Category: housing

MIL-OSI USA: ERO Houston repatriates accused child rapist to Mexico who has illegally entered US 4 times

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

HOUSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston, with assistance from ERO Mexico and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement Task Force, repatriated Nestor Flores Encarnacion, a 58-year-old undocumented alien, to his home country of Mexico Jan. 23. Flores has illegally entered the U.S. four times and is wanted in Veracruz, Mexico, for rape of a child.

ICE deportation officers transported Flores from the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, to the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo, Texas, and he was transferred into the custody of Mexican authorities.

“This foreign fugitive brazenly entered the U.S. in violation of our nation’s laws on four separate occasions to evade prosecution in Mexico for allegedly raping a child,” said ERO Houston Field Office Director Bret A. Bradford. “Dangerous foreign fugitives and criminal aliens who are accused of, or have committed, heinous crimes like sexually assaulting a child will find no safe haven in Southeast Texas. Our immigration officers work tirelessly to successfully locate and apprehend undocumented aliens in the Houston area who threaten public safety, national security, and border security, and will not rest until they’re repatriated to their country of origin and no longer a threat to the community.”

Flores illegally entered the U.S. Feb. 16, 2002, near Roma, Texas. The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended Flores and voluntarily returned him to Mexico Feb. 17, 2002. Flores illegally re-entered the U.S. on Feb. 20, 2002, and Feb. 22, 2002. On both occasions, he was arrested by Border Patrol officers and voluntarily returned to Mexico the same day.

Flores illegally entered the U.S. for a fourth time on an unknown date and at an unknown location. ERO Houston deportation officers successfully apprehended Flores Aug. 23, 2024, at a residence in Houston after receiving an alert indicating that he was potentially illegally residing in the Houston area and wanted in Mexico for rape of a child. Flores was placed into immigration proceedings and granted a voluntary departure under safeguards by an immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review Dec. 19, 2024.

The Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement Program is a fugitive enforcement and information sharing partnership that was created in 2012 to better use subject information derived from local in-country investigative resources and leads to locate, apprehend, detain, and remove individuals residing in the U.S. illegally who were subject to foreign arrest warrants. The SAFE Program operates under the respective host nation’s Assistant Attaché for Removal, which constructs a SAFE task force composed of relevant foreign law enforcement agencies, immigration authorities, attorneys general, and national identification repositories – as well as other regional, national, state, and local government agencies. The managing assistant attaché ensures that each task force member complies with SAFE policies and standards consistent with the program’s standard operating procedures. Once established, the assistant attaché led SAFE task force generates new leads and vets existing SAFE fugitive referrals for ERO action.

ERO is one of ICE’s three operational directorates and is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.

For more news and information on how ERO Houston carries out its immigration enforcement mission in Southeast Texas follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EROHouston.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: World Food Programme (WFP) to purchase and transport approximately 48,000 metric tons of maize on behalf of the Government with World Bank funding

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Malawi have signed an agreement to import 48,000 metric tons of maize, valued at US$ 35 million and funded by the World Bank Group, to help food-insecure communities affected by the El Niño-induced drought.

WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa met today with the Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs to discuss the details of the agreement and reaffirm their shared commitment to addressing Malawi’s urgent food needs.

“This is a significant step in complementing Malawi Government’s efforts in provision of relief assistance to food-insecure households across the country,” said Charles Kalemba, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs in Malawi. “The gesture reflects the strong commitment of the Government and its partners in alleviating hunger and improve food security as per the call made by the State President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera when he declared state of disaster early last year.”

“WFP is focused on making sure critical resources reach the people who need them most,” said Eric Perdison, WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa. “This collaboration shows the strength of partnerships in tackling the challenges caused by climate-related crises.”

“The Word Bank mobilized US$ 50 million earlier this year to help Malawi address the impact of the recent El Niño-induced drought in the country”, said Firas Raad, World Bank Country Manager for Malawi. “We hope this financing will provide greater food security to vulnerable households, and we are proud of our close collaboration with WFP.”

This funding comes from the Crisis Emergency Response Component (CERC), of the Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa – Phase 3, a World Bank Group programme that helps countries quickly access resources during emergencies. Under this agreement, WFP will procure and transport approximately 48,000 metric tons of maize from Tanzania to Malawi to fill some of the food deficit caused by the El Niño drought. The Government of Malawi will distribute the food to approximately 954,000 households, in a national effort to alleviate hunger and help towards ensuring communities have access to food until the next harvest between April and July.

Malawi is currently facing acute food insecurity challenges, with 5.7 million people rendered food insecure following the El Niño-induced drought which negatively affected 44 percent of crops. WFP is collaborating closely with the Government of Malawi to address this emergency. Beyond this agreement, WFP is assisting over two million people with food assistance, including malnutrition treatment and school meals. WFP also provides logistics support to help the Government transport maize to distribution points across Malawi.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

MIL OSI Africa –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Amid LA fires, neighbors helped each other survive – 60 years of research shows local heroes are crucial to disaster response

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Tricia Wachtendorf, Professor of Sociology and Director, Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware

Neighbors fill and pass a bucket of pool water to help extinguish a spot fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Jan. 9, 2025. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Image

As wildfires swept through neighborhoods on the outskirts of Los Angeles in January 2025, stories about residents there helping their neighbors and total strangers began trickling out on social media.

Accounts of Hollywood stars clearing streets for emergency vehicles to get through and raising money for fire victims were widely circulated. But there were many other examples of less-famous people helping older neighbors to safety, and even showing up with trailers to evacuate horses.

Businesses, including fitness centers, opened their facilities so evacuees could shower or charge their phones. Organizations that routinely work with homeless populations quickly mobilized their members to help ensure people living on the streets and in camps could get to secure, safe locations away from the fires and hazardous air quality.

Disasters, by definition, overwhelm local resources, making civilian responders like these essential. Sixty years of research at the University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center and by others examining the social aspects of disaster has repeatedly shown effective disaster management requires mobilizing community resources far beyond official channels.

Often the response happens through local groups that form in response to a clear need in the community and with shared skills and interests. And this is exactly what we are witnessing in Los Angeles.

Civilians helping often number in the thousands

The number of those who step up to help during disasters varies by event, but it can be tremendous.

Following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, over 6,800 volunteers worked with the Red Cross on the response. That same year, volunteers responding to the Kobe earthquake in Japan logged more than 1 million person-days of activity, a measure of the number of people times the hours they contributed.

People use garden hoses to try to prevent homes from catching fire in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025. Neighbors rushed to help neighbors as the wind blew burning embers into neighborhoods.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

In an in-depth study of the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks, we interviewed local residents who used their retired fireboat to pump water for the firefighters at ground zero. Operators of tug, ferry and tour boats in and around New York City immediately responded to quickly evacuate 500,000 people in the area from danger. In fact, the majority of the boats involved belonged to private companies. Other volunteers queued evacuees and organized supplies and rides to get people home.

Over 900 people, most acting in unofficial capacities, were awarded medals or ribbons for their efforts in just the marine response after the World Trade Center attack.

A survey of residents after the 1985 Mexico City earthquake found that nearly 10% of local residents volunteered in the first three weeks of the response. Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, in California, a survey of residents in Santa Cruz and San Francisco counties found that two-thirds of the public were involved in response activities.

Local businesses are often quick to help in disasters. Greg Dulan, center, who runs a soul food restaurant and food truck, hands out hot meals to wildfire evacuees at a church in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 15, 2025.
Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

However, much of the work local residents contribute during and after disasters goes unaccounted for in official reports.

There is no mechanism to quantify the full extent to which a neighbor or a complete stranger helps someone flee from peril. Yet when people are trapped and minutes count, research shows it is family, friends and neighbors who are already on the scene and are most likely to save lives. It’s often everyday citizens who also take on immediate tasks such as debris removal. Providing a phone, a car, a place to do laundry, or a little bit of elbow grease can fill a gap and let firefighters and other formal responders focus on critical operations.

Getting the right help to where it’s needed

Every study of a large-scale disaster conducted by the Disaster Research Center has revealed some level of emergent, informal helping behavior.

The lack of public understanding about the large number of local residents already involved, often including disaster victims themselves, can lead to an influx of outsiders eager to help. Their arrival can actually pose challenges for the disaster response.

When too many people show up, or when people try to operate outside their areas of expertise, they can put themselves and others at further risk. Communities often need supplies, but unsolicited goods of the wrong kind or at the wrong time can create more problems than they solve.

Local groups such as the Pasadena Community Job Center organize volunteers to send them where help is requested. This group is removing debris from streets in Pasadena, Calif., in the wake of the Eaton Fire on Jan. 14, 2025.
Zoë Meyers/AFP via Getty Images

So, what can you do to best support these local efforts?

Making a financial contribution to a trusted disaster response or local organization can go a long way to providing the support communities actually need. Organizations such as the American Red Cross or Feeding America, or local community-based groups that routinely work in the area, are often best suited to help where it’s needed the most.

Skilled help will be needed for the long term

Also, remember that disasters don’t end when the emergency is over. Survivors of the Los Angeles-area fires face years of confusing and frustrating recovery tasks ahead.

Offering help after the immediate threat has passed – particularly skilled help, such as experience in construction or expertise in managing insurance and FEMA paperwork – is just as important.

For example, after fires in 1970 destroyed hundreds of homes in the San Diego area, local architects, engineers and contractors donated their time and skills to help people rebuild. Their work was coordinated by a local architect and member of the Chamber of Commerce to ensure projects were assigned to reputable volunteers.

As we recognize the important ways that neighbors and strangers helped those around them, the broader community can support wildfire victims by responding to offering the right help as recovery needs emerge. Just about every skill that is useful in calm times will be needed in these difficult months and years ahead.

Tricia Wachtendorf receives funding from the National Science Foundation and Arnold Ventures Foundation.

James Kendra receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

– ref. Amid LA fires, neighbors helped each other survive – 60 years of research shows local heroes are crucial to disaster response – https://theconversation.com/amid-la-fires-neighbors-helped-each-other-survive-60-years-of-research-shows-local-heroes-are-crucial-to-disaster-response-247660

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Political assassinations, police violence and lack of press freedom: 3 barriers to peace in Mozambique
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Corinna Jentzsch, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Leiden University

Mozambique’s parliament and its new president, Daniel Chapo, were sworn in in mid-January 2025 after a tumultuous post-election period of protests, barricades and police violence.

The 9 October 2024 elections prompted countless reports of fraud, leading the European Union election observer mission to note

irregularities during counting of votes and unjustified alteration of election results.

Based on this, and other accounts of fraud, the opposition candidate Venâncio Mondlane claimed to have won the elections and coordinated several weeks of protests across the country.

These were met with a harsh police response. Over 4,200 people were reportedly arrested, 730 shot and 300 killed with live ammunition between 21 October 2024 and 16 January 2025.

After spending several weeks abroad, Mondlane returned to Mozambique on 9 January to join ongoing political talks between the government and opposition parties.

Read more: Mozambique’s deadly protests: how the country got here

How can Mozambique move forward?

To get out of its political crisis will not be easy. It will require the party in power, Frelimo, to fundamentally change how it deals with disagreement and discontent. Buying off political opposition elites, as has been done in the past, will not calm this political storm.

Based on my research into political violence, I suggest that the cycles of violence in the country can only be broken if the new president addresses three issues related to state repression. He needs to do this in dialogue with opposition forces to earn trust and public support for the new government.

The three issues are:
- putting an end to violence perpetrated by the police and army
- ending political assassinations and ensuring accountability for the ones that have taken place
- protecting media freedom and ending violence against journalists.
No more blind eye to police (and army) violence

Human rights experts urged the government in November 2024 to end the post-election violence and allow thorough investigations. Experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council expressed concerns about

violations of the right to life, including of a child, deliberate killings of unarmed protesters and the excessive use of force by the police deployed to disperse peaceful protests.

Such extensive repression has been a common response by the Mozambican security forces over the past years, with severe consequences for the evolution of conflict. For example, state repression has been a major contributor to armed conflict in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, where an Islamist insurgency has been raging since 2017. Victims of violence by security forces are an important source of recruits for the insurgency.

Accountability for political assassinations

Mozambique has suffered from targeted killings of political opposition figures. The most recent, high-profile political assassinations took place after the elections in October. Elvino Dias, Mondlane’s lawyer, and Paulo Guambe, an official of Podemos, the political party that supported Mondlane’s run for president, were shot dead in Maputo by unknown gunmen.

Dias was preparing a court case challenging the election results.

Mozambique has a long history of such political assassinations. These have rarely been investigated and no one has been held accountable. The government and police regularly deny any involvement, and people have come to speak of “death squads” seeking to intimidate the political opposition and civil society.

Freedom of the press and civil society

The ability of the press in Mozambique to hold people accountable for their actions has been severely constrained. Its ability to report and investigate those involved in state-sanctioned violence has been a challenge for a long time.

In its annual report for 2023 the Media Institute of Southern Africa documented the extent to which journalists had been intimidated and attacked. It reported that such incidents increased during election periods.

This was indeed the case in the 2024 pre-election period. Journalists faced arrests when, for example, reporting on police trying to disrupt opposition parties’ events.

Mozambique enjoys a diverse media landscape, including multiple private and local media outlets. Nevertheless, press freedom has been curtailed. An example has been the treatment of journalists investigating the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado. Soon after the conflict began in October 2017, the government barred journalists from visiting the province, and many of those reporting nevertheless were detained and held for extended periods or arrested for unsubstantiated charges.

Read more: Mozambique’s long struggle to build a nation – four novels that tell the story

The case of Amade Abubacar made headlines in 2019 when he was detained and held for 13 days in military barracks without access to a lawyer. He was then charged with “violation of state secrets” and “public instigation to crime”.

What Abubacar did was report on the insurgency. Since then, the situation has got worse for the media. Last year, the Cabo Delgado governor Valige Tauabo accused unnamed journalists of colluding with the insurgents.

As I was writing this, news reached me that Arlindo Chissale, a journalist and political activist from Nacala, had been arrested, tortured and killed by the “death squads” mentioned earlier on 7 January 2025. Arlindo worked with me on researching the conflict in Cabo Delgado.

Freedom of the press is important to hold the new government accountable for the promises it has made to the Mozambican people.

The way forward

Chapo delivered a well-crafted inauguration address on 15 January. It was well crafted because, as some analysts commented, he incorporated many of the policies being advocated by Mondlane.

Read more: Venâncio Mondlane is Mozambique’s political challenger: what he stands for

He said in his speech that he had heard what the protesters were telling him during the demonstrations. And he promised to promote unity, human rights and political dialogue to (re-)create social and political stability.

Chapo is also aware of the waves being made by Mondlane, who has recognised the political power of mobilising people around the issue of police violence. On his return to Mozambique, Mondlane presented the government with a list of demands to be implemented in the first 100 days of the new government. The first was that steps needed to be taken to stop the violence against the population.

Since his return he has also met victims of violence at the hands of the police and army.

The challenge is that Chapo’s party, Frelimo, which has been in power since independence in 1975, is strong and can severely curtail the president’s ability to introduce relevant reforms.

Read more: Mozambique’s cycles of violence won’t end until Frelimo’s grip on power is broken

It’s therefore far from clear whether Chapo can pursue any of his suggested policy goals.

Dialogue with Mondlane is necessary. But if this leads to another “elite bargain” that might get him a cabinet position but does not benefit the common people, Mozambicans will not calm down. Any agreement must address the lack of accountability for police violence, stop political assassinations, and allow journalists to investigate political violence.

– Political assassinations, police violence and lack of press freedom: 3 barriers to peace in Mozambique
– https://theconversation.com/political-assassinations-police-violence-and-lack-of-press-freedom-3-barriers-to-peace-in-mozambique-248153

MIL OSI Africa –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI: Key Tronic Corporation Announces Preliminary Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash., Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Key Tronic Corporation (Nasdaq: KTCC), a provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), today announced its preliminary results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 ending December 28, 2024.

For the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, Key Tronic anticipates reporting revenue of approximately $114 million, and a net loss of approximately $0.40-$0.48 per share, both of which are below previous guidance. The lower than anticipated revenue and earnings for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 are primarily due to the impact from unexpected component shortages, lower-than-expected production during the holiday season, and reduced demand from certain customers which together lowered revenue by approximately $15 million for the quarter. As previously announced, the Company also expects to report approximately $1.0 million in write-offs of unamortized loan fees related to refinancing its debt with a new lender.

Key Tronic expects revenue and earnings to recover in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 as strategic initiatives undertaken in previous quarters come to fruition. The Company is actively streamlining its international and domestic operations, with further headcount reductions to enhance efficiency, building on similar actions announced in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. At the same time, Key Tronic continues to win new programs involving aerospace systems and energy resiliency technology products, which was announced in a separate press release on January 24, 2025, and has reduced inventories to be more in line with current revenue levels.

For the third quarter of 2025, the Company expects to report revenue in the range of $115 million to $130 million and earnings in the range of $0.00 to $0.15 per diluted share.

The revenue and earnings estimates for the second and third quarters of fiscal 2025, and the finalization of financial results for the second quarter of 2025, are subject to completion of the Company’s quarterly close and review procedures which are still ongoing. The Company plans to report its complete results and host its earnings conference call for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 on February 4, 2025. Details for the conference call have been announced in a separate press release.

About Key Tronic

Key Tronic is a leading contract manufacturer offering value-added design and manufacturing services from its facilities in the United States, Mexico, China and Vietnam. The Company provides its customers full engineering services, materials management, worldwide manufacturing facilities, assembly services, in-house testing, and worldwide distribution. Its customers include some of the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers. For more information about Key Tronic visit: http://www.keytronic.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to those including such words as aims, anticipates, believes, continues, estimates, expects, hopes, intends, plans, predicts, projects, targets, will, or would, similar verbs, or nouns corresponding to such verbs, which may be forward looking. Forward-looking statements also include other passages that are relevant to expected future events, performances, and actions or that can only be fully evaluated by events that will occur in the future. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, the Company’s statements regarding its expectations with respect to financial conditions and results, including revenue and earnings, cost savings from headcount reduction and the Mexican Peso exchange rate, demand for certain products and the effectiveness of some of its programs, business from customers and programs, and impacts from operational streamlining and efficiencies, including reductions in inventories. There are many factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted or projected in forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the future of the global economic environment and its impact on our customers and suppliers; the availability of components from the supply chain; the availability of a healthy workforce; the accuracy of suppliers’ and customers’ forecasts; development and success of customers’ programs and products; timing and effectiveness of ramping of new programs; success of new-product introductions; the risk of legal proceedings or governmental investigations relating to the previously reported financial statement restatements and related material weaknesses, the May 2024 cybersecurity incident and the subject of the internal investigation by the Company’s Audit Committee and related or other unrelated matters; acquisitions or divestitures of operations or facilities; technology advances; changes in pricing policies by the Company, its competitors, customers or suppliers; impact of new governmental legislation and regulation, including tax reform, tariffs and related activities, such trade negotiations and other risks; and other factors, risks, and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings.

CONTACTS: Anthony G. Voorhees Michael Newman

Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations

Key Tronic Corporation StreetConnect

(509) 927-5345 (206) 729-3625

The MIL Network –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI: Key Tronic Corporation Announces Second Quarter Reporting Date

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash., Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Key Tronic Corporation (Nasdaq: KTCC), announced today that it plans to report its results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 after market close on February 4, 2025.

Key Tronic will host a conference call to discuss its financial results at 2:00 PM Pacific (5:00 PM Eastern) on February 4, 2025. A broadcast of the conference call will be available at http://www.keytronic.com under “Investor Relations” or by calling 888-394-8218 or +1-313-209-4906 (Access Code: 2254355). A replay will be available at http://www.keytronic.com under “Investor Relations”.

About Key Tronic

Key Tronic is a leading contract manufacturer offering value-added design and manufacturing services from its facilities in the United States, Mexico, China and Vietnam. The Company provides its customers full engineering services, materials management, worldwide manufacturing facilities, assembly services, in-house testing, and worldwide distribution. Its customers include some of the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers. For more information about Key Tronic visit: http://www.keytronic.com.

CONTACTS: Anthony G. Voorhees Michael Newman

Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations

Key Tronic Corporation StreetConnect

(509) 927-5345 (206) 729-3625

The MIL Network –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: Meridian Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Results and Announces a Quarterly Dividend of $0.125 per Common Share

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MALVERN, Pa., Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Meridian Corporation (Nasdaq: MRBK) today reported:

	Three Months Ended				Year Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)(Unaudited)	December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Income:
Net income	$	5,601	$	4,743	$	16,346	$	13,243
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.49	$	0.42	$	1.45	$	1.16
Pre-tax, pre-provision income⁽¹⁾	$	11,168	$	8,527	$	33,186	$	23,782
(1) See Non-GAAP reconciliation in the Appendix

Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was $5.6 million, or $0.49 per diluted share and $16.3 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, for the year.
Pre-tax, pre-provision income¹ for the quarter and the year were $11.2 million and $33.2 million, respectively.
Net interest margin was 3.29% for the fourth quarter of 2024, with a loan yield of 7.17%. Net interest margin was 3.16% with a loan yield of 7.28% for the year.
Return on average assets and return on average equity for the fourth quarter of 2024 were 0.92% and 13.01%, respectively, and 0.70% and 9.93% for the year.
During the quarter a net gain of $4.0 million was recognized on the sale of $6.6 million in residential mortgage loan servicing rights held at amortized cost and, a $317 thousand gain was recognized on the sale of a $1.7 million OREO property.
Fees and other disposal costs of $1.0 million, net, were recognized during the quarter for the early termination of the Blue Bell lease.
Total assets at December 31, 2024 were $2.4 billion, compared to $2.4 billion at September 30, 2024 and $2.2 billion at December 31, 2023.
Commercial loans, excluding leases, increased $34.8 million, or 2% for the quarter and $177.1 million, or 12% year over year.
Fourth quarter deposit growth was $26.4 million, or 1%, and $181.9 million, or 10% year over year.
Non-interest-bearing deposits were up $3.7 million or 2%, quarter over quarter, and $1.6 million or 1%, year over year.
On January 23, 2025, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per common share, payable February 18, 2025 to shareholders of record as of February 10, 2025.

Christopher J. Annas, Chairman and CEO commented:

Our fourth quarter earnings showed significant improvement from the third quarter, increasing by 18.1% to $5.6 million, or $0.49 per share. For the year, net income increased 23.4% to $16.3 million, and $1.45 per share. While we are pleased with the improvement, we are still working through the drastic rate shock brought on by the Fed, particularly in our net interest margin which is down 50 basis points from 2019 levels. The team is working diligently each day to return to historical spreads.

Loan growth of 12% (minus planned lease paydowns) for 2024 was exceptional, and our three main lending groups all contributed. Commercial real estate is benefiting from a continued lack of homes for sale, and our C&I and SBA teams are winning client relationships with persistence and creative advisory. Legacy low fixed-rate loans often made it unprofitable for us to solicit business from prospects. Deposits were up nearly 10%, mostly from money market accounts that can be rate-adjusted anytime.

The mortgage group had significant improvement, with a $4.1 million pre-tax income versus a large loss in 2023. The hard cuts we made in the cyclical slowdown have given us much operational leverage and allows us to pivot quickly based on market conditions. Part of the cuts included prepaying a major lease at a discount and allowing many operations personnel to work from home. The Philadelphia metro region is still very low in housing inventory, which stymied an even bigger improvement in our business.

Our wealth segment had a banner year with pre-tax income nearly doubling to $2.4 million. Strong growth in assets under management along with better stock market returns were the big contributors. We will devote more resources to wealth in 2025 to leverage our brand and deepen relationships with our commercial customers for referrals.

We are encouraged by the new administration and communications about reduced regulatory burdens and prospects for economic growth. Our regulatory costs are substantial and, quite frankly, make little sense for a bank our size that is not systemically significant. We are hopeful that new and broader thinking can help banks like Meridian to better serve their markets and produce better returns for shareholders.

Select Condensed Financial Information

	As of or for the three months ended (Unaudited)
	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
	(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Income:
Net income	$	5,601		$	4,743		$	3,326		$	2,676		$	571
Basic earnings per common share		0.50			0.43			0.30			0.24			0.05
Diluted earnings per common share		0.49			0.42			0.30			0.24			0.05
Net interest income		19,299			18,242			16,846			16,609			16,942

Balance Sheet:
Total assets	$	2,385,867		$	2,387,721		$	2,351,584		$	2,292,923		$	2,246,193
Loans, net of fees and costs		2,030,437			2,008,396			1,988,535			1,956,315			1,895,806
Total deposits		2,005,368			1,978,927			1,915,436			1,900,696			1,823,462
Non-interest bearing deposits		240,858			237,207			224,040			220,581			239,289
Stockholders’ equity		171,522			167,450			162,382			159,936			158,022

Balance Sheet Average Balances:
Total assets	$	2,434,270		$	2,373,261		$	2,319,295		$	2,269,047		$	2,219,340
Total interest earning assets		2,342,651			2,277,523			2,222,177			2,173,212			2,121,068
Loans, net of fees and costs		2,029,739			1,997,574			1,972,740			1,944,187			1,891,170
Total deposits		2,043,505			1,960,145			1,919,954			1,823,523			1,820,532
Non-interest bearing deposits		259,118			246,310			229,040			233,255			254,025
Stockholders’ equity		171,214			165,309			162,119			159,822			157,210

Performance Ratios (Annualized):
Return on average assets		0.92	%		0.80	%		0.58	%		0.47	%		0.10	%
Return on average equity		13.01	%		11.41	%		8.25	%		6.73	%		1.44	%

Income Statement – Fourth Quarter 2024 Compared to Third Quarter 2024

Fourth quarter net income increased $858 thousand, or 18.1%, to $5.6 million due to increased net interest income, combined with increased non-interest income which included a gain of $4.0 million on the sale of mortgage servicing rights, along with a $317 thousand gain on sale of a residential property included in other real estate owned. These increases were largely offset by a quarterly provision for credit losses that was higher by $1.3 million and an increase in non-interest expense of $865 thousand, or 4.2%, which was impacted by the early termination of the Blue Bell lease. Detailed explanations of the major categories of income and expense follow below.

Net Interest income

The rate/volume analysis table below analyzes dollar changes in the components of interest income and interest expense as they relate to the change in balances (volume) and the change in interest rates (rate) of tax-equivalent net interest income for the periods indicated and allocated by rate and volume. Changes in interest income and/or expense related to changes attributable to both volume and rate have been allocated proportionately based on the relationship of the absolute dollar amount of the change in each category.

	Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		$ Change			% Change		Change due to rate			Change due to volume
Interest income:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	801	$	416	$	385		92.5	%	$	(52	)	$	437
Investment securities – taxable		1,684		1,480		204		13.8	%		124			80
Investment securities – tax exempt⁽¹⁾		397		397		—		—	%		5			(5	)
Loans held for sale		565		766		(201	)	(26.2	)%		(49	)		(152	)
Loans held for investment⁽¹⁾		36,666		37,339		(673	)	(1.8	)%		(1,268	)		595
Total loans		37,231		38,105		(874	)	(2.3	)%		(1,317	)		443
Total interest income	$	40,113	$	40,398	$	(285	)	(0.7	)%	$	(1,240	)	$	955
Interest expense:
Interest-bearing demand deposits	$	1,244	$	1,390	$	(146	)	(10.5	)%	$	(234	)	$	88
Money market and savings deposits		8,266		8,391		(125	)	(1.5	)%		(934	)		809
Time deposits		8,831		9,532		(701	)	(7.4	)%		(465	)		(236	)
Total interest – bearing deposits		18,341		19,313		(972	)	(5.0	)%		(1,633	)		661
Borrowings		1,608		1,985		(377	)	(19.0	)%		(10	)		(367	)
Subordinated debentures		780		779		1		0.1	%		—			1
Total interest expense		20,729		22,077		(1,348	)	(6.1	)%		(1,643	)		295
Net interest income differential	$	19,384	$	18,321	$	1,063		5.80	%	$	403		$	660
(1) Reflected on a tax-equivalent basis.

Interest income decreased $285 thousand quarter-over-quarter on a tax equivalent basis, driven by rate changes, particularly in the loan portfolio. The overall yield on earnings assets decreased 25 basis points during the period, impacting interest income by $1.2 million. This decrease was significantly offset by favorable volume changes as the level of average earning assets increased by $65.1 million contributing $955 thousand to lessen the interest income decrease.

Average total loans, excluding residential loans for sale, increased $32.5 million resulting in an increase due to volume in interest income of $595 thousand. The largest drivers of this increase were commercial, commercial real estate, and small business loans which on a combined basis increased $40.4 million on average, partially offset by a decrease in average leases of $11.4 million. Home equity, residential real estate, consumer and other loans held in portfolio increased on a combined basis $3.2 million on average. The yield on total loans decreased 24 basis points, and the yield on cash and investments increased 6 basis points on a combined basis.

Total interest expense decreased $1.3 million, quarter-over-quarter, due to a lower volume of time deposits and borrowings, combined with a decrease in the cost of all deposit types, despite a higher level of interest-bearing and money market deposits. Interest expense on total deposits decreased $972 thousand and interest expense on borrowings decreased $377 thousand. During the period, interest-bearing deposits and money market accounts increased $8.8 million and $81.4 million on average, respectively, while time deposits decreased $19.7 million on average. Borrowings decreased $29.7 million on average. Overall increase in interest expense on deposits due to volume changes was $661 thousand.

The cost of interest-bearing deposits decreased 35 basis points driven by certain money market funds and wholesale time deposits which repriced at lower costs. The total decrease in interest expense on deposits attributable to rate changes was $1.6 million. Overall the net interest margin increased 9 basis points to 3.29% as the cost of funds decline outpaced the decline in yield on earning assets, and non-interest bearing balances increased $14.2 million on average.

Provision for Credit Losses

The overall provision for credit losses for the fourth quarter increased $1.3 million to $3.6 million, from $2.3 million in the third quarter. The provision for funded loans increased $1.6 million and the provision on unfunded loan commitments decreased $331 thousand during the current quarter. The fourth quarter provision for funded loans of $3.6 million increased from the prior quarter due largely to an increase of $5.0 million in net charge-offs and was positively impacted by favorable changes in certain portfolio baseline loss rates.

Non-interest income

The following table presents the components of non-interest income for the periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			$ Change			% Change
Mortgage banking income	$	5,516		$	6,474		$	(958	)	(14.8	)%
Wealth management income		1,527			1,447			80		5.5	%
SBA loan income		1,143			544			599		110.1	%
Earnings on investment in life insurance		224			222			2		0.9	%
Gain on sale of MSRs		3,992			—			3,992		100.0	%
Net change in the fair value of derivative instruments		(146	)		(102	)		(44	)	43.1	%
Net change in the fair value of loans held-for-sale		(163	)		169			(332	)	(196.4	)%
Net change in the fair value of loans held-for-investment		(552	)		965			(1,517	)	(157.2	)%
Net (loss) gain on hedging activity		192			(197	)		389		(197.5	)%
Net loss on sale of investment securities available-for-sale		2			(57	)		59		(103.5	)%
Other		1,545			1,366			179		13.1	%
Total non-interest income	$	13,280		$	10,831		$	2,449		22.6	%

Total non-interest income increased $2.4 million, or 22.6%, quarter-over-quarter after recognizing a gain of $4.0 million on the sale of $6.6 million in residential mortgage loan servicing rights; change in gains of $389 thousand in hedging activity; and a $317 thousand gain on the sale of a $1.7 million residential OREO property, which is recorded in other non-interest income. In addition, SBA income increased $599 thousand due largely to a higher level of SBA loan sales. SBA loans sold for the quarter-ended December 31, 2024 totaled $19.9 million, up $8.0 million, or 67.4%, compared to the quarter-ended September 30, 2024. The gross margin on SBA sales was 7.5% for the quarter, down from 7.9% for the previous quarter. These gains were partially offset by unfavorable portfolio fair value changes of $1.9 million combined, and lower levels of mortgage banking income, which decreased $1.0 million, or 14.8%. Mortgage loan sales decreased $29.8 million or 12.1% quarter over quarter driving lower gain on sale income at a slightly lower margin.

Non-interest expense

The following table presents the components of non-interest expense for the periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		$ Change			% Change
Salaries and employee benefits	$	12,429	$	12,829	$	(400	)	(3.1	)%
Occupancy and equipment		2,270		1,243		1,027		82.6	%
Professional fees		1,134		1,106		28		2.5	%
Data processing and software		1,553		1,553		—		—	%
Advertising and promotion		839		717		122		17.0	%
Pennsylvania bank shares tax		243		181		62		34.3	%
Other		2,943		2,917		26		0.9	%
Total non-interest expense	$	21,411	$	20,546	$	865		4.2	%

Occupancy and equipment expense increased $1.0 million, net, due to fees, credits and other disposal costs for the early termination of the Blue Bell lease. The lease termination is expected to improve occupancy expense by $359 thousand per year. Advertising and promotion, which includes business development with other expenses, were up $148 thousand due to seasonal events. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in salaries and benefits of $400 thousand. Bank and wealth segments combined increased $5 thousand, while the mortgage segment decreased $405 thousand. Mortgage segment salaries, commissions, and employee benefits expense are impacted by volume and decreased commensurate with the lower levels of originations, which were down $36.1 million over the prior quarter.

Balance Sheet – December 31, 2024 Compared to September 30, 2024

Total assets decreased $1.9 million, or 0.1%, to $2.4 billion as of December 31, 2024 from $2.4 billion at September 30, 2024. Despite continued strong loan growth during the quarter, total assets decreased due to the decline in mortgage loans held for sale and the sale of mortgage servicing rights. Interest-bearing cash increased $2.1 million, or 10.4%, to $21.9 million as of December 31, 2024, from September 30, 2024.

Portfolio loan growth was $22.8 million, or 1.1% quarter-over-quarter. The portfolio growth was generated from commercial mortgage loans which increased $23.0 million, or 2.9%, construction loans which increased $9.0 million, or 3.6%, commercial & industrial loans which increased $3.5 million, or 1.0%. Lease financings decreased $10.7 million, or 12.4% from September 30, 2024, partially offsetting the above noted loan growth, but this decline was expected as we continue to refocus away from lease originations.

Total deposits increased $26.4 million, or 1.3% quarter-over-quarter, due largely to higher levels of money market accounts and interest bearing demand deposits to a lesser degree. Money market accounts and savings accounts increased a combined $90.7 million, while interest bearing demand deposits increased $8.0 million. Time deposits decreased $75.9 million from largely wholesale efforts. Non-interest bearing deposits increased $3.7 million. Overall borrowings decreased $20.4 million, or 14.1% quarter-over-quarter.

Total stockholders’ equity increased by $4.1 million from September 30, 2024, to $171.5 million as of December 31, 2024. Changes to equity for the current quarter included net income of $5.6 million, less dividends paid of $1.4 million, offset by a decrease of $876 thousand in other comprehensive income. The Community Bank Leverage Ratio for the Bank was 9.21% at December 31, 2024.

Asset Quality Summary

Non-performing loans decreased $18 thousand to $45.1 million at December 31, 2024 compared to $45.1 million at September 30, 2024. As a result of the decrease, the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans decreased 1 bps to 2.19% as of December 31, 2024, from 2.20% as of September 30, 2024. During the quarter a $1.7 million residential property in OREO was sold, reducing non-performing assets by $1.7 million. As a result, the ratio of non-performing assets to total assets decreased 7 bps to 1.90% as of December 31, 2024, compared to 1.97% as of September 30, 2024. The decrease in non-performing loans was primarily due to the partial charge-off of a commercial loan relationship discussed below, largely offset by an increase in non-performing construction loans.

Meridian realized net charge-offs of 0.34% of total average loans for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, up from 0.11% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Net charge-offs increased to $7.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to net charge-offs of $2.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Fourth quarter charge-offs consisted of $3.5 million in charge-offs on a protracted commercial advertising loan relationship, $1.3 million of small ticket equipment leases which are charged-off after becoming more than 120 days past due, and $1.7 million in SBA loans. Overall there were recoveries of $315 thousand, largely related to leases and small business loans.

The ratio of allowance for credit losses to total loans held for investment, excluding loans at fair value (a non-GAAP measure, see reconciliation in the Appendix), was 0.91% as of December 31, 2024, a decrease from the coverage ratio of 1.10% as of September 30, 2024 due largely to the level of charge-offs in the quarter discussed above. As of December 31, 2024 there were specific reserves of $2.7 million against individually evaluated loans, a decrease of $4.1 million from $6.8 million in specific reserves as of September 30, 2024. The specific reserve decline over the prior quarter was the result of the commercial loan relationship specific reserve charge-off, combined with specific reserve charge-offs on SBA loans, while new specific reserves were established on additional SBA loans in the current quarter.

About Meridian Corporation

Meridian Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of Meridian Corporation, is an innovative community bank serving Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Through its 18 offices, including banking branches and mortgage locations, Meridian offers a full suite of financial products and services. Meridian specializes in business and industrial lending, retail and commercial real estate lending, electronic payments, and wealth management solutions through Meridian Wealth Partners. Meridian also offers a broad menu of high-yield depository products supported by robust online and mobile access. For additional information, visit our website at http://www.meridianbanker.com. Member FDIC.

“Safe Harbor” Statement

In addition to historical information, this press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to Meridian Corporation’s strategies, goals, beliefs, expectations, estimates, intentions, capital raising efforts, financial condition and results of operations, future performance and business. Statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “pro forma,” “looking forward,” “would,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” or similar expressions generally indicate a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which, in whole or in part, are beyond Meridian Corporation’s control). Numerous competitive, economic, regulatory, legal and technological factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation, credit losses and the credit risk of our commercial and consumer loan products; changes in the level of charge-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, or ACL; cyber-security concerns; rapid technological developments and changes; increased competitive pressures; changes in spreads on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities markets; unanticipated changes in our liquidity position; unanticipated changes in regulatory and governmental policies impacting interest rates and financial markets; legislation affecting the financial services industry as a whole, and Meridian Corporation, in particular; changes in accounting policies, practices or guidance; developments affecting the industry and the soundness of financial institutions and further disruption to the economy and U.S. banking system; among others, could cause Meridian Corporation’s financial performance to differ materially from the goals, plans, objectives, intentions and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. Meridian Corporation cautions that the foregoing factors are not exclusive, and neither such factors nor any such forward-looking statement takes into account the impact of any future events. All forward-looking statements and information set forth herein are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions as of the date hereof and speak only as of the date they are made. For a more complete discussion of the assumptions, risks and uncertainties related to our business, you are encouraged to review Meridian Corporation’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that update or provide information in addition to the information included in the Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings, if any. Meridian Corporation does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by Meridian Corporation or by or on behalf of Meridian Bank.

MERIDIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL RATIOS (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Earnings and Per Share Data:
Net income	$	5,601		$	4,743		$	3,326		$	2,676		$	571
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.50		$	0.43		$	0.30		$	0.24		$	0.05
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.49		$	0.42		$	0.30		$	0.24		$	0.05
Common shares outstanding		11,240			11,229			11,191			11,186			11,183

Performance Ratios:
Return on average assets⁽²⁾		0.92	%		0.80	%		0.58	%		0.47	%		0.10	%
Return on average equity⁽²⁾		13.01			11.41			8.25			6.73			1.44
Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)⁽²⁾		3.29			3.20			3.06			3.09			3.18
Yield on earning assets (tax-equivalent)⁽²⁾		6.81			7.06			6.98			6.90			6.81
Cost of funds⁽²⁾		3.71			4.05			4.10			4.00			3.81
Efficiency ratio		65.72	%		70.67	%		72.89	%		73.90	%		78.63	%

Asset Quality Ratios:
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans		0.34	%		0.11	%		0.20	%		0.12	%		0.11	%
Non-performing loans to total loans		2.19			2.20			1.84			1.93			1.76
Non-performing assets to total assets		1.90			1.97			1.68			1.74			1.58
Allowance for credit losses to:
Total loans and other finance receivables		0.91			1.09			1.09			1.18			1.17
Total loans and other finance receivables (excluding loans at fair value)⁽¹⁾		0.91			1.10			1.10			1.19			1.17
Non-performing loans		40.86	%		48.66	%		57.66	%		60.59	%		65.48	%

Capital Ratios:
Book value per common share	$	15.26		$	14.91		$	14.51		$	14.30		$	14.13
Tangible book value per common share	$	14.93		$	14.58		$	14.17		$	13.96		$	13.78
Total equity/Total assets		7.19	%		7.01	%		6.91	%		6.98	%		7.04	%
Tangible common equity/Tangible assets – Corporation⁽¹⁾		7.05			6.87			6.76			6.82			6.87
Tangible common equity/Tangible assets – Bank⁽¹⁾		9.06			8.95			8.85			8.93			8.94
Tier 1 leverage ratio – Bank		9.21			9.32			9.33			9.42			9.46
Common tier 1 risk-based capital ratio – Bank		10.33			10.17			9.84			9.87			10.10
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio – Bank		10.33			10.17			9.84			9.87			10.10
Total risk-based capital ratio – Bank		11.20	%		11.22	%		10.84	%		10.95	%		11.17	%
(1) See Non-GAAP reconciliation in the Appendix
(2) Annualized

MERIDIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended									Year Ended
	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023			December 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Interest income:
Loans and other finance receivables, including fees	$	37,229		$	38,103		$	34,469		$	147,157		$	130,081
Securities – taxable		1,684			1,480			1,020			5,739			3,873
Securities – tax-exempt		314			320			331			1,283			1,369
Cash and cash equivalents		801			416			526			1,848			1,266
Total interest income		40,028			40,319			36,346			156,027			136,589
Interest expense:
Deposits		18,341			19,313			16,806			74,037			57,819
Borrowings and subordinated debentures		2,388			2,764			2,598			10,994			9,828
Total interest expense		20,729			22,077			19,404			85,031			67,647
Net interest income		19,299			18,242			16,942			70,996			68,942
Provision for credit losses		3,572			2,282			4,628			11,400			6,815
Net interest income after provision for credit losses		15,727			15,960			12,314			59,596			62,127
Non-interest income:
Mortgage banking income		5,516			6,474			3,394			21,044			16,537
Wealth management income		1,527			1,447			1,239			5,735			4,928
SBA loan income		1,143			544			1,022			3,458			4,485
Earnings on investment in life insurance		224			222			204			868			789
Gain on sale of MSRs		3,992			—			—			3,992			—
Net change in the fair value of derivative instruments		(146	)		(102	)		(126	)		30			91
Net change in the fair value of loans held-for-sale		(163	)		169			120			(25	)		32
Net change in the fair value of loans held-for-investment		(552	)		965			805			214			132
Net (loss) gain on hedging activity		192			(197	)		(53	)		(87	)		28
Net loss on sale of investment securities available-for-sale		2			(57	)		—			(55	)		(58	)
Other		1,545			1,366			1,512			6,166			5,001
Total non-interest income		13,280			10,831			8,117			41,339			31,965
Non-interest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits		12,429			12,829			11,744			47,268			47,377
Occupancy and equipment		2,270			1,243			1,232			5,976			4,842
Professional fees		1,134			1,106			1,382			4,767			4,312
Data processing and software		1,553			1,553			1,651			6,144			6,415
Advertising and promotion		839			717			931			3,293			3,730
Pennsylvania bank shares tax		243			181			233			972			968
Other		2,943			2,917			2,530			10,729			9,481
Total non-interest expense		21,411			20,546			19,703			79,149			77,125
Income before income taxes		7,596			6,245			728			21,786			16,967
Income tax expense		1,995			1,502			157			5,440			3,724
Net income	$	5,601		$	4,743		$	571		$	16,346		$	13,243

Basic earnings per common share	$	0.50		$	0.43		$	0.05		$	1.47		$	1.19
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.49		$	0.42		$	0.05		$	1.45		$	1.16

Basic weighted average shares outstanding		11,158			11,110			11,070			11,113			11,115
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		11,375			11,234			11,206			11,243			11,387

MERIDIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Assets:
Cash and due from banks	$	5,598		$	12,542		$	8,457		$	8,935		$	10,067
Interest-bearing deposits at other banks		21,864			19,805			15,601			14,092			46,630
Cash and cash equivalents		27,462			32,347			24,058			23,027			56,697
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value		174,304			171,568			159,141			150,996			146,019
Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost		33,771			33,833			35,089			35,157			35,781
Equity investments		2,086			2,166			2,088			2,092			2,121
Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value		32,413			46,602			54,278			29,124			24,816
Loans and other finance receivables, net of fees and costs		2,030,437			2,008,396			1,988,535			1,956,315			1,895,806
Allowance for credit losses		(18,438	)		(21,965	)		(21,703	)		(23,171	)		(22,107	)
Loans and other finance receivables, net of the allowance for credit losses		2,011,999			1,986,431			1,966,832			1,933,144			1,873,699
Restricted investment in bank stock		7,753			8,542			10,044			8,560			8,072
Bank premises and equipment, net		12,151			12,807			13,114			13,451			13,557
Bank owned life insurance		29,712			29,489			29,267			29,051			28,844
Accrued interest receivable		9,958			10,012			9,973			9,864			9,325
Other real estate owned		159			1,862			1,862			1,703			1,703
Deferred income taxes		4,669			3,537			3,950			4,339			4,201
Servicing assets		4,382			4,364			11,341			11,573			11,748
Servicing assets held for sale		—			6,609			—			—			—
Goodwill		899			899			899			899			899
Intangible assets		2,767			2,818			2,869			2,920			2,971
Other assets		31,382			33,835			26,779			37,023			25,740
Total assets	$	2,385,867		$	2,387,721		$	2,351,584		$	2,292,923		$	2,246,193

Liabilities:
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing	$	240,858		$	237,207		$	224,040		$	220,581		$	239,289
Interest bearing
Interest checking		141,439			133,429			130,062			121,204			150,898
Money market and savings deposits		913,536			822,837			787,479			797,525			747,803
Time deposits		709,535			785,454			773,855			761,386			685,472
Total interest-bearing deposits		1,764,510			1,741,720			1,691,396			1,680,115			1,584,173
Total deposits		2,005,368			1,978,927			1,915,436			1,900,696			1,823,462
Borrowings		124,471			144,880			187,260			145,803			174,896
Subordinated debentures		49,743			49,928			49,897			49,867			49,836
Accrued interest payable		6,860			7,017			7,709			8,350			10,324
Other liabilities		27,903			39,519			28,900			28,271			29,653
Total liabilities		2,214,345			2,220,271			2,189,202			2,132,987			2,088,171

Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock		13,243			13,232			13,194			13,189			13,186
Surplus		81,545			81,002			80,639			80,487			80,325
Treasury stock		(26,079	)		(26,079	)		(26,079	)		(26,079	)		(26,079	)
Unearned common stock held by employee stock ownership plan		(1,006	)		(1,204	)		(1,204	)		(1,204	)		(1,204	)
Retained earnings		111,961			107,765			104,420			102,492			101,216
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(8,142	)		(7,266	)		(8,588	)		(8,949	)		(9,422	)
Total stockholders’ equity		171,522			167,450			162,382			159,936			158,022
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,385,867		$	2,387,721		$	2,351,584		$	2,292,923		$	2,246,193

MERIDIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024		March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Interest income	$	40,028	$	40,319	$	38,465	$	37,215	$	36,346
Interest expense		20,729		22,077		21,619		20,606		19,404
Net interest income		19,299		18,242		16,846		16,609		16,942
Provision for credit losses		3,572		2,282		2,680		2,866		4,628
Non-interest income		13,280		10,831		9,244		7,984		8,117
Non-interest expense		21,411		20,546		19,018		18,174		19,703
Income before income tax expense		7,596		6,245		4,392		3,553		728
Income tax expense		1,995		1,502		1,066		877		157
Net Income	$	5,601	$	4,743	$	3,326	$	2,676	$	571

Basic weighted average shares outstanding		11,158		11,110		11,096		11,088		11,070
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.50	$	0.43	$	0.30	$	0.24	$	0.05

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		11,375		11,234		11,150		11,201		11,206
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.49	$	0.42	$	0.30	$	0.24	$	0.05

	Segment Information
	Three Months Ended December 31, 2024												Three Months Ended December 31, 2023
(dollars in thousands)	Bank			Wealth			Mortgage			Total			Bank			Wealth			Mortgage			Total
Net interest income	$	19,178		$	70		$	51		$	19,299		$	16,908		$	(15	)	$	49		$	16,942
Provision for credit losses		3,572			—			—			3,572			4,628			—			—			4,628
Net interest income after provision		15,606			70			51			15,727			12,280			(15	)		49			12,314
Non-interest income		2,669			1,527			9,084			13,280			2,051			1,239			4,827			8,117
Non-interest expense		13,641			1,026			6,744			21,411			13,202			957			5,544			19,703
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	4,634		$	571		$	2,391		$	7,596		$	1,129		$	267		$	(668	)	$	728
Efficiency ratio		62	%		64	%		74	%		66	%		70	%		78	%		114	%		79	%

	Year Ended December 31, 2024												Year Ended December 31, 2023
(dollars in thousands)	Bank			Wealth			Mortgage			Total			Bank			Wealth			Mortgage			Total
Net interest income	$	70,706		$	146		$	144		$	70,996		$	68,835		$	(27	)	$	134		$	68,942
Provision for credit losses		11,400			—			—			11,400			6,815			—			—			6,815
Net interest income after provision		59,306			146			144			59,596			62,020			(27	)		134			62,127
Non-interest income		7,576			5,735			28,028			41,339			7,743			4,928			19,294			31,965
Non-interest expense		51,584			3,506			24,059			79,149			48,827			3,661			24,637			77,125
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	15,298		$	2,375		$	4,113		$	21,786		$	20,936		$	1,240		$	(5,209	)	$	16,967
Efficiency ratio		66	%		60	%		85	%		70	%		64	%		75	%		127	%		76	%

MERIDIAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
APPENDIX: NON-GAAP MEASURES (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

Meridian believes that non-GAAP measures are meaningful because they reflect adjustments commonly made by management, investors, regulators and analysts. The non-GAAP disclosure have limitations as an analytical tool, should not be viewed as a substitute for performance and financial condition measures determined in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of Meridian’s results as reported under GAAP, nor is it necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.

	Pre-tax, Pre-provision Reconciliation
	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data, Unaudited)	December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023		December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Income before income tax expense	$	7,596	$	6,245	$	728	$	21,786	$	16,967
Provision for credit losses		3,572		2,282		4,628		11,400		6,815
Pre-tax, pre-provision income	$	11,168	$	8,527	$	5,356	$	33,186	$	23,782

	Pre-tax, Pre-provision Reconciliation
	Three Months Ended							Year Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data, Unaudited)	December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023			December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Bank	$	8,206	$	6,222	$	5,757		$	26,698	$	27,751
Wealth		571		653		267			2,375		1,240
Mortgage		2,391		1,652		(668	)		4,113		(5,209	)
Pre-tax, pre-provision income	$	11,168	$	8,527	$	5,356		$	33,186	$	23,782

	Allowance For Credit Losses (ACL) to Loans and Other Finance Receivables, Excluding and Loans at Fair Value
	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Allowance for credit losses (GAAP)	$	18,438		$	21,965		$	21,703		$	23,171		$	22,107

Loans and other finance receivables (GAAP)		2,030,437			2,008,396			1,988,535			1,956,315			1,895,806
Less: Loans at fair value		(14,501	)		(13,965	)		(12,900	)		(13,139	)		(13,726	)
Loans and other finance receivables, excluding loans at fair value (non-GAAP)	$	2,015,936		$	1,994,431		$	1,975,635		$	1,943,176		$	1,882,080

ACL to loans and other finance receivables (GAAP)		0.91	%		1.09	%		1.09	%		1.18	%		1.17	%
ACL to loans and other finance receivables, excluding loans at fair value (non-GAAP)		0.91	%		1.10	%		1.10	%		1.19	%		1.17	%

	Tangible Common Equity Ratio Reconciliation – Corporation
	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Total stockholders’ equity (GAAP)	$	171,522		$	167,450		$	162,382		$	159,936		$	158,022
Less: Goodwill and intangible assets		(3,666	)		(3,717	)		(3,768	)		(3,819	)		(3,870	)
Tangible common equity (non-GAAP)		167,856			163,733			158,614			156,117			154,152

Total assets (GAAP)		2,385,867			2,387,721			2,351,584			2,292,923			2,246,193
Less: Goodwill and intangible assets		(3,666	)		(3,717	)		(3,768	)		(3,819	)		(3,870	)
Tangible assets (non-GAAP)	$	2,382,201		$	2,384,004		$	2,347,816		$	2,289,104		$	2,242,323
Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio – Corporation (non-GAAP)		7.05	%		6.87	%		6.76	%		6.82	%		6.87	%

	Tangible Common Equity Ratio Reconciliation – Bank
	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Total stockholders’ equity (GAAP)	$	219,119		$	217,028		$	211,308		$	208,319		$	204,132
Less: Goodwill and intangible assets		(3,666	)		(3,717	)		(3,768	)		(3,819	)		(3,870	)
Tangible common equity (non-GAAP)		215,453			213,311			207,540			204,500			200,262

Total assets (GAAP)		2,382,014			2,385,994			2,349,600			2,292,894			2,244,893
Less: Goodwill and intangible assets		(3,666	)		(3,717	)		(3,768	)		(3,819	)		(3,870	)
Tangible assets (non-GAAP)	$	2,378,348		$	2,382,277		$	2,345,832		$	2,289,075		$	2,241,023
Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio – Bank (non-GAAP)		9.06	%		8.95	%		8.85	%		8.93	%		8.94	%


	Tangible Book Value Reconciliation
	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Book value per common share	$	15.26		$	14.91		$	14.51		$	14.30		$	14.13
Less: Impact of goodwill /intangible assets		0.33			0.33			0.34			0.34			0.35
Tangible book value per common share	$	14.93		$	14.58		$	14.17		$	13.96		$	13.78

Contact:
Christopher J. Annas
484.568.5001
CAnnas@meridianbanker.com

The MIL Network –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: Fusion Fuel Provides Update on Gas Business, Announces Key Developments in Middle East Operations

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DUBLIN, Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN – Fusion Fuel Green PLC (Nasdaq: HTOO) (“Fusion Fuel” or the “Company”), a leading provider of full-service energy engineering and advisory solutions, is pleased to announce several significant developments in its Al Shola Gas (“Al Shola”) subsidiary, which continues to serve as a core driver of growth and profitability for the Company.

Between November 2024 and January 2025, Al Shola secured new orders and renewals valued at approximately USD $3.5 million. These include the renewal of an exclusive LPG supply contract in the residential sector and multiple supply and installation projects across diverse customer segments, such as manufacturing, hospitality, and construction.

Commenting on the commercial progress, JP Backwell, CEO of Fusion Fuel, said: “Our gas business continues to generate meaningful cash flows in its core markets in the Middle East, representing a strong and profitable foundation for Fusion Fuel. The recent orders and renewals underscore the trust our customers place in us and our ability to deliver both fuel and value-added solutions safely and reliably. Looking ahead, we see tremendous potential for growth with additional investment in our infrastructure, particularly to expand our bulk LPG supply capabilities. We are excited about the opportunity to broaden our geographical reach, expand our service offerings, and increase our capacity, which we believe will unlock new revenue streams and enable us to meet the growing demand from our customers, both in the Middle East and beyond. With our Al Shola Gas and BrightHy operating businesses, Fusion Fuel is well-positioned to drive sustainable growth and create long-term value for our shareholders by delivering innovative energy solutions across the full energy value chain.”

About Fusion Fuel Green plc

Fusion Fuel Green PLC (NASDAQ: HTOO) is an emerging leader in the energy services sector, offering a comprehensive suite of energy engineering and advisory solutions through its Al Shola Gas and BrightHy subsidiaries. Al Shola Gas provides full-service industrial gas solutions, including the design, supply, and maintenance of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) systems, as well as the transport and distribution of LPG to a broad range of customers across commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. BrightHy, the Company’s newly launched hydrogen solutions platform, focuses on delivering innovative engineering and advisory services that enable decarbonization across hard-to-abate industries.

Learn more about Fusion Fuel by visiting our website at https://www.fusion-fuel.eu and following us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target”, “may”, “intend”, “predict”, “should”, “would”, “predict”, “potential”, “seem”, “future”, “outlook” or other similar expressions (or negative versions of such words or expressions) that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Fusion Fuel has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations, including but not limited the ability of the investment reported on to be consummated as anticipated. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties (including those set forth in Fusion Fuel’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations Contact
ir@fusion-fuel.eu

Wire Service Contact:
IBN
Austin, Texas
http://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
512.354.7000 Office
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

The MIL Network –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI: First Federal Savings Bank and ICBA Provide Tips to Safeguard Sensitive Information During Data Privacy Week Jan 24-28
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

EVANSVILLE, Ind., Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In recognition of Data Privacy Week, First Federal Savings Bank and the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) are reminding customers to take steps to safeguard their sensitive data and shield against financial losses in the event of a compromise or data breach. The global average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.88 million, a 10 percent increase over 2023 and the highest ever recorded.

“While there’s no fool-proof method to safeguard sensitive data, at First Federal Savings Bank, we believe that an important step in the fight against such attacks is arming customers with the proper protocols to reduce their exposure,” said Christy McBride, Chief Operations Officer & Information Security Officer, EVP. “As a community bank, First Federal Savings Bank uses sophisticated technology and monitoring techniques, intricate firewalls, and other methods to secure customer data. Additionally, we maintain stringent privacy policies and educate employees to treat confidential information with the utmost care.”

Reducing Your Risk
As a consumer you also can help minimize your risk by:
- Restricting use of public wi-fi and computers—These networks may be convenient but are not as secure. If you make purchases while away from your home or work network, use a virtual private network or mobile hotspot.
- Limiting disclosed information—Never respond to requests for personal information such as your banking ID, account number, username, or password, even if they appear to originate from your bank, government agencies or officials, or companies with which you have a relationship.
- Taking advantage of security features—Update your computer security software and apply software updates to your computer system, mobile devices, web browsers, and operating system regularly to defend against viruses, malware, and other online threats.
- Monitoring account activity—Carefully review bank statements, card transactions, and check your credit report regularly for unusual or unexplained charges, unknown accounts in your name, or unexpected denials on your card and report any suspicious activity to your bank immediately.
- Protecting each account with a unique, complex password—Use numbers and symbols at least 12 characters long along with using a password manager. Use multifactor authentication for accounts that allow it.
Responding to a Data Breach
In the unfortunate event of a data breach, to minimize your risk:
- Consider a security freeze on your credit report to restrict credit file access.
- Set up a fraud alert, which directs banks to verify your identity before opening a new account, issuing an additional card, or increasing the credit limit on an existing account.
- Shred documents with personal or sensitive information and change your passwords.
- Report stolen finances or identities and other cybercrime to the Internet Crime Complaint Center and to your local law enforcement and/or state attorney general.
Learn more about how to protect your digital life by visiting the Stay Safe Online website and spreading the word on social media with the hashtag #BeCyberSmart.

About First Federal Savings Bank Member FDIC

First Federal Savings Bank was established on Evansville, Indiana’s Westside in 1904. A community bank offering eight locations in Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Henderson County. First Federal Savings Bank is also proud to offer Home Building Savings Bank locations in Daviess and Pike County.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.

As local and trusted sources of credit, America’s community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers’ financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at icba.org.

The MIL Network –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI: Key Tronic Corporation Awarded Major New Contract with Energy Resilience Technology Provider

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash., Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Key Tronic Corporation (Nasdaq KTCC), a world class provider of manufacturing and design engineering services, today announced that it expects to begin manufacturing in the second half of 2025 for a market revolutionizing, innovative energy resilience technology provider.

Key Tronic has been awarded the manufacturing of an industry leading, innovative energy resiliency product. Initial production will ramp in late 2025 at the Key Tronic manufacturing campuses in Juarez, Mexico and Arkansas. Once fully ramped, Key Tronic believes the yearly revenue could exceed $60 million dollars.

“We are looking forward to the design and manufacturing expertise of Key Tronic to help accelerate introduction of new products, as well as enhance our ability to increase product availability to fulfill the anticipated overwhelming demand,” said the CEO of Key Tronic’s new customer.

“We are very excited to be working with a recognized, emerging leader in the energy resiliency industry,” said Brett Larsen, President and CEO of Key Tronic. “The product has the potential to assist in better asset management and public safety by ensuring increased vigilance across all operations. Our new customer is a highly respected company and we are thrilled to be involved with a product that can assist in the greater good. This important new strategic relationship represents an expansion of our customer base and we expect it will contribute to profitable long term growth.”

About Key Tronic

Key Tronic is a leading design engineering and contract manufacturer offering value-added design and manufacturing services from its facilities in the United States, Mexico, China and Vietnam. Key Tronic provides its customers full engineering services, materials management, worldwide manufacturing facilities, assembly services, in-house testing, and worldwide distribution. Its customers include some of the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers. For more information about Key Tronic visit: http://www.keytronic.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including Key Tronic’s opportunities and its partnership, the potential success of Key Tronic and the customer, and related revenues. Forward-looking statements include all passages containing verbs such as aims, anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, hopes, intends, plans, predicts, projects or targets or nouns corresponding to such verbs. Forward-looking statements also include other passages that are primarily relevant to expected future events or revenue or that can only be fully evaluated by events that will occur in the future. There are many factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted or projected in forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the success and timing of ramping; availability and timing and receipt of critical parts or components; demand from customers and sales channels; the future of the global economic environment and its impact on our customers and suppliers; the availability of a healthy workforce; the accuracy of suppliers’ and customers’ forecasts; development and success of customers’ programs and products; success of new-product introductions; the risk of legal proceedings or governmental investigations relating to the previously reported financial statement restatements and related material weaknesses, the May 2024 cybersecurity incident and the subject of the internal investigation by the Company’s Audit Committee and related or other unrelated matters; acquisitions or divestitures of operations or facilities; technology advances; changes in pricing policies by the Company, its competitors, customers or suppliers; impact of new governmental legislation and regulation, including tax reform, tariffs and related activities, such trade negotiations and other risks; and other factors, risks, and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings.

CONTACTS: Anthony G. Voorhees Michael Newman

Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations

Key Tronic Corporation StreetConnect

(509) 927-5345 (206) 729-3625

The MIL Network –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI: China Medical System（00867）Obtained Class 1 Innovative Drug Long-acting Anti-IL-4Rα Monoclonal Antibody MG-K10
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SHENZHEN, CHINA, Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — China Medical System Holdings Limited (the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group” or “CMS”) is pleased to announce that on 24 January 2025, the Group through subsidiaries of the Company entered into a Collaboration Agreement with Hunan Mabgeek Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Mabgeek Biotechnology”) and its subsidiary for Class 1 innovative drug anti-IL-4Rα humanized monoclonal antibody injection MG-K10 (“MG-K10” or the “Product”). The Group has obtained the co-development right as specifically agreed upon in the Agreement and exclusive commercialization right to the Product in Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, Taiwan Region and Singapore (the “Territory”); Mabgeek Biotechnology will support the commercialization activities and is responsible for the sale and supply of the Product. The collaboration term is perpetual.

IL-4Rα is considered a key target for the treatment of type 2 inflammatory diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, prurigo nodularis, etc. Anti-IL-4Rα monoclonal antibodies are among the best-selling biologics in this field. MG-K10 is an innovative long-acting anti-IL-4Rα humanized monoclonal antibody that simultaneously blocks the signaling of key type 2 inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-13. Following Fc mutation, MG-K10 allows long dosing interval owing to its prolonged half-life, and it is expected to be the first long-acting anti-IL-4Rα monoclonal antibody marketed in China. Currently marketed anti-IL-4Rα drugs require dosing every two weeks, whereas MG-K10 only requires dosing every four weeks, demonstrating good efficacy and safety. MG-K10 has the potential to be the Best-in-Class (BIC).

This collaboration marks another significant milestone for Dermavon (formerly known as CMS Skinhealth)’s layout in the dermatology field. MG-K10 will enrich the global differentiated innovative pipeline of Dermavon, and will strongly synergize with the existing product portfolio, such as marketed innovative drug ILUMETRI (tildrakizumab injection), marketed exclusive drug Hirudoid (mucopolysaccharide polysulfate cream) and dermatology-grade skincare products of Heling soothing product series (developed for AD patients), and innovative pipeline drugs ruxolitinib cream (for the topical treatment of mild to moderate AD and non-segmental vitiligo) and povorcitinib (for the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo, hidradenitis suppurativa, prurigo nodularis and chronic spontaneous urticaria), etc. Leveraging its proven clinical development and commercialization capabilities, the Group will fully cooperate with Mabgeek Biotechnology to promote the approval of MG-K10 in China, bringing a new treatment option with lower dosing frequency, good efficacy and safety to patients with type 2 inflammatory diseases in China.

More information about MG-K10
MG-K10 is a Class 1 innovative drug anti-IL-4Rα humanized monoclonal antibody injection that used for the treatment of type 2 inflammatory diseases, including AD, asthma, prurigo nodularis, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, eosinophilic esophagitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and so on. It holds substance patents in specific countries/regions within the Territory.

MG-K10 has entered Phase III clinical trials in China for AD, asthma, and prurigo nodularis. In the completed Phase II clinical trials for adult moderate-to-severe AD and moderate-to-severe asthma, MG-K10 has demonstrated good efficacy and safety^[1-2]. Additionally, MG-K10 has obtained IND approval for eosinophilic esophagitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and seasonal allergic rhinitis in China.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the global market for treatments targeting IL-4Rα is expected to reach US$28.7 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.8% from 2020 to 2030. In China, the market is projected to reach US$4.08 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 76.8% from 2020 to 2030.

About AD indication
MG-K10’s first indication, AD, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by severe itching. It is the most burdensome non-fatal skin disease globally, with at least 230 million people affected worldwide^[3]. AD is also a prevalent and high-burden chronic disease in China, with the prevalence showing an upward trend^[3]. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, the number of AD patients in China increased by 25.65% from 1990 to 2019^[3]. It is estimated that there are approximately 36.09 million AD patients in China^[3], with approximately 9.625 million suffering from moderate-to-severe AD^[4].

Current treatment options for AD primarily include topical and systemic treatments. For moderate-to-severe AD, topical medications are often insufficient to achieve disease control, necessitating the initiation of systemic treatments. However, due to the limitations in efficacy and safety of traditional systemic therapies for AD, moderate-to-severe AD patients often experience delays in systemic treatment initiation, poor compliance, and suboptimal disease control, leaving a significant unmet need in clinical practice^[3]. MG-K10, with its extended dosing interval of once every four weeks, is expected to improve patient adherence and provide a new, effective, and safe systemic treatment option for patients with moderate-to-severe AD.

About Mabgeek Biotechnology
Mabgeek Biotechnology was founded in 2016 and has always adhered to the research and development concept of “innovation, efficiency and safety”, focusing on the fields of allergic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases. Mabgeek Biotechnology is equipped with a research and development team composed of top industry experts. With excellent research capabilities and deep industry experience, Mabgeek Biotechnology uses its unique TEADA high-throughput antibody screening platform to develop innovative antibody drugs with high biological activity, excellent druggability, and differentiation. Mabgeek Biotechnology is committed to providing safer, more effective and more convenient treatment solutions for patients worldwide. For more information about Mabgeek Biotechnology and its products, please visit: https://www.mabge.com/.

About CMS
CMS is a platform company linking pharmaceutical innovation and commercialization with strong product lifecycle management capability, dedicated to providing competitive products and services to meet unmet medical needs.

CMS focuses on the global first-in-class (FIC) and best-in-class (BIC) innovative products, and efficiently promotes the clinical research, development and commercialization of innovative products, enabling the continuous transformation of scientific research into clinical practices to benefit patients.

CMS deeply engages in several specialty therapeutic fields, and has developed proven commercialization capabilities, extensive networks and expert resources, resulting in leading academic and market positions for its major marketed products. CMS continues to promote the in-depth development of its advantageous specialty fields and expand business boundaries. While strengthening the competitiveness of the cardio-cerebrovascular/gastroenterology business, CMS independently operates its dermatology and medical aesthetics business, and ophthalmology business, aiming to gain leading positions in specialty therapeutic fields, whilst enhancing the scale and efficiency. At the same time, CMS has expanded its business territory to the Southeast Asian market, striving to become a “bridgehead” for global pharmaceutical companies to enter the Southeast Asian market, further escorting the sustainable and healthy development of the Group.

Reference:
1. The data of the product’s Phase II clinical trial for AD indication as disclosed by Mabgeek: https://www.mabge.com/en/index.php?c=show&id=23
2. The interim data of the product’s Phase II clinical trial for asthma indication as disclosed by Mabgeek: https://www.mabge.com/index.php?c=show&id=18
3. Chinese Society of Dermatology, China Dermatologist Association. Clinical pathway for the diagnosis and treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in China (2023): an expert consensus[J]. Chinese Journal of Dermatology, 2023, 56(11): 1000-1007. DOI: 10.35541/cjd.20230247.
4. Mao, Dandan et al. Prevalence and risk factors of atopic dermatitis in Chinese adults: a nationwide population-based cross-sectional study. Chinese medical journal vol. 136,5 604-606. 5 Mar. 2023, DOI:10.1097/CM9.0000000000002560
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The MIL Network –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Political assassinations, police violence and lack of press freedom: 3 barriers to peace in Mozambique
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Corinna Jentzsch, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Leiden University

Mozambique’s parliament and its new president, Daniel Chapo, were sworn in in mid-January 2025 after a tumultuous post-election period of protests, barricades and police violence.

The 9 October 2024 elections prompted countless reports of fraud, leading the European Union election observer mission to note

irregularities during counting of votes and unjustified alteration of election results.

Based on this, and other accounts of fraud, the opposition candidate Venâncio Mondlane claimed to have won the elections and coordinated several weeks of protests across the country.

These were met with a harsh police response. Over 4,200 people were reportedly arrested, 730 shot and 300 killed with live ammunition between 21 October 2024 and 16 January 2025.

After spending several weeks abroad, Mondlane returned to Mozambique on 9 January to join ongoing political talks between the government and opposition parties.

Read more:
Mozambique’s deadly protests: how the country got here

How can Mozambique move forward?

To get out of its political crisis will not be easy. It will require the party in power, Frelimo, to fundamentally change how it deals with disagreement and discontent. Buying off political opposition elites, as has been done in the past, will not calm this political storm.

Based on my research into political violence, I suggest that the cycles of violence in the country can only be broken if the new president addresses three issues related to state repression. He needs to do this in dialogue with opposition forces to earn trust and public support for the new government.

The three issues are:
- putting an end to violence perpetrated by the police and army
- ending political assassinations and ensuring accountability for the ones that have taken place
- protecting media freedom and ending violence against journalists.
No more blind eye to police (and army) violence

Human rights experts urged the government in November 2024 to end the post-election violence and allow thorough investigations. Experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council expressed concerns about

violations of the right to life, including of a child, deliberate killings of unarmed protesters and the excessive use of force by the police deployed to disperse peaceful protests.

Such extensive repression has been a common response by the Mozambican security forces over the past years, with severe consequences for the evolution of conflict. For example, state repression has been a major contributor to armed conflict in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, where an Islamist insurgency has been raging since 2017. Victims of violence by security forces are an important source of recruits for the insurgency.

Accountability for political assassinations

Mozambique has suffered from targeted killings of political opposition figures. The most recent, high-profile political assassinations took place after the elections in October. Elvino Dias, Mondlane’s lawyer, and Paulo Guambe, an official of Podemos, the political party that supported Mondlane’s run for president, were shot dead in Maputo by unknown gunmen.

Dias was preparing a court case challenging the election results.

Mozambique has a long history of such political assassinations. These have rarely been investigated and no one has been held accountable. The government and police regularly deny any involvement, and people have come to speak of “death squads” seeking to intimidate the political opposition and civil society.

Freedom of the press and civil society

The ability of the press in Mozambique to hold people accountable for their actions has been severely constrained. Its ability to report and investigate those involved in state-sanctioned violence has been a challenge for a long time.

In its annual report for 2023 the Media Institute of Southern Africa documented the extent to which journalists had been intimidated and attacked. It reported that such incidents increased during election periods.

This was indeed the case in the 2024 pre-election period. Journalists faced arrests when, for example, reporting on police trying to disrupt opposition parties’ events.

Mozambique enjoys a diverse media landscape, including multiple private and local media outlets. Nevertheless, press freedom has been curtailed. An example has been the treatment of journalists investigating the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado. Soon after the conflict began in October 2017, the government barred journalists from visiting the province, and many of those reporting nevertheless were detained and held for extended periods or arrested for unsubstantiated charges.

Read more:
Mozambique’s long struggle to build a nation – four novels that tell the story

The case of Amade Abubacar made headlines in 2019 when he was detained and held for 13 days in military barracks without access to a lawyer. He was then charged with “violation of state secrets” and “public instigation to crime”.

What Abubacar did was report on the insurgency. Since then, the situation has got worse for the media. Last year, the Cabo Delgado governor Valige Tauabo accused unnamed journalists of colluding with the
insurgents.

As I was writing this, news reached me that Arlindo Chissale, a journalist and political activist from Nacala, had been arrested, tortured and killed by the “death squads” mentioned earlier on 7 January 2025. Arlindo worked with me on researching the conflict in Cabo Delgado.

Freedom of the press is important to hold the new government accountable for the promises it has made to the Mozambican people.

The way forward

Chapo delivered a well-crafted inauguration address on 15 January. It was well crafted because, as some analysts commented, he incorporated many of the policies being advocated by Mondlane.

Read more:
Venâncio Mondlane is Mozambique’s political challenger: what he stands for

He said in his speech that he had heard what the protesters were telling him during the demonstrations. And he promised to promote unity, human rights and political dialogue to (re-)create social and political stability.

Chapo is also aware of the waves being made by Mondlane, who has recognised the political power of mobilising people around the issue of police violence. On his return to Mozambique, Mondlane presented the government with a list of demands to be implemented in the first 100 days of the new government. The first was that steps needed to be taken to stop the violence against the population.

Since his return he has also met victims of violence at the hands of the police and army.

The challenge is that Chapo’s party, Frelimo, which has been in power since independence in 1975, is strong and can severely curtail the president’s ability to introduce relevant reforms.

Read more:
Mozambique’s cycles of violence won’t end until Frelimo’s grip on power is broken

It’s therefore far from clear whether Chapo can pursue any of his suggested policy goals.

Dialogue with Mondlane is necessary. But if this leads to another “elite bargain” that might get him a cabinet position but does not benefit the common people, Mozambicans will not calm down. Any agreement must address the lack of accountability for police violence, stop political assassinations, and allow journalists to investigate political violence.

Corinna Jentzsch has received research funding from the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

– ref. Political assassinations, police violence and lack of press freedom: 3 barriers to peace in Mozambique – https://theconversation.com/political-assassinations-police-violence-and-lack-of-press-freedom-3-barriers-to-peace-in-mozambique-248153
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Seizure of Sally Mann’s photographs in Texas revives old debates about obscenity and freedom of expression

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Amy Werbel, Professor of the History of Art, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

Photographer Sally Mann poses with her dog in 2004. Michael Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Four photographs by celebrated artist Sally Mann were recently removed from the walls of an exhibition at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth at the behest of local Republican officials, who claimed they constituted child pornography. The Fort Worth Police Department is now investigating the allegation.

Those photographs – taken more than 30 years ago – feature Mann’s children posing in the nude on the family’s isolated farm in rural Virginia. They were included in an exhibition titled “Diaries of Home,” which also featured images by renowned photographers LaToya Ruby Frazier, Nan Goldin and Catherine Opie, among others.

One of the seized photographs depicts her son’s naked torso dripping with a melted popsicle, suggesting the innocence and messiness of childhood. In another, Mann’s naked daughter tiptoes across a tabletop, evoking both her strength and vulnerability.

For decades, these works have elicited admiration and, yes, condemnation.

I’m an art historian, and my most recent book documents the rise of art censorship following passage of the nation’s first federal anti-obscenity law in 1873, which became known as the Comstock Act after its chief lobbyist, the Christian evangelical activist Anthony Comstock.

Today, the Comstock Act is in the news mostly because it prohibits abortion medication, which was considered a form of obscenity alongside erotic images, sculptures and sex toys. But in the law’s early years, it was used to confiscate vast quantities of art and literature deemed lewd, obscene or erotic. Though this form of censorship has since been deemed unconstitutional by various U.S. Supreme Court decisions, debates over what constitutes obscenity, child pornography and artistic expression persist.

To me, the events surrounding the removal of Mann’s photographs echo those of a censorious past.

Evangelical underpinnings

Throughout Comstock’s career, evangelical Christians served as the most fervent supporters of his work; they were behind the creation of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, which funded his investigations.

Anthony Comstock.
Bettmann/Getty Images

Comstock’s censorship campaigns varied. Sometimes he went after nude drawings, paintings and sculptures. But even relatively tame photographs of actresses wearing tights attracted his ire.

In Fort Worth, objections originated from local Christian activists and organizations. Chief among them was the Danbury Institute, which penned an open letter to the Fort Worth museum, accusing Mann’s photographs of “normalizing pedophilia” and the exhibition more generally of “promoting “the breakdown of the God-ordained definition of family” through its depiction of LGBTQ parents. In its mission statement, the institute declares that “Scripture is authoritative, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient.”

Comstock similarly believed that “God’s Law” ought to be the guiding standard for American jurisprudence. To justify seizing and destroying an enormous array of images and objects during his 43-year career, Comstock often claimed to be battling Satan.

His efforts were broadly popular when it came to the sexually explicit images that tended to circulate in bars and saloons. But he eventually ran afoul of Americans’ more liberal and pluralistic attitudes when he targeted art and popular culture.

Courts expand freedom of expression

Over the course of the 20th century, the Comstock Act lost most of its teeth.

Judges and juries increasingly upheld civil liberties claims in cases concerning freedom of expression, vastly expanding the scope of the First Amendment.

In 1973, the Supreme Court established the current three-part “test” for obscenity. The final prong of that test dictates that a work is not obscene if it has “serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.”

In my view, there’s no credible claim that Mann’s long-celebrated photographs do not have serious artistic value.

Following the removal of Mann’s photographs, arts advocates were quick to point out that the seized images are featured on prominent museum websites around the country. The National Coalition against Censorship and Artists at Risk organization issued strong statements in support of the exhibition of Mann’s photographs.

Sally Mann’s ‘Holding the Weasel’ on display at a Sotheby’s press preview in 2008.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

The Fort Worth sheriff’s office, which is holding the images, is reportedly evaluating whether they violate Texas’ child pornography statute. But because Mann’s photographs do not depict any sexual acts, the only phrase in this state law that could be deemed relevant is “lewd exhibition,” with “lewd” defined as an intent to stimulate sexual desire.

Here, context is key. As one critic of the removal of Mann’s works pointed out, “Most everyone reading this can easily make a distinction between going to a museum and opening Pornhub.”

By selectively removing a few of Mann’s photographs from the exhibition and suggesting they may be child pornography, Texas officials stripped them of their context as works of art. In doing so, they introduced the photographs to an audience that would never have seen them in an art museum but that now may search for them online with prurient intent.

Once again, I can’t help but see a connection to Comstock’s crusades. His efforts backfired, to a degree, in that the targets of his ire, from student drawings of nude models to birth control literature, ended up getting more publicity than they otherwise would have.

Curators also play a role

Despite legal protections, curators are still sensitive to how works of art may offend viewers and have developed a set of practices to accommodate these sensitivities.

Three years ago, I interviewed curators and directors in academic art museums and galleries across the country as a fellow at the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement.

My research focused on how museum professionals deal with the exhibition of potentially controversial artwork. They spoke to me about a variety of best practices. For example, prominently displayed content warnings allow viewers to choose to opt in or avoid the exhibition altogether. Thoughtful placement of the works and supplemental commentary add more context and provoke thought and discussion.

Fort Worth’s Modern Art Museum, where Mann’s photographs were displayed.
Michael Barera, CC BY-SA

The curators of “Diaries of Home” clearly followed these best practices.

They stated the objective of their exhibition: to “examine conceptions of home in all their complexity,” and to feature the perspectives of women, LGBTQ and nonbinary artists and subjects. A content warning was visible to audiences before they entered the gallery: “This exhibition features mature themes that may be sensitive for some viewers.” Museum staff provided wall labels, tours and artist discussions.

These contributions situate the exhibited artworks within a broader conversation about families in America today, which are diverse in makeup, in definition and in lifestyle.

In other words, they show how these are serious, thoughtful works of art.

Although I can’t imagine any sort of successful criminal prosecution will take place, I do think damage has been done. This may have been a goal from the start.

Threatening legal action undoubtedly has a chilling effect. The Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth must grapple with a potential loss of donors. It takes time, money and effort to respond to official and public critics.

In Comstock’s era, civil liberties activists, artists and arts organizations rose to the challenge of defending their freedom of speech.

Those who value artistic expression today will have to follow in their footsteps.

Amy Werbel receives funding from the State University of New York and the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement.

– ref. Seizure of Sally Mann’s photographs in Texas revives old debates about obscenity and freedom of expression – https://theconversation.com/seizure-of-sally-manns-photographs-in-texas-revives-old-debates-about-obscenity-and-freedom-of-expression-247321

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Red light therapy shows promise for pain relief, inflammation and skin conditions – but other claims might be hyped

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Praveen Arany, Associate Professor of Oral Biology, University at Buffalo

A treatment typically lasts from three to 15 minutes. Rich Legg/E+ via Getty Images

Red light therapy is increasingly viewed as a promising treatment for wrinkles, acne, psoriasis, scars and sun-damaged skin, and as a supportive therapy for some kinds of cancer. But does red light therapy live up to the hype that it’s practically a panacea for all sorts of ailments?

Praveen Arany is a professor of oral biology, biomedical engineering and surgery at the University of Buffalo and an expert on the uses of light and lasers for medical purposes. He explains how red light therapy works, for what diseases and conditions it may be most useful, and if red light home devices are effective.

What is red light therapy?

Treatment with red light therapy involves exposure to red light at a very low dose in a hospital or clinic.

It’s also called low-power laser therapy, soft laser therapy, cold laser therapy and nonthermal LED light therapy.

The umbrella term is called photobiomodulation therapy, which covers other colors, or wavelengths, that have health benefits. These light wavelengths span the visible to the near-infrared spectrum.

Red light is easily the most popular of the photobiomodulation therapies. That’s primarily due to its availability – the treatment has been around more than three decades.

While it’s true that other colors are also clinically and commercially available, researchers are still studying them to determine exactly how effective they are. That said, green light therapy is generally used to treat migraines; yellow light for depression; and blue light to kill resistant strains of bacteria, like MRSA infections, and to treat seasonal affective disorder, a depression that typically onsets in late fall and continues through winter.

The professional laser in the doctor’s office may be more effective than at-home LED devices.

How does red light therapy work?

Put simply, red light stimulates the cells in your body, energizing them while initiating blood flow to the affected area. That, in turn, spurs healing, similar to how your body responds to a cut by clotting the blood to heal a wound.

The treatment is simple and painless. The patient, either seated or lying comfortably, is exposed to the red light for three to 15 minutes. They may experience a feeling of warmth during treatment, but it should not be uncomfortable or hot. The clinician will likely recommend eye shields.

Used correctly, red light therapy is very safe. Overdosing – staying under the light too long or receiving treatments at very high power – does not necessarily cause harm, but it might reduce or slow benefits. However, just as some people are more prone to sunburn than others, some patients may be more sensitive to this light and might see redness in the skin. Those patients should receive lower light doses during treatment.

What medical conditions can the therapy help?

Randomized, controlled clinical trials show that red light therapy can reduce pain, inflammation and tissue damage. Because all of these things are prevalent in many illnesses, photobiomodulation may be a powerful adjunct for treating a wide range of diseases.

One example is cancer. There’s now strong evidence that red light therapy can lessen pain and inflammation from radiation, chemotherapy and bone marrow stem cell transplants. Red light therapy has also reduced other complications from cancer treatment, including oral ulcers, scars and fibrosis.

Other recent human clinical studies show that photobiomodulation helps heal diabetic and burn wounds, as well as some types of ulcers. However, this therapy should not replace good wound care treatment, such as disinfection. Photobiomodulation has also worked for patients with neck and back pain and tennis elbow.

What about other uses for red light therapy?

Although not proven to be effective by randomized controlled trials with large samples, which is the gold standard of research, red light therapy has been shown to benefit patients with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, macular degeneration, myopia and autism in clinical case reports and lab research studies.

A word of caution, however: Red light therapy may not work for all the medical conditions that proponents say it does. Red light therapy is also used for cardiovascular health, elevating mood, relieving anxiety, improving muscle performance and recovery from sports injuries, and providing anti-aging benefits to the skin. While there’s some evidence to support these types of treatments, rigorous research studies are still missing.

Research indicates that red light therapy could help with myopia in children and macular degeneration.

What about its commercial use?

This is a rapidly evolving field. Both LED and laser devices – beds, lamps, helmets and face masks – are readily available in clinical and nonclinical settings, such as medical spas, gyms and beauty salons. They’re also available for at-home use.

Laser devices are more powerful and are typically found at a hospital, clinic or doctor’s office. An LED, or light-emitting diode, is less powerful and more often used in commercial or home settings.

The general consensus is that LEDs are OK to use in commercial establishments like beauty salons and medical spas, provided practitioners receive the appropriate training. But the use of laser devices should be relegated to clinical specialists. That’s because lasers, in untrained hands, have the potential to do more damage than LEDs.

As for some home products, their quality and reliability may be questionable; they might not meet minimum quality standards of output power or wavelength.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration appears to be moving toward more rigorous evaluations of these products, especially with lasers, but there is a critical need for a certifying agency or body to take this on. These agencies would test the devices to make sure they’re actually meeting specifications. That hasn’t happened yet, but as it stands now, several scientific and professional organizations are exploring the possibilities.

Praveen Arany consults for Wndrhlth and has cofounded two companies, OptiMed Technologies and Directed Energy Therapeutics. He has received funding from Univeristy at Buffalo, NIH, AFOSR and various PBM companies including Summus Medical, Kerber Applied Research, Thor Photomedicine, Vielight. He is affiliated with Optica, IADR-AADOCR, ASLMS, WALT, NAALT, WFLD and ALD.

– ref. Red light therapy shows promise for pain relief, inflammation and skin conditions – but other claims might be hyped – https://theconversation.com/red-light-therapy-shows-promise-for-pain-relief-inflammation-and-skin-conditions-but-other-claims-might-be-hyped-240426

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The technology that runs Congress lags so far behind the modern world that its flag-tracking system just caught up to 2017-era Pizza Hut

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lorelei Kelly, Research Lead, Modernizing Congress, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University

Tracking one of these items to your door has been possible since 2017 – tracking the other is all new. FTiare/iStock / Getty Images Plus

On a typical day, you can’t turn on the news without hearing someone say that Congress is broken. The implication is that this dereliction explains why the institution is inert and unresponsive to the American people.

There’s one element often missing from that discussion: Congress is confounding in large part because its members can’t hear the American people, or even each other. I mean that literally. Congressional staff serve in thousands of district offices across the nation, and their communications technology doesn’t match that of most businesses and even many homes.

Members’ district offices only got connected to secure Wi-Fi internet service in 2023. Discussions among members and congressional staff were at times cut short at 40 minutes because some government workers were relying on the free version of Zoom, according to congressional testimony in March 2024.

Congressional testimony discusses meetings being cut off at 40 minutes.

The information systems Congress uses have existed largely unchanged for decades, while the world has experienced an information revolution, integrating smartphones and the internet into people’s daily personal and professional lives. The technologies that have transformed modern life and political campaigning are not yet available to improve the ability of members of Congress to govern once they win office.

Slow to adapt

Like many institutions, Congress resists change; only the COVID-19 pandemic pushed it to allow online hearings and bill introductions. Before 2020, whiteboards, sticky notes and interns with clipboards dominated the halls of Congress.

Electronic signatures arrived on Capitol Hill in 2021 – more than two decades after Congress passed the ESIGN Act to allow electronic signatures and records in commerce.

The nation spends about US$10 million a year on technology innovation in the House of Representatives – the institution that declares war and pays all the federal government’s bills. That’s just 1% of the amount theater fans have spent to see ‶Hamilton“ on Broadway since 2015.

It seems the story of American democracy is attractive to the public, but investing in making it work is less so for Congress itself.

The chief administrative office in Congress, a nonlegislative staff that helps run the operations of Congress, decides what types of technology can be used by members. These internal rules exist to protect Congress and national security, but that caution can also inhibit new ways to use technology to better serve the public.

Finding a happy medium between innovation and caution can result in a livelier public discourse.

The pandemic compelled Congress to allow witnesses to testify before committees by videoconference.
Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images

A modernization effort

Congress has been working to modernize itself, including experimenting with new ways to hear local voices in their districts, including gathering constituent feedback in a standardized way that can be easily processed by computers.

The House Natural Resources Committee was also an early adopter of technology for collaborative lawmaking. In 2020, members and committee staff used a platform called Madison to collaboratively write and edit proposed environmental justice legislation with communities across the country that had been affected by pollution.

House leaders are also looking at what is called deliberative technology, which uses specially designed websites to facilitate digital participation by pairing collective human intelligence with artificial intelligence. People post their ideas online and respond to others’ posts. Then the systems can screen and summarize posts so users better understand each other’s perspectives.

These systems can even handle massive group discussions involving large numbers of people who hold a wide range of positions on a vast set of issues and interests. In general, these technologies make it easier for people to find consensus and have their voices heard by policymakers in ways the policymakers can understand and respond to.

Governments in Finland, the U.K., Canada and Brazil are already piloting deliberative technologies. In Finland, roughly one-third of young people between 12 and 17 participate in setting budget priorities for the city of Helsinki.

In May 2024, 45 U.S.-based nonprofit organizations signed a letter to Congress asking that deliberative technology platforms be included in the approved tools for civic engagement.

In the meantime, Congress is looking at ways to use artificial intelligence as part of a more integrated digital strategy based on lessons from other democratic legislatures.

A panel discussion of various ideas for modernizing how Congress hears from the American people.

Finding benefits

Modernization efforts have opened connections within Congress and with the public. For example, hearings held by video conference during the pandemic enabled witnesses to share expertise with Congress from a distance and open up a process that is notoriously unrepresentative. I was home in rural New Mexico during the pandemic and know three people who remotely testified on tribal education, methane pollution and environmental harms from abandoned oil wells.

New House Rules passed on Jan. 3, 2025, encourage the use of artificial intelligence in day-to-day operations and allow for remote witness testimony.

Other efforts that are new to Congress but long established in business and personal settings include the ability to track changes in legislation and a scheduling feature that reduces overlaps in meetings. Members are regularly scheduled to be two places at once.

Another effort in development is an internal digital staff directory that replaces expensive directories compiled by private companies assembling contact information for congressional staff.

The road ahead

In 2022, what is now called ”member-directed spending“ returned to Congress with some digital improvements. Formerly known as “earmarks,” this is the practice of allowing members of Congress to handpick specific projects in their home districts to receive federal money. Earmarks were abolished in 2011 amid concerns of abuse and opposition by fiscal hardliners. Their 2022 return and rebranding introduced publicly available project lists, ethics rules and a search engine to track the spending as efforts to provide public transparency about earmarks.

Additional reforms could make the federal government even more responsive to the American people.

Some recent improvements are already familiar. Just as customers can follow their pizza delivery from the oven to the doorstep, Congress in late 2024 created a flag-tracking app that has dramatically improved a program that allows constituents to receive a flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol. Before, different procedures in the House and Senate caused time-consuming snags in this delivery system.

At last, the world’s most powerful legislature caught up with Pizza Hut, which rolled out this technology in 2017 to track customers’ pizzas from the store to the delivery driver to their front door.

Lorelei Kelly has received funding from Democracy Fund and the Hewlett Foundation for her research on modernization in the US Congress.

– ref. The technology that runs Congress lags so far behind the modern world that its flag-tracking system just caught up to 2017-era Pizza Hut – https://theconversation.com/the-technology-that-runs-congress-lags-so-far-behind-the-modern-world-that-its-flag-tracking-system-just-caught-up-to-2017-era-pizza-hut-245931

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: President Trump promises to make government efficient − and he’ll run into the same roadblocks as Presidents Taft, Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and Bush, among others

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Selin, Associate Professor of Law, Arizona State University

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Jan. 20, 2025. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

As President Donald Trump issued a slew of executive orders and directives on his first day of his second administration, he explained his actions by saying, “It’s all about common sense.”

For over a century, presidents have pursued initiatives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government, couching those efforts in language similar to Trump’s.

Many of these, like Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, which he appointed billionaire Elon Musk to run, have been designed to capitalize on the expertise of people outside of government. The idea often cited as inspiration for these efforts: The private sector knows how to be efficient and nimble and strives for excellence; government doesn’t.

But government, and government service, is about providing something that the private sector can’t. And outsiders often don’t think about the accountability requirements that the laws and Constitution of the United States impose on government workers and agencies.

Congress, though, can help address these problems and check inappropriate proposals. It can also stand in the way of reform.

Charles E. Merriam, left, and Louis Brownlow, members of the President’s Reorganization Committee, leave the White House after discussing government reorganization with President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Sept. 23, 1938.
Harris & Ewing, photographer, Library of Congress

Proposing reform is nothing new

Perhaps the most famous group to work with a president on improving government was President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Committee on Administrative Management, established in 1936.

That group, commonly referred to as the Brownlow Committee, noted that while critics predicted Roosevelt would bring “decay, destruction, and death of democracy,” the executive branch – and the president who sat atop it – was one of the “very greatest” contributions to modern democracy.

The committee argued that the president was unable to do his job because the executive branch was badly organized, federal employees lacked skills and character, and the budget process needed reform. So it proposed a series of changes designed to increase presidential power over government to enhance performance. Congress went along with some of these proposals, giving the president more staff and authority to reorganize the executive branch.

Since then, almost every president has put together similar recommendations. For example, Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed former President Herbert Hoover to lead advisory commissions designed to recommend changes to the federal government. President Jimmy Carter launched a series of government improvement projects, and President George W. Bush even created scorecards to rank agencies according to their performance.

In his first term, Trump issued a mandate for reform to reorganize government for the 21st century.

This time around, Trump has taken executive actions to freeze government hiring, create a new entity to promote government efficiency, and give him the ability to fire high-ranking administrators who influence policy.

Most presidential proposals generally fail to come to fruition. But they often spark conversations in Congress and the media about executive power, the effectiveness of federal programs, and what government can do better.

Most presidents have tried the same thing

Historically, most presidents and their advisers – and indeed most scholars – have agreed that government bureaucracy is not designed in ways that promote efficiency. But that is intentional: Stanford political scientist Terry Moe has written that “American public bureaucracy is not designed to be effective. The bureaucracy arises out of politics, and its design reflects the interests, strategies, and compromises of those who exercise political power.”

A common presidential response to this practical reality is to propose government changes that make it look more like the private sector. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan brought together 161 corporate executives overseen by industrialist J. Peter Grace to make recommendations to eliminate government waste and inefficiency, based on their experiences leading successful corporations.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton authorized Vice President Al Gore to launch an effort to reinvent the federal government into one that worked better and cost less.

The Clinton administration created teams in every major federal agency, modeled after the private sector’s efficiency standards, to move government “From Red Tape to Results,” as the title of the administration’s plan said.

An introductory page from the 1993 National Performance Review executive summary, commissioned by the Clinton administration.
CIA.gov

Presidential attempts to make government look and work more like people think the private sector works often include adjustments to the terms of federal employment to reward employees who excel at their jobs.

In 1905, for example, President Theodore Roosevelt established a Committee on Department Methods to examine how the federal government could recruit and retain highly qualified employees. One hundred years later, federal agencies still experienced challenges](https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-03-2.pdf) related to hiring and retaining people who could effectively achieve agency missions.

President Bill Clinton applauds as Vice President Al Gore speaks at a press conference on March 3, 1994, at which Gore gave Clinton a report of the National Performance Review.
Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images

So why haven’t these plans worked?

At least the past five presidents have faced problems in making long-term changes to government.

In part, this is because government reorganizations and operational reforms like those contemplated by Trump require Congress to make adjustments to the laws of the United States, or at least give the president and federal agencies the money required to invest in changes.

Consider, for example, presidential proposals to invest in new technologies, which are a large part of Trump and Musk’s plans to improve government efficiency. Since at least 1910, when President William Howard Taft established a Commission on Economy and Efficiency to address the “unnecessarily complicated and expensive” way the federal government handled and distributed government documents, presidents have recommended centralizing authority to mandate federal agencies’ use of new technologies to make government more efficient.

But transforming government through technology requires money, people and time. Presidential plans for government-wide change are contingent upon the degree to which federal agencies can successfully implement them.

To sidestep these problems, some presidents have proposed that the government work with the private sector. For example, Trump announced a joint venture with technology companies to invest in the government’s artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Yet as I have found in my previous research, government investment in new technology first requires an assessment of agencies’ current technological skills and the impact technology will have on agency functions, including those related to governmental transparency, accountability and constitutional due process. It’s not enough to go out and buy software that tech giants recommend agencies acquire.

The things that government agencies do, such as regulating the economy, promoting national security and protecting the environment, are incredibly complicated. It’s often hard to see their impact right away.

Recognizing this, Congress has designed a complex set of laws to prevent political interference with federal employees, who tend to look at problems long term. For example, as I have found in my work with Paul Verkuil, former chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States, Congress intentionally writes laws that require certain government positions to be held by experts who can work in their jobs without worrying about politics.

Congress also writes the laws the federal employees administer, oversees federal programs and decides how much money to appropriate to those programs each year.

So by design, anything labeled a “presidential commission on modernizing/fixing/refocusing government” tells only part of the story and sets out an impossible task. The president can’t make it happen alone. Nor can Elon Musk.

Jennifer L. Selin has received funding and/or support for her research on the executive branch from the Administrative Conference of the United States. The views in this piece are those of the author and do not represent the position of the Administrative Conference or the federal government.

– ref. President Trump promises to make government efficient − and he’ll run into the same roadblocks as Presidents Taft, Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and Bush, among others – https://theconversation.com/president-trump-promises-to-make-government-efficient-and-hell-run-into-the-same-roadblocks-as-presidents-taft-roosevelt-roosevelt-truman-eisenhower-carter-reagan-clinton-and-bush-among-others-247957

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: US Supreme Court is unabashedly liberal − in its writing style

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jill Barton, Professor and Director of Legal Writing, University of Miami

The current Supreme Court has upended historic precedent on abortion protections and drawn scrutiny for ethics conflicts, while its docket remains packed with high-profile cases set to dominate headlines in the months ahead.

Yet one of its lesser-known departures from the past lies in its approach to punctuation.

Justice Neil Gorsuch boldly departed from court tradition in 2017 with his first Supreme Court opinion. In 11 pages, he used 15 contractions. He even used one in the first paragraph: “That’s the nub of the dispute now before us,” he casually stated.

Gorsuch’s predecessor, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, was known as a gifted, dramatic writer. Scalia thought that contractions – combining two words with an apostrophe into a shorter form, such as “don’t” in place of “do not” – were “intellectually abominable.”

Gorsuch’s strikingly informal phrasing signaled a shift toward a more modern, conversational writing style by all nine justices.

While the court’s politics have veered right, the justices’ prose has arguably shifted left, becoming more liberal and accessible. Today’s Supreme Court unanimously and actively embraces a progressive writing style, rebelling against old-school grammar rules, according to my study of 10,000 pages of opinions from the past decade.

Twitter touts #GorsuchStyle

The first opinion assigned to new justices is usually a slog. In a kind of hazing tradition, they are typically assigned to write on a tedious legal issue that easily wins unanimous agreement.

Gorsuch used his short opinion on the dry topic of debt collection to declare a more colloquial style. In Henson v. Santander, the Harvard Law graduate spoke directly to readers, using “you” and variations of that personal pronoun 17 times, something his colleagues rarely did. Gorsuch wrote with apparent nonchalance, calling a debt collector “the repo man.”

Journalists and court watchers took notice, brewing an online conversation about #GorsuchStyle.

Now, most of the justices use contractions. Arguing that creativity would be stifled in a copyright infringement case, Justice Elena Kagan insisted: “And there’s the rub. (Yes, that’s mostly Shakespeare.).”

Hey, you − I’m talking to you

While Gorsuch might have sharpened the quill of the court’s writing revolution, all nine justices now write more casually to reach an increasingly savvy public. A few justices even drop oh-so-casual exclamation marks in their opinions.

“The majority huffs that ‘nobody disputes’ various of these ‘points of law,’” Kagan decried in a 2021 dissent against a decision curtailing voting rights. “Excellent! I only wish the majority would take them to heart.”

In its 2023-24 term, my research finds, the justices appealed to readers using “you” and variations of it nearly 300 times in their 60 opinions – up 40% from five years ago.

“A police officer can seize your car if he claims it is connected
to a crime committed by someone else,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor told readers, dissenting in a 2024 seizure case.

Deploying both “you” and a contraction, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recently quipped in a 2024 criminal bribery decision: “But you don’t have to take my word for that.”

Given that many good writers – lawyers, academics and journalists among them – avoid personal pronouns as a matter of style, the justices’ new direction shows a surprising lack of formality.

The writing style of the justices today starkly contrasts that of their predecessors, who commonly used dense wording and labyrinthine sentences. Take this 1944 line from Justice Robert H. Jackson, whom several justices name as the writer they admire most:

“But here is an attempt to make an otherwise innocent act a crime merely because this prisoner is the son of parents as to whom he had no choice, and belongs to a race from which there is no way to resign.”

His writing feels lyrical and powerful but is in no way playful or personal.

Chief Justice John Roberts, known for his rhetorical prowess, has long lamented that the media must summarize and translate the court’s lengthy opinions for the public. In 2017, he praised the monumental desegregation decision, Brown v. Board of Education, for its brevity.

At just 10 pages, Roberts said, newspapers “had to publish the whole thing so that people could read it. They didn’t get to say, ‘Oh, this is what this means.’”

Good, clear writing has power

The court’s embrace of a more accessible writing style comes as its own popularity is plummeting. While 80% of Americans viewed the court favorably in the mid-1990s, only about 50% do now.

The 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was particularly controversial, inciting two years of protests by abortion-rights supporters and a national argument over reproductive rights. But even conservative critics decried the court’s July 2024 decision to broaden presidential immunity in Trump v. United States as “a mess” and an “incoherent” “embarrassment.”

Protesters opposing the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade gather in Washington, D.C., on June 24, 2024.
Aashish Kiphayet/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Roberts, who began his career as a young lawyer in the Reagan administration, has earned a reputation for taking a measured, long-term approach to avoid controversy, and he strives to unify the justices in consensus. The first few opinions of the 2024-2025 term, including the decision to ban TikTok, were unanimous – as are roughly 50% of the court’s decisions, though these tend to address less contentious issues.

But leaks of draft opinions and memos about the justices’ confidential deliberations paint a picture of a storied institution in disarray. Scrutiny of the Supreme Court is mounting, and critics, including former President Joe Biden, have called for a binding ethics code and term limits.

For the Roberts Court, the challenge ahead lies in securing its legitimacy among a deeply polarized American public. The justices making their opinions more approachable may be a small gesture in that direction.

“The thing about the Supreme Court that I think is so magnificent is that the justices get to actually explain their votes,” Jackson told NPR on Sept. 4, 2024. “We are the one branch of government in which that is the standard.”

Can clear, powerful arguments presented in plain, straightforward language help rebuild trust in the institution? The justices’ subtle shift toward modernizing their writing suggests they believe it might.

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

– ref. US Supreme Court is unabashedly liberal − in its writing style – https://theconversation.com/us-supreme-court-is-unabashedly-liberal-in-its-writing-style-245503

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Reproductive health care faces legal and surveillance challenges post-Roe – new research offers guidance

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nora McDonald, Assistant Professor of Information Technology, George Mason University

Providers play a central role in reproductive health privacy. FG Trade/iStock via Getty Images

Long before Roe v. Wade was overturned, reproductive justice advocates had been sounding the alarm about the increasing number of women subjected to criminal investigation for suspected abortion, stillbirth or miscarriage. These cases were often initiated by health care providers and bolstered by state laws used to prosecute women for having abortions.

Newer laws, however, incentivize people outside of health care, including friends and family members, to report someone they suspect of having an abortion or helping someone else with an abortion. Coupled with the unprecedented access that authorities now have to digital information, these laws create new avenues for prosecution.

In the post-Roe era, people capable of pregnancy face growing threats. Health care providers, family, friends, information on personal devices and virtually any activity that can be observed or recorded pose privacy risks that can lead to prosecution. I study online privacy. This vast scope for potential surveillance and privacy intrusion is a key focus of the research my colleagues and I conduct.

In a recent paper, we surveyed reproductive health care providers about their privacy and security practices. We used the results to map the path of a hypothetical “Jane” to illustrate how people can identify privacy risks in their own situations. This choose-your-adventure approach helps readers navigate the potential legal, digital and personal challenges involved in accessing reproductive health care – and reveals the grim stakes.

Privacy protections

Historically, health care providers who opposed abortion have been the primary sources for reporting patients suspected of seeking abortions. While they remain a significant threat, additional risks to patient privacy have emerged. For example, state laws increasingly compel providers to hand over medical records.

This circumvents new Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protections meant to shield protected reproductive health information from use in investigations when people seek abortions in states where the procedure is legal. Authorities might also be able to access records across state lines where abortion is legal – for example, when different electronic health record systems can share data.

It is also possible that, in the future, electronic health records could be seized across state lines. Last year, in a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 19 state attorneys general protested the new federal data privacy rules. Texas followed up with a lawsuit against the Biden administration over the rule.

Even so-called shield laws adopted by some states meant to protect people seeking abortions from record seizures have loopholes.

Under the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services added a privacy rule to protect reproducitve health data.

Privacy vulnerabilities

Despite some protections offered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, additional gaps in safeguarding reproductive health information persist. Data captured outside medical portals, such as from apps or pharmacy transactions, often falls outside the federal law’s scope.

It’s important to note that apps that capture consumer reproductive health data, like period trackers, do not necessarily pose a greater risk than informants. But the dystopian potential of governments reaching into personal intimate data, and the simplicity of the remedy – deleting an app – draw disproportionate attention.

While it’s not entirely clear whether period trackers are definitively good or bad from a digital privacy perspective, they do offer potential benefits, such as helping people prevent unwanted pregnancies and thus avoid prosecution.

Once reported to authorities, activities conducted on personal devices – browsing history, purchases, location data, and messages with friends or family – can become evidence in prosecutions. Authorities have shown a willingness to subpoena records from social media platforms, and they frequently access personal devices.

Additionally, laws that incentivize family, friends and partners to report suspected abortions create a threat of surveillance from intimate associates. These dynamics are exacerbated by new laws that criminalize “trafficking” minors – transporting them across state lines – for abortion services.

Providers’ role protecting privacy

In our research, my colleagues and I found that reproductive health care providers can play a critical role in guiding patients on adopting privacy strategies and helping them navigate an increasingly complex landscape of privacy threats. Clinics are trusted spaces for affordable, progressive care that often shield patients from judgment or harm.

Based on our interviews with reproductive health care providers, the protocols they use to manage communications, billing and other aspects of patient interactions have proved effective at protecting privacy, especially for vulnerable populations like minors or people with abusive partners. However, people seeking abortions face more nuanced threats. Providers tend to overlook digital risks and threats of prosecution tied to patients’ devices and records.

This gap in awareness leaves patients without critical guidance for protecting their privacy. Our initial research conducted in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision revealed that people capable of pregnancy express profound concerns about reproductive privacy, yet often feel inadequately prepared to navigate its complexities.

Findings from our forthcoming research suggest that many patients take extensive precautions, yet it’s not clear how effectively they can prioritize their digital strategies. At the same time, these people place significant trust in their reproductive health care providers, especially because they often deem existing guidance on privacy untrustworthy or insufficient.

Although providers may currently be less attuned to the newer privacy risks, they could play a crucial role in addressing them. By incorporating digital privacy and threat modeling into their care, providers can help patients navigate a complex landscape of threats in an environment of pervasive surveillance.

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

– ref. Reproductive health care faces legal and surveillance challenges post-Roe – new research offers guidance – https://theconversation.com/reproductive-health-care-faces-legal-and-surveillance-challenges-post-roe-new-research-offers-guidance-246869

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Newly discovered photos of Nazi deportations show Jewish victims as they were last seen alive

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Wolf Gruner, Professor of History, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Deportation of Jews in Bielefeld, Germany, on Dec. 13, 1941. Courtesy City Archive Bielefeld, CC BY-SA

The Holocaust was the first mass atrocity to be heavily photographed.

The mass production and distribution of cameras in the 1930s and 1940s enabled Nazi officials and ordinary people to widely document Germany’s persecution of Jews and other religious and ethnic minorities.

I co-direct an international research project to collect every available image documenting Nazi mass deportations of Jews, Roma and Sinti, as well as euthanasia victims, in Nazi Germany between 1938 and 1945. The most recently discovered series of images will be unveiled on Jan. 27, 2025 – Holocaust Remembrance Day.

In most cases, these are the very last pictures taken of Holocaust victims before they were deported and perished. That fact gives the project its name, #LastSeen.

A few of the images we’ve tracked down were taken by Jewish people, not Nazi officials, offering a rare glimpse of Nazi mass deportations from a victim’s perspective. As descendants of survivors help our researchers identify the deportees in these images and tell their stories, we give previously faceless victims a voice.

Jewish Germans assemble for deportation in Breslau, Germany, in November 1941.
Courtesy of Regional Association of Jewish Communities in Saxony, Germany, CC BY-SA

A growing archive

The #LastSeen project is a collaboration between several German academic and educational institutions and the USC Dornsife Center for Advanced Genocide Research in the United States. When it began in late 2021, researchers knew of a few dozen deportation images of Jews from 27 German towns that had been gathered for a 2011-2012 exhibition in Berlin.

After contacting 1,700 public and private archives in Germany and worldwide to find more, #LastSeen has now collected visual evidence from 60 cities and towns in Nazi Germany. Of these, we’ve analyzed 36 series containing over 420 images, including dozens of never-before-seen photo series from 20 towns.

Most photographs of Nazi mass deportations from local archives published in our digital atlas were taken by the perpetrators, who documented the event for the police or municipality. That has heavily shaped our visual understanding of these crimes, because they display victims as a faceless mass. When individuals were depicted, it was most often through an antisemitic lens.

The LastSeen digital atlas shows locations of deportations where visual documentation has been uncovered.
Screenshot, LastSeen, CC BY-SA

We have, however, obtained a handful of images taken from a victim’s perspective. In January 2024, the #LastSeen team shared newly discovered photographs showing the Nazi deportations in what was then Breslau, Germany – today Wroclaw, Poland.

They were sent to us for analysis by Steffen Heidrich, a staff member of the Regional Association of Jewish Communities in Saxony, Germany, who came across an envelope titled “miscellaneous” while reorganizing his archive. It contained 13 deportation photographs – the last images taken of dozens of Jewish victims before they were transported from Breslau to Nazi-occupied Lithuania and massacred in November 1941.

Jewish resistance

Many of these pictures in this series show a large, mixed age group of men and women wearing the yellow star – the notorious Nazi-mandated sign for Jews – gathering outside with bundles of their belongings. Some are taken from a peculiar angle, from behind a tree or a wall, suggesting they were snapped clandestinely.

People waiting for deportation in Breslau in November 1941.
Courtesy of Regional Association of Jewish Communities in Saxony, Germany, CC BY-SA

Given the deportation assembly point for the Breslau Jews, a guarded local beer garden, our researchers knew that only a person with permission to access that property could have shot these pictures.

For these two reasons, we concluded that an employee of the Jewish community of Breslau must have documented the Nazi crimes – most likely Albert Hadda, a Jewish architect and photographer who clandestinely photographed the November 1938 pogrom in Breslau.

Hadda’s marriage to a Christian partially protected him from persecution. Between 1941 and 1943, the city’s Jewish community tasked him with caring for the deportees at the assembly point until their forced removal.

These 13 recently discovered pictures constitute the most comprehensive series illuminating the crime of mass deportations from a victim’s perspective in Nazi Germany. Their unearthing is testimony to the recently rediscovered widespread individual resistance by ordinary Jews who fought Nazi persecution.

Documenting Fulda

Our project has also identified new deportation photos taken in the German town of Fulda in December 1941, during a snowstorm.

Previously, historians knew of only three pictures of this deportation event. Preserved in the city archive, they show the deportees at the Fulda train station during heavy snowfall.

We discovered two new images of the same Nazi deportation, apparently taken by the same photographer, in a videotaped survivor interview in the Visual History Archive of the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles.

In 1996, the Shoah Foundation interviewed Miriam Berline, née Gottlieb, the daughter of a successful Orthodox Jewish merchant in Fulda. At the end of the two-hour interview, Berline held two photographs up to the camera. They clearly show the same snowy deportation in Fulda.

Screenshot from Miriam Berline’s interview about the Fulda deportations.
USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive, CC BY-SA

Berline, born in 1925, escaped Nazi Germany in 1939. She did not remember how her family obtained the images but recalled the photographer as Otto Weissbach, a “wonderful” man who had helped Fulda’s Jewish families.

Our researchers investigated and learned his name was Arthur Weissbach, a non-Jewish neighbor of the Gottliebs. The factory he owned still exists. Descendants of Jewish families have since confirmed that he kept valuables for them and took care of elderly relatives who stayed behind.

Weissbach’s niece said he was a passionate hobby photographer. Since Weissbach kept contact with survivors after the war, he might have given the images to the Gottlieb family. Today, the family’s copies are lost, but their existence is preserved in Berline’s video interview at the USC Shoah Foundation.

The pictures show the Jews at the Fulda train station on Dec. 9, 1941 – revealing how Nazi deportations happened in plain view.

The day before, Jewish men and women from around Fulda had been summoned and spent the night at a local school gym. In the morning, they were taken to the train station and forced by police to board a train to Kassel, in central Germany, and then eastward onto Riga, in Nazi-occupied Latvia.

In total, 1,031 Jews were deported from Kassel to Riga. Only 12 from Fulda survived.

Identifying the deportation victims

It is difficult to identify the people in the photos we discover. So far, we’ve published 279 biographies in the digital atlas.

In the future, artificial intelligence may help us identify more people from the photos in our collection. But for now, this process takes exhaustive research with the help of local researchers and descendants of survivors, whose names are known from archived transport lists.

Families often struggle to recognize individuals in these images, but sometimes they have family photos that help us do so.

Take, for example, this posed family portrait of two young girls. They are Susanne and Tamara Cohn.

Susanne and Tamara Cohn, circa 1939.
Private Archive, CC BY-SA

Relatives of the Cohn family had this photo. It, along with data from the local Nazi transport list, established that two girls photographed in one of his Breslau deportation shots were the daughters of Willy Cohn.

Cohn, a well-known German-Jewish medieval historian and high school teacher in Breslau, kept a detailed diary about the persecution of the town’s Jews from 1933 to 1941. It was unearthed and published in the 1990s.

This photo, below, may be the last picture ever taken of his children with their mother, Gertrud.

Gertrud, Susanne and Tamara Cohn, Breslau, November 1941.
#LastSeen Project, CC BY-SA

New insights

The #LastSeen research project is generating new insights into the history of Nazi mass deportations, new methodologies for photo analysis and new tools for Holocaust education.

In addition to the digital atlas, which has been visited by more than 50,000 people since its launch in 2023, we have developed several award-winning educational tools, including an online game that invites students to search for clues, facts and images of Nazi deportations in an artificial attic.

In workshops for teachers and seminars with students, #LastSeen teaches the history of Nazi deportations and demonstrates how historical photo research works. In Fulda, for example, high schoolers helped us locate the exact places where the photographs were taken.

Those pictures will be published in our atlas on Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025. A public commemoration in Fulda will feature the local students’ contributions.

Depending on fundraising, we hope to extend the #LastSeen project beyond Germany. Collecting images from all 20-plus European countries annexed or occupied by the Nazis will help us better understand these crimes and advance research and education in new ways.

Wolf Gruner is the director of the USC Dornsife Center for Advanced Genocide, which is a partner of the multiinstitutional research project #LastSeen.

– ref. Newly discovered photos of Nazi deportations show Jewish victims as they were last seen alive – https://theconversation.com/newly-discovered-photos-of-nazi-deportations-show-jewish-victims-as-they-were-last-seen-alive-246929

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Microgravity in space may cause cancer − but on Earth, mimicking weightlessness could help researchers develop treatments

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sai Deepika Reddy Yaram, Ph.D. Student in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University

Cancer cells are more hardy in the low-gravity conditions of space. koto_feja/iStock via Getty Images Plus

As space travel gains traction and astronauts spend increasing amounts of time in space, studying its effects on health has become increasingly critical.

Is space travel truly safe? Far from it – research has shown that the effects of space radiation and microgravity on the human body are both detrimental and long-lasting. Creating space conditions on Earth, however, could potentially help researchers treat cancer.

We are biomedical engineers studying how the body’s cells change under microgravity. Mimicking microgravity conditions on Earth allows researchers to study its effects without the need for space travel.

Lab research in space

Microgravity is a condition where gravity is extremely weak and objects are almost weightless. This occurs in space, where Earth’s gravity barely affects astronauts.

Being in a microgravity environment for an extended period of time can lead to several health issues, including bone loss, muscle weakness, face puffiness and heart changes. Even after astronauts return to Earth, their bodies do not completely go back to normal.

Studying how cells, organs and tissues respond to microgravity can help scientists better understand how to address any related harmful changes to the body. However, conducting research on lab samples in space faces significant challenges.

In addition to monitoring lab samples, astronauts have no small number of other tasks to attend to while in space.
NASA/AP Photo

It is costly to launch equipment and samples, and experiments need to be planned around weightless conditions and the force of launch. Strict deadlines, limited access to space missions and dependence on astronauts to conduct experiments increase the complexity of these studies, making accuracy and cooperation crucial for success.

Accessing samples after they have been sent to space can also be difficult. They risk being damaged while in the harsh conditions of space and during transport back to Earth.

The process of planning and carrying out a lab study in space can be time-consuming, limiting the practicality of frequent experimentation.

Studying microgravity on Earth

To address these issues, scientists have developed equipment capable of simulating microgravity conditions on Earth.

One such device is the clinostat, a machine that continuously spins samples to mimic the effects of low gravity. By constantly rotating, it spreads the effects of gravity evenly so that the sample is “weightless” or close to it. To mimic the effects of microgravity, the clinostat must rotate at just the right speed – fast enough that the sample doesn’t react to gravity, but not so fast that it feels other strong forces.

Another method called dielectrophoresis places particles such as cells in a nonuniform electric field. Unlike a uniform electric field, which is the same strength and direction everywhere, a nonuniform electric field changes in strength or direction at different points. This uneven field causes cells to move based on differences in their electrical properties compared with the liquid surrounding them, enabling researchers to separate and study them. While this technique has been widely used on Earth, exploring its application in microgravity environments could allow researchers to more precisely manipulate particles and conduct research not feasible under Earth’s gravity.

Tools such as clinostats and dielectrophoresis provide an easier, cheaper and faster way to study microgravity’s effects on cells compared with space missions. They are cost-effective and portable, requiring less expensive equipment and a smaller volume of samples to quickly generate reliable data.

This video demonstrates particles separating via dielectrophoresis.

Microgravity and cancer

While microgravity can cause cancer, it could also potentially help researchers better understand and treat cancer.

Cancer is one of the most challenging diseases to treat because it evolves rapidly and often becomes resistant to available treatments. By observing cancer cells in microgravity, researchers can study how they grow, divide and respond to drugs under different conditions. In simple terms, we are taking cancer cells out of their comfort zone to see how they react to an unknown environment.

For example, researchers have observed that cancer cells have improved survival under microgravity. They also saw changes to their electrical properties. Other studies have shown that microgravity can alter immune cell function and how cells communicate with each other.

Our team and others hypothesize that cancer cells may respond more effectively to certain drugs when exposed to a weightless environment. We’re looking into whether we can use microgravity to manipulate cancer cells to behave less aggressively and become more vulnerable to treatment.

This research is still in its infancy. But if successful, these insights could help researchers develop new treatments that are more effective back here on Earth.

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

– ref. Microgravity in space may cause cancer − but on Earth, mimicking weightlessness could help researchers develop treatments – https://theconversation.com/microgravity-in-space-may-cause-cancer-but-on-earth-mimicking-weightlessness-could-help-researchers-develop-treatments-242895

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: One large Milky Way galaxy or many galaxies? 100 years ago, a young Edwin Hubble settled astronomy’s ‘Great Debate’

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chris Impey, University Distinguished Professor of Astronomy, University of Arizona

The Andromeda galaxy helped Edwin Hubble settle a great debate in astronomy. Stocktrek Images via Getty Images

A hundred years ago, astronomer Edwin Hubble dramatically expanded the size of the known universe. At a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in January 1925, a paper read by one of his colleagues on his behalf reported that the Andromeda nebula, also called M31, was nearly a million light years away – too remote to be a part of the Milky Way.

Hubble’s work opened the door to the study of the universe beyond our galaxy. In the century since Hubble’s pioneering work, astronomers like me have learned that the universe is vast and contains trillions of galaxies.

Nature of the nebulae

In 1610, astronomer Galileo Galilei used the newly invented telescope to show that the Milky Way was composed of a huge number of faint stars. For the next 300 years, astronomers assumed that the Milky Way was the entire universe.

As astronomers scanned the night sky with larger telescopes, they were intrigued by fuzzy patches of light called nebulae. Toward the end of the 18th century, astronomer William Herschel used star counts to map out the Milky Way. He cataloged a thousand new nebulae and clusters of stars. He believed that the nebulae were objects within the Milky Way.

Charles Messier also produced a catalog of over 100 prominent nebulae in 1781. Messier was interested in comets, so his list was a set of fuzzy objects that might be mistaken for comets. He intended for comet hunters to avoid them since they did not move across the sky.

As more data piled up, 19th century astronomers started to see that the nebulae were a mixed bag. Some were gaseous, star-forming regions, such as the Orion nebula, or M42 – the 42nd object in Messier’s catalog – while others were star clusters such as the Pleiades, or M45.

A third category – nebulae with spiral structure – particularly intrigued astronomers. The Andromeda nebula, M31, was a prominent example. It’s visible to the naked eye from a dark site.

The Andromeda galaxy, then known as the Andromeda nebula, is a bright spot in the sky that intrigued early astronomers.

Astronomers as far back as the mid-18th century had speculated that some nebulae might be remote systems of stars or “island universes,” but there was no data to support this hypothesis. Island universes referred to the idea that there could be enormous stellar systems outside the Milky Way – but astronomers now just call these systems galaxies.

In 1920, astronomers Harlow Shapley and Heber Curtis held a Great Debate. Shapley argued that the spiral nebulae were small and in the Milky Way, while Curtis took a more radical position that they were independent galaxies, extremely large and distant.

At the time, the debate was inconclusive. Astronomers now know that galaxies are isolated systems of stars, much smaller than the space between them.

Hubble makes his mark

Edwin Hubble was young and ambitious. At the of age 30, he arrived at Mount Wilson Observatory in Southern California just in time to use the new Hooker 100-inch telescope, at the time the largest in the world.

Edwin Hubble uses the telescope at the Mount Wilson Observatory.
Hulton Archives via Getty Images

He began taking photographic plates of the spiral nebulae. These glass plates recorded images of the night sky using a light-sensitive emulsion covering their surface. The telescope’s size let it make images of very faint objects, and its high-quality mirror allowed it to distinguish individual stars in some of the nebulae.

Estimating distances in astronomy is challenging. Think of how hard it is to estimate the distance of someone pointing a flashlight at you on a dark night. Galaxies come in a very wide range of sizes and masses. Measuring a galaxy’s brightness or apparent size is not a good guide to its distance.

Hubble leveraged a discovery made by Henrietta Swan Leavitt 10 years earlier. She worked at the Harvard College Observatory as a “human computer,” laboriously measuring the positions and brightness of thousands of stars on photographic plates.

She was particularly interested in Cepheid variables, which are stars whose brightness pulses regularly, so they get brighter and dimmer with a particular period. She found a relationship between their variation period, or pulse, and their intrinsic brightness or luminosity.

Once you measure a Cepheid’s period, you can calculate its distance from how bright it appears using the inverse square law. The more distant the star is, the fainter it appears.

Hubble worked hard, taking images of spiral nebulae every clear night and looking for the telltale variations of Cepheid variables. By the end of 1924, he had found 12 Cepheids in M31. He calculated M31’s distance as a prodigious 900,000 light years away, though he underestimated its true distance – about 2.5 million light years – by not realizing there were two different types of Cepheid variables.

His measurements marked the end of the Great Debate about the Milky Way’s size and the nature of the nebulae. Hubble wrote about his discovery to Harlow Shapley, who had argued that the Milky Way encompassed the entire universe.

“Here is the letter that destroyed my universe,” Shapley remarked.

Always eager for publicity, Hubble leaked his discovery to The New York Times five weeks before a colleague presented his paper at the astronomers’ annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

An expanding universe of galaxies

But Hubble wasn’t done. His second major discovery also transformed astronomers’ understanding of the universe. As he dispersed the light from dozens of galaxies into a spectrum, which recorded the amount of light at each wavelength, he noticed that the light was always shifted to longer or redder wavelengths.

Light from the galaxy passes through a prism or reflects off a diffraction grating in a telescope, which captures the intensity of light from blue to red.

Astronomers call a shift to longer wavelengths a redshift.

It seemed that these redshifted galaxies were all moving away from the Milky Way.

Hubble’s results suggested the farther away a galaxy was, the faster it was moving away from Earth. Hubble got the lion’s share of the credit for this discovery, but Lowell Observatory astronomer Vesto Slipher, who noticed the same phenomenon but didn’t publish his data, also anticipated that result.

Hubble referred to galaxies having recession velocities, or speeds of moving away from the Earth, but he never figured out that they were moving away from Earth because the universe is getting bigger.

Belgian cosmologist and Catholic priest Georges Lemaitre made that connection by realizing that the theory of general relativity described an expanding universe. He recognized that space expanding in between the galaxies could cause the redshifts, making it seem like they were moving farther away from each other and from Earth.

Lemaitre was the first to argue that the expansion must have begun during the big bang.

Edwin Hubble is the namesake for NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, which has spent decades observing faraway galaxies.
NASA via AP

NASA named its flagship space observatory after Hubble, and it has been used to study galaxies for 35 years. Astronomers routinely observe galaxies that are thousands of times fainter and more distant than galaxies observed in the 1920s. The James Webb Space Telescope has pushed the envelope even farther.

The current record holder is a galaxy a staggering 34 billion light years away, seen just 200 million years after the big bang, when the universe was 20 times smaller than it is now. Edwin Hubble would be amazed to see such progress.

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

– ref. One large Milky Way galaxy or many galaxies? 100 years ago, a young Edwin Hubble settled astronomy’s ‘Great Debate’ – https://theconversation.com/one-large-milky-way-galaxy-or-many-galaxies-100-years-ago-a-young-edwin-hubble-settled-astronomys-great-debate-246759

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Relief Still Available to Lewis County Residents Hit by August Storm: Don’t Miss the Deadline to Apply for an SBA Disaster Loan

Source: United States Small Business Administration

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters in Lewis County, New York of the Feb. 18 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by the severe storm and flooding that occurred Aug. 18 – 19, 2024.

Eligible businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters. 

“SBA disaster loans do more than repair damage, — they mitigate against future disasters,” said Randle Logan, acting associate administrator for the SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience. “Expanded funding is available to make pro-active property and building upgrades that protect homes and businesses from future storms.”

Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofits, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms, based on each applicant’s financial condition. 

The SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs, such as ongoing operating expenses for small businesses and private nonprofit organizations.  EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the organization suffered any physical property damage.    

SBA’s disaster loan program has been replenished through the American Relief Act of 2025, signed into law by President Biden on December 21, 2024.  

For more information and to apply online visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 6592955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.  

Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than Feb. 18, 2025. The deadline to submit economic injury applications is Sept. 22, 2025.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.sba.gov. 

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: WISeKey Announces HUMAN-AI-T, Universal AI for Humanity Platform, at Davos

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

WISeKey Announces HUMAN-AI-T, Universal AI for Humanity Platform, at Davos

View video here

Davos, January 24, 2025 – WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”) (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a leading global cybersecurity, blockchain, and IoT company, today unveiled live on CNBC from Davos, that in conjunction with the preview of the forthcoming book “Humanity at the Crossroads,” WISeKey, and SEALSQ, are joining forces with leading organizations and institutions to create a groundbreaking AI platform, codenamed HUMAN-AI-T. This universal AI will harness the wisdom of humanity, derived from certified historical and contemporary resources, to ensure the preservation and application of human knowledge for future generations.

Building on the principles of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which secures the world’s agricultural biodiversity, the HUMAN-AI-T project aims to serve as the digital equivalent for human knowledge. It will consolidate a vast range of sources, including religious texts, legal frameworks, international treaties, philosophical ideas, and spiritual teachings from civilizations across the globe, integrating these with wisdom and local traditions. By doing so, it will holistically define humanity and teach the AI unique intricacies, ensuring that its development remains centered on universal human values.

A Human-Centric Vision for AI

The HUMAN-AI-T platform will be built using only certified and digitally signed resources to guarantee neutrality and authenticity in its knowledge base. This collaboration between leading universities, WISeKey, and SEALSQ will employ advanced digital stamping and security technologies, ensuring transparency and integrity in the processing of data.

The primary objective of HUMAN-AI-T is to create an AI that not only augments human potential but also places humanity at the center of technological progress. By mastering AI in this way, the project aspires to secure the world’s collective knowledge and provide a foundation for a more equitable and ethical digital future.

Launch Highlights

The HUMAN-AI-T project was officially introduced alongside the launch of the forthcoming book ‘Humanity at the Crossroads’ from the authors of ‘The TransHuman Code’ Carlos Moreira and David Fergusson, during a live broadcast from the CNBC Sanctuary at Davos. The discussion underscored the urgent need to harness technology to unleash, rather than overshadow, human potential.

A Secure and Inclusive Digital Future

The HUMAN-AI-T project represents a monumental step forward in the journey toward a human-centric approach to AI. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and ethical principles, this initiative seeks to build a foundation for global cooperation and innovation, ensuring that technology serves as a force for good in the world.

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the history of AI development, setting the stage for a future where technology enhances humanity while preserving the values and wisdom that define us.

About WISeKey

WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey’s mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company’s semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit http://www.wisekey.com.

Disclaimer
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

Press and Investor Contacts

WISeKey International Holding Ltd
Company Contact: Carlos Moreira
Chairman & CEO
Tel: +41 22 594 3000
info@wisekey.com

WISeKey Investor Relations (US)
The Equity Group Inc.
Lena Cati
Tel: +1 212 836-9611
lcati@equityny.com

The MIL Network –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: Adoption of Drones-as-a-Service Industry Explodes Along Rising Revenue Opportunities in the Billions

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The drone market size continues to expand as the drone services industry evolves, offering a diverse range of services for both remotely controlled and autonomously flown drones. This industry integrates software-controlled flight plans into drones’ embedded systems, making it a critical component in sectors like agriculture, insurance, construction, marine, aviation, oil & gas, mining, and infrastructure. The demand for these services, which includes tasks such as search and rescue, package delivery, industrial inspections, imaging, and healthcare supply distribution to remote areas, significantly contributes to the growing drone market size. A study from MarketsAndMarkets said the Global Drone Services Market Size, which was valued at USD 17.0 billion in 2023, is estimated to reach USD 57.8 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 27.7% during the forecast period. The report said: “In terms of market segmentation, drone services are categorized by the type of service provided, including platform services (further divided into flight piloting and operation, data analysis, and data processing), maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO), and simulation and training. The application-based segmentation encompasses inspection and monitoring, mapping and surveying, spraying and seeding, filming and photography, transport and delivery, as well as security, search, and rescue. The industry-based segmentation covers a wide spectrum of sectors, including construction and infrastructure, agriculture, utility, oil & gas, mining, defense and law enforcement, media and entertainment scientific research, insurance, aviation, marine, healthcare and social assistance, and transportation, logistics, and warehousing. These industries rely heavily on drones for functions like inspection, monitoring, and photography, further driving the drone market size.” Active Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI), EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), Unusual Machines, Inc. (NYSE: UMAC), Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS).

MarketsAndMarkets continued: “Furthermore, the market is categorized by solution type into end-to-end solutions, which encompass all platform services like piloting and operations, data analytics, and data processing. Point solutions are specific to piloting or data processing for applications such as surveying, inspection, and monitoring. North America is expected to hold the largest share of the drone market size within the drone services industry, as these services continue to replace legacy solutions in commercial sectors.”

ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Announces Listing of its Common Shares on the Mexican Stock Exchange – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that it its common shares are approved for listing and trading on the BMV: Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (Mexican Stock Exchange). The shares trade under the symbol “ZENA” on its International Quotation System (SIC), effective January 23, 2025.

“As we continue to expand our business into new geographical markets, this additional listing on the Mexican Stock Exchange not only broadens our international exposure but provides increased liquidity for our shareholders. We look forward to sharing our story with Mexican investors as we continue to drive value for our shareholders,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

In Additional ZENA News – ZenaTech Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Acquires KJM Land Surveying LLC, a Second Acquisition to Accelerate Drone Innovation in Land Surveys and Establish a Southeast Base for its Drone as a Service Business – ZenaTech, a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that it has acquired KJM Land Surveying LLC, a well-established Pensacola Florida land survey engineering company with a long history and roster of repeat customers. This is ZenaTech’s second acquisition as part of a larger roll-up strategy to disrupt the land survey industry by accelerating the use of drones for speed, accuracy and innovation benefits. The acquisition will also form the base of the Southeast US region of its national Drone as a Service or DaaS business which utilizes drone solutions from its subsidiary company ZenaDrone.

“Closing this second acquisition is another step in our Drone as a Service or DaaS strategy, establishing a Southeast base with an experienced team and customer relationships, which adds to our Northwest base and national rollout. We have the opportunity to significantly disrupt the land survey business at scale using drone technologies. We view our DaaS business model as similar as to how Uber disrupted the taxi industry,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D. “This acquisition, as well as the 20 others we have identified, have the potential to add accretive revenue over the short term as well as the long term.”

The US Surveying and Mapping Services industry is estimated at $10.3 billion according to Business Research Insights, growing at least 3% annually. Remotely piloted drones with an array of sensors and cameras, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and GPS systems for capturing high-resolution pictures and data are revolutionizing the land survey industry gathering aerial data across expansive terrains in a matter of hours instead of weeks or months using traditional methods. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

Other recent developments in the drone technology industry include:

EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company, recently announced the launch of its Exhibition (Experience) Center in Shenzhen’s Luohu Sports and Leisure Park. It is the world’s first EH216-S takeoff and landing site featuring a fully automated vertical lift vertiport. It also marks a new smart infrastructure in Shenzhen dedicated to the commercial operations of the EH216-S pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicle, establishing a groundbreaking model for electric vertical takeoff and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft operations in urban areas.

The Luohu UAM Center, designed by EHang, boasts an automated three-dimensional vertical lift vertiport. This innovative facility reduces labor costs and optimizes space usage through its automated operations. The Luohu UAM Center, spanning approximately 753 square meters, has brought this advanced design to life. The first floor is dedicated to a hangar and boarding area, providing passengers with a seamless and comfortable experience. The integrated takeoff and landing pad with the hangar enables rapid charging, thereby streamlining flight operations. During the launch ceremony on January 21, an EH216-S aircraft was lifted from the first to the second floor by the vertical lift platform. It then took to the skies, completing a lap over the Luohu Sports and Leisure Park before landing smoothly, marking its first flight at the Luohu UAM Center. The demonstration received widespread acclaim from attendees.

Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI) recently announced that its ballistics protection unit, Safe-Pro USA LLC (Safe-Pro USA) will be exhibiting at the upcoming SHOT Show 2025. The event is scheduled to take place from January 21-24, 2025, at the Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada. Safe-Pro USA will be exhibiting in the Palazzo Ballroom at booth #55939 on January 22nd and 23rd.

The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade ShowSM (SHOT Show^®) is one of the largest of its kind events for target shooting, hunting, outdoor recreation and law enforcement. The annual event, attracting more than 55,000 industry professionals from around the world, serves as a premier platform to showcase new products, engage in educational sessions, and forge valuable connections. At SHOT Show 2025, Safe-Pro USA will be displaying an array of new ballistic protective solutions designed for law enforcement. Highlighted by its ultra-lightweight and ultra-thin “305 PRO” hard armor plate, Safe-Pro USA will also display newly developed high-performance ballistic plates and vests compliant with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) latest ballistic standard, NIJ 0101.07, all designed to offer enhanced protection for law enforcement and first responders against high-power rifle threats such as AR-15s and AK-47s.

Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS) recently announced that its Ondas Autonomous Systems Inc. (“OAS”) business unit’s Airobotics subsidiary has received a purchase order for its Iron Drone Raider from a major defense company. The order includes the integration and testing of new features required for defending from additional ground threats.

“The Iron Drone Raider is a high performing, modular platform with AI-driven navigation and operating capabilities tailored to the most demanding defense requirements,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas. “Indeed, this versatility is allowing for expanded applications further expanding the potential market size for our Iron Drone platform. These new use cases meet an additional need identified by a governmental customer with the required performance and cost parameters. Securing this platform expansion highlights the exceptional talent and experience of our Airobotics team and the confidence our defense partners and customers have in Ondas.”

During the third quarter of 2024, OAS secured several initial orders in the defense market, totaling approximately $14.4 million, which included several purchase orders totaling $9.0 million from a major government military customer for the Iron Drone Raider system. The Iron Drone Raider systems are being deployed as a core element of a multi-layered homeland security infrastructure to protect critical locations, assets and populations from the threat of hostile drones.

Unusual Machines, Inc. (NYSE American: UMAC), a leading innovator in drone technology with a current focus on U.S. based manufacturing and marketing of drone parts recently announced the release of the Rotor Riot Brave 55A ESC and its addition to the Blue UAS Framework. This product addresses the critical need for non-Chinese, NDAA-compliant components in the U.S. drone industry. Unusual machines now has two drone components placed on the Blue UAS Framework.

The Blue UAS Framework is a program established by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to provide the Department of Defense and other government entities with trusted, secure drone components that meet rigorous cybersecurity, performance, and regulatory standards. Products listed on the framework ensure compliance with federal requirements, such as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), reducing risks associated with foreign-made or unverified components. Inclusion in the Blue UAS Framework underscores Unusual Machines’ commitment to supplying reliable solutions for government and defense applications.

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The MIL Network –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Georgians Have Two Weeks Left to Apply for FEMA Assistance; Deadline is Feb. 7, 2025

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

Georgians Have Two Weeks Left to Apply for FEMA Assistance; Deadline is Feb. 7, 2025

Georgia survivors of Tropical Storm Debby (Aug. 4—20. 2024) and Hurricane Helene (Sept. 24—Oct. 30, 2024) in the counties designated for Individual Assistance have just two weeks left to apply for FEMA assistance.The application period for federal disaster assistance ends on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025.Counties approved for assistance for Hurricane Helene are: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler and Wilkes.Counties approved for assistance for Tropical Storm Debby are: Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long and Screven.If you had storm-related expenses and live or own a business in one of the listed counties, you are encouraged to apply for disaster assistance. FEMA assistance can provide grants, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) may offer loans for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related needs. For more information or to apply online with SBA, visit sba.gov/disaster. Additional information is also available by calling the Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or via email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.You can apply for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. Survivors can also contact the Georgia Call Center Monday through Saturday at 678-547-2861 for assistance with their application.To apply in person, visit a Disaster Recovery Center, where FEMA and SBA specialists can help you apply for assistance, upload documents, answer questions and provide information on available resources. You may visit any open Disaster Recovery Center. For locations and hours, go online to fema.gov/drc. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to FEMA Accessible: Applying for Individual Assistance – YouTube.FEMA provides help to all disaster survivors, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. Our top priority is ensuring that disaster assistance is reaching people in need.For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/helene/georgia and fema.gov/disaster/4821. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel. Also, follow Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton on X @FEMA_Cam.
jakia.randolph
Fri, 01/24/2025 – 13:27

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Mpox in the DRC: residents of the slum at the centre of Kinshasa’s epidemic have little chance of avoiding this major health crisis

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Yap Boum, Professor in the faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Walking through the crowded streets of the Pakadjuma neighbourhood in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, I am struck by the vibrant atmosphere around me.

Children play happily in puddles, surrounded by piles of plastic bags and open ditches of sewage. Shacks patched together from pieces of corrugated iron crowd the settlement. Loud rumba music blasts through the air as young people enjoy themselves in open bars, waiting for grilled pork or chicken to be served. Sex workers sit outside tin shacks in narrow alleyways, calling for customers.

Nearby a Médecins Sans Frontières triage centre is the only reminder that this slum area is the epicentre of the mpox epidemic in Kinshasa. There are no posters, no pamphlets or banners warning residents of the dangers of this viral disease that was declared a continental and global emergency in August last year.

At the clinic, patients suspected to have mpox are sent to one of three dedicated mpox centres in the city. Common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle ache, chills, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes and lesions. With symptomatic care most patients get better in 7 to 35 days, depending on the severity of the case.

As an epidemiologist co-leading the response to mpox for Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, I visited Pakadjuma to get a better sense of the situation on the ground.

Mpox has historically been a rural disease in the DRC. This microcosm of Kinshasa sheds light on the complex challenges of managing the outbreak in a city.

Fighting on two fronts

With a population of more than 17 million, Kinshasa is Africa’s biggest megacity. Pakadjuma is one of the city’s many overcrowded areas where people live in extreme poverty.

Kinshasa, often called “Kin la Belle”, faces a unique crisis in the fight against mpox. Both strains of the virus, clade Ia and clade Ib, are circulating in the city simultaneously. This is first time this has happened.

Clade Ia, which is primarily transmitted from animal to human and then within households through touch, has been endemic to Africa for decades.

Clade Ib is a new strain and contracted predominantly through sexual contact. It is the strain that has spread rapidly across 21 African countries during the current epidemic in east and central Africa.

Grilled meat for customers.

This dual transmission makes the fight against mpox even more complicated: how does one tackle a public health crisis rooted in both intimate human connections and structural inequities such as living in overcrowded areas?

Although the strains are treated similarly clinically, their spread and transmission differ.

Clade Ia is mainly associated with zoonotic transmission (from animals to humans) in rural areas. Animal surveillance and community education are required to control spillovers.

Clade Ib, with higher human-to-human transmissibility, necessitates intensified contact tracing, vaccination, and preventive measures in urban and peri-urban areas.

Tailoring strategies to these differences is key to containing the outbreak.

When condoms don’t work

Pakadjuma, in the north-east of the city, is known for poverty and high crime rates. For many girls and young women the sex trade is their only option if they want to survive.

One of the most pressing challenges to combat the virus in the area is curbing sexual transmission.

Unlike HIV, where condoms can significantly reduce the risk of spread, mpox poses a different challenge: because the virus is spread by touch there is no practical preventive measure for sexual transmission apart from complete abstinence.

Mpox lesions start in the groin, making any movement excruciating. For these sex workers, though, abstinence is not an option. It would mean losing their livelihood and the ability to feed their children.

For their clients, who come from all over the city, it would require altering a core aspect of their lives for a disease they perceive as less lethal than Ebola. There are no easy answers to this dilemma.

Patients are tested for mpox at this Médecins Sans Frontières triage centre

Tracing the spread

Contact tracing, a cornerstone of outbreak control, is another hurdle.

Identifying and tracing the contacts of sex workers is complex. As a result only a fraction of mpox cases are confirmed with laboratory analysis.

On average, each mpox case has about 20 contacts, yet tracing clients in a highly confidential sexual network is next to impossible.

Without effective contact tracing, infected individuals remain in the community, often seeking treatment only when their condition worsens. From discussions with Médecins Sans Frontières staff in the triage zone, it emerges that suspected mpox cases usually arrive in advanced stages of the disease, when symptoms are clearly visible. Many patients first attempt other remedies such as traditional healing methods, before seeking medical care.

Fortunately Kinshasa benefits from a strong laboratory network led by the Institut National de la Recherche Biomédicale and test results are available within 48 to 72 hours. This state-of-the-art institute was pioneered by Dr Jean Jacques Muyembe, the microbiologist who first discovered Ebola.

In the first week of January 2025 there were 1,155 confirmed cases and 27 deaths in the city, according to the DRC Ministry of Health.

Even for those who seek care at the dedicated mpox centres, navigating the chaotic, congested roads is a nightmare. Yellow minibuses – ominously known locally as the “Spirit of Death” – are crammed and it can take hours to get to a destination.

With increasing patient numbers, mpox centres in the city are overwhelmed.

Pakadjuma, one of the poorest districts in the city.

A goods train passing through.

The fight on all fronts

Addressing the mpox outbreak in Kinshasa requires a multifaceted approach which includes:

Vaccination: Blanket vaccination drives offer the strongest hope for controlling the outbreak in hotspots such as Pakadjuma where contact tracing is almost impossible. In these cases the whole community needs to be vaccinated.

This could break transmission chains while allowing individuals at risk, such as sex workers, to continue plying their trades.

Prevention and control: Home care is essential, particularly in informal settlements like Pakadjuma. Providing food and material support to patients and their families and encouraging the isolation of infected relatives will help to limit the spread of the disease.

These measures require new thinking, however, when people are trying to survive from day to day.

Talking to the community: This is difficult because of the stigma around the disease, but it must be at the heart of the response.

Amplifying the message: The media, local leaders and trusted community members need to be engaged to spread the word loud and clear.

This all needs to happen immediately or the epidemic will be almost impossible to contain in this vast, sprawling city. The consequences would be dire.

– Mpox in the DRC: residents of the slum at the centre of Kinshasa’s epidemic have little chance of avoiding this major health crisis
– https://theconversation.com/mpox-in-the-drc-residents-of-the-slum-at-the-centre-of-kinshasas-epidemic-have-little-chance-of-avoiding-this-major-health-crisis-247809

MIL OSI Africa –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: DR Congo emergency: Fears that regional capital Goma faces attack

Source: United Nations 4

24 January 2025 Peace and Security

Intensifying hostilities on the outskirts of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond involving the non-state armed group M23 have caused further mass displacement in the mineral-rich region, with fears that the regional capital Goma could come under attack, UN agencies warned on Friday.

“We are deeply alarmed at the heightened risk of an attack by the M23 armed group on Goma, the capital of North Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo…Any such attack on Goma risks catastrophic impacts on hundreds of thousands of civilians, putting them at heightened exposure to human rights violations and abuses,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, OHCHR.

“The High Commissioner has flagged many times that sexual violence is a key component – a very horrific component – of this conflict,” Ms. Shamdasani added. “Armed groups abduct, hold captive and subject women and girls to sexual slavery and many of them have been killed after being raped.”

Since the UN peacekeeping Mission, MONUSCO, withdrew from South Kivu in June 2024, peacekeepers have defended key positions in North Kivu, including Goma and Sake, where clashes between the M23, the Congolese Armed Forces and many other armed groups have continued.

Hundreds of thousands newly displaced

Some 400,000 people have been displaced in North and South Kivu since the beginning of this year alone, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

Highlighting the humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold largely unseen by the outside world, UNHCR spokesperson Matt Saltmarsh reported that “bombs have fallen” on camps for people uprooted by the violence in South and North Kivu.

These attacks include one on 20 January, when explosions at Kitalaga site in South Kivu killed two children.

On 21 January, five makeshift shelters were destroyed in Nzuolo, near Goma, while on Wednesday, Bushagara site – also near Goma – was “heavily impacted, causing panic and new waves of forced displacement”, Mr. Saltmarsh told journalists in Geneva.

He noted that heavy bombardments from clashes involving the M23 rebels forced families to flee various displacement sites on the periphery of Goma and try to seek safety within Goma: “UNHCR staff remain on the ground in Goma, assisting the displaced civilians wherever they can and wherever they get access,” he said.

“But as you can understand, the access at the moment is extremely challenging.”

Guterres warning

The development came as the UN Secretary-General on Thursday expressed alarm over a renewed offensive by M23 rebels in eastern DRC and the “devastating toll” on civilians.

In a statement issued by his Spokesperson, António Guterres noted the Rwandan-backed rebels’ reported seizure of Sake, in South Kivu, “which increases the threat” to the regional capital Goma – all of which is “heightening the threat of a regional war”. Rwanda denies any direct involvement with M23 fighters.

“The Secretary-General calls on the M23 to immediately cease its offensive, withdraw from all occupied areas and abide by the 31 July 2024 ceasefire agreement,” the UN chief’s statement continued.

Echoing the Secretary-General’s concerns, OHCHR spokesperson Ms. Shamdasani reiterated UN chief Volker Türk’s appeal “to all States with influence on the parties to impress on them the urgent need for an immediate cessation of hostilities”.

M23 is well funded and “as the High Commissioner has said previously, any role played by Rwanda in supporting the M23 in North Kivu – and by any other country supporting armed groups active in the DRC – must end,” she insisted. “The people in the DRC are exhausted by violence, exhausted by conflict, exhausted by the horrors of their daily life. And this must not be allowed to worsen further.”

Stark options

Asked to explain the dangers faced by those sheltering in camps, UNHCR’s Mr. Saltmarsh replied that their “options are stark and extremely limited…What you will receive in terms of aid is extremely limited – that depends very much on whether agencies like UNHCR and our partners in the UN and NGOs are able to access those sites.

“If they are, we can bring in a minimum of assistance, otherwise, civilians will be in areas that are now occupied by the armed groups. We don’t have access to those areas, so it’s very difficult to for us to say what conditions are like there.”

South and North Kivu Provinces already host 4.6 million internally displaced people. UNHCR has warned that human rights violations, including looting, injuries, murders, kidnappings and arbitrary arrests of displaced people mistaken for rebels have escalated.

“Hospitals are nearing capacity with injured civilians,” Mr. Saltmarsh said. “Vulnerable women, children, and the elderly are living in overcrowded and precarious conditions with limited access to food, water, and essential services.”

MIL OSI United Nations News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty to ‘Swatting’ Scheme That Took Over Ring Doorbell Cameras to Livestream Police Response

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

LOS ANGELES – A Wisconsin man pleaded guilty today to participating in a one-week nationwide “swatting” spree that gained access to Ring home security door cameras, placed bogus emergency phone calls designed to elicit an armed police response, then livestreamed the events on social media, sometimes while taunting responding police officers in communities such as West Covina and Oxnard.

Kya Christian Nelson, 23, of Racine, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and two counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information.

Nelson, who is doing time in a Kentucky state prison after being convicted in an unrelated case, has been in federal custody since August 2024.

“Swatting puts innocent lives in danger,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that individuals who engage in this dangerous conduct will be held accountable through federal prosecutions.”

“The defendant’s malicious actions traumatized his victims and put their lives – and the lives of responding officers – at risk,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “Swatting hoaxes drain crucial law enforcement resources at the expense of taxpayers and diverts police officers from responding to actual crisis situations. This case is a good reminder for security doorbell users that it’s important to practice strict cyber hygiene by using difficult passwords and by employing two-factor authentication.”

According to his plea agreement, from November 7, 2020, to November 13, 2020, Nelson and co-conspirators gained access to home security door cameras sold by Ring LLC, a Santa Monica-based home security technology company. Nelson acquired without authorization the username and password information for Yahoo! email accounts belonging to victims throughout the United States.

The conspirators then determined whether the owner of each compromised Yahoo! account also had a Ring account using the same email address and password that could control associated internet-connected Ring doorbell camera devices. Using that information, they identified and gathered additional information about their victims.

Then, the conspirators placed false emergency reports or telephone calls to local law enforcement in the areas where the victims lived. These reports or calls were intended to elicit an emergency police response to the victim’s residence. The conspirators then accessed without authorization the victims’ Ring devices and transmitted the audio and video from those devices on social media during the police response. They also taunted responding police officers and victims through the Ring devices during several of the incidents.

For example, on November 8, 2020, Nelson and a co-conspirator accessed without authorization Yahoo! and Ring accounts belonging to a victim in West Covina. A hoax telephone call was placed to the West Covina Police Department purporting to originate from the victim’s residence and posing as a minor child reporting her parents drinking and shooting guns inside the residence. The caller claimed that her parents had multiple firearms and had fired approximately seven gunshots inside the house. Based on this hoax call, West Covina Police Department officers made an emergency response to the house and cleared the residents from the home at gunpoint.

During the police response, Nelson accessed the Ring doorbell camera located at the West Covina residence and used it to verbally threaten and taunt the police officers who responded to the reported incident.

In another incident, on November 11, 2020, Nelson illegally possessed the Yahoo! and Ring login credentials of a victim living in Oxnard. Nelson then used those credentials to access the victim’s Ring account. Nelson or a co-conspirator made a hoax call to the Oxnard Police Department purporting to be coming from inside the victim’s home.

The caller told the police that they were a child whose father was wielding a handgun inside the residence. Nelson made a second hoax call to Oxnard Police to report hearing shots fired at the victim’s residence. Based on these hoax calls, Oxnard Police officers made an emergency response to the house and cleared the residents from the home at gunpoint.

Nelson accessed the Ring doorbell camera located at the Oxnard residence and used it to threaten and taunt the police officers who had responded to the reported incident.

United States District Judge John A. Kronstadt scheduled a May 1 sentencing hearing, at which time Nelson will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.

One of Nelson’s indicted co-conspirators, James Thomas Andrew McCarty, 22, of Kayenta, Arizona, was sentenced in June 2024 to seven years in federal prison both for his role in this case, and on additional charges in the District of Arizona. In connection with the Ring swatting incidents, McCarty pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy as Nelson.

McCarty further admitted to illegally accessing a victim’s Ring camera in Florida and making a call to the North Port Florida Police Department, in which he purported to be the victim’s husband who had just killed her, was holding a hostage, and had rigged explosives at the residence. McCarty then livestreamed the law enforcement response and posted a message on social media taking credit for the swatting incident and stating that he thought it was amusing.

The FBI investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Khaldoun Shobaki of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

MIL Security OSI –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Four SoCal Residents Found Guilty of Participating in an Armed Robbery and Carjacking at Car Repair Shop in San Bernardino County
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

RIVERSIDE, California – Three San Gabriel Valley residents and one San Bernardino County man have been found guilty by a jury of participating in an armed robbery and carjacking of a car repair business last year in Bloomington in which one victim was pistol-whipped into near unconsciousness, the Justice Department announced today.

At the conclusion of a 13-day trial, a federal jury on late Wednesday returned a guilty verdict on all counts against the following defendants:
- Marcos Guerrero, 49, of Glendora;
- Elijah Gafare, 35, of West Covina;
- Cinthia Leal, 39, of Glendora; and
- Vincent Solarez, 58, of Upland.
All four defendants were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of carjacking.

Guerrero, Gafare, and Leal also were found guilty of witness tampering and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of and in relation to a crime of violence. Guerrero further was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

“Violent crime tears at the fabric of our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “The verdict reached in this case highlights our office’s ongoing efforts to root out and punish criminals who use guns to harm innocent people.”

According to evidence presented at trial, Guerrero, Gafare, Leal, and Solarez participated in an armed robbery of a car repair shop in Bloomington in the early morning hours of March 12, 2024. During the robbery, two of the defendants brandished firearms and one of the defendants pistol-whipped one of the victims into near unconsciousness.

The defendants kept the victims hostage and threatened to kill them if the victims did not hand over cash, their car, and if they ever called law enforcement. In total, defendants stole several thousand dollars in cash and the business surveillance system, in addition to the victim’s car and other property.

Law enforcement tracked the defendants down and arrested them in May and June of 2024.

On May 30, 2024, Guerrero illegally possessed a .45-caliber firearm and dozens of rounds of ammunition. He is not permitted to possess firearms and ammunition because his criminal history includes convictions in San Bernardino County Superior Court for home invasion robbery, first-degree residential burglary, false imprisonment by violence, possession of a firearm by a felon, and evading a police officer.

United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal scheduled an April 21 sentencing hearing, at which Guerrero, Gafare, and Leal will face a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Solarez will face a statutory maximum sentence of 65 years in federal prison.

The FBI Inland Violent Crimes Suppression Task Force and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua J. Lee and Neil P. Thakor of the General Crimes Section, and Tritia L. Yuen of the Riverside Branch Office, are prosecuting this case.

MIL Security OSI –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Mpox in the DRC: residents of the slum at the centre of Kinshasa’s epidemic have little chance of avoiding this major health crisis

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Yap Boum, Professor in the faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Walking through the crowded streets of the Pakadjuma neighbourhood in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, I am struck by the vibrant atmosphere around me.

Children play happily in puddles, surrounded by piles of plastic bags and open ditches of sewage. Shacks patched together from pieces of corrugated iron crowd the settlement. Loud rumba music blasts through the air as young people enjoy themselves in open bars, waiting for grilled pork or chicken to be served. Sex workers sit outside tin shacks in narrow alleyways, calling for customers.

Nearby a Médecins Sans Frontières triage centre is the only reminder that this slum area is the epicentre of the mpox epidemic in Kinshasa. There are no posters, no pamphlets or banners warning residents of the dangers of this viral disease that was declared a continental and global emergency in August last year.

At the clinic, patients suspected to have mpox are sent to one of three dedicated mpox centres in the city. Common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle ache, chills, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes and lesions. With symptomatic care most patients get better in 7 to 35 days, depending on the severity of the case.

As an epidemiologist co-leading the response to mpox for Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, I visited Pakadjuma to get a better sense of the situation on the ground.

Mpox has historically been a rural disease in the DRC. This microcosm of Kinshasa sheds light on the complex challenges of managing the outbreak in a city.

Fighting on two fronts

With a population of more than 17 million, Kinshasa is Africa’s biggest megacity. Pakadjuma is one of the city’s many overcrowded areas where people live in extreme poverty.

Kinshasa, often called “Kin la Belle”, faces a unique crisis in the fight against mpox. Both strains of the virus, clade Ia and clade Ib, are circulating in the city simultaneously. This is first time this has happened.

Clade Ia, which is primarily transmitted from animal to human and then within households through touch, has been endemic to Africa for decades.

Clade Ib is a new strain and contracted predominantly through sexual contact. It is the strain that has spread rapidly across 21 African countries during the current epidemic in east and central Africa.

This dual transmission makes the fight against mpox even more complicated: how does one tackle a public health crisis rooted in both intimate human connections and structural inequities such as living in overcrowded areas?

Although the strains are treated similarly clinically, their spread and transmission differ.

Clade Ia is mainly associated with zoonotic transmission (from animals to humans) in rural areas. Animal surveillance and community education are required to control spillovers.

Clade Ib, with higher human-to-human transmissibility, necessitates intensified contact tracing, vaccination, and preventive measures in urban and peri-urban areas.

Tailoring strategies to these differences is key to containing the outbreak.

When condoms don’t work

Pakadjuma, in the north-east of the city, is known for poverty and high crime rates. For many girls and young women the sex trade is their only option if they want to survive.

One of the most pressing challenges to combat the virus in the area is curbing sexual transmission.

Unlike HIV, where condoms can significantly reduce the risk of spread, mpox poses a different challenge: because the virus is spread by touch there is no practical preventive measure for sexual transmission apart from complete abstinence.

Mpox lesions start in the groin, making any movement excruciating. For these sex workers, though, abstinence is not an option. It would mean losing their livelihood and the ability to feed their children.

For their clients, who come from all over the city, it would require altering a core aspect of their lives for a disease they perceive as less lethal than Ebola. There are no easy answers to this dilemma.

Tracing the spread

Contact tracing, a cornerstone of outbreak control, is another hurdle.

Identifying and tracing the contacts of sex workers is complex. As a result only a fraction of mpox cases are confirmed with laboratory analysis.

On average, each mpox case has about 20 contacts, yet tracing clients in a highly confidential sexual network is next to impossible.

Without effective contact tracing, infected individuals remain in the community, often seeking treatment only when their condition worsens. From discussions with Médecins Sans Frontières staff in the triage zone, it emerges that suspected mpox cases usually arrive in advanced stages of the disease, when symptoms are clearly visible. Many patients first attempt other remedies such as traditional healing methods, before seeking medical care.

Fortunately Kinshasa benefits from a strong laboratory network led by the Institut National de la Recherche Biomédicale and test results are available within 48 to 72 hours. This state-of-the-art institute was pioneered by Dr Jean Jacques Muyembe, the microbiologist who first discovered Ebola.

In the first week of January 2025 there were 1,155 confirmed cases and 27 deaths in the city, according to the DRC Ministry of Health.

Even for those who seek care at the dedicated mpox centres, navigating the chaotic, congested roads is a nightmare. Yellow minibuses – ominously known locally as the “Spirit of Death” – are crammed and it can take hours to get to a destination.

With increasing patient numbers, mpox centres in the city are overwhelmed.

The fight on all fronts

Addressing the mpox outbreak in Kinshasa requires a multifaceted approach which includes:

Vaccination: Blanket vaccination drives offer the strongest hope for controlling the outbreak in hotspots such as Pakadjuma where contact tracing is almost impossible. In these cases the whole community needs to be vaccinated.

This could break transmission chains while allowing individuals at risk, such as sex workers, to continue plying their trades.

Prevention and control: Home care is essential, particularly in informal settlements like Pakadjuma. Providing food and material support to patients and their families and encouraging the isolation of infected relatives will help to limit the spread of the disease.

These measures require new thinking, however, when people are trying to survive from day to day.

Talking to the community: This is difficult because of the stigma around the disease, but it must be at the heart of the response.

Amplifying the message: The media, local leaders and trusted community members need to be engaged to spread the word loud and clear.

This all needs to happen immediately or the epidemic will be almost impossible to contain in this vast, sprawling city. The consequences would be dire.

Yap Boum 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. Mpox in the DRC: residents of the slum at the centre of Kinshasa’s epidemic have little chance of avoiding this major health crisis – https://theconversation.com/mpox-in-the-drc-residents-of-the-slum-at-the-centre-of-kinshasas-epidemic-have-little-chance-of-avoiding-this-major-health-crisis-247809

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025


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