has cooled largely in line with slower wage growth. Housing services inflation, the purple dotted line, remains somewhat elevated, but I expect more progress in that category as the earlier slowing in growth of rents for new tenants feeds through into growth of average rents.6
    With supply and demand conditions having moved into better balance, wage growth slowing to a more sustainable pace, and longer-term inflation expectations remaining well anchored, I see a path for inflation to continue its progress toward our longer-run goal. While the easing of overall inflation in recent years has been encouraging, the fact is that it remains above our 2 percent objective. Monthly inflation readings tend to be volatile, consistent with the bumpy path I described, but the 12-month readings have held in a fairly consistent range somewhat above our target over the second half of last year.
    Monetary PolicyIn the current environment, I attach a high degree of uncertainty to my projections. As I have already mentioned, there have been notable recent instances where forecasters have been surprised. That said, I see the risks to achieving our employment and inflation goals as being roughly in balance, and I am attentive to the risks to both sides of our mandate. That better balanced position is partly a result of the monetary policy actions over the past few years, which I will review briefly.
    As you can see in figure 8, the FOMC responded to elevated inflation by raising the policy rate 5-1/4 percentage points over about 15 months, starting in March 2022, and then holding the rate at that restrictive level for more than a year. This contributed to inflation easing from a 40-year high to near current levels while maintaining a solid labor market. That outcome was historically unusual but greatly welcomed. By September of last year, I had growing confidence that with an appropriate recalibration of our policy stance, strength in the labor market could be maintained in a context of moderate economic growth and inflation moving sustainably down to 2 percent. The FOMC reduced the federal funds rate by a full percentage point over the course of our final three meetings last year. As a result of those actions, our policy stance is now significantly less restrictive than it was when we began lowering the federal funds rate. Given current economic conditions—specifically, inflation that remains modestly above our target and a labor market that is solid—and my projections of future economic conditions, I voted last week to maintain our current policy stance. As long as the economy and labor market remain strong, I see it as appropriate for the Committee to be cautious in making further adjustments.
    Over the medium term, I continue to see a gradual reduction in the level of monetary policy restraint placed on the economy as we move toward a more neutral stance as the most likely outcome. That said, I do not think we need to be in a hurry to change our stance. In considering additional adjustments to the federal funds rate, I will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks. As is always the case, monetary policy is not on a preset course. To that end, I could envision a range of scenarios for future policy. For example, if the economy remains strong and inflation does not continue to move sustainably toward 2 percent, we can maintain policy restraint for longer.
    Alternatively, if the labor market were to weaken unexpectedly or inflation were to fall more quickly than anticipated, it may be appropriate to reduce the policy rate more quickly. Our current stance of policy is well positioned to deal with the risks and uncertainties that we face in pursuing both sides of our dual mandate.
    As I conclude, I want to assure you that I am mindful that monetary policy decisions affect communities, families, and businesses across the country. I highly value opportunities to visit places like Lafayette College and Easton to share my views, hear from you, and see how the economy is experienced firsthand in your community. I remain fully committed to supporting maximum employment and bringing inflation sustainably to our 2 percent goal. Our success in delivering on these goals matters to all Americans.
    Thank you.

    1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
    2. See Harriet Torry and Anthony DeBarros (2023), “A Recession Is No Longer the Consensus,” Wall Street Journal, October 15. Return to text
    3. See Bureau of Economic Analysis (2025), “Gross Domestic Product, 4th Quarter and Year 2024 (Advance Estimate) (PDF),” news release, January 30. Return to text
    4. See the December 2024 Services ISM Report on Business, which is available on the Institute for Supply Management’s website at https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-report-on-business/services/december. Return to text
    5. See Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), “The Employment Situation—December 2024 (PDF),” news release, January 10. Return to text
    6. See Philip N. Jefferson (2024), “U.S. Economic Outlook and Housing Price Dynamics,” speech delivered at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Secondary and Capital Markets Conference and Expo 2024, New York, May 20. Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Are Investment Tax Breaks Effective? Australian Evidence

    Source: Reserve Bank of Australia

    Tags

    asset quality, balance sheet, banking, banknotes, bonds, business, business cycle, capital, cash rate, central clearing, China, climate change, commercial property, commodities, consumption, COVID-19, credit, cryptocurrency, currency, digital currency, debt, education, emerging markets, exchange rate, export, fees, finance, financial markets, financial stability, First Nations, fiscal policy, forecasting, funding, global economy, global financial crisis, history, households, housing, income and wealth, inflation, insolvency, insurance, interest rates, international, investment, labour market, lending standards, liquidity, machine learning, macroprudential policy, mining, modelling, monetary policy, money, open economy, payments, productivity, rba survey, regulation, resources sector, retail, risk and uncertainty, saving, securities, services sector, technology, terms of trade, trade, wages

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Watching the doom loop: Sydney Festival artists witness climate change, and imagine our post-apocalyptic future

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Blake Lawrence, PhD Candidate (Design) and Performance Artist, University of Technology Sydney

    Re-Stor(y)ing Oceania. Giacomo Cosua/Sydney Festival

    The first weeks of 2025 have seen catastrophic wildfires locally and internationally, record global ocean temperatures, and unprecedented coral bleaching events.

    Trump has signed executive orders to exit from the Paris Agreement, and locally, the Coalition continues its decades-long campaign of climate denial

    Species fall swiftly and silently to extinction. The language of bird-song collapses. For many peoples, and for many species, apocalypse is past tense.

    For climate risk researchers Laurie Laybourn and James Dyke, politics illustrates a doom loop, a political diving-towards apocalypse.

    Artists in this year’s Sydney Festival imagine exit strategies from this doom loop – and dream of taking root in its post-apocalyptic rubble.

    Anito

    Phasmahammer is the alter-ego and ongoing creative project of artist Justin Talplacido Shoulder. Anito is the latest in a series of their theatre-scale works that blend live performance with mythology, story-telling, costume and ceremony.

    We begin in the cavernous Carriageworks foyer with a living miniature fig tree.

    Damun (as it is known in the Gadigal language), Ficus rubingosa (Latin), the Port Jackson fig, is known for establishing itself insurgently in the pavements and gutters of the city’s colonial (apocalyptic) architecture.

    Here, the bonsai sits like a welcome party, stifled and vibrant in its little pot.

    In an introductory speech, Shoulder’s collaborator Matthew Stegh acknowledges the city of Sydney as “a theatre and a prison” – tripling in reference to both the experience of producing theatre for institutions, and the stunted experience of our little fig.

    Anito blends live performance with mythology, story-telling, costume and ceremony.
    Sarah Walker/Sydney Festival

    He pays homage to the ecological and cosmological traditions of Gadigal Country, and to the ancestral Philippines of Shoulder. In the next breath Stegh shifts his homage to Sydney’s histories of queer and counter-cultural performance, to sex workers, strippers, clowns, club kids and drag queens.

    He offers reflections on apocalypse and ruin, referring to the “cultish suicide pact” of white supremacy, capitalism, imperialism and colonialism – to doom loops.

    We are led into the auditorium, where Shoulder and fellow performer Eugene Choi animate a series of hallucinatory images.

    Using their bodies, costume pieces, puppetry and inflatable set design, they work with immaculate sound (Corin Ileto) and lighting (Fausto Brusamolino).

    A ghostly hologram of the buttress of a great tree fills the stage. Metallic roots writhe at its foundation. Shoulder and Choi emerge, and from there, eruptions: the first man and woman, a pair of thunder-lizards, bickering, a quadruped. A scale-bending colonial ghost smothered in lace searches tragically for something among planetary ruins. A stony reef of polyps and anemones blooms and dances. A single clap by three pairs of hands. The Big Bang.

    It is often hard to discern exactly how the images are performed. They are both magic and bewildering.
    Liz Ham/Sydney Festival

    By design, it is often hard to discern exactly how these images are performed. They are both magic and bewildering.

    For philosopher Ben Ware, thinking about the horizon of the extinction of all biological life on Earth poses a paradoxical opportunity. The only thing that can thwart the end of this world – “a world of converging and multiplying catastrophes” – is the recognition that the politics of this time have one outcome: “the slow unravelling of intimately entangled forms of life”.

    The fantasy theatre of Anito makes those intimate entanglements visual. We must begin from understanding that the way the world is organised produces its own end.

    Like Shoulder, artist communities of the Pacific know this intimately.

    Re-Stor(y)ing Oceania

    Re-Stor(y)ing Oceania is an exhibition led by artists of the South Pacific Ocean.

    Originally conceived for the Venice Biennale, and curated by Taloi Havini, the exhibition comprises two commissions by Elisapeta Hinemoa Heta and Latai Taumoepeau.

    This is a space for conversation, performance, song and activism.
    Giacomo Cosua/Sydney Festival

    The rooms of a freshly-renovated Artspace in Woolloomooloo are transformed by Heta’s architectural interventions. In one, a mass of bricks creates an altar-like structure, on which bowls of coconut milk sit in concentric circles. In another, pavers form a platform for a circle of seats. They function as stages or gathering places for conversation, performance, song and activism.

    Within these happenings, Havini and her artists speak to the narrative and politics that have produced and compounded catastrophe in the South Pacific.

    Taumoepeau’s interactive installation Deep Communion sung in minor (ArchipelaGO, THIS IS NOT A DRILL) requires visitors to row on standing-paddle-board-like treadmills, which activate immersive songs sung by Taumoepeau and her collaborators.

    The physical exacerbation and the ecological trauma on the screens coalesce in our bodies.
    Giacomo Cosua/Sydney Festival

    In conversation with Heta’s installation, these songs rise and fall, the edges of the artworks and activations become blurry. Visitors paddle towards projections visualising the rubble of marine-ecological wastelands produced by regional deep-sea extraction.

    The physical exacerbation and the ecological trauma on the screens coalesce in our bodies. To drop the oar enacts the fading of the song from the speakers. We are left with reflections of the connections between bodies and calamity, and the labour of working towards futures beyond ruin.

    Plant a Promise

    Henrietta Baird’s Plant a Promise, like Anito and Re-Stor(y)ing Oceania, is a performance with blurry edges. Its roots spread out of Bangarra’s Studio Theatre to incorporate installation, in-situ yarns (storytelling and conversation) and tree-planting projects across the city.

    Inside the theatre, three contemporary dancers animate recorded stories of Indigenous experiences of bushfires beside frustrations with the surrounding political footballing. The sentiment is clear: less talk, more action.

    Plant a Promise beckons audiences into attentiveness to the lives of trees, fire and people.
    Stephen Wilson Barker/Sydney Festival

    At its finale, audience members are invited to the stage to collaborate in the transformation of the set. We are led to take handfuls of verdant eucalyptus and acacia leaves and implant them into large woven columns that have functioned theatrically as abstracted tree-forms. The stage is transformed into a forest of our making together.

    Through its many stories, Plant a Promise beckons audiences into attentiveness to the lives of trees, fire and people.

    In the shadows of catastrophe, the roots of Indigenous knowledge systems and environmental science cross-pollinate to share and enact care for Country.

    The stage is transformed into a forest of our making together.
    Stephen Wilson Barker/Sydney Festival

    Generously, we receive a gift as we exit the theatre. The exchange of a native sapling invites us into casual conversation – into reflections on Country, and how we might, all of us, commit to it.

    Again, we begin, from the recognition of an end. More rubble. More roots.

    Putricia

    At the time of writing, Sydneysiders are enamoured with the life of another plant, gathered around livestreams and making excited trips to the city’s Botanic Gardens.

    Putricia, the resident titan arum, or corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanium), has thrown her immense flower spike into the air. She has commenced her slow strip-tease after a week of tantalising her admirers.

    In a few weeks we have become attentive to her story of life and renewal. She will likely have bloomed, wilted and returned to the soil before this text goes live.

    Performances like Putricia’s blooming, Anito, Re-Stor(y)ing Oceania and Plant a Promise offer new vantage points from which to understand ourselves in relation to the natural world, and to glimpse myriad alternatives to what feels like a diving towards our own demise.

    Performances of aliveness beside and within the ecologies we inhabit move us beyond what Ben Ware sees as a naïve sense of “hope”. Instead, these stories make material, make cultural, make real, the impossible task of imagining what comes next.

    Amid the smell of rotting corpses, the pillowy puppetry of a theatrical coral spawning event, the planting of a forest or the singing of invocations for the protection of the planet’s oceans, we might yet find ourselves. This is not a drill.

    Blake Lawrence 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. Watching the doom loop: Sydney Festival artists witness climate change, and imagine our post-apocalyptic future – https://theconversation.com/watching-the-doom-loop-sydney-festival-artists-witness-climate-change-and-imagine-our-post-apocalyptic-future-249017

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Matildas mural officially unveiled at Accor Stadium

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 5 February 2025

    Released by: The Premier, Minister for Sport, Minister for Women

    The Minns Labor Government has today unveiled the artist and artwork that will be projected onto Accor Stadium to celebrate the Matildas’ history-making campaign at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

    This is the first mural in a new series that will commemorate the greatest moments in sport and entertainment at Australia’s home of major events at Accor Stadium, which is celebrating 25 years since the 2000 Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games.

    In their first World Cup on home soil, the Matildas progressed through to the semi-final smashing all records in the process across crowds, TV viewership and inspiring a new generation with rapidly increasing participation rates.

    Artist Kirthana Selvaraj has painted a striking artwork that captures the key players who inspired a nation. The artwork will be transformed into a 57-metre-long immersive mural that extends across the exterior of Accor Stadium’s Cathy Freeman Stand.

    Matildas captain Sam Kerr’s wonder strike and celebration against England has been illustrated in the mural, as has Mackenzie Arnold’s brilliance in goals and young star Courtney Vine’s composure to kick the winning penalty goal against France in the quarter-final, among other key moments.

    The public will have an opportunity to view the mural for the first time in April to celebrate the team’s two upcoming Sydney and Newcastle games which have been announced for April 4 (Allianz Stadium) and April 7 (McDonald Jones Stadium).

    Sydney was the main host city of the tournament, with 11 games and more than 600,000 fans hosted across Accor and Allianz stadiums.

    This mural further builds on the Minns Labor Government’s acknowledgement of great female athletes in our sporting venues including through the renaming of Accor Stadium’s eastern grandstand in honour of sporting legend Cathy Freeman OAM.

    Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

    “It’s long overdue that our nation’s inspirational female athletes are provided with recognition of some of the greatest sporting achievements in our nation’s history.

    “The Matildas captivated the nation like never before smashing all kinds of records and inspiring a new generation of sports stars, participants and fans.

    “Their game-changing tournament will be perfectly honoured with this mural which will be fittingly projected onto the exterior of the Cathy Freeman Stand – the first grandstand in a major Australian stadium to be named after a female athlete.”

    Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

    “The saying goes, you can’t be what you can’t see. It’s fair to say the Matildas World Cup campaign opened the eyes of a generation.

    “The Matildas effect is still being felt today with more girls and women playing the game thanks to the team’s achievement at the Women’s World Cup.

    “This mural will forever celebrate the success of the Matildas who inspired us all.”

    Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

    “The Matildas are one of our most admired national sporting teams and have inspired a whole generation of women and girls to participate in sports and dream big.

    “This mural is a great way to immortalise an incredible sporting moment, as well as public recognition of women’s sporting achievements.

    “It also symbolises the NSW government’s ongoing commitment to recognising and empowering women and girls to have full access to opportunity and choice, and excel in the world of sport.”

    Artist Kirthana Selvaraj said:

    “It has been an honour to create this painting commemorating the Matildas during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

    “Women in sport have always been a vital part of the game’s history, and this work is a celebration of their enduring legacy.

    “Through this piece, I hoped to capture not only the strength and grace of the Matildas but also the unyielding spirit and unity they inspire in all of us.

    “I hope this artwork stands as a permanent reminder of the impact women have made – and continue to make – not just on the field but in shaping the broader public’s connection to sport. It’s a tribute to the trailblazers who came before, the athletes who shine today, and the young people who will carry their legacy forward.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Landmark Bancorp, Inc. Announces 6.3% Increase in Net Earnings for the Year Ended December 31, 2024, and Fourth Quarter Earnings Per Share of $0.57. Declares Cash Dividend of $0.21 per Share

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Manhattan, KS, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Landmark Bancorp, Inc. (“Landmark”; Nasdaq: LARK) reported diluted earnings per share of $0.57 for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to $0.68 per share in the third quarter of 2024 and $0.46 per share in the same quarter last year. Net income for the fourth quarter totaled $3.3 million, compared to $2.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 and $3.9 million in the prior quarter. For the three months ended December 31, 2024, the return on average assets was 0.83%, the return on average equity was 9.54% and the efficiency ratio was 70.0%.

    For the year ended December 31, 2024, diluted earnings per share totaled $2.26 compared to $2.13 during 2023. Net earnings for 2024 totaled $13.0 million, compared to $12.2 million in 2023, or an increase of 6.3%. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the return on average assets was 0.83%, the return on average equity was 10.01% and the efficiency ratio was 69.1%.

    2024 Performance Highlights

      ● Fourth quarter loan growth totaled $50.5 million or an annualized increase of 20.1% over the prior quarter.
      ● For the year, gross loans grew $103.7 million or 10.9%.
      ● Net interest margin improved 21 basis points to 3.51% compared to 3.30% in prior quarter.
      ● Deposits increased $53.3 million, or 16.6% annualized, from the prior quarter.
      ● Total borrowings decreased $34.7 million in the fourth quarter.
      ● A pre-tax loss of $1.0 million was realized in the fourth quarter to reposition a portion of the investment portfolio.
      ● Credit quality remained good with net charge-offs totaling $219,000 in the fourth quarter.
         

    In making this announcement, Abby Wendel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Landmark, commented, “During 2024, we experienced strong loan demand, especially for residential mortgages and commercial real estate loans. In the fourth quarter 2024, we saw strong growth in virtually all loan categories, with total gross loans increasing by $51 million or 20% (annualized). Total deposits also increased in the fourth quarter by more than $53 million, mostly due to seasonal growth in money market and interest checking accounts. The increase in deposits coupled with investment securities sales and maturities this quarter helped fund loan growth and reduce expensive short-term borrowings. For the year, net interest income grew 5.6% over the previous year while in the fourth quarter 2024 our net interest margin improved to 3.51%. Strategic investments in our people and product offerings resulted in higher non-interest expenses, particularly in the fourth quarter. Credit quality remained solid overall.”

    Landmark’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.21 per share, to be paid March 5, 2025, to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 19, 2025. On December 16, 2024, the Company issued a 5% stock dividend to common stockholders, representing the 24th consecutive year that a stock dividend has been paid.

    Management will host a conference call to discuss the Company’s financial results at 10:00 a.m. (Central time) on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Investors may participate via telephone by dialing (833) 470-1428 and using access code 296482. A replay of the call will be available through February 12, 2025, by dialing (866) 813-9403 and using access code 817329.

    Net Interest Income

    Net interest income in the fourth quarter of 2024 amounted to $12.4 million representing an increase of $795,000, or 6.9%, compared to the previous quarter. The increase in net interest income was due mainly to lower interest expense on deposits and other borrowed funds. The net interest margin increased to 3.51% during the fourth quarter from 3.30% during the prior quarter. Compared to the previous quarter, interest income on loans increased $22,000 to $16.0 million due to higher average balances but partially offset by lower yields on loans. Average loan balances increased $24.5 million while the average tax-equivalent yield on the loan portfolio decreased 15 basis points to 6.28%. Interest on investment securities declined slightly due to lower balances while partially offset by higher earning rates. Compared to the third quarter 2024, interest on deposits decreased $480,000, or 8.2% mainly due to lower rates, while interest on other borrowed funds declined by $363,000, due to lower rates and balances. The average rate on interest-bearing deposits decreased 23 basis points to 2.25% while the average rate on other borrowed funds decreased 51 basis points to 5.10% in the fourth quarter.

    Non-Interest Income

    Non-interest income totaled $3.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of $882,000 from the previous quarter. The decrease in non-interest income during the fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily due to a $1.0 million loss on the sales of lower yielding investment securities mentioned above, while the third quarter of 2024 did not include any sales of investment securities. Additionally, lower sales of residential mortgages this quarter resulted in a decline of $182,000 in gains on sales of these mortgages. The decline in other non-interest income of $221,000 this quarter compared to the prior quarter resulted from sales of premises, equipment and foreclosed assets that did not re-occur in the current quarter. Partially offsetting those declines was an increase of $722,000 in bank owned life insurance income.

    Non-Interest Expense

    During the fourth quarter of 2024, non-interest expense totaled $11.9 million, an increase of $1.3 million compared to the prior quarter. The increase in non-interest expense was primarily due to increases of $470,000 in professional fees and $461,000 in compensation and benefits. The increase in professional fees this quarter was primarily due to higher consulting costs on several initiatives. The increase in compensation and benefits was attributable to an increase in employees and higher incentive compensation costs.

    Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

    Landmark recorded an income tax benefit of $886,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to income tax expense of $867,000 in the prior quarter. The effective tax rate was (37.0%) in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 18.1% in the third quarter of 2024. The fourth quarter of 2024 included the recognition of $1.0 million of previously unrecognized tax benefits, which reduced the effective tax rate.

    Balance Sheet Highlights

    As of December 31, 2024, gross loans totaled $1.1 billion, an increase of $50.5 million, or 20.1% annualized since September 30, 2024. During the quarter, loan growth was primarily comprised of commercial real estate (growth of $21.1 million), commercial (growth of $10.7 million), agriculture (growth of $8.6 million) and one-to-four family residential real estate (growth of $7.8 million) loans. Investment securities decreased $38.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2024 and included sales of $36.0 million in low-rate U.S. treasury securities offset by purchases of $18.0 million in market rate U.S. treasury securities. Pre-tax unrealized net losses on the investment securities portfolio increased from $13.3 million at September 30, 2024 to $20.9 million at December 31, 2024 mainly due to higher market rates for these securities at year end.

    Period end deposit balances increased $53.3 million to $1.3 billion at December 31, 2024. The increase in deposits was mainly driven by an increase in money market and checking (increase of $71.3 million) but partially offset by declines in certificates of deposit (decrease of $9.2 million) and non-interest-bearing demand deposits (decrease of $8.6 million). The increase in money market and checking accounts was mainly driven by seasonal growth in public fund deposit account balances. Total borrowings decreased $34.7 million during the fourth quarter 2024. At December 31, 2024, the loan to deposits ratio was 78.2% compared to 77.6% in the prior quarter.

    Stockholders’ equity decreased to $136.2 million (book value of $23.59 per share) as of December 31, 2024, from $139.7 million (book value of $24.18 per share) as of September 30, 2024. The decrease in stockholders’ equity was due to an increase in accumulated other comprehensive losses as the unrealized net losses on investments securities increased during the fourth quarter. The ratio of equity to total assets decreased to 8.65% on December 31, 2024, from 8.93% on September 30, 2024.

    The allowance for credit losses totaled $12.8 million, or 1.22% of total gross loans on December 31, 2024, compared to $11.5 million, or 1.15% of total gross loans on September 30, 2024. Net loan charge-offs totaled $219,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $9,000 during the third quarter of 2024. A provision for credit losses for loans of $1.5 million was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $650,000 in the third quarter of 2024.

    Non-performing loans totaled $13.1 million, or 1.25% of gross loans at December 31, 2024 compared to $13.4 million, or 1.34% of gross loans at September 30, 2024. Loans 30-89 days delinquent declined to $6.2 million, or 0.59% of gross loans, as of December 31, 2024, compared to $7.3 million, or 0.73% of gross loans, as of September 30, 2024.

    About Landmark

    Landmark Bancorp, Inc., the holding company for Landmark National Bank, is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “LARK.” Headquartered in Manhattan, Kansas, Landmark National Bank is a community banking organization dedicated to providing quality financial and banking services. Landmark National Bank has 29 locations in 23 communities across Kansas: Manhattan (2), Auburn, Dodge City (2), Fort Scott (2), Garden City, Great Bend (2), Hoisington, Iola, Junction City, La Crosse, Lawrence (2), Lenexa, Louisburg, Mound City, Osage City, Osawatomie, Overland Park, Paola, Pittsburg, Prairie Village, Topeka (2), Wamego and Wellsville, Kansas. Visit www.banklandmark.com for more information.

    Contact:
    Mark A. Herpich
    Chief Financial Officer
    (785) 565-2000

    Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of Landmark. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of our management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this press release, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and Landmark undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events. A number of factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (i) the strength of the local, national and international economies, including the effects of changing inflationary pressures and supply chain constraints on such economies; (ii) changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning banking, securities, consumer protection, insurance, monetary, trade and tax matters, including changes in interpretation or prioritization; (iii) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of our assets; (iv) increased competition in the financial services sector and the inability to attract new customers, including from non-bank competitors such as credit unions and “fintech” companies; (v) timely development and acceptance of new products and services; (vi) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (vii) our risk management framework; (viii) interruptions in information technology and telecommunications systems and third-party services; (ix) changes and uncertainty in benchmark interest rates, including the timing of additional rate changes, if any, by the Federal Reserve; (x) the economic effects of severe weather, natural disasters, widespread disease or pandemics, or other external events; (xi) the loss of key executives or employees; (xii) changes in consumer spending; (xiii) integration of acquired businesses; (xiv) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation; (xv) changes in accounting policies and practices, such as the implementation of the current expected credit losses accounting standard; (xvi) the economic impact of past and any future terrorist attacks, acts of war, including the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the conflict in Ukraine, or threats thereof, and the response of the United States to any such threats and attacks; (xvii) the ability to manage credit risk, forecast loan losses and maintain an adequate allowance for loan losses; (xviii) fluctuations in the value of securities held in our securities portfolio; (xix) concentrations within our loan portfolio, large loans to certain borrowers, and large deposits from certain clients; (xx) the concentration of large deposits from certain clients who have balances above current FDIC insurance limits and may withdraw deposits to diversify their exposure; (xxi) the level of non-performing assets on our balance sheets; (xxii) the ability to raise additional capital; (xxiii) cyber-attacks; (xxiv) declines in real estate values; (xxv) the effects of fraud on the part of our employees, customers, vendors or counterparties; and (xxvi) any other risks described in the “Risk Factors” sections of reports filed by Landmark with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Additional information concerning Landmark and its business, including additional risk factors that could materially affect Landmark’s financial results, is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

        December 31,     September 30,     June 30,     March 31,     December 31,  
    (Dollars in thousands)   2024     2024     2024     2024     2023  
    Assets                                        
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 20,275     $ 21,211     $ 23,889     $ 16,468     $ 27,101  
    Interest-bearing deposits at other banks     4,110       4,363       4,881       4,920       4,918  
    Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value:                                        
    U.S. treasury securities     64,458       83,753       89,325       93,683       95,667  
    Municipal obligations, tax exempt     107,128       112,126       114,047       118,445       120,623  
    Municipal obligations, taxable     71,715       75,129       74,588       75,371       79,083  
    Agency mortgage-backed securities     129,211       140,004       142,499       149,777       157,396  
    Total investment securities available-for-sale     372,512       411,012       420,459       437,276       452,769  
    Investment securities held-to-maturity     3,672       3,643       3,613       3,584       3,555  
    Bank stocks, at cost     6,618       7,894       9,647       7,850       8,123  
    Loans:                                        
    One-to-four family residential real estate     352,209       344,380       332,090       312,833       302,544  
    Construction and land     25,328       23,454       30,480       24,823       21,090  
    Commercial real estate     345,159       324,016       318,850       323,397       320,962  
    Commercial     192,325       181,652       178,876       181,945       180,942  
    Agriculture     100,562       91,986       84,523       86,808       89,680  
    Municipal     7,091       7,098       6,556       5,690       4,507  
    Consumer     29,679       29,263       29,200       28,544       28,931  
    Total gross loans     1,052,353       1,001,849       980,575       964,040       948,656  
    Net deferred loan (fees) costs and loans in process     (307 )     (63 )     (583 )     (578 )     (429 )
    Allowance for credit losses     (12,825 )     (11,544 )     (10,903 )     (10,851 )     (10,608 )
    Loans, net     1,039,221       990,242       969,089       952,611       937,619  
    Loans held for sale, at fair value     3,420       3,250       2,513       2,697       853  
    Bank owned life insurance     39,056       39,176       38,826       38,578       38,333  
    Premises and equipment, net     20,220       20,976       20,986       20,696       19,709  
    Goodwill     32,377       32,377       32,377       32,377       32,377  
    Other intangible assets, net     2,578       2,729       2,900       3,071       3,241  
    Mortgage servicing rights     3,061       3,041       2,997       2,977       3,158  
    Real estate owned, net     167       428       428       428       928  
    Other assets     26,855       23,309       28,149       29,684       28,988  
    Total assets   $ 1,574,142     $ 1,563,651     $ 1,560,754     $ 1,553,217     $ 1,561,672  
                                             
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                                        
    Liabilities:                                        
    Deposits:                                        
    Non-interest-bearing demand     351,595       360,188       360,631       364,386       367,103  
    Money market and checking     636,963       565,629       546,385       583,315       613,613  
    Savings     145,514       145,825       150,996       154,000       152,381  
    Certificates of deposit     194,694       203,860       192,470       191,823       183,154  
    Total deposits     1,328,766       1,275,502       1,250,482       1,293,524       1,316,251  
    FHLB and other borrowings     53,046       92,050       131,330       74,716       64,662  
    Subordinated debentures     21,651       21,651       21,651       21,651       21,651  
    Repurchase agreements     13,808       9,528       8,745       15,895       12,714  
    Accrued interest and other liabilities     20,656       25,229       20,292       20,760       19,480  
    Total liabilities     1,437,927       1,423,960       1,432,500       1,426,546       1,434,758  
    Stockholders’ equity:                                        
    Common stock     58       55       55       55       55  
    Additional paid-in capital     95,051       89,532       89,469       89,364       89,208  
    Retained earnings     56,934       60,549       57,774       55,912       54,282  
    Treasury stock, at cost     –       (396 )     (330 )     (249 )     (75 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (15,828 )     (10,049 )     (18,714 )     (18,411 )     (16,556 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     136,215       139,691       128,254       126,671       126,914  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1,574,142     $ 1,563,651     $ 1,560,754     $ 1,553,217     $ 1,561,672  


    LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Consolidated Statements of Earnings (unaudited)

        Three months ended,     Year ended,  
        December 31,     September 30,     December 31,     December 31,     December 31,  
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)   2024     2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Interest income:                                        
    Loans   $ 15,955     $ 15,933     $ 14,223     $ 61,400     $ 51,753  
    Investment securities:                                        
    Taxable     2,210       2,301       2,453       9,298       9,594  
    Tax-exempt     738       747       761       3,008       3,094  
    Interest-bearing deposits at banks     49       41       49       193       242  
    Total interest income     18,952       19,022       17,486       73,899       64,683  
    Interest expense:                                        
    Deposits     5,350       5,830       4,879       22,310       15,254  
    FHLB and other borrowings     737       1,100       1,203       3,886       4,048  
    Subordinated debentures     389       416       422       1,635       1,590  
    Repurchase agreements     77       72       96       344       499  
    Total interest expense     6,553       7,418       6,600       28,175       21,391  
    Net interest income     12,399       11,604       10,886       45,724       43,292  
    Provision for credit losses     1,500       500       50       2,300       349  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses     10,899       11,104       10,836       43,424       42,943  
    Non-interest income:                                        
    Fees and service charges     2,710       2,880       2,763       10,742       10,220  
    Gains on sales of loans, net     522       704       255       2,386       2,269  
    Bank owned life insurance     976       254       242       1,723       913  
    Losses on sales of investment securities, net     (1,031 )     –       (1,246 )     (1,031 )     (1,246 )
    Other     194       415       240       924       1,074  
    Total non-interest income     3,371       4,253       2,254       14,744       13,230  
    Non-interest expense:                                        
    Compensation and benefits     6,264       5,803       5,756       23,103       22,681  
    Occupancy and equipment     1,550       1,429       1,429       5,663       5,565  
    Data processing     452       464       462       1,889       1,940  
    Amortization of mortgage servicing rights and other intangibles     240       256       437       1,164       1,844  
    Professional fees     1,043       573       730       2,912       2,452  
    Valuation allowance on real estate held for sale     –       –       –       1,108       –  
    Other     2,325       2,034       1,748       8,240       7,501  
    Total non-interest expense     11,874       10,559       10,562       44,079       41,983  
    Earnings before income taxes     2,396       4,798       2,528       14,089       14,190  
    Income tax expense (benefit)     (886 )     867       (111 )     1,086       1,954  
    Net earnings   $ 3,282     $ 3,931     $ 2,639     $ 13,003     $ 12,236  
                                             
    Net earnings per share (1)                                        
    Basic   $ 0.57     $ 0.68     $ 0.46     $ 2.26     $ 2.13  
    Diluted     0.57       0.68       0.46       2.26       2.13  
    Dividends per share (1)     0.20       0.20       0.19       0.80       0.76  
    Shares outstanding at end of period (1)     5,775,198       5,776,282       5,751,475       5,775,198       5,751,475  
    Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic (1)     5,775,227       5,765,348       5,755,175       5,758,056       5,751,585  
    Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted (1)     5,789,764       5,770,514       5,755,175       5,764,282       5,754,840  
                                             
    Tax equivalent net interest income   $ 12,574     $ 11,777     $ 11,017     $ 46,428     $ 44,040  
    (1 ) Share and per share values at or for the periods ended September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2024 have been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividend paid during December 2024.
         

    LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Select Ratios and Other Data (unaudited)

        As of or for the three months ended,     As of or for the year ended,  
        December 31,     September 30,     December 31,     December 31,     December 31,  
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)   2024     2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Performance ratios:                                        
    Return on average assets (1)     0.83 %     1.01 %     0.67 %     0.83 %     0.80 %
    Return on average equity (1)     9.54 %     11.95 %     9.39 %     10.01 %     10.70 %
    Net interest margin (1)(2)     3.51 %     3.30 %     3.11 %     3.28 %     3.17 %
    Effective tax rate     -37.0 %     18.1 %     -4.4 %     7.7 %     13.8 %
    Efficiency ratio (3)     70.0 %     66.5 %     71.9 %     69.1 %     71.2 %
    Non-interest income to total income (3)     25.9 %     25.5 %     24.3 %     25.3 %     25.1 %
                                             
    Average balances:                                        
    Investment securities   $ 409,648     $ 428,301     $ 463,763     $ 432,928     $ 486,268  
    Loans     1,010,153       985,659       934,333       974,293       891,487  
    Assets     1,568,821       1,562,482       1,555,742       1,558,236       1,535,694  
    Interest-bearing deposits     944,969       936,218       910,610       938,223       892,373  
    FHLB and other borrowings     57,507       77,958       84,408       70,226       74,210  
    Subordinated debentures     21,651       21,651       21,651       21,651       21,651  
    Repurchase agreements     12,212       10,774       13,785       12,216       18,361  
    Stockholders’ equity   $ 136,933     $ 132,271     $ 111,560     $ 129,944     $ 114,339  
                                             
    Average tax equivalent yield/cost (1):                                        
    Investment securities     3.03 %     2.99 %     2.86 %     3.00 %     2.76 %
    Loans     6.28 %     6.43 %     6.04 %     6.30 %     5.81 %
    Total interest-bearing assets     5.34 %     5.38 %     4.97 %     5.28 %     4.71 %
    Interest-bearing deposits     2.25 %     2.48 %     2.13 %     2.38 %     1.71 %
    FHLB and other borrowings     5.10 %     5.61 %     5.65 %     5.53 %     5.45 %
    Subordinated debentures     7.15 %     7.64 %     7.73 %     7.55 %     7.34 %
    Repurchase agreements     2.51 %     2.66 %     2.79 %     2.82 %     2.72 %
    Total interest-bearing liabilities     2.52 %     2.82 %     2.54 %     2.70 %     2.13 %
                                             
    Capital ratios:                                        
    Equity to total assets     8.65 %     8.93 %     8.13 %                
    Tangible equity to tangible assets (3)     6.58 %     6.84 %     5.98 %                
    Book value per share   $ 23.59     $ 24.18     $ 22.07                  
    Tangible book value per share (3)   $ 17.53     $ 18.11     $ 15.87                  
                                             
    Rollforward of allowance for credit losses (loans):                                        
    Beginning balance   $ 11,544     $ 10,903     $ 10,970     $ 10,608     $ 8,791  
    Adoption of CECL     –       –       –       –       1,523  
    Charge-offs     (246 )     (153 )     (442 )     (659 )     (850 )
    Recoveries     27       144       80       476       894  
    Provision for credit losses for loans     1,500       650       –       2,400       250  
    Ending balance   $ 12,825     $ 11,544     $ 10,608     $ 12,825     $ 10,608  
                                             
    Allowance for unfunded loan commitments   $ 150     $ 300     $ 200                  
                                             
    Non-performing assets:                                        
    Non-accrual loans   $ 13,115     $ 13,415     $ 2,391                  
    Accruing loans over 90 days past due     –       –       –                  
    Real estate owned     167       428       928                  
    Total non-performing assets   $ 13,282     $ 13,843     $ 3,319                  
                                             
    Loans 30-89 days delinquent   $ 6,201     $ 7,301     $ 1,582                  
                                             
    Other ratios:                                        
    Loans to deposits     78.21 %     77.64 %     71.23 %                
    Loans 30-89 days delinquent and still accruing to gross loans outstanding     0.59 %     0.73 %     0.17 %                
    Total non-performing loans to gross loans outstanding     1.25 %     1.34 %     0.25 %                
    Total non-performing assets to total assets     0.84 %     0.89 %     0.21 %                
    Allowance for credit losses to gross loans outstanding     1.22 %     1.15 %     1.12 %                
    Allowance for credit losses to total non-performing loans     97.79 %     86.05 %     443.66 %                
    Net loan charge-offs to average loans (1)     0.09 %     0.00 %     0.15 %     0.03 %     -0.01 %
    (1 ) Information is annualized.
    (2 ) Net interest margin is presented on a fully tax equivalent basis, using a 21% federal tax rate.
    (3 ) Non-GAAP financial measures. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this press release for a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP equivalent.
         

    LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Non-GAAP Finacials Measures (unaudited)

        As of or for the three months ended,     As of or for the year ended,  
        December 31,     September 30,     December 31,     December 31,     December 31,  
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)   2024     2024     2023     2024     2023  
                                   
    Non-GAAP financial ratio reconciliation:                                        
    Total non-interest expense   $ 11,874     $ 10,559     $ 10,562     $ 44,079     $ 41,983  
    Less: foreclosure and real estate owned expense     (13 )     (23 )     (40 )     (47 )     (61 )
    Less: amortization of other intangibles     (151 )     (171 )     (174 )     (663 )     (765 )
    Less: valuation allowance on real estate held for sale     –       –       –       (1,108 )     –  
    Adjusted non-interest expense (A)     11,710       10,365       10,348       42,261       41,157  
                                             
    Net interest income (B)     12,399       11,604       10,886       45,724       43,292  
                                             
    Non-interest income     3,371       4,253       2,254       14,744       13,230  
    Less: losses on sales of investment securities, net     1,031       –       1,246       1,031       1,246  
    Less: gains on sales of premises and equipment and foreclosed assets     (62 )     (273 )     –       (326 )     (1 )
    Adjusted non-interest income (C)   $ 4,340     $ 3,980     $ 3,500     $ 15,449     $ 14,475  
                                             
    Efficiency ratio (A/(B+C))     70.0 %     66.5 %     71.9 %     69.1 %     71.2 %
    Non-interest income to total income (C/(B+C))     25.9 %     25.5 %     24.3 %     25.3 %     25.1 %
                                             
    Total stockholders’ equity   $ 136,215     $ 139,691     $ 126,914                  
    Less: goodwill and other intangible assets     (34,955 )     (35,106 )     (35,618 )                
    Tangible equity (D)   $ 101,260     $ 104,585     $ 91,296                  
                                             
    Total assets   $ 1,574,142     $ 1,563,651     $ 1,561,672                  
    Less: goodwill and other intangible assets     (34,955 )     (35,106 )     (35,618 )                
    Tangible assets (E)   $ 1,539,187     $ 1,528,545     $ 1,526,054                  
                                             
    Tangible equity to tangible assets (D/E)     6.58 %     6.84 %     5.98 %                
                                             
    Shares outstanding at end of period (F)     5,775,198       5,776,282       5,751,475                  
                                             
    Tangible book value per share (D/F)   $ 17.53     $ 18.11     $ 15.87                  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Unemployment soars as Government fails Kiwis

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Kiwis hard, with unemployment reaching 5.1%—a four-year high.

    “This is what happens when the Government chooses to slash funding for frontline services, cut public sector jobs, and undermine economic stability,” Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

    “Christopher Luxon’s coalition of chaos continues to plunge New Zealand deeper into recession. Their cuts have devastated the job market, and now 33,000 more Kiwis are unemployed in just the past year.

    “They promised a better economy, but all we’ve seen is an economic downturn, rising unemployment, and the sharpest recession, excluding COVID-19, in 30 years—all of which happened under National’s watch.

    “If the Government was serious about economic growth, it would reverse its cuts and take immediate action to stabilise the job market. That means investing in public services, infrastructure, and climate initiatives that create jobs, not axing funding for schools, hospitals, and public housing.

    “Labour’s focus is on rebuilding an economy that works for all Kiwis. The Government has had more than a year to deliver results, and instead it has chosen to hand out $2.9 billion to landlords and $216 million to tobacco companies, while families are left struggling to pay the bills. It’s time for leadership that invests in jobs, skills, and the future, not cuts and excuses,” Barbara Edmonds said.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Waitangi Treaty Grounds address

    Source: ACT Party

    Government Powhiri Address
    David Seymour, Leader ACT New Zealand
    Wednesday 5th February, 2025

    E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e rau Rangatira

    Two years ago here, I set out my party’s three goals for the Treaty.

    Tuatahi, ki a maimoatia te reo me te ahurea Māori

    (one, to cherish the Māori language and culture).

    Tuarua, ki a whakatika ngā hapa o mua.

    (two, to put right the wrongs of the past)

    Tuatouru, ki a ōrite ai te āhei atu o ngā Tamariki katoa ki a puāwaitia.

    (three, to give every child an equal chance to flourish)

    Since then I’ve held to these goals and promises. Some who heard my words here and understood them have tried to pretend they didn’t.

    Instead they’ve poured poison in the ears of young people. They’ve said that I want to take away their mana, their reo, and their culture.

    Some of the poison goes so far it’s actually funny. Rawiri Waititi even wrote in the newspaper that I want to take away people’s outdoor hobbies.

    What is the point of these claims. It cannot be seeking the truth, because the things they say are not true.

    Perhaps blaming me is a convenient distraction from other failures.

    The numbers don’t lie.

    Māori home ownership. Māori school attendance. Māori crime victimization. Māori unemployment. Māori incomes. Māori life expectancy.

    None of it is good news, and none of it’s getting better because people think the Treaty is a partnership.

    If this is what a Treaty partnership looks like, how is it working out for Māori?

    What is good news is we now have a Government with practical solutions to these problems, and the ACT Party is proud to play its part.

    New resource management laws and building laws will make it easier for the next generation to build a place of their own in this country.

    Charter schools, and curriculums and assessments with rich content will provide young New Zealanders with useful maps for navigating the twenty first century.

    We’ve got the values right on crime. Now the Government stands beside the victims, who are disproportionately Māori.

    We know there’s no mana in dependency, it’s a trap, and traps Māori the most. That’s why the Government is bringing back mutual obligation in welfare.

    Getting off welfare means jobs in a growing economy. I’m proud to lead the charge against the red tape that crushes the wairua of our economy.

    The Government is funding more medicine than ever, by a lot. It’s setting ambitious targets to get health wait times down. The biggest health benefits will go to those with the biggest needs.

    That is the mahi. Kia ōrite ai te āhei atu o ngā tamariki katoa ki a puāwaitia.

    My critics need to explain why these problems can’t be solved under a treaty that granted equal rights.

    They need to explain why divisive identity politics is necessary to solve these problems, especially when it’s going out of fashion around the world.

    That’s my wero to you,

    Ngā mihi.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New robots lead the way in bomb disposal innovation

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Cutting-edge trial featured robotic canines defusing bombs. This new technology is set to reduce risk to personnel working on bomb disposals.

    Image of bomb disposal robot.

    Robot dogs that can defuse explosives are set to revolutionise bomb disposal operations and significantly reduce the risk to military personnel, whether operating in the UK or overseas.

    A new live trial led by Ministry of Defence scientists has seen advanced robotic systems, including robot dogs, successfully detecting, and defusing bomb threats. 

    The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) trials took place over four days and included:   

    • Remote classification and identification of threats using sensors on robots;  
    • Defusing of bombs from a robot dog;  
    • Drones with AI autonomous threat and people detection;   
    • And robots conducting tasks such as opening doors and climbing stairs.  

    The trial supports key components of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, safeguarding national security whilst rapidly advancing new technologies – showing defence as an engine for growth.  

    Dstl worked alongside British and international industry, L3Harris, Marlborough Communications Ltd and AeroVironment (Tomahawk Robotics) on the trials which showed that they could enhance Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) capability by:  

    • Reducing the need to put a bomb disposal operator in harm’s way by increasing the number of tasks that robots can perform remotely;  
    • Improving the effectiveness of robots, reducing the burden to the operator, allowing delicate and precision movements to be completed reliably; 
    • Using drones equipped with AI to identify threats and monitor safety cordons, increasing the pace of operations and reducing disruption to the public.  

    The trials involved a series of scenarios, where the robot was asked to perform various tasks including opening and closing doors autonomously, navigating stairs, inspecting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and consequently firing disruptors at the IEDs to render them safe. 

    These innovations will transform EOD operations by minimising the human exposure to danger, improving operational efficiency and maintaining public safety.  

    Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, said:

    This advanced technology demonstrates our commitment to protecting the military personnel who keep our nation safe, at home and abroad.   

    By working with industry and combining cutting-edge robotics with existing expertise, we’re ensuring our bomb disposal teams have the best possible tools to carry out their vital work safely and effectively.

    These advancements help the government deliver our Plan for Change and ensure defence is an engine for growth – protecting our national security while supporting rapidly evolving technologies.

    Bomb disposal operators praised the technology demonstrated in the trial and provided beneficial feedback to shape the next phase of Dstl investment in robotics for the bomb disposal community. Dstl will use this feedback to continue to develop and enhance technology that provides increased security for the nation.  

    Chief Science and Technology Officer, Dstl, Prof Andy Bell, said:  

    This is a great example of how Defence can achieve an advantage through the exploitation of technology, fusing together military and commercial systems to keep our people and country safe from deadly threats. 

    Working in partnership with industry and academia, Dstl is delivering mission success through science and technology advantage.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Birmingham scores transformative investment into new Sports Quarter

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    US company Knighthead have invested £100m to build new Sports Quarter in East Birmingham.

    • Following on from the Chancellors plans to go ‘further, faster on growth’ US company Knighthead has invested £100m in regeneration project in East Birmingham.
    • The Sports Quarter project will include a 60,000-seat stadium, sporting facilities and commercial and residential spaces, creating 8,400 new jobs and driving further investment.
    • Announcement is the latest in a series of job-boosting investments across the country showing the Plan for Change is working.

    US company Knighthead has invested £100 million into East Birmingham, showing how the Government’s Plan for Change is boosting jobs and opportunities in the West Midlands.

    The new site is estimated to create 8,400 new jobs annually in Birmingham while also supporting the wider city and West Midlands. The investment will pave the way for a new 60,000-seater stadium alongside a sports campus of training facilities, a new academy, and community pitches. Beyond sport, the campus plans also include leisure, commercial, and residential development.

    Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will visit the site and learn about how the new Sports Quarter and surrounding area is projected to provide £370 million in growth each year.  

    Securing investment is central to the government’s mission to deliver economic growth which will create jobs, improve living standards, and make communities and families across the country better off as part of our Plan for Change.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The West Midlands is a powerhouse for investment, and this project will not only play a vital role in bringing thousands of new jobs into the area but will put more money into the pockets of the local community here in East Birmingham.

    Seeing global investors put billions in the UK economy shows the Plan for Change is working, with more and more companies choosing Britain. This is another vote of confidence in our plans to deliver growth that supports skilled jobs and raises living standards across the country.

    This is the latest in a series of investment projects into the West Midlands, as the region continues to be a powerhouse for investment. The West Midlands attracted over 130 Foreign Direct Investment Projects in 2024, creating 7,581 jobs.

    Unleashing the full potential of the UK’s cities and regions is a core objective of the government’s Industrial Strategy. Facilitating investments like this is central to achieving this goal.

    Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy said:

    The Birmingham Sports Quarter is an exciting venture that highlights how sport can be an important driver for regeneration and growth.

    Across the divisions, our professional football clubs are vital community assets at the heart of towns and cities around the country, so it is fantastic to see investment directly benefiting residents of Birmingham and the wider region.

    Investment continues to flow into the UK sports sector on an unprecedented level. The UK is an appealing destination for investors aiming to capitalise on diverse revenue streams and long-term growth prospects.

    The commercial attractiveness of the UK sports sector is underpinned by both legacy and heritage and its position at the cutting edge of innovative subsectors such as sports-tech and women’s sports.

    The Business Secretary’s visit comes after Birmingham City Football Club’s Chairman Tom Wagner’s meeting with Minister for Investment Baroness Gustafsson OBE at One Goal, the government’s annual sports investment conference. The Department for Business and Trade continues to support transformational institutional investment into UK sport and local communities.

    Co-founder of Knighthead & Chairman of Birmingham City Football Club Tom Wagner said:

    Birmingham and the West Midlands have huge untapped potential for growth, and we intend to seize that opportunity. With the support of government, the Sports Quarter can be a catalyst for regeneration, transforming the prospects for people in of one of the poorest parts of the UK and crowding in interest and investment from around the globe.

    Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

    This investment is a huge vote of confidence in Birmingham and the West Midlands. It was made possible by strong partnerships with Knighthead and others committed to our region’s growth.

    We’ve worked to create the perfect conditions to attract investment, and this will bring thousands of jobs, new opportunities, and a major economic boost.

    Working with Tom Wagner and Knighthead, we’ll unlock our region’s full potential – delivering the Sports Quarter and lasting change for the region.

    The announcement comes after the Chancellor vowed to go further and faster to kickstart economic growth last week, as the government wants to help put more money in people’s pockets.

    The Budget in the Autumn fixed the foundations of the UK’s economy by putting in place measures to support economic and fiscal stability and long-term investment in national infrastructure.

    Securing investment is central to the government’s mission to deliver economic growth which will create jobs, improve living standards, and make communities and families across the country better off as part of our Plan for Change.

    The government’s new modern Industrial Strategy will deliver long-term, sustainable, inclusive growth right across the UK by driving investment into the economy and hardwire stability for investors, giving them the confidence to plan not just for the next year, but for the next 10 years and beyond.

    Notes to editors

    • Today’s announcement comes off the back of Knighthead announcing its £3 billion regeneration project last March and also follows the company’s acquisition of Birmingham City Football Club in 2023.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wisconsin Man Indicted for Selling and Smuggling Firearms to Buyers in Saudi Arabia

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A six-count indictment was unsealed today charging Mark John Buschman, 60, of Viroqua, Wisconsin, for allegedly selling firearms and related parts without a license to buyers in Saudi Arabia, shipping the prohibited items, and then lying to federal inspectors about it.

    According to the indictment, Buschman allegedly conducted an illegal export conspiracy for more than five years, lasting from about February 2019 to about December 2024. Buschman obtained firearms and firearms parts in the U.S. and advertised the items for sale on eBay and other online marketplace-style websites. When buyers in Saudi Arabia expressed interest in the items for sale, he agreed to sell and ship the items out of the country to them. Throughout the course of the conspiracy, Saudi Arabian-based buyers paid the defendant approximately $398,000.

    Court documents indicate that serial numbers from some of the firearms and firearms parts were removed before he shipped the items. The defendant then prepared the items further before shipping them by concealing the firearms and firearm parts inside of common household appliances and tools such as toasters, coffee makers, space heaters, fans, and landscaping edge trimmers. For example, the defendant concealed rifle barrels in items such as car axles, and smaller pistols inside of toasters. Using a fake return address, the defendant shipped the items through the U.S. Postal Service to freight forwarders, which are companies that specialize in the logistics of shipping items from one country to another. The defendant allegedly shipped the items to freight forwarding companies that operated out of Ohio, New Jersey, Oregon, and elsewhere without declaring that the shipments contained firearms and firearms parts.

    Buschman is charged by indictment with conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States; attempted smuggling of goods from the United States; transporting and shipping firearms with removed, obliterated, or altered serial numbers; mailing firearms as nonmailable prohibited items; unlawful dealing in firearms without a license; and making false statements to law enforcement. If convicted on all counts, Buschman faces a maximum penalty of 42 years in prison and fines of up to $1.5 million. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The Homeland Security Investigations Cleveland Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Cleveland Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives are investigating the case with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Shepherd and Jerome J.  Teresinski for the Northern District of Ohio, Trial Attorney Christopher Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan for the Western District of Wisconsin prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Owner of District Real Estate Company Sentenced for Defrauding Paycheck Protection Program

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Patrick Strauss, 54, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 48 months of probation – including six months of home confinement to be followed by a period of intermittent incarceration, that is, 26 weekends in jail – and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $304,900 and fined $8,784, all for participating in a conspiracy that fraudulently obtained more than $304,000 in Paycheck Protection Program loans.

               The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, D.C. Inspector General Daniel Lucas, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C., Field Office. 

               Strauss pleaded guilty on September 12, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. According to court documents, Strauss was owner of Powergrid Real Estate LLC. In 2020, he was approached by someone who asked him if he wanted to file an application for a PPP loan. Strauss was aware that Powergrid did not qualify for a PPP loan because it had no employees and no payroll.

               A co-conspirator prepared the PPP loan application for Powergrid, that falsely claimed that the company had 16 employees and an average monthly payroll of $132,547.17. The co-conspirator also prepared phony federal tax forms and payroll records to support the fraudulent PPP loan applications.

              In July 2020, Strauss submitted the PPP loan application to Capital Bank. On July 29, 2020, Capital Bank wired $304,900 into Powergrid’s bank account. In July 2021, a co-conspirator prepared false and fraudulent federal tax returns. Strauss submitted the faked papers to Capital Bank in support of loan forgiveness for Powergrid. 

               The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP.  In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding. 

               The PPP allowed qualifying small-businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. PPP loan proceeds were required be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allowed the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spent the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated time after receiving the proceeds and used at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses. 

               The case was investigated jointly by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C., Field Office. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin commended the work of those who investigated the case.

               This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Crabb, Jr. 

               Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    24cr374

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oglala Man Found Guilty in Federal Trial of Involuntary Manslaughter

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Clayton Fire Thunder, age 40, of Oglala, South Dakota, of Involuntary Manslaughter and two counts of False Statement following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on January 30, 2025.

    The charges carry a maximum penalty of eight years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Fire Thunder was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024.

    The conviction relates to the following facts presented at trial. At approximately 4:00 A.M. on September 15, 2022, Fire Thunder caught a ride to a man’s residence just a few miles east of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Fire Thunder was intoxicated. The individual Fire Thunder was seeking to contact was a methamphetamine dealer. Fire Thunder had acquired a firearm and intended to exchange the firearm with the methamphetamine dealer. As Fire Thunder approached the front door of the residence, he heard noises coming from inside the residence. At some point while on the exterior of the residence, Fire Thunder mishandled the firearm, causing a bullet to discharge into the house. Fire Thunder heard a female screaming, and he left the residence. A later investigation revealed that the bullet had traveled through the siding of the residence and into the adjacent bedroom where the methamphetamine dealer and a female were present. The female was struck by the bullet on her left side slightly below her arm. She later succumbed to her injuries. During two separate interviews with FBI agents in October 2023 and May 2024, Fire Thunder made false statements about the firearm and his involvement in the killing.

    This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.

    A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has been set for April 25, 2025. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marty Man Convicted at a Federal Jury Trial of Kidnapping and Assault Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Ellery Zephier, Sr., age 39, of Marty, South Dakota, of Kidnapping and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The jury acquitted Zephier on two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The verdict was returned on January 23, 2025.

    The assault charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    The kidnapping charge carries a maximum penalty of any term of years, up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Zephier was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024.

    Between July 20-25, 2024, Zephier kidnapped and held a woman against her will in his home in Marty. During that same time frame, Zephier assaulted the woman resulting in her sustaining serious bodily injury.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and Yankton Sioux Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige Petersen and Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.

    A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for April 28, 2025. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: QMC Metering Solutions Reaffirms Independence and Commitment to Customer Partnerships

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QMC Metering Solutions, a privately owned leader in metering systems, wishes to clarify recent questions in the marketplace regarding our ownership and affiliations. We want to assure our valued customers and partners that QMC remains an independent company, fully focused on delivering the high-quality metering products and services you have come to trust.

    As a privately owned company, QMC operates independently, enabling us to focus entirely on our customers’ needs and drive innovation without external influence. Although we highly value strong industry partnerships, QMC is not owned by any billing companies, does not provide billing services, and has no plans to do so. The organization is managed by a dedicated group of individual Board members and shareholders.

    “Our independence is an integral part of who we are as a company,” said Stew Hutton, President of QMC Metering Solutions USA. “It enables us to remain agile, customer-focused, and innovative in how we serve our clients. We’re grateful for the trust our partners place in us and are committed to continuing to earn that trust every day.”

    For over 30 years, QMC has been dedicated to supporting billing companies, utilities, property managers, and contractors across North America with reliable and innovative metering solutions. From water and energy metering to advanced data collection systems, QMC is proud to deliver best-in-class technology designed to empower businesses and improve utility management.

    As we move forward, QMC remains committed to the partnerships we’ve built and to helping our customers succeed. We are proud of our independence, as it allows us to focus solely on providing the very best solutions to our clients.

    For more information about QMC Metering Solutions and our suite of innovative products and services, please visit qmeters.com.

    About QMC Metering Solutions
    QMC Metering Solutions is a trusted provider of high-accuracy metering systems designed to support utility management and efficiency. Privately owned and operated, QMC offers a range of products and services to customers across North America. With a focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, QMC empowers businesses to optimize utility usage and operations.

    About Truety

    QMC provides quality metering hardware for multi-family developers and manufactured housing. With over 30 years’ of experience in the metering industry, QMC is proud to present our newest solution, Truety. Truety combines accurate metering data with utility-grade submeters, eliminating the guesswork in tenant billing. No missing data, no estimates, no disputes. Deploy and bill faster and more efficiently with Truety.

    Contact Information:
    Stew Hutton
    President, QMC Metering Solutions USA, QMC Metering Solutions
    stew@qmeters.com
    (415) 770-2246
    qmeters.com

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cad3dab3-3314-4f28-b3c8-9836fb97a154

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Rare, almost mythical Australian tree kangaroos can finally be studied, thanks to new tech

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emmeline Norris, PhD Candidate, Conservation Biology, James Cook University

    Tree kangaroos are easily spotted with thermal drones. Emmeline Norris

    Bennett’s tree kangaroos, one of Australia’s most mysterious marsupials, have long eluded researchers. Our new study, published in Australian Mammalogy today, has achieved a breakthrough: using thermal drones to detect these rare animals with unprecedented efficiency.

    Tree kangaroos are found only in the tropical rainforests of Australia and New Guinea. Unlike their ground-dwelling relatives, they spend their lives in treetops, feeding on leaves and vines. Their dependence on rainforest trees makes them vulnerable to deforestation and climate change.

    Alarmingly, 12 of the 14 species of tree kangaroos are listed as threatened. Yet we know little about their numbers or habits due to difficulties studying them in dense rainforest.

    Our new findings mark a significant step forward, offering hope for improved conservation of these elusive, near-mythical creatures. Thermal drones, which detect animals by their body heat, may help to unravel the mysteries of tree kangaroos and guide efforts to protect them.

    Rugged, dense rainforests

    Bennett’s tree kangaroos inhabit Australia’s most rugged and densely vegetated rainforests north of the Daintree River in Far North Queensland. They rarely descend from their vine-covered treetop roosts, which can be up to 40 metres high.

    Traditional survey methods like spotlighting (that is, methodically using flashlights) or handheld thermal cameras (using infrared sensors to detect warm bodies) often fail to detect tree kangaroos, as these tools are limited to what can be seen from the ground.

    As a result, there have been no systematic surveys of Bennett’s tree kangaroos. Population estimates rely on outdated observations and anecdotal evidence, leaving their conservation status unclear.

    We need robust population estimates to detect shifting population trends and prevent population declines. This requires new monitoring methods to help us find these elusive animals.

    Hotspots in the treetops

    Thermal drones are just what they sound like – drones equipped with infrared cameras that detect heat signatures from the air.

    Warm-blooded animals like tree kangaroos stand out against the cooler rainforest background, even when partially hidden by foliage. This technology offers a powerful advantage over traditional methods, allowing researchers to scan large areas from above and see past vegetation.

    In our study, we conducted three drone flights at the Daintree Rainforest Observatory, Cape Tribulation, during the morning and evening.

    To our surprise, we detected six Bennett’s tree kangaroos in under an hour of flight time – an unprecedented result. These included a solitary animal, a pair, and a group of three, all consistent with known home range sizes for the species.

    By comparison, traditional ground surveys often require several nights of survey effort to spot a single animal. The drones not only made detection easier but also allowed us to closely observe the animals’ behaviour, such as feeding on specific plant species, without disturbing them.

    Side-by-side comparison of the same image in colour and in thermal view, with three tree kangaroos clearly visible (circled in yellow) in the thermal image.
    Emmeline Norris

    Shedding light on a hidden species

    Our findings suggest Bennett’s tree kangaroos are thriving in Cape Tribulation’s lowland rainforest.

    While this is encouraging, further systematic surveys are needed to assess how population density varies with forest type, elevation and other factors.

    Another intriguing discovery was the tree kangaroos’ diet. Using the drone’s colour zoom camera, we identified the vines and leaves they were eating. Mile-a-minute vine (Decalobanthus peltatus) and fire vine (Tetracera daemeliana) were popular choices on the menu.

    These observations deepen our understanding of the species’ habitat needs and could inform future conservation efforts.

    Conservation research methods must prioritise minimising stress on wildlife. The tree kangaroos showed no signs of disturbance, continuing to forage after briefly pausing to look at the drone.

    This non-invasive approach is a promising alternative to traditional methods, like radio tracking (where a tag is attached to the animal), which can disrupt natural behaviours.

    A Bennett’s tree kangaroo peeks at the thermal drone through the vines.
    Emmeline Norris

    Craning for a better view

    Despite showing promise, drone-based wildlife monitoring has its challenges. Regulations require drone operators to maintain visual line of sight with their drone. This can be difficult in a rainforest due to the height and density of the canopy.

    To overcome this, we remotely operated our drone from a 47-metre-high canopy crane designed for research. This extra height allowed us to maintain a clear view while surveying a larger area.

    The 47-metre high canopy crane at the Daintree Rainforest Observatory, Cape Tribulation.
    Emmeline Norris

    However, canopy cranes are rare – there’s only one in tropical Australia. Expanding this approach will require alternative strategies, such as using mountaintops or canopy walkways as vantage points.

    Our study is just the beginning. The next step is designing methods to estimate population densities more accurately – not only for Bennett’s tree kangaroos but also other tree kangaroo species in the remote mountains of New Guinea. By identifying individual tree kangaroos based on their unique fur markings, we aim to also study their social structure and sex ratios.

    Thermal drones have the potential to revolutionise conservation efforts for hard-to-study wildlife. They offer a powerful tool to monitor populations and guide management decisions.

    For the rare and remarkable Bennett’s tree kangaroo, this technology could make the difference between obscurity and security.

    The study authors flying drones from the upper platform of the canopy crane.
    Emmeline Norris

    Emmeline Norris 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. Rare, almost mythical Australian tree kangaroos can finally be studied, thanks to new tech – https://theconversation.com/rare-almost-mythical-australian-tree-kangaroos-can-finally-be-studied-thanks-to-new-tech-246334

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Lee Introduces Resolution Affirming USA Creation and Protection of the Panama Canal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced a resolution recognizing the great American achievement of creating the Panama Canal, the vital importance of the Canal in trade, national security, and geopolitics, and the necessity to ensure the neutrality of the Canal from interference by global adversaries like China. The resolution is co-sponsored by Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

    RESOLUTION

    Expressing the vital importance of the Panama Canal to the United States.

    Whereas early efforts of the Colombian government and French investors to construct a canal across Panama were unsuccessful and resulted in bankruptcy by 1889;

    Whereas, as a condition of United States Government support for Panama’s independence from Colombia, including the positioning of United States troops in the then-territory of Panama, the United States was to be assured access to construct and control a canal in perpetuity, an agreement that culminated in the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, signed at Washington November 18, 1903;

    Whereas the Panama Canal was never initiated, engineered, or built by the Panamanian government;

    Whereas the United States Government funded, pioneered, and built the Panama Canal over a 10-year period from 1904 to 1914, at a cost of $375,000,000 and 10,000 lives, and raised the canal above sea level through construction of a lock system;

    Whereas, historically, the Panama Canal has been distinct from the sovereign territory of Panama;

    Whereas the Panama Canal serves as a vital connection between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, connecting the east and west coasts of the United States and providing passage for more than 14,000 vessels in 2023;

    Whereas approximately 72 percent of vessels traveling through the Panama Canal are traveling to or from United States ports;

    Whereas, without the Panama Canal, vessels would have to pass through the notoriously dangerous Cape Horn, extending transit by nearly 8,000 miles;

    Whereas, in 1977, President Carter surrendered United States control over the Panama Canal in a series of trea- ties with Panama known as the ‘‘Torrijos-Carter Trea- ties’’;

    Whereas one of those treaties, the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, signed at Washington September 7, 1977, otherwise known as the ‘‘Neutrality Treaty’’, reserved the right of the United States to use armed force to defend the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal;

    Whereas, for nearly a decade, the People’s Republic of China has steadily increased its footprint in the Panama Canal;

    Whereas, in 2016, Panama ceded control of Margarita Island, the Panama Canal’s largest Atlantic port, to the People’s Republic of China-affiliated Landbridge Group in a $900,000,000 agreement;

    Whereas, in 2018, Panama entered into a $1,400,000,000 agreement for the China Communications Construction Company and the China Harbor Engineering Company to construct the fourth bridge across the Panama Canal;

    Whereas CK Hutchison Holdings, based in Hong Kong, manages two of the Panama Canal’s five ports, including the Balboa port along the Pacific and Cristobal port along the Atlantic;

    Whereas the rapid acceleration of Chinese influence in the Panama Canal poses a high risk of intelligence-gathering and surveillance by the People’s Republic of China;

    Whereas Chinese law requires the assets of civilian firms to be made available to support the armed forces of the People’s Republic of China;

    Whereas the Panama Canal would serve as a logistics point between the east and west coasts of the United States in the event of a conflict involving United States Armed Forces, cementing its value to homeland and hemispheric defense;

    Whereas the ability of the People’s Republic of China to control major entry and exit points of the Panama Canal would provide the People’s Republic of China with a significant military advantage relevant to United States Armed Forces in the event of a conflict:

    Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate—

    (1) recognizes the ingenuity and labor of Americans that made the Panama Canal possible for future generations, with special regard for those Americans who lost their lives in pursuit of the Panama Canal project;

    (2) expresses that the Panama Canal is vital to United States regional security, hemispheric hegemony, and economic interests;

    (3) assesses that a pattern of Chinese-backed investment in port infrastructure and canal operations in Panama constitutes a violation of the Neutrality Treaty; and

    (4) urges the Trump administration to ensure that the canal remains neutral and to take all appropriate measures to enforce the Neutrality Treaty.

    The text of the resolution may be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch on Elon Musk’s USAID Takeover: “Constitutionally, no President and no unelected billionaire can unlawfully shut a Congressionally authorized agency down.” 

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) tonight took to the Senate floor to speak on President Trump and Elon Musk’s unconstitutional actions to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and call on Congress to protect the agency, which has played an indispensable role in protecting the interests, security, and reputation of the United States around the globe. 
    Watch Senator Welch’s speech below: 

    Read Senator Welch’s remarks as delivered here. 
    Senator Welch’s Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress include:  

    Senate Committee on Finance  

    Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry 

    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit  

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary 

    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on the Constitution  

    Senate Committee on Rules & Administration  

    Senator Peter Welch has spent the bulk of his life working to improve the lives of folks who too often get left behind. After fighting housing discrimination in Chicago, he enrolled in law school at the UC-Berkeley, and later settled in White River Junction, Vermont, where he worked as a public defender before founding a small law practice. He was first elected to represent Windsor County in the Vermont Senate in 1980. Peter was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where he served for 16 years before being elected to the Senate in 2022. In the Senate, he’s focused on lowering costs for Vermonters, making Washington work better for Vermont, and protecting civil rights and democracy in America and abroad.
    Learn more about his work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

    MIL OSI USA News –