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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI, SEEC, ENVIRONMENT LAWMAKERS LEAD BICAMERAL LETTER SIGNED TO OPPOSE EPA’S WHOLESALE ASSAULT ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Co-Chair of House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), along with Co-Chairs Reps. Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko and Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Sean Casten, Mike Levin, and Chellie Pingree, along with Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, led a bicameral letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin calling out his wholesale assault on the central mission of the agency he was appointed to lead. They were joined by Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries, bringing the total to 180 Members of Congress calling on Administrator Zeldin to halt his egregious attacks.

    “In just two months as EPA Administrator, you have demonstrated a complete disregard for the central mission of the agency you were appointed to lead. Instead of protecting the environment – as the agency name directs – you are protecting the special interests of big polluters,” wrote the 180 Members. “We urge you to halt your egregious attacks on the public health and well-being of the American people.”

    They pointed out that, as a result of the Trump EPA repealing and gutting critical environmental and public health protections, communities and families will pay higher health costs and be exposed to more mercury and air toxics from coal-fired power plants and more polluted wastewater from oil and gas producers. 

    “While countries around the world are clamoring for cleaner, cheaper, and more innovative technologies, you are actively hamstringing America’s homegrown clean energy industry, which has already injected $422 billion and 400,000 jobs into our economy in just the past two and a half years,” the lawmakers wrote to Administrator Zeldin. “This is anything but unleashing American energy. At the same time, instead of lowering costs for American families, your actions will result in the opposite. Americans’ medical expenses will increase because your Polluters First agenda will allow particulate matter and other hazardous air pollution to go unchecked.”

    Their letter explained that for every $1 the country spends to reduce air pollution, it is estimated to yield $30 in economic benefits in return. Yet, the Trump EPA is choosing to unleash more air pollutants that are linked to Alzheimer’s, miscarriages, and childhood asthma, as well as other public health concerns.

    “Your actions will needlessly increase American families’ exposure to the pollution that can make them sick and stick them with the bill for their care,” concluded Members.

    The full letter can be found here.

    Background

    On March 12, Administrator Zeldin announced the “biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history,” which included rolling back 31 environmental rules and regulations. This list of actions directly threatens Americans’ health and fundamental right to clean air and water by:

    • Rolling back National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter – some of the most dangerous air pollution known to directly cause asthma and other health issues;
    • Gutting EPA rules that prevent hazardous metals like mercury and arsenic from ending up in our water supply;
    • Reconsidering national emissions standards for cancer-causing hazardous air pollutants, including ethylene oxide;
    • Ending the “Good Neighbor” rule, which simply acknowledged that pollution does not respect state lines and that downwind states should not be burdened by their neighbors’ pollution;
    • Repealing power plant emissions standards, allowing existing gas and coal-fired power plants to pump unlimited climate pollution into our air; and
    • Revoking the landmark “Endangerment Finding” that simply states climate-changing pollutants are dangerous to human health, and which serves as the foundation for climate pollution to be regulated under the Clean Air Act.

    And more.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Aderholt Calls on Alabamians to Join “Two Lights of Tomorrow” Commemoration

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), a proud member of the America 250 Semiquincentennial Commission, is calling on individuals, schools, churches, and communities across Alabama to participate in a special nationwide commemoration, “Two Lights of Tomorrow,” on Friday, April 18, marking the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s midnight ride.

    “April 18 marks a defining moment in American history—the night Paul Revere rode through the streets of Massachusetts to warn that freedom was at risk,” said Congressman Aderholt. “This year, we have an opportunity to honor that spirit of courage and citizenship here in Alabama, just as 38 other states across the country will be doing.”

    As part of this historic observance, homes, schools, churches, businesses, and public buildings are encouraged to display two lights—a symbolic call to action for today’s Americans to become more engaged, thoughtful citizens. Just as two lanterns lit the path for Revere and the Minutemen, these two lights on April 18 will shine as a modern beacon of unity and renewal.

    Governor Kay Ivey, by proclamation on March 6, has officially called on the state of Alabama to take part in this national movement. A promotional video produced by American Village in Montevallo is being used across the nation to encourage participation, and national media outlets are expected to highlight the event through video and photos of local celebrations.

    “This year, April 18 is also Good Friday—the day we remember the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ, who gave His life on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins,” Aderholt added. “As we honor a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, it is deeply meaningful that we also reflect on the foundation of our faith—the hope and redemption we have through Christ’s death and resurrection. It is a powerful reminder that true freedom—both spiritual and civic—comes at a great cost.”

    Congressman Aderholt encourages all Alabamians to share photos or videos of their participation using the hashtag #TwoLightsForTomorrow.

    “This is more than just a moment to look back—it’s a moment to look forward. By lighting these two lights, we’re not just remembering the past—we’re recommitting ourselves to a brighter future for this nation.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Craig, Jayapal, Deluzio, Ryan Launch Monopoly Busters Caucus to Fight Corporate Greed and Lower Costs for Everyday Americans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (MN-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chris Deluzio (PA-17) and Pat Ryan (NY-19) launched the Monopoly Busters Caucus, a new caucus with nine founding Members to fight corporate greed, lower costs and promote a pro-worker, pro-consumer, and pro-small business economic agenda.

    During today’s press conference announcing the caucus, the Members were joined by founding members Representatives Becca Balint (VT), Greg Casar (TX-25), Jerry Nadler (NY-12) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) as well as Mike Stranz, Vice President of Advocacy, National Farmers Union; Clayton Bennet, Manager, Safeway; and Jonathan Akanowicz RPh., Co-Owner, Towne Drugs.

    “As the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, I have seen firsthand how consolidation in the ag industry is squeezing our family farmers and producers – and driving up costs for consumers too,” said Rep. Craig. “At a time when the Administration is launching our country headfirst into a global trade war, it’s more important than ever that we uplift small and local businesses right here at home. I’m proud to be joining Representatives Jayapal, Ryan and Deluzio to fight consolidation, strengthen the middle class and lower costs for producers and consumers.”  

    “Something is wrong in this country when families go to the grocery store and can’t afford milk or eggs or cereal. As people struggle under the weight of inflation, corporate profits are higher than ever,” said Rep. Jayapal. “From rent to groceries, to health care — life in America has become unaffordable. The answer to why is simple: corporate monopolies. When we take on corporate power, we can make a meaningful difference in the everyday lives of working people across the country – and we must, the American people are counting on us.”

    “Monopolies have been rigging the system, crushing competition and small businesses, and ripping off the American people for decades. And for too long, politicians in Congress have let it happen,” said Rep. Deluzio. “We’re launching the Monopoly Busters Caucus today because we think that it’s long overdue for Congress to step up to take on consolidated corporate power and to reinvigorate American capitalism with competition. It’s our duty to help take the squeeze off of America’s workers, small businesses, and consumers and pave a path back to the American Dream. It’s time to get real, patriotic competition back in our economy.”

    “When I talk with folks in the Hudson Valley, the number one thing I hear is frustration. Frustration that even though they’re working hard and doing everything that’s asked of them, they can’t afford to provide for their family – housing, health care, gas, groceries, utilities. It’s inherently un-American that only a select few are able to live out the American dream,” said Rep. Ryan. “The reason for this is clear – in every one of those industries, we’ve let monopolies drive up costs and drive down quality, all while making record breaking profits. We’re gonna fight back against these big and powerful corporations, hold the bad actors accountable, and ultimately put power back where it belongs: with the American people.”

    The full press conference can be viewed here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Harder Announces $14 Million to Reduce Congestion at Stockton Diamond

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

    Stockton Diamond is the busiest, most congested rail bottleneck in California

    Harder helped negotiate and pass bipartisan bill that reauthorized congestion funding program

    WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced that $14 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding has been awarded to reduce congestion at the Stockton Diamond, which is the busiest and most congested rail bottleneck in California. This funding program, which was reauthorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Harder helped negotiate and pass and approved by the San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG), will separate principal rail lines to allow uninterrupted rail traffic flow.

    “The last thing our farmers and local businesses need is the worst railway bottleneck in the state grinding our economy to a halt,” said Rep. Harder. “I helped bring federal investments back to the Valley to fix our aging infrastructure, and this project will deliver in spades by reducing congestion and improving safety. I look forward to getting this project done ASAP so our goods can get back on the move instead of sitting in traffic.”

    “This funding approval from SJCOG is a major step forward for the Stockton Diamond Grade Separation, addressing longstanding congestion and safety challenges at one of California’s most critical rail intersections,” said Stacey Mortensen, Executive Director of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission. “We are grateful for SJCOG’s commitment to our vision of improving regional transportation efficiency, safety, and air quality for San Joaquin County residents, which aligns perfectly with our ongoing mission to enhance regional connectivity.”

    In addition to easing congestion at the Stockton Diamond, which is used by both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve site accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians. Once completed, the project will also improve on-time performance of passenger rail services like the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) and Amtrak San Joaquins.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neguse, Bennet, Hickenlooper Demand Answers to DOGE Lease Cancellations for Land Management Agencies in Colorado

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

    Washington, D.C. — Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02), Ranking Member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee, and Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper called for immediate clarification regarding recent announcements from the Trump Administration that nearly twenty federal leases for land management agencies are to be terminated throughout Colorado. These cancellations come as part of the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” or DOGE’s nationwide gutting of federal agencies and mass firings of federal employees.  

    In Colorado, the impacted agencies listed on DOGE’s “Wall of Receipts”, included the National Park Service and Forest Service, among numerous others. 

    “We write requesting immediate clarification regarding recent announcements from the Administration on the planned termination of nearly twenty facility leases in Colorado. These lease cancellations include facilities for federal land and natural resource management agencies, which play an integral role in the federal government’s resilience to wildfire, response to drought, and management of our public lands,” the Colorado lawmakers wrote.

    Neguse, Bennet, and Hickenlooper continued by calling specific attention to the impact these closures would have on the state’s ability to combat the increased threat of wildfires, stating: “As federal agencies, states, and local communities work to prepare for heightened wildfire and drought risk during the warmer summer months ahead, we are extremely concerned about the risk that the closure of USFS or Department of Interior (DOI) facilities in Colorado could result in a decrease of our state’s wildfire preparedness, ability to respond to drought conditions, and react to other threats to public safety. As one particularly concerning example, DOGE’s list of terminations includes the Supervisor’s Office for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest in Fort Collins. Closure of that facility would directly affect wildfire emergency operations during an active wildfire, including dispatch and incident command. This facility also supports important research that makes us more resilient to wildfire. The decision to terminate this lease would have detrimental effects not just for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, but for nearby communities.”  

    In recent years, Colorado has experienced several devastating wildfires, with 2020 and 2021 seeing some of the largest and most destructive events in state history, including the Cameron Peak Fire, East Troublesome Fire, and Marshall Fire. The termination of noted leases would be detrimental to not only the management of public lands but also the safety of residents and state visitors.  

    The lawmakers also made note of the significant uncertainty around the status of federal leases that are listed on the DOGE website, demanding increased transparency in the group’s decision-making process and rollout, and asking for immediate answers to the following questions: 

    1. What is the current status of all USFS and DOI facility leases in Colorado, including but not limited to the following offices:
    2. USFS facility at 2150 Centre Avenue, Building E in Fort Collins;
    3. NPS and USFWS facility at 1201 Oakridge Drive in Fort Collins; and
    4. USGS facilities at 3215 Marine Street and 4725 Nautilus Court in Boulder.
    5. What criteria were utilized to determine which facility leases would be terminated across the United States? Why have the status of leases changed without notification or explanation on DOGE’s website?
    6. What is the timeline for these leases to be terminated?
    7. What impacts would terminating the leases for DOI and USFS facilities have on wildfire readiness and emergency response operations leading into the summer months?
    8. How will Federal agencies accomplish their mission, meet statutory requirements, and continue to provide critical services without dedicated office space?
    9. Where will current employees with duty stations at these facilities, including those returning to in- person work to comply with the Return to In-person Presidential Action, work once these leases have been cancelled? Will employment terminations occur as a result of their office’s lease termination? 

    The full text of their letter, penned to Stephen Ehikian the Acting Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, is available HERE. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pappas, Goodlander Help Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Affordable Housing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

    Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) helped to introduce the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation to support the financing and development of affordable housing across the country by expanding and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit).  Both Pappas and Goodlander are original cosponsors.

    “New Hampshire continues to face a housing crisis that is impacting our families, small businesses, and economy,” said Congressman Pappas. “These tax credits are helping to get Granite Staters into stable housing and will become even more essential to ensuring its availability given the instability in the economy and higher building costs as a result of tariffs. I’m proud to help reintroduce this legislation and will continue working to expand tools and resources that will bolster New Hampshire’s affordable housing stock.”

    “Having a home is a cornerstone of the American Dream. One of my top priorities in Congress is making housing more affordable for hardworking Granite Staters. I am proud to help introduce the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to do just that,” said Representative Goodlander. “Everywhere I go, I hear from families, small businesses, and employers about the housing crisis. In Congress, I will continue looking for every possible path to expand access to affordable housing, eliminate barriers for development, and tackle the housing crisis head-on.”

    “NeighborWorks has been utilizing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program since our inception over 30 years ago to revitalize neighborhoods and create new affordable housing opportunities. This program has enabled us to build 550 apartments during that time,” said Robert Tourigny, Executive Director of NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire. “We are hopeful that the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act will finally be enacted to increase the amount of federal tax credits available, and make this scarce resource go even further toward building more homes in New Hampshire.”

    “The AHCIA represents a critical step forward in addressing the affordable housing crisis our communities face. By enhancing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, we can empower developers to create more affordable multifamily housing,” said New Hampshire Housing CEO, Rob Dapice. “This legislation not only provides equitable housing opportunities but also strengthens the economic foundation of our neighborhoods. We hope Congress will support this vital initiative for the well-being of our citizens.”

    “New Hampshire has a severe shortage of homes affordable to low and extremely-low-income earners. These are our friends, neighbors, and workers who keep our economy running. The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act will directly address this shortage by enabling the construction and preservation of thousands of homes in our state,” said Nick Taylor, Director of Housing Action NH. “Every year, developers seek to build affordable housing through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, yet program limits force many to be denied funding. It makes no sense to turn away the affordable homes we desperately need because of arbitrary federal limits. Thank you to Congresswoman Goodlander and Congressman Pappas for supporting this bipartisan, common-sense legislation.”

    Since its creation, the Housing Credit has built or restored more than 3.5 million affordable housing units, nearly 90% of all federally funded affordable housing during that time. Roughly 8 million American households have benefited from the credit, and the economic activity that it generated has supported 5.5 million jobs and generated more than $617 billion in wages.

    The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act will support the financing of nearly two million new affordable homes across the country by:

    • Increasing the number of credits allocated to each state by 50 percent for the next two years and making the temporary 12.5 percent increase secured in 2018 permanent. These credits have already helped build more than 59,000 additional affordable housing units nationwide.
    • Increasing the number of affordable housing projects that can be built using private activity bonds. This provision stabilizes financing for workforce housing projects built using private activity bonds by decreasing the amount of private activity needed to secure Housing Credit funding. As a result, projects would have to carry less debt, and more projects would be eligible to receive funding.
    • Improving the Housing Credit program to serve at-risk and underserved communities, including veterans, victims of domestic violence, and rural Americans.

    The text of the legislation can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stewiacke — Colchester County District RCMP charge three people after executing search warrant

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Colchester Country District RCMP has charged three people following the execution of a search warrant at a home in Stewiacke.

    On April 4, the Colchester Community Action Team (CCAT) learned through an ongoing investigation that a firearm had been discharged inside a residence on Rockwell Dr. No injuries were reported.

    On April 7, CCAT, with assistance from RCMP Police Dog Services, executed a search warrant at the home after safely arresting three people at the property, including a man who tried to flee on foot when officers arrived at the scene.

    As a result of the search, officers found evidence that a gun had been fired inside the home and investigators seized quantities of suspected cocaine, cannabis, and other substances.

    Alicia Marie Tanner, 27, of Bible Hill, and Madison Amanda Tanner, 24, of Stewiacke, have both been charged with:

    • Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
    • Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
    • Careless Use of a Firearm
    • Possession of Cocaine

    Alicia Tanner is also charged with Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Order.

    The man, 42-year-old Robert Joseph Isaac Chestnut, was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, Dilaudid, cocaine, and a quantity of cash. He has been charged with:

    • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (three counts)
    • Fail to Comply with Release Order

    The seized drugs will be analyzed, and the investigation is ongoing.

    Alicia Tanner and Madison Tanner were released on conditions and are due in Truro Provincial Court on June 11. Chestnut appeared in Truro Provincial Court on April 8 and was released on conditions.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Can aviation ever be sustainable? Here are some paths to net zero

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Aviation is growing, but its environmental impact does not have to – if the technology and policies are available to de-carbonise the sector. We hear from a company making sustainable aviation fuel with waste CO2; the head of one of the world’s busiest airports, and from the body representing airports around the world.

    Hosts:
    Robin Pomeroy, Podcasts Editor, World Economic Forum; Laia Barbarà, Head, Climate Strategy – Net Zero, World Economic Forum

    Guests:
    Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports
    Ayesha Choudhury, Chief Commercial Officer at Infinium
    Justin Erbacci, Director General of Airports Council International World

    Links:
    Airports of Tomorrow: https://initiatives.weforum.org/airports-of-tomorrow/home
    Global Aviation Sustainability Outlook 2025: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-aviation-sustainability-outlook-2025/

    Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts (http://wef.ch/podcasts) :

    YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts) – https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts

    Radio Davos (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1504682164) : https://pod.link/1504682164

    Meet the Leader (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1534915560) : https://pod.link/1534915560

    Agenda Dialogues (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/agenda-dialogues) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1574956552) : https://pod.link/1574956552

    Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club (https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub) : https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Gillibrand And Congressmembers Lawler And Gillen Demand Answers From Secretary Kennedy On Head Start Field Office Closures

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Congressmembers Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Laura Gillen (D-NY), sent a letter to United States Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding answers on closures of Office of Head Start (OHS) regional offices across the nation, including in New York. Head Start and Early Head Start are the only federally supported early care and education programs specifically dedicated to serving low-income households. The members reinforced the critical role that these regional offices have in serving Head Start and Early Head Start grantees to ensure that these programs continue to help to reduce poverty by providing the unique combination of early childhood education and support services that foster social and economic advancement for families.
    Head Start and Early Head Start programs serve over 50,000 children in New York State, and as the members note, there are long-term benefits that show these programs work. Research consistently finds that “children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and demonstrate improved social, emotional, and behavioral development.”
    The letter requests answers about the following:
    1.           The timeline for developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to replace or supplement the services that are provided by staff in these regional offices.
    2.           The interim or temporary services OHS has in place to ensure the continuity of services to local Head Start and Early Head Start grantees.
    a.           What plans are in place to ensure that grant contracts and renewals, some as soon as May 1, will not be delayed or otherwise disrupted by these personnel decisions.
    3.           Documentation of OHS’s communication with regional staff and local grantees on the status of closures. 
    Senator Gillibrand has been a leader on supporting Head Start and Early Head Start programs. In 2023 alone, she announced over $100 million in federal funding for Head Start programs in New York State.
    A full copy of the letter can be found here and in the text below.
    Dear Secretary Kennedy,
    We write to express our deep concern regarding the reported closures of at least five Office of Head Start (OHS) regional offices across the nation, including the Region II office, which serves the families, children, and grant recipients in New York, New Jersey, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. We strongly urge you to reverse this decision and commit to ensuring that any agency restructuring decisions do not result in service disruption or delays for children and families. 
    As you know, Head Start and Early Head Start are the only federally supported early care and education programs specifically dedicated to serving low-income households. These programs help to reduce poverty by providing the unique combination of early childhood education and support services that foster social and economic advancement for families. Research consistently shows that children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and demonstrate improved social, emotional, and behavioral development. In New York alone, over 50,000 children and their families rely on Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
    Head Start programs are administered by OHS within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). OHS provides federal policy direction through regional offices located across the country and play a critical role in ensuring that Head Start and Early Head Start grantees are equipped to deliver high-quality early childhood education, child care, health services, nutrition, and family support. Staff in these offices – including policy, compliance, and fiscal specialists – assist local grantees with program requirements and safety standards and provide training and technical assistance. Head Start grantees rely on these regional offices for the efficient and reliable administration of grant funding, distribution, and oversight. 
    Employees in at least five regional offices (New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle) appear to have received reduction-in-force (RIF) notices. Closing these offices would deprive local Head Start and Early Head Start grantees of these critical services. While this decision may be driven by the goal of improving government efficiency, it could lead to significant delays in program support, undermine service quality, and jeopardize the overall effectiveness of the Office of Head Start.
    We strongly urge the Administration to reconsider these closures until a comprehensive plan to replace or supplement these services is developed and shared with the relevant stakeholders. At a minimum, we ask that you ensure that local Head Start and Early Head Start grantees in Region II have timely and adequate access to the services and support they would typically receive. Additionally, please provide a written response to questions related to continuity and interim services by Wednesday, April 23, 2025. 
    Please confirm and provide the timeline for developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to replace or supplement the services that are provided by staff in these regional offices. 
    Please confirm and provide a description of the interim or temporary services OHS has in place to ensure the continuity of services to local Head Start and Early Head Start grantees?
    How will you ensure grant contracts and renewals, some as soon as May 1, will not be delayed or otherwise disrupted by these personnel decisions?
    Please provide documentation of OHS’s communication with regional staff and local grantees on the status of closures.  
    Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons and Moran, Reps. Pingree and Lawler introduce NO TIME TO Waste Act to combat American food loss and waste

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) reintroduced today the bipartisan, bicameral New Opportunities for Technological Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To Overcome Waste, or NO TIME TO Waste Act. The bill would reduce food loss and waste in the United States in an effort to increase food security, foster productivity, promote resource and energy conservation, and address climate change. This reintroduction comes during National Food Waste Prevention Week (April 7-13) to raise awareness around the issue of food waste and highlight bipartisan opportunities to find solutions.
    “Food waste exacerbates hunger, pollutes the environment, and undercuts our economy,” said Senator Coons. “As we celebrate National Food Waste Prevention Week, I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan, bicameral bill that takes commonsense steps to tackle food waste. Together, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve health outcomes, and ensure food reaches the communities across Delaware and the nation who need it most.”
    “Kansas is the breadbasket of the country, helping feed the nation and the world,” said Senator Moran. “However, nearly 40 percent of food produced in the U.S. goes to waste while many Americans face hunger and food shortages. This legislation would require collaboration between agencies to help cut food waste and support partnerships to feed those in need.”
    “With food insecurity on the rise across the country and the cost of groceries continuing to rise, it’s more important than ever that we develop whole-of-government solutions and strategies to prevent food loss and waste, encourage greater food recovery, and ensure that no one in this country goes hungry. This bill is a big step in the right direction,” said Congresswoman Pingree, co-founder of the bipartisan Food Recovery Caucus and member of the House Agriculture Committee. “Our NO TIME TO Waste Act would strengthen the federal government’s approach to food loss by tackling waste in every step of our food system—from prevention research to composting and education programs. Food waste isn’t just an economic or environmental issue; it’s a moral one—and it’s long past time that we address it.”
    “I’m proud to join Congresswoman Pingree and Senators Coons and Moran in reintroducing the bipartisan, bicameral NO TIME TO Waste Act to cut food waste and fight hunger. From Rockland to Putnam to Westchester, I’ve seen local food banks and community groups doing incredible work—and this bill gives them the tools, funding, and federal support they need to do even more,” said Congressman Lawler (NY-17).
    Each year, 30 to 40% of the U.S. food supply is lost or wasted—133 billion pounds. Meanwhile, 47 million Americans go hungry, including 7 million children, often in rural communities. In the United States, food is the single largest category of material placed in municipal landfills, generating methane gas as it decomposes, a greenhouse gas approximately 28% more potent than carbon dioxide. In response, the United States committed in the 2018 Farm Bill to cut food loss and waste (FLW) in half by the year 2030 through the U.S. 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal, the first-ever domestic goal to reduce FLW.
    Specifically, the NO TIME TO Waste Act would: 
    Improve federal coordination by formally authorizing the existence of collaboration between the USDA, EPA, and FDA to reduce FLW by 50% by 2030
    Establish an Office of Food Loss and Waste at USDA to support the role of the Food Loss and Waste Liaison, strengthen research on FLW and new technologies, and quantify the impact of current FLW policies on greenhouse gas emissions
    Strengthen current USDA research programs to include FLW as part of their priorities and support states’ efforts to assist local food recovery infrastructure and coordination
    Launch a national public awareness and education campaign to educate households on practical ways to reduce waste at home, the impacts of FLW, methods for preserving and storing foods, tips for identifying whether food is still safe and edible, and developing educational materials
    The NO TIME TO Waste Act is endorsed by the Zero Food Waste Coalition (Natural Resources Defense Council, Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, World Wildlife Fund, ReFED), Upcycled Food Association, Plastic Free Delaware/Zero Waste First State, and Health Care Without Harm.
    “Food waste is a systemwide problem that requires systemwide action to solve, said Renee Albrecht, Co-Chair Federal Working Group, Zero Food Waste Coalition. “The bipartisan NO TIME TO Waste Act provides commonsense solutions to tackle waste throughout the food system and deliver environmental, social, and economic benefits.” 
    “With the massive scale of wasted food comes tremendous opportunity for transformative bipartisan food systems change,” said Amanda Oenbring, CEO, Upcycled Food Association. “EPA’s Food Waste Scale identifies upcycling as a ‘most-preferred’ pathway alongside donation to managing wasted food because it displaces the need for additional food production while ensuring food reaches its highest and best use in the human food system. The NO TIME TO Waste Act will increase collaboration support for the entrepreneurs and innovators rescuing nutrition from half of food surplus that is excess and byproducts while educating consumers about the value these ingredients and products bring to our tables. In doing so we can scale efforts to stop food waste and realize greater social, economic and environmental benefits across the US and beyond.”
    “Plastic Free Delaware (aka Zero Waste First State) applauds our Delaware Senator Coons, and Senator Moran, for pursuing the goals inherent in the NO TIME TO Waste Act,” said Dee Durham, Plastic Free Delaware/Zero Waste First State. “The Act would bolster our efforts on the ground in Delaware to reduce food waste and divert organics from Delaware’s landfills, saving Delawareans money, conserving resources, and reducing emissions of methane which is a significant climate change component.”
    A one-pager is available here. 
    You can read the full text of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: HTX Margin Unveils Strategies for Sustained Success Amidst Crypto Market Volatility

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HTX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, today announced significant growth in its margin trading platform, demonstrating its effectiveness in navigating the current volatile market conditions. The platform reported a 60% year-over-year increase in trading volume and a 16% increase compared to the previous quarter, with a remarkable 565% year-over-year and 79% quarter-over-quarter surge in margin loan users.

    HTX’s robust margin trading growth stems from key competitive advantages, notably its lower loan interest rates and enhanced flexibility compared to other platforms. For example, its USDT margin loan interest rate stood at 3.99% on April 3, below the market average of 4.38%.

    Crucially, HTX maintained relatively low and stable rates even during periods of significant market volatility, a contrast to competitors whose rates often experienced sharp increases.. This stability not only reduces costs for users but also provides crucial support for maintaining long-term positions.

    Whether you’re quick-scoping for short-term gains or planning your next big move on the charts, HTX’s margin trading tools deliver both flexibility and performance, catering to both short-term trading strategies and long-term investment plans. The platform’s sophisticated risk management system and innovative features are designed to maximize potential gains while effectively mitigating risks

    Technological Advancements Enhance User Experience on HTX

    HTX didn’t just stop at offering solid margin trading but was on a mission to revolutionize the user experience throughout 2024. Key upgrades include:

    • Dynamic Interest Rates (Jan 2024): Borrowing costs that adjust on the fly, based on real-time demand and the usage of collateral.
    • Smart Risk Management (Feb 2024): A brand-new margin feature and a cutting-edge risk engine that uses smart algorithms to keep volatile markets in check.
    • Liquidation in Batches (Mar 2024): An optimized liquidation process where liquidation is automatically paused when your account’s risk ratio reaches 150%, minimizing losses during extreme market conditions.
    • Insurance Fund (May 2024): A safety net that automatically covers losses for positions under 20 USDT, making it safer even for smaller players.

    These developments are all about cutting trading costs, enhancing security, and creating a more user-centric trading environment.

    HTX also boasts the latest upgrade for margin trading – the merging of the auto borrowing and repayment processes into a one-click “Auto” feature. This demonstrates HTX’s keen understanding of user needs and aims to simplify the trading process.

    The revamped trading interface now offers users a clear choice between Manual and Auto modes, reducing complexity and allowing traders to concentrate on their strategies.

    This upgrade is proven to the exchange’s ongoing commitment to improving its margin trading services, focusing on smarter and more convenient trading tools through improvements in both design and functionality.

    Looking Ahead: HTX’s Next Wave of Margin Trading Innovation

    HTX Margin’s evolution from a basic lending service to a comprehensive margin trading powerhouse—complete with high leverage, dynamic rates, phased liquidation, and an insurance fund—has taken just under two years.

    HTX is committed to continuous innovation in this area. In the second quarter of 2025, a comprehensive upgrade to HTX’s margin trading platform is anticipated. This upgrade will introduce the flexibility to seamlessly switch between isolated and cross margin modes, along with advanced tools for intelligent fund allocation and automated risk management.

    Plus, a major overhaul of HTX’s margin trading interface is on the horizon, featuring a new real-time profitability dashboard slated for launch by late Q2 or early Q3. This feature promises to provide a better trading experience and data display, helping you fine-tune strategies and manage your trades like a true crypto veteran.

    In a market where volatility is the new normal, HTX’s margin trading service provides more than just a tool—it offers a strategic advantage. By combining cutting-edge technology with a user-focused approach, HTX is empowering cryptocurrency enthusiasts to not only navigate market uncertainty but to capitalize on opportunities within it.

    Contact:
    Ruder Finn Asia
    glo-media@htx-inc.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by HTX. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/736d2b57-f9c5-4581-a9b2-a3667faa4c1e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hadley Man Arrested for Unlawful Possession of Ammunition and Firearms

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant ordered to consent to MassDEP examining his home for hazardous materials

    BOSTON –A Hadley, Mass. man has been arrested and charged for unlawful possession of ammunition and firearms.

    Jacob D. Miller, 43, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of ammunition and firearms by a person previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in person. Miller was arrested yesterday and appeared in federal court in Springfield, Mass. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson. Miller was released on conditions.

    According to the charging documents, on Feb. 9, 2004, Miller was convicted of felony crimes in two separate Hampshire Superior Court cases. In the first case, Miller was convicted of one count of possession of child pornography and sentenced to seven years of probation. In a separate case, Miller was convicted of two counts of possession of an explosive device and sentenced to two and one-half years in jail and 10 years of probation.

    On April 8, 2025, following the execution of search at Miller’s residence, a box of approximately 50 rounds of Federal brand, American Eagle .45 auto, 230 grain ammunition was recovered in a bedside table, as well as six firearms inside a safe in a hallway closet.

    At the hearing, the Court was informed that, based on the materials known to be present at Miller’s residence, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) “is greatly concerned about potential impacts to public safety. Accidental release, breaking of containers, mixing of incompatible or reactive chemicals and or a fire at the residence pose a serious risk to public safety. MassDEP strongly urges a full and comprehensive evaluation at the residence and removal of any remaining hazardous chemicals.” The Court released Miller on various conditions, including the condition that he consent to MassDEP conduct a complete examination of his residence and remove any hazardous substances.

    The charge of unlawful possession of ammunition and firearms provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hadley Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: E Ink Unveils 75” Spectra™ 6 Display, Setting a New Standard for Vivid and Sustainable Digital Signage

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BILLERICA, Mass., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — E Ink (8069.TW) the originator, pioneer, and global commercial leader in electronic paper (ePaper) technology, today announced the launch of its largest E Ink Spectra™ 6 form factor to date, a 75” full-color ePaper display module.

    The debut of the Spectra 6 75” follows this year’s launch of the E Ink Kaleido™ 3 75” during ISE, as E Ink continues to prioritize larger formats across its ePaper portfolio. Initial sample modules will be available in Q4 of 2025 to the partners who presented at Touch Taiwan 2025 in collaboration with E Ink.

    “Our new 75” Spectra 6 display marks a significant milestone in E Ink’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge, sustainable digital signage,” said Johnson Lee, CEO of E Ink. “By combining a highly saturated, full-color ePaper experience with extreme energy efficiency, we’re giving advertisers, brands and retailers an innovative way to engage customers while reducing their environmental impact. We’re excited to see how partners will harness this technology to transform indoor digital advertising applications.”

    The 75” Spectra 6 modules can be equipped with E Ink Ripple™, the next-generation waveform and algorithm architecture that enables smoother display updates and expands color options. The newest waveform transitions can increase dwell time from customers and engagement for advertisements.

    Applications and use cases include advertisements, information displays and wayfinding signage, as well as corporate and retail branding exhibits. The larger form factor helps drive engagement and enhances communication via vivid color ePaper displays. Key features of E Ink Spectra 6 modules include:

    • Rich, vivid colors for commercial displays
    • Extreme energy efficiency with an operating temperature ranging from 0-50 °C
    • Optimizing space utility by transforming static poster spaces into dynamic displays, enabling effortless and energy-efficient content updates without manual intervention

    By using power only when updating content, E Ink’s ePaper technology is highly energy-efficient and non-emissive—relying on ambient light rather than a constant backlight. This design significantly reduces power consumption and carbon emissions compared to both paper and LCDs. Under its PESG (Product, Environment, Social, and Governance) framework, E Ink delivers low-carbon solutions that accelerate this sustainable transition. According to FTSE Russell, a global index provider, 99.9% of E Ink’s product sales revenue qualifies as green, while Moody’s, a leading credit rating agency, has verified the company’s green loans as compliant with Green Loan Principles. These recognitions underscore E Ink’s strong environmental performance and alignment with international sustainability standards.

    About E Ink

    E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TWO), based on technology from MIT’s Media Lab, provides an ideal display medium for applications spanning eReaders and eNotes, retail, home, hospital, transportation, logistics, and more, enabling customers to put displays in locations previously impossible. E Ink’s electrophoretic display products make it the worldwide leader for ePaper. Its low power displays enable customers to reach their sustainability goals, and E Ink has pledged using 100% renewable energy in 2030 and reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040. E Ink has been recognized for their efforts by receiving, validation from Science-Based Targets (SBTi) and is listed in both the DJSI World and DJSI Emerging Indexes. Listed in Taiwan’s Taipei Exchange (TPEx) and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world’s largest supplier of ePaper displays. For more information please visit www.eink.com. E Ink. We Make Surfaces Smart and Green.

    Contacts

    V2 Communications on behalf of E Ink

    eink@v2comms.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c349c0a2-14fb-4971-a715-18de32b5f4fd

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3b148730-bb61-4ac8-8e6a-fb7ade23f938

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NextNRG Reports Preliminary March 2025 Revenue Growth of 161% Year-Over-Year and Q1 Revenue Growth of 146%

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NextNRG, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXXT), a pioneer in AI-driven energy innovation—transforming how energy is produced, managed, and delivered through its advanced Utility Operating System, smart microgrid technology, wireless EV charging, and on-demand mobile fuel delivery solutions— today announced preliminary unaudited revenue and volume results for March 2025 and the first quarter of 2025. The company delivered its third consecutive record month, with March revenue increasing 161% year-over-year to approximately $6.15 million.

    March 2025 Highlights

    • Revenue: $6,148,266 (vs. $2,354,048 in March 2024)
    • YoY Revenue Growth: 161%
    • Gallons Delivered: 1,799,955 (vs. 580,217 in March 2024)
    • YoY Gallon Growth: 210%

    Q1 2025 Highlights

    • Revenue: $16,232,354 (vs. $6,597,119 in Q1 2024)
    • YoY Revenue Growth: 146%
    • Gallons Delivered: 4,688,045 (vs. 1,658,272 in Q1 2024)
    • YoY Gallon Growth: 183%

    “We are pleased to report another record-breaking month as our growth trajectory continues to accelerate,” said Michael D. Farkas, Founder and CEO of NextNRG. “With volume nearly tripling year-over-year in March, our focus on disciplined expansion and operational execution is delivering measurable results. The successful integration of strategic acquisitions and our partnerships with major fleet operators are helping to validate our business model as we scale.”

    Farkas continued, “With three consecutive months of all-time high performance, we are seeing strong market demand and consistent customer adoption of our mobile fueling platform. As we expand our AI-powered infrastructure and prepare for future deployments of smart microgrid and wireless charging technologies, we believe NextNRG is playing a key role in powering the transition to a cleaner, more flexible energy future.”

    Note on Preliminary Results
    These March and Q1 2025 financial results are preliminary and unaudited. Final figures may be subject to adjustment pending the completion of month-end and quarter-end closing procedures.

    About NextNRG, Inc.
    NextNRG, Inc. (NextNRG) is Powering What’s Next by implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into renewable energy, next-generation energy infrastructure, battery storage, wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging and on-demand mobile fuel delivery to create an integrated ecosystem.

    At the core of NextNRG’s strategy is its Utility Operating System, which leverages AI and ML to help make existing utilities’ energy management as efficient as possible; and the deployment of NextNRG smart microgrids, which utilize AI-driven energy management alongside solar power and battery storage to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs and improve grid resiliency. These microgrids are designed to serve commercial properties, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, parking garages, rural and tribal lands, recreational facilities and government properties, expanding energy accessibility while supporting decarbonization initiatives.

    NextNRG continues to expand its growing fleet of fuel delivery trucks and national footprint, including the acquisition of Yoshi Mobility’s fuel division and Shell Oil’s trucks, further solidifying its position as a leader in the on-demand fueling industry. NextNRG is also integrating sustainable energy solutions into its mobile fueling operations. The company hopes to be an integral part of assisting its fleet customers in their transition to EV, supporting more efficient fuel delivery while advancing clean energy adoption. The transition process is expected to include the deployment of NextNRG’s innovative wireless EV charging solutions.

    To find out more visit: www.nextnrg.com

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statement describing NextNRG’s goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions, or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Words such as “expect,” “intends,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those related to NextNRG’s business and macroeconomic and geopolitical events. These and other risks are described in NextNRG’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. NextNRG’s forward-looking statements involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although NextNRG’s forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by NextNRG. Except as required by law, NextNRG undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements.

    Investor Relations Contact
    NextNRG, Inc.
    Sharon Cohen
    SCohen@nextnrg.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Despite Volatility in the Markets Global Drone Market Is Expected to Achieve Remarkable Growth as Usage Skyrockets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Manufactures are projected to see increased manufacturing and sales in the global drone market for the coming several years. Rapid advancements in drone technology are significantly contributing to the drones market growth. Innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and improved sensor technology have enhanced the capabilities of drones, enabling them to perform more complex tasks with greater precision and efficiency. The integration of AI and ML, for instance, allows drones to analyze data in real-time, optimize flight paths, and make autonomous decisions. Furthermore, advancements in battery technology and propulsion systems have improved the endurance and range of drones, allowing them to operate for longer periods and cover greater distances. With the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly drones, market players are focusing on delivering drones with enhanced payload capacities, durability, and flight times. A report from Research And Markets said that the global drones market size aided by the increasing adoption of drones across various sectors, including agriculture, defense, logistics, and entertainment, the market is projected to continue to grow at a CAGR of 22.4% through 2032 to reach a value of USD 244.95 billion by 2032.” Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI), Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA).

    The report said: “As per the global drones market analysis, the increasing interest in urban air mobility (UAM) and the potential for passenger drones and air taxis represent a transformative opportunity for the transportation sector. Several companies and startups are already developing drone-based urban transport solutions, which could redefine urban mobility and create new market segments in the coming years. In conclusion, the global drones market value is set to increase in the coming years, driven by advancements in technology, expanding applications, and increasing demand across a wide range of sectors. Despite facing regulatory challenges and high costs, the market is set to witness robust expansion as drones become an integral part of modern industries, from agriculture to logistics to entertainment. By 2032, the market is expected to achieve remarkable growth, providing numerous opportunities for innovation, investment, and development across the globe.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Closes Miller Land Surveying Corporation, a Third Southeast Acquisition and a Fourth Nationally for the Drone as Service (DaaS) Rollout – 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 the closing of its acquisition of Miller Land Surveying Corporation (“Miller”) of Lake Worth, Florida, a land survey and mapping company with a 40 year history and deep portfolio of business customers in the Palm Beach County area of South Florida.

    This is ZenaTech’s third acquisition in the Southeast region as part of a larger national roll-up strategy to disrupt the land survey industry by accelerating the use of drones for their speed and accuracy benefits. The acquisition also furthers the Company’s national Drone as a Service, or DaaS, business rollout as the fourth US acquisition.

    “Miller Land Surveying brings a wealth of experience and customer relationships as a second-generation company known across Palm Beach County for quality land surveys and mapping. Their pioneering team is well suited to helping us bring drone innovation to premium residential and business land surveys. This acquisition is another step towards our vision to create a national DaaS business, bringing AI drone efficiencies and precision to a variety of legacy business verticals and manual tasks,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS business will incorporate the ZenaDrone 1000 and the IQ series of multifunction autonomous drones to provide a variety of service solutions from land surveys to power line inspections or power washing, made accessible and cost effective through an Uber-like business model on a regular subscription or pay-per-use basis. Customers can conveniently access drones for eliminating manual or time-consuming tasks achieving superior results, such as for surveying, inspections, security and law enforcement, or precision farming applications, without having to buy, operate, or maintain the drones themselves.

    The DaaS business model offers customers such as government agencies, real estate developers, construction firms, farmers or energy companies reduced upfront costs as there is no need to purchase expensive drones, as well as convenience, as there is no need to manage maintenance and operation. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and enables access to advanced drone technology sensors or attachments like spraying, without the need for specialized training.

    Accurate land surveys are essential for the planning, designing, and executing of roads, bridges, and building projects for cities, commercial, and residential projects, and are required for legal purposes. 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 more traditional photogrammetry methods. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    In Additional ZENA News: ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Domestic Manufacturing for US Commercial Customers and US Defense Without Needing to Increase Prices – ZenaTech, Inc. (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, today provides an update on its US-based ZenaDrone subsidiary’s expansion plans for “Made in America” manufacturing in light of the recent expanded tariffs announced by the current US Administration. ZenaTech maintains its commitment to domestic manufacturing for US defense drone solutions, including strategic local investments and military-compliant supply chains. ZenaDrone will now move some of its commercial drone production for US commercial customers to Arizona, meaning no need to increase prices for customers to offset tariff costs.

    ZenaDrone’s headquarters is in Phoenix, Arizona, which includes sales, administration, research and development, and aerial testing operations. The company plans to expand its manufacturing capabilities over the next two months to produce drones for US commercial customers in addition to planned production for the US military. This expansion will include up to 2,000 additional square feet of production space. This will be the second global manufacturing facility; the company currently has development and production facilities for the ZenaDrone 1000 and IQ series of drones at its 10,000-square-foot facility in Sharjah, UAE.

    In response to the evolving trade landscape, ZenaTech also expects that the expansion of its Phoenix-based manufacturing facility will bring over 150 new jobs to the region by the end of 2026.

    “While tariffs can be challenging, they also reveal which companies are truly agile. ZenaTech has always been long-term in our thinking; engaging in smart resource management and supply chains and prepared to navigate global shifts,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D. “With increased US bans on Chinese drones and components and local incentives for domestic production, we are well-positioned to expand our manufacturing in Arizona, also creating more high-quality American jobs,” added Mr. Passley. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.zenatech.com/newsroom/

    Other recent developments in the drone industry include:

    Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI), a leading innovator in AI-powered defense and security technologies, recently announced a service expansion for its Airborne Response drone services subsidiary. Under its existing multi-year agreement with one of Florida’s largest electric utilities, Airborne Response will now deliver enhanced drone-based critical infrastructure assessment services in addition to its routine monitoring and pre/post-hurricane recovery programs.

    This new order builds on an established partnership and expands Airborne’s role beyond standard visual inspections and hurricane recovery efforts to advanced “Condition Assessment” (CA) services—a mission-critical capability for modern grid resilience. It is anticipated that future assessments could leverage proprietary AI imaging technology to proactively detect faults across transmission lines, substations, and pole infrastructure. As such, the Company intends to explore further support for high-value assessment work in the future utilizing in-house resources such as its Safe Pro AI unit and its patented artificial intelligence (AI)-powered imagery processing technology or through the formation of development partnerships with third-party solution vendors.

    AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS) a leading provider of best-in-class unmanned aerial systems (UAS), sensors and software solutions for customers worldwide in the commercial and government verticals, recently announced the appointment of Steve Mathias as Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development and Erik de Badts as Global Head of MicaSense Sales.

    AgEagle CEO Bill Irby commented, “As we execute a multi-faceted strategic growth plan focused on expanding our global footprint, the addition of both Steve and Erik’s impressive pedigrees will drive innovation, foster collaboration, and ensure that we remain agile in an evolving UAS marketplace. Steve brings multi-decade expertise in military and commercial aviation, both crewed and uncrewed, while Erik is a true subject matter expert in multi-spectral sensing. We are confident their leadership will help strengthen key partner relationships, unlock new opportunities, and accelerate revenue growth.”

    Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS), a leading provider of private industrial wireless networks and commercial drone and automated data solutions through its Ondas Networks and Ondas Autonomous Systems (OAS) business units, reported financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

    “Ondas entered 2024 with deepening customer engagement and a growing business pipeline at OAS, allowing us to end the year with $10 million in backlog at OAS. We believe 2025 will be a record year with OAS expected to contribute at least $20 million in revenues of the expected Ondas Holdings revenue of $25 million,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas Holdings. “Our momentum in 2024 was supported by securing two key programs with a major military customer for our Optimus and Iron Drone platforms, opening the large and fast-growing global defense markets. Additionally, we fortified our financial position by securing $35 million of capital in the fourth quarter, supporting our strong growth outlook.

    Avionics specialist Aerium recently launched a compact carrier board for the NVIDIA Jetson family of computers-on-modules (COMs), designed for being installed on-board drones to deliver in-flight machine learning and artificial intelligence (ML and AI) capabilities: the Lumen.

    “The Lumen carrier board serves as the ideal partner for unlocking the full potential of Jetson modules, offering an array of features and functionalities tailored for diverse AI and edge computing applications,” claims Aerium of its creation. “The Lumen carrier board provides seamless compatibility and integration with NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) Jetson modules, delivering an optimal platform for developers, researchers, and enthusiasts to harness the power of AI at the edge.”

    NVIDIA’s ever-growing Jetson family of computers-on-modules put the company’s in-house Arm-based processor cores, high-end graphics cores, and dedicated machine learning and artificial intelligence acceleration cores on a small board designed to drive everything from autonomous vehicles to advanced robotics — and when paired with a carrier like the Aerium Lumen, brought to our attention by CNX Software, drones.

    About FN Media Group:

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

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

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

    Contact Information:

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

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Marquette Bank Awarded 12th Consecutive ‘Outstanding’ CRA Rating from Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ORLAND PARK, Ill., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Marquette Bank, a locally-owned neighborhood bank and the banking subsidiary of Marquette National Corporation (MNAT), was awarded its twelfth consecutive Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) ‘Outstanding’ rating – the highest performance rating – from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, during its most recent evaluation period.

    “This rating reflects our commitment to making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve,” said Paul McCarthy, Chairman at Marquette Bank. “Marquette Bank is committed to affordable access to financial services, community development and lending in our neighborhoods.”

    The CRA is a federal law that requires banks to meet the credit needs of the communities they serve, especially low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Banks are rated on their performance in meeting these needs through lending, community investments, and banking services. Marquette Bank has received the highest rating since 2000 making them a leader in community revitalization and placing them among the top 1% of all banks in the nation for CRA performance ratings.

    “Marquette Bank is proud of our comprehensive approach to address the banking and the credit needs of our market,” Manny Jimenez, First Vice President and CRA Officer for Marquette Bank, commented. “We believe in the power of neighborhood oriented financial services and look forward to continuing to work alongside our neighbors, nonprofits, local government and the business community to help create more opportunities for everyone in Chicagoland.”

    Factors contributing to Marquette Bank’s success include: high employee engagement and volunteerism; strong partnerships with local nonprofits and community groups; a focus on affordable housing; its financial education and inclusion efforts; a history of robust community outreach; and balancing financial innovation with friendly, personal service. In a recent survey of 3,832 customers, they were 2x more likely to recommend Marquette Bank to friends and family compared to the banking industry average for that metric.

    “When you bank with Marquette Bank it benefits you and your family, but it is also good for your local neighborhood and Chicagoland,” says Betty Harn, Executive Vice President of Marquette Bank. “The banking you experience is more personal. Many of the families who bank here have banked with us for generations.”

    The bank’s Marquette Neighborhood Commitment initiative has been recognized nationally with the American Bankers Association Foundation Community Commitment Award for Volunteerism and at the state level by the Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) with their Excellence and Innovation Award.

    Marquette Bank will celebrate its 80th Anniversary on Monday, May 12th with refreshments in the lobby and a special 80th anniversary tote bag for customers. For more information about Marquette Bank: www.emarquettebank.com or call 1-888-254-9500.

    About Marquette Bank:

    Marquette Bank is one of Chicagoland’s largest remaining independent neighborhood banks. The bank has helped neighbors, families and businesses since 1945. Marquette Bank offers a full range of digital and in-person banking services including: consumer banking, business banking, home financing, commercial lending, trust services, student loans, investment, insurance and wealth management services. Marquette Bank is a subsidiary of Marquette National Corporation (MNAT), a diversified financial holding company, and has $2 billion in assets along with a local lending portfolio of $1 billion.

    Marquette Bank has banking centers in Chicago, Bolingbrook, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Lemont, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Oak Forest, Orland Park, Summit and Tinley Park Illinois. Marquette Bank is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. For more information visit: emarquettebank.com or call 1-888-254-9500.

    For More Information:
    Jeff MacDonald
    708-873-3560
    jmacdonald@emarquettebank.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates to Reflect Trading Partner Retaliation and Alignment

    Source: The White House

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby determine and order:

    Section. 1.  Background.  In Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 (Regulating Imports With a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits), I declared a national emergency arising from conditions reflected in large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits, and imposed additional ad valorem duties that I deemed necessary and appropriate to deal with that unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security and economy of the United States.  Section 4(b) of Executive Order 14257 provided that “[s]hould any trading partner retaliate against the United States in response to this action through import duties on U.S. exports or other measures, I may further modify the [Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States] to increase or expand in scope the duties imposed under this order to ensure the efficacy of this action.” 

    In the Executive Order dated April 8, 2025 (Amendment to Reciprocal Tariffs and Updated Duties As Applied to Low-Value Imports from the People’s Republic of China), pursuant to section 4(b) of Executive Order 14257, I ordered modification of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) to raise the applicable ad valorem duty rate for imports from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) established in Executive Order 14257, in recognition of the fact that the PRC announced that it would retaliate against the United States in response to Executive Order 14257.

    On April 9, 2025, the State Council Tariff Commission of the PRC announced that, in response to the Executive Order dated April 8, 2025, an 84 percent tariff would be imposed on all goods imported into the PRC originating from the United States, effective at 12:01 a.m. on April 10, 2025.  Pursuant to section 4(b) of Executive Order 14257, I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to address the national emergency declared in that order by modifying the HTSUS and taking other actions to increase the duties imposed on the PRC in response to this latest retaliation.  In my judgment, this modification is necessary and appropriate to effectively address the threat to U.S. national and economic security posed by the PRC’s contribution to the conditions reflected in large and persistent trade deficits, including PRC industrial policies that have produced systemic excess manufacturing capacity in the PRC and suppressed U.S. domestic manufacturing capacity, which conditions are made worse by the PRC’s recent actions.

    Section 4(c) of Executive Order 14257 provided that, “[s]hould any trading partner take significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements and align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national security matters, I may further modify the HTSUS to decrease or limit in scope the duties imposed under this order.”  Since I signed Executive Order 14257, in contrast to the PRC’s actions, more than 75 other foreign trading partners, including countries enumerated in Annex I to Executive Order 14257, have approached the United States to address the lack of trade reciprocity in our economic relationships and our resulting national and economic security concerns.  This is a significant step by these countries toward remedying non-reciprocal trade arrangements and aligning sufficiently with the United States on economic and national security matters.

    Pursuant to section 4(c) of Executive Order 14257, I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to address the national emergency declared in that order by modifying the HTSUS to temporarily suspend, for a period of 90 days, except with respect to the PRC, application of the individual ad valorem duties imposed for foreign trading partners listed in Annex I to Executive Order 14257, and to instead impose on articles of all such trading partners an additional ad valorem rate of duty as set forth herein, pursuant to the terms of, and except as otherwise provided in, Executive Order 14257, as modified by this order. 

    Sec. 2. Suspension of Country-Specific Ad Valorem Rates of Duty.  Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 10, 2025, enforcement of the second paragraph of section 3(a) of Executive Order 14257 is suspended until 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on July 9, 2025.  Effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 10, 2025, and until 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on July 9, 2025, all articles imported into the customs territory of the United States from the trading partners enumerated in Annex I to Executive Order 14257 shall be, consistent with law, subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 10 percent, subject to all applicable exceptions set forth in Executive Order 14257. 

    Sec. 3.  Tariff Modifications.  In recognition of the fact that the PRC has announced that it will retaliate again against the United States in response to the Executive Order dated April 8, 2025, which amended Executive Order 14257, and in recognition of the sincere intentions by many other trading partners to facilitate a resolution to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257, the HTSUS shall be modified as follows:

    Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 10, 2025: 

    (a)  heading 9903.01.25 of the HTSUS shall be amended by deleting the article description and by inserting “Articles the product of any country, except for products described in headings 9903.01.26-9903.01.33, and except as provided for in heading 9903.01.34, and except for articles the product of China, including Hong Kong and Macau, as described in heading 9903.01.63 that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 10, 2025, and that were not in transit on the final mode of transit prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 10, 2025, as provided for in subdivision (v) of U.S. note 2 to this subchapter . . . . . . .” in lieu thereof;

    (b) heading 9903.01.63 of the HTSUS shall be amended by deleting “84%” each place that it appears and by inserting “125%” in lieu thereof, and by deleting “April 9, 2025,” and by inserting “April 10, 2025” in lieu thereof;

    (c) subdivision (v)(xiii)(10) of U.S. note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS shall be amended by deleting “84%”, and inserting “125%” in lieu thereof, and subdivision (v)(xiii) of U.S. note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS shall be amended by deleting “April 9, 2025,” and by inserting “April 10, 2025,” in lieu thereof; and

    (d) headings 9903.01.43-9903.01.62 and 9903.01.64-9903.01.76 are hereby suspended, and subdivisions (v)(xiii)(i)-(ix) and (xi)-(lvii) of U.S. note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS are hereby suspended for a period of 90 days beginning at 12:01 a.m. on April 10, 2025.

    Sec. 4. De Minimis Tariff Increase.  To ensure that the imposition of tariffs pursuant to section 3 of this order is not circumvented and that the purpose of Executive Order 14257, as modified by the Executive Order dated April 8, 2025, and this order are not undermined, I also deem it necessary and appropriate to: 

    (a)  increase the ad valorem rate of duty set forth in section 2(c)(i) of Executive Order 14256 of April 2, 2025 (Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China as Applied to Low-Value Imports), as modified by the Executive Order dated April 8, 2025, from 90 percent to 120 percent;

    (b)  increase the per postal item containing goods duty in section 2(c)(ii) of Executive Order 14256, as modified by the Executive Order dated April 8, 2025, that is in effect on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 2, 2025, and before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2025, from 75 dollars to 100 dollars; and

    (c)  increase the per postal item containing goods duty in section 2(c)(ii) of Executive Order 14256, as modified by the Executive Order dated April 8, 2025, that is in effect on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2025, from 150 dollars to 200 dollars.

    Sec. 5. Implementation.  The Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative, as applicable, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and the Chair of the International Trade Commission, are directed to take all necessary actions to implement and effectuate this order, consistent with applicable law, including through temporary suspension or amendment of regulations or notices in the Federal Register and adopting rules and regulations, and are authorized to take such actions, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA, as may be necessary to implement this order.  Each executive department and agency shall take all appropriate measures within its authority to implement this order.

    Sec. 6.  General Provisions. (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        April 9, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: America Is Back — But Inflation Is Not

    Source: The White House

    Today’s new Consumer Price Index reveals inflation fell to 2.4% in March, smashing expectations for the second straight month — and the first drop in consumer prices in several years.

    CNN’s coverage noted: “This was actually a DROP of .1% — that’s the first time we’ve seen that since COVID. Year-over-year, the annual inflation rate was at 2.4%. This was also better than expected and a six-month low, moving in the right direction.”

    Under President Trump, America is back — but inflation is not.

    President Trump is making good on his promise to deliver lower costs for Americans, with prices for everyday goods seeing across-the-board declines.

    • Prescription drug prices saw the largest monthly decline on record.
    • Prices for airfare, used vehicles, and car insurance all decreased.
    • Energy prices fell 2.4% in March, driven by plummeting gas prices across the country.

    As President Trump pursues the largest tax cuts in history, an unprecedented deregulatory agenda, and a manufacturing boom, the American economy is poised to prosper like never before.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Department of State Press Briefing – April 10, 2025 – 2:00 PM

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Spokesperson Tammy Bruce leads the Department Press Briefing, at the Department of State, on April 10, 2025.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoZ9AuT397g

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Care team sharing session held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Home Affairs Department today held a sharing session for District Services & Community Care Teams members to share their experiences in serving the public.

    Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing and Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak officiated at the sharing session.

    Speaking at the event, Mr Chan pointed out that as announced in the 2024 Policy Address, the Government will regularise the establishment of care teams and increase their funding by 50% in the next term of service to strengthen support for them.

    He said the Government hopes that care teams will continue to consolidate community resources to provide more in-depth and extensive caring services and enhance people’s sense of achievement and satisfaction.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Mak noted that with the next funding agreement, care teams will be able to further promote their services and continue to work closely with partnering organisations to pool more community resources.

    During the sharing session, care teams members shared some of their stories, reflecting the people-oriented service spirit, including the fire incident at New Lucky House, where care teams quickly assisted in evacuating residents and continued to visit each household for several days to provide emotional support and emergency supplies.

    When the water supply in Tung Chung and the electricity supply in Wong Tai Sin were affected in extensive areas, care teams provided support to residents overnight.

    As of end-January 2025, care teams have visited a total of about 390,000 elderly households and other households in need and provided about 43,000 times of basic home or other support services, as well as organising about 23,000 district activities.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Morocco sets the stage for Africa’s digital future ahead of continental launchpad event for innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital leadership in Marrakech

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

    RABAT, Morocco, April 10, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Morocco will once again play a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s digital landscape. As the country continues to develop as a tech-driven hub, it has become a regional reference for the continent’s recognition as global force in technology – with innovation and AI at its core.

    That was the message delivered by a panel of speakers during the GITEX AFRICA Morocco press conference in Rabat, ahead of the continent’s largest tech and startup event opening in Marrakech from 14-16 April 2025.

    With a focus on powering Africa’s innovation-driven future, the event is held under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him, the authority of the Kingdom’s Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, in partnership with Digital Development Agency (ADD), and organised by KAOUN International – the overseas event agency of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and organiser of GITEX events globally.

    Mrs Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, Government of Morocco, said: “Morocco’s choice to host this major continental event, which is an annual showcase allowing the world to discover Africa’s digital and technological talents and potential, is the result of rigorous and sustained work aimed at making our country a regional digital hub. It is also part of the implementation of the High Royal Guidelines of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, who called for the training of qualified skills in the various digital fields, the anchoring of a culture of responsible digitalisation within society and the development of technological infrastructures capable to keep abreast of rapid changes in the sector should be developed.”

    Mr. Mohammed Drissi Melyani, Director General of the Digital Development Agency, said: “GITEX Africa Morocco has become a major annual milestone on the global tech agenda and a defining moment in the continent’s digital transformation. It seamlessly blends innovation, investment, research, and institutional collaboration, making it much more than a simple technology exhibition. It reflects the vision of a continent that no longer settles for consuming technology but is determined to create it—one that doesn’t just keep pace with innovation but plays an active role in steering its course.”

    Trixie LohMirmand, Chief Executive Officer, KAOUN International, said: “This third edition of GITEX AFRICA Morocco shall usher the African economies into the epoch of Ai evolution. Great opportunities for businesses and societies ensue, but first with the collective commitment to develop capacity for the transition. GITEX AFRICA will converge in Morocco global ecosystem experts and enablers to empower and inspire stakeholders in their mission.”

    While GITEX AFRICA Morocco is set to welcome more than 45,000 visitors and participants from over 130 countries, the show has grown to feature over 1,450 exhibitors with new countries represented within the African continent – from Gabon, Niger, and Zambia – as well as markets across Europe and Asia – including Belgium, Switzerland and Uzbekistan.

    Fuelling Africa’s startup ecosystem

    As funding for African startups rebounds to pre-pandemic levels, exceeding $2 billion, international startup investing powerhouses have turned their attention to Africa’s startup ecosystem. The European Innovation Council (EIC) – Europe’s largest deep-tech investor – will attend GITEX AFRICA Morocco across its conference and workshop tracks, while the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will host 10 standout African startups as part of its SheWins Africa programme on the show floor.

    Bolstering EIC and IFH’s attendance across 1,500 facilitated meetings is a contingency of more than 350 investors from 35 countries ready to meet entrepreneurs and enterprises head on to satisfy the demand for sustainable and viable tech solutions. With over $200 billion assets under management, investors from the likes of AFRICINVEST, techstars, and Ventures Platform are ready to fund Africa’s next big idea.

    African and international startups will come into focus across a number of show features, including an onstage interview with Awa Gueye from Africa’s billion dollar start up, Wave Mobile Money; the Supernova Challenge – Africa’s largest early-stage startup competition – set to supercharge new companies with an seasoned judging panel; the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform in partnerships with the Digital Development Agency (ADD) will boost the globalisation of Moroccan startups through Morocco 200; and GITEX AFRICA Morocco’s startup showcase, serving as a bridging point between visitors, innovators and disruptors.

    International tech giants debut at GITEX AFRICA’s third edition

    International tech organisations will also make a debut at the show, looking to seize on growth opportunities during the three days, forging new partnerships and showcasing their latest tech innovations. These include tech giants Cisco, Ericsson, Nokia, China Mobile and Salesforce. Further afield, Saudi Made – a celebration of the of the Kingdom’s technical innovation, creative talent and business acumen, and Presight, part of the G42 group, the leading big data analytics company powered by AI – represent a strong Middle East presence.

    Building on the resounding success of previous editions, GITEX AFRICA Morocco is primed to forge new partnerships and explore new industries, thereby elevating its influence and impact on Africa’s digital landscape even further. The 2025 edition presents an expanded agenda beyond its traditional focus on AI, cybersecurity, telecoms to cover, energy transition, mobility, edutech, sports technologies, and agritech.

    GITEX AFRICA Morocco returns for its third year with support from institutional partners: ANRT, Royal Air Maroc, ONCF, OCP, ONDA, AMDIE, ONMT and CGEM.

    For news and updates on GITEX AFRICA Morocco, please visit: www.GITEXAfrica.com.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Adolescence’ on Netflix: Evidence-based ways parents can support boys around masculinity norms

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Deinera Exner-Cortens, Associate Professor of Psychology and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (Childhood Health Promotion), University of Calgary

    Teenage boys may retreat into a wall of silence as they detect gendered norms. Parents’ persistence to talk with them about their experiences, beliefs and emotions matters. (Netflix)

    This story contains spoilers about Netflix’s ‘Adolescence.’

    Since its release in mid-March 2025, Adolescence has been streamed almost 100 million times worldwide. The show tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who murders a female classmate after being radicalized by the manosphere.

    There has been mass public discussion about the series, including among parents. As stated by one commenter on the subreddit r/Parenting: “I have a fairly standard 15-year-old boy … After watching this on Netflix, I’ve got terrible anxiety about it all … ”

    As a developmental psychologist with a focus on adolescent boys, I believe this discourse is important, but the intense discussion can make it seem like these are new issues. Yet, psychologists and feminist scholars have been studying masculinities since at least the 1960s, including among adolescent boys.

    We have also learned how to create supportive spaces for boys through research on gender-transformative interventions. These interventions address issues like poor mental health, substance use and use of violence by focusing on how strict adherence to patriarchal masculine norms (such as emotional restriction, homophobia and aggression) can harm boys’ health and the health of those around them.

    Here, I offer three key takeaways parents and caregivers can learn from this research, and additional resources to explore.

    1. Curiosity is key.

    Many gender-transformative programs use ideas of transformational learning, where the experiences, beliefs and perspectives of boys are used to support critical reflection and change. Put simply, this means when boys say they like “that Andrew Tate shite” (Episode 2), adults respond with curiosity and not condemnation (for example, saying something like: “Why does that idea feel true to you?”).



    Read more:
    ‘Adolescence’ on Netflix: A painful wake-up call about unregulated internet use for teens

    Curiosity, however, does not equal agreement. By demonstrating that we are authentically engaged with what our teen is sharing, we can also (gently) push them to consider how these ideas might harm themselves or others (for instance: “How do you think that idea might make the girls around you feel?”). It is also OK to express disagreement when ideas cross a line, but explain why (for instance: “I am not OK with you calling girls bitches. Do you know where that word comes from?”).

    Another thing we have learned is that this style of engagement — while effective — is not a one-and-done. Effective gender-transformative intervention strategies take time to work, and these conversations need to be consistent and ongoing, ideally starting well before adolescence (though it is never too late to start).

    Adolescents may also not be the first to engage, so it’s important to regularly and intentionally create space for them to share their ideas and experiences. If you get a wall of silence, try again another time. One idea is to look for natural opportunities for moments of conversation, like on the way to an extracurricular activity, or when eating a meal together (like the lead detective does with his son in the second episode). Also look for activities you can do alongside your child, and where they can teach you something (for example, playing a video game together).

    This is hard work, and so finding support among like-minded parents (whether in-person or online) can be helpful.

    2. Masculinity is not ‘toxic’.

    Many pieces on Adolescence refer to “toxic masculinity.” However, this is a phrase to avoid, because for boys, this suggets there is something inherently flawed with a core aspect of their identity, making manosphere messages that celebrate misogynistic forms of masculinity all the more enticing. Instead, we can talk with boys about how they feel they are expected to act as a boy in their world, and the ways they might find some of these expectations restricting.

    For example, many boys want to share their emotions, and indeed do so until adolescence. But, as families, schools, peers and society start to place stricter expectations on the norm of boys suppressing their emotions, boys may retreat from this sharing.

    Yet, boys who are able to resist this norm — with the support of their families, peers and schools — do much better psychologically and socially.

    Parents and caregivers can support this resistance by actively asking boys about their emotions (and sharing our own), and giving boys words to label what they are feeling.

    For example, in Adolescence, Jamie’s dad does show emotional vulnerability several times, but never in front of Jamie. Instead, Jamie recounts a memory of his dad having a “proper rager” and the type of language we hear Eddie use when yelling at boys who tagged his van (“I’ll slap that f-king smile off your face … Listen to me, you little twat”) is mirrored by Jamie when he yells at the psychologist (“I don’t f-king wanna sit down! … Look at me now!”). In sum, what we say, do and share is key for boys’ positive development.

    3. Boys are individuals.

    As one boy in our research shared: “To be a guy is to be human, it’s OK to be sad or upset or nervous and stuff. It’s also good to be happy so it’s OK to show how you feel and that.” Yet, that essential opportunity to be human is often curtailed for boys by the gendered expectations and pressures they feel.

    In Adolescence, we learn Jamie once loved to draw, but at some point he stopped. Comparatively, another detective, who is a woman, discusses how she was helped to survive a tough school environment when a teacher supported her drawing. Jamie’s dad talks about how he encouraged Jamie to be “sporty,” while, by contrast, Jamie relays he is not good at sports, and knew his dad was ashamed of this. The messages Jamie received told him that he needed to be a certain way, and when he failed to live up to those expectations, he turned to online manosphere spaces for acceptance.

    Similarly, in our research with former incels, we learned that participants found the community when they were looking for online help for their struggles meeting masculinity norms. So, if boys are struggling, parents can help them find supportive spaces that promote messages about the many ways to be a guy in the world, and that match their needs and interests.

    Resources for parents and caregivers

    • Gender-transformative interventions in the U.S. and Canada with evidence of effectiveness include Coaching Boys Into Men, Manhood 2.0 and WiseGuyz

    • Books: Masculinity Workbook for Teens; Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys

    • Podcast: On Boys

    • Canadian non-profit Next Gen Men, dedicated to changing how the world sees, acts and thinks about masculinity.

    • Common Sense Media has great guides and information, though for some content, a paid subscription is required.

    Deinera Exner-Cortens receives funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada. She has also been the lead evaluator for the WiseGuyz program since 2016.

    – ref. ‘Adolescence’ on Netflix: Evidence-based ways parents can support boys around masculinity norms – https://theconversation.com/adolescence-on-netflix-evidence-based-ways-parents-can-support-boys-around-masculinity-norms-253724

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Foreign interference threats in Canada’s federal election are both old and new

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Chris Tenove, Assistant director, Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions, University of British Columbia

    Fears of foreign interference loom over the Canadian election. The federal inquiry on foreign interference revealed that entities aligned with India and China interfered in recent elections, albeit without major impact on the results, and concluded that disinformation campaigns pose the greatest threat to Canada’s long-term democratic health.

    Now, with a Canada-bashing American president adding to those foreign interference risks, Canada’s election integrity seems to be in an unprecedented state of fragility.

    However, foreign interference has a longstanding history in Canadian elections. Understanding what is and is not new about current efforts may help to turn down the heat and focus more on how Canadians can make their own decisions this election.



    Read more:
    Thanks to social media platforms, election interference is more insidious and pervasive than ever

    Covert techniques

    For starters, what is foreign interference?

    The commission, following established practice, defined it as an action whereby “states pursue their global interests using covert, corrupt, illegal or coercive techniques.” That means public comments on our election by foreign politicians is not interference, as Canadian government officials have made clear.

    While we largely agree with the commission’s definition, we argue that the interfering entity isn’t necessarily a state. Foreign corporations, crime syndicates and terrorist networks can also interfere in our elections.

    Elon Musk is a tricky case. He is a Canadian citizen, but his current role with the United States government may mean that he can be considered a “foreign entity” according to Canada’s election law, as legal scholar Eve Gaumond has pointed out.

    U.S. interference isn’t new

    History reveals a long menu of options for foreign interference, ranging from bribery to espionage and polling assistance.

    In the 1872 election campaign, Sir Hugh Allan, a Montréal shipping and railroad magnate, successfully used more than $350,000 of mostly U.S. funds to pressure John A. Macdonald and other Conservative party members to award Allan and his allies the contract to build the Canadian Pacific Railway. This was bribery to advance corporate aims.

    After these machinations became public in 1873, Macdonald eventually resigned over what became known as the Pacific Scandal, and Allan lost the Canadian Pacific Railway contract. Today his actions would be a violation of campaign finance laws, which prohibit foreign funding of electioneering. But until the late 19th century, such donations weren’t uncommon.

    Foreign policy has shaped Canadian elections before, even if the last Canadian election that focused almost primarily on tariffs with the U.S. was in 1911. But concerns about relations with other countries are different from foreign interference.

    To date, the most significant foreign interference came in Canada’s 1962 and 1963 elections. Again, Americans were behind it. The John F. Kennedy administration was frustrated by positions taken by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.

    The Conservative government continued to trade with Cuba despite American sanctions, had made a deal to sell grain to the People’s Republic of China, and — most importantly — had not agreed to a U.S. proposal to station air defence missiles with nuclear warheads on Canadian soil.

    Rather than bribery, the U.S. provided Lester B. Pearson’s Liberal Party with assistance from pollster Lou Harris. Harris was a key figure both in Kennedy’s 1960 election win and in the nascent use of computer-assisted analysis of opinion polls to target specific demographic groups.

    The Kennedy administration went further in 1963 and issued a press release in the midst of the election, calling Diefenbaker a liar and disputing his positions on air defence. Neither of these actions was illegal at the time, though the secret provision of in-kind assistance to the 1962 Liberal campaign would now run afoul of the prohibition on foreign support for electioneering.

    Soviet, American interference

    The Soviets too were interested in Canadian politics, with some Canadians allegedly recruited as spies, according to Igor Gouzenko, a cipher clerk based at the Soviet embassy in Ottawa who defected to Canada in 1945.

    The revelations even led to the arrest of one member of Parliament, Fred Rose.

    In fact, American and Russian interference in general elections around the world was common in the 20th century. Political scientist Dov Levin has estimated that from 1946 to 2000, the U.S. and Soviet Union (Russia after 1991) intervened in 11.3 per cent of all global national elections.

    New digital techniques

    All these techniques can be pursued today, but there are at least three new forms of interference.

    First, foreign interference can include threats made against party leaders or other candidates. As in the past, these can come through clandestine networks or hired thugs. But today, an insult or false accusation from Trump, Musk or others with huge, hostile followings can expose politicians and others to a blizzard of online threats and abuse.

    Second, foreign interference can occur by providing money for electioneering. Rather than a single bundled sum offered to John A. Macdonald, funds are more likely to come through online donations, possibly including crypto-currency transfers that are difficult to monitor.

    For instance, in Romania’s 2024 election, the far-right, Russia-supporting candidate Calin Georgescu was accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal campaign support. In late March, a crypto-currency businessman was arrested and accused of using TikTok’s “gifts” feature to provide US$879,000 to induce 265 people to vote for Georgescu.

    Such acts would be illegal in Canada. More ambiguous is whether social media platforms use their algorithms to amplify some views and diminish others.

    There is no doubt that X, Facebook and TikTok platforms have the capability to do this. While government officials said such actions would be investigated, it is less clear whether they could be detected or what the government would do in response.

    Finally, foreign interference can occur by trying to influence Canadians’ voting choices by threatening illegal or coercive actions or promoting misinformation.

    Trump has already violated trade agreements with Canada and threatened future illegal activities, even going as far as to threaten annexation. Any comments that link these threats to voting outcomes — for example, if Trump said something like “if Canadians choose Carney, they will see tariffs like they have never seen before” — would constitute interference.



    Read more:
    Forget booing the anthem, Canada must employ strategic communications to fight Trump’s lies

    What can be done?

    There are systems in place to detect foreign interference.

    Canadian intelligence agencies and law enforcement are monitoring for foreign interference, and a panel of five senior bureaucrats makes non-partisan decisions about whether to alert the public.

    Global Affairs Canada’s Rapid Response Mechanism is monitoring the online information environment for foreign interference. Elections Canada is also monitoring for violations of election law.

    Members of the public can help. Anyone can share cases of manipulated images and other misleading information related to the election with the Digital Threats Tipline, created by the Canadian Digital Media Research Network. (Our Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions at the University of British Columbia is a member of this McGill University-based network.)

    These monitoring efforts will help us keep an eye on social media platforms. The companies have agreed to act on interference in the election, but experts are skeptical of their commitment.

    If platforms are pipelines of election interference, they should be more tightly regulated. For instance, the European Union’s Digital Services Act has enabled investigations and potential accountability measures in response to interference in Romania’s election.

    The most important thing Canadians can do is vote in this election based on their own well-informed priorities, worries and aspirations.

    While remaining alert to foreign interference, Canadians can perhaps take some comfort in the resilience of our democratic institutions in the face of a long history of attempts to undermine elections.

    Chris Tenove receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to research global policies to address online interference in elections.

    Heidi J. S. Tworek receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canada Research Chair programe. She is a senior fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation and testified before the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in October 2024.

    – ref. Foreign interference threats in Canada’s federal election are both old and new – https://theconversation.com/foreign-interference-threats-in-canadas-federal-election-are-both-old-and-new-253600

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Tax Day highlights the costs of single living – but demographics are forcing financial change

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Peter McGraw, Professor of Marketing and Psychology, University of Colorado Boulder

    Tax Day is right around the corner – an annual reminder that without the option to file jointly, singles pay more per dollar earned than married people. Tax advantages are just one of over 1,000 legal and economic benefits married couples enjoy, a disparity worsened by marketplace and employer practices.

    Despite its disadvantages, single living is on the rise. While the average age of first marriage was just 21 in 1960, today it has risen to 29. Half the adults in the U.S. are unmarried, and half of them aren’t seeking a relationship. As many as a third of Zoomers may never tie the knot.

    But this shift is more than cultural – it’s redefining the rules of personal finance. Freed from the constraints of shared decision-making, single people are earning, spending and investing on their own terms.

    And as a behavioral economist who studies single living, I think this could mean big things for the future of money. As more people opt out of marriage, I expect that governments, businesses and financial systems will adapt – just as they did in response to women’s economic independence.

    The price of singlehood

    As a lifelong bachelor, I have a cheeky response when filing my taxes: “That’s the price of freedom.”

    For many singles, the price is too steep. More than half of singles over 30 feel financially insecure, one survey found, and their economic reality backs it up. For example, singles spend about US$5,500 more annually than their married peers – which adds up to more than $200,000 over a 40-year career.

    Some of the challenge is mathematical. Married couples split major expenses like housing, transportation and travel, and rely on dual incomes as a buffer against job loss or disability.

    Policy amplifies the financial burdens. One-person households are the most common type in the U.S., yet developers still prioritize building large single-family houses – driving up apartment and condo costs. Retirement presents another stark contrast. Singles can’t claim spousal or survivor Social Security benefits and solely fund their retirement.

    Employers design benefits around families – offering spousal coverage, dependent tax breaks and family leave. Single employees tend to shoulder more responsibilities yet receive 3.6 fewer paid days off per year than their married peers.

    In the marketplace – from travel to tech and insurance – businesses often price goods and services with couples and families in mind. Solo travelers often pay single supplements on cruises and tours. Streaming, phone and retail memberships offer “family plans” with no option for solo users subscribing as part of a group. Even auto insurance penalizes solo drivers – two-door cars cost 16% more to insure.

    The costs add up – but the news for singles isn’t all bad.

    Peter McGraw discusses living single in a financial system built for two.

    The financial upside of going solo

    I study how singles build financial security through the hallmarks of single living: autonomy and adaptability.

    An obvious financial factor is the cost of children. While some singles are parents, they’re far less likely than married couples to shoulder the expense of raising a child – an outlay of more than $300,000 per child before college.

    A key advantage: Singles have complete financial control. They choose how to earn, save and spend. There’s less risk of absorbing a partner’s credit card or student loan debt, covering for reckless spending, or facing the financial fallout of divorce.

    Career flexibility is another key advantage. Singles can more easily relocate for higher-paying jobs or lower-cost locales – freedom that enables powerful financial arbitrage. Many digital nomads, most of them single, choose countries with lower costs and better quality of life.

    Singles also have greater control over when and how they retire. Unlike couples, who must coordinate timing and strategies, singles have more freedom to retire early, ride out a down market, or ease into semiretirement.

    Building a financial system for everyone

    As a business school professor, I’ve seen how slow business and government can be to respond to demographic shifts. The tax system won’t change overnight – governments have long used the tax code to promote marriage – but other policies and practices will evolve. I believe the rise of singles – and the power of their votes and dollars – will make the status quo unsustainable.

    Scandinavia and parts of Asia are setting precedents. In Sweden, solo adults are recognized as a “family of one,” with access to housing support, parental leave and pension benefits – no marriage required. Smart companies will also adapt to recruit and retain singles, who make up a large portion of the labor force. I expect to see an expansion of single-inclusive offerings like caregiving leave, flexible work arrangements and individual-friendly health plans.

    Singles also build lifelong support systems outside marriage. Sweden again offers a glimpse of what might be: A landmark court case recently granted life insurance benefits to a platonic partner, proving that legal protections don’t have to hinge on romance.

    Housing remains another legacy system built for couples. While most new developments still prioritize single-family homes, markets like Japan and
    Hong Kong have embraced lower-cost micro-apartments with shared community spaces – an appealing model for solo dwellers. Some U.S. cities are beginning to experiment with similar designs, signaling a shift toward more inclusive urban housing.

    China’s celebration of solo living, Singles’ Day – held every year on 11/11 – is now the world’s largest e-commerce holiday, generating more sales than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined. The company that created it, Alibaba, promotes deals on single-serve appliances, one-way flights and self-care bundles.

    Western companies are catching on: Travel brands are waiving singles supplements, restaurants are welcoming solo diners with dedicated seating, and telecom companies are rolling out “friends and family” plans that don’t require a romantic partner.

    Finally, I believe wealth management will respond to the rise of singles. While I’ve found that most financial advice still assumes that people will eventually marry, solo earners need different strategies, such as bigger emergency funds, flexible housing options and proactive estate planning. Expect a wave of financial products designed for solo living, from retirement tools to mortgages built for one.

    As singles become the majority in many countries, governments, businesses and financial institutions will adapt by necessity.

    The bottom line

    As an advocate for singles, I am an optimist. Yes, singles pay more on Tax Day – among other challenges. But they also have one undeniable advantage: financial freedom. Singles can do more than survive in a system built for two – they can thrive.

    Americans are not going back to the 1960s. As solo living becomes the norm, financial systems will evolve. Governments will face pressure to modernize policy, businesses will launch products and services for one-person households, and financial professionals will adapt to better serve solo earners.

    The institutions that recognize this shift first will shape the future – for everyone.

    I have a book (“Solo: Building a Remarkable Life of Your Own”) and a podcast (“Solo – The Single Person’s Guide to a Remarkable Life”) that are relevant to this article.

    – ref. Tax Day highlights the costs of single living – but demographics are forcing financial change – https://theconversation.com/tax-day-highlights-the-costs-of-single-living-but-demographics-are-forcing-financial-change-254035

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bilirakis Works to Close the Digital Divide by Prioritizing Broadband Investment in Flood Plains

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

    Washington, DC:  Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis re-introduced the Coastal Broadband Deployment Act, which would accelerate the deployment of broadband projects entirely within a floodplain. Broadband connectivity is a  vital tool for economic development, education, improved access to healthcare options, and for emergency communication.  While there has been a great deal of federal funding authorized in recent years to help improve internet connectivity throughout the nation, the sad truth is that those dollars have been bogged down in red tape and that far too many homes are without this critical infrastructure.  

    Florida was ravaged by recent back-to-back hurricanes and Floridians had a critical need to receive emergency information both prior to those natural disasters and in the aftermath of the storms.  Those who were without connectivity were at a significant disadvantage in receiving timely updates and filing for critical assistance.  It was abundantly clear that Congress should remove red tape and prioritize the investment of a resilient system of infrastructure buildouts in these most vulnerable areas.  

     “Several parts of my district lie within flood zones,” said Congressman Bilirakis.  “I want to be sure that all of my constituents have access to 21st Century Technologies, enabling them to harness the potential power that these capabilities offer. Being left behind is not an option.” 

    This legislation is an important step forward in closing the digital divide for the estimated 21 million Americans who cannot access broadband technologies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Schools are harnessing artificial intelligence to revolutionize courses in hospitality management

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Betsy Pudliner, PhD, Associate Professor of Hospitality and Technology Innovation, University of Wisconsin-Stout

    Generative AI helps create dynamic simulations that provide students with hands-on, project-based learning experiences. Matt Bird/Getty Images

    Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

    Title of course:

    Hospitality Employee Relations

    What prompted the idea for the course?

    The idea came from my frustration with traditional methods used to teach hospitality management. As a professor and industry professional, I saw the need to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world skills.

    Internships and fieldwork are valuable. But they may not be available to students, especially those in online or hybrid programs. I wanted to offer students an opportunity to gain hands-on learning experiences.

    Using Articulate’s Rise 360 – an e-learning development platform – I created dynamic simulations based on stories from my own experiences, as well as from other industry professionals.

    For example, an interactive lost wallet scenario I created with my instructional design team involves a person who realizes they’ve left their wallet behind after visiting a nursing home. It includes decision points that enhance critical thinking and decision-making through the use of concept art.

    AI-driven prompts aid in transforming industry experiences into online course content. The Pinnacle Golf Resort, a made-up resort I created using Rise 360, engages students with dynamic cause-and-effect decision trees with realistic managerial challenges.

    What does the course explore?

    Students engage with real-world challenges, such as:

    • Managing guest complaints

    • Handling staffing issues

    • Dealing with financial challenges

    • Implementing operational solutions

    • Moral and ethical issues and conflict resolution

    Students are tasked with making decisions that affect the outcome of each scenario, with immediate feedback on their choices. That provides personalized learning experiences tailored to their progress.

    The course focuses on connecting theory to practice, such as application of leadership styles − autocratic, democratic or different types of power − to solve problems and improve guest satisfaction.

    One scene in the Pinnacle Golf Resort simulation involves a restaurant manager handling a disruptive guest during a high-profile event. I realized I needed a decision-rating scale to assess the student’s choices. Generative AI refined decision options and aided in the construction of that decision-rating scale.

    This ensures that choices − such as offering a goodwill gesture or removal of the guest − have realistic consequences. Therefore, the total number of points affixed would determine whether the restaurant manager would be promoted or need more training.

    Why is this course relevant now?

    As the hospitality industry becomes more competitive and complex − with higher turnover rates and shifting workforce expectations − effective decision-making and problem-solving skills become crucial in managing guest experiences.

    Traditional internships and fieldwork are valuable.

    But online and hybrid programs may struggle to provide these opportunities. As hospitality programs shift to online and hybrid formats, the demand for scalable, hands-on learning tools has increased.

    What’s a critical lesson from the course?

    A key lesson is the importance of adaptive decision-making and understanding the consequences of one’s actions. Through simulations created with the help of generative AI, students see firsthand how their decisions impact multiple areas of a hospitality business.

    These scenarios allow students to experience real-world challenges. And this helps them practice making decisions in a dynamic environment.

    By participating in the simulations, students learn that there is no one-size-fits-all approach in hospitality management. They must adapt their leadership style based on the situation and the individuals involved.

    What materials does the course feature?

    The course creates interactive simulations using Articulate 360 and Rise 360.

    These simulations replicate real-world hospitality situations such as managing guest complaints or financial decision-making.

    The class uses stories drawn from the instructor’s own industry experience. This exposes students to the complexities of hospitality management.

    Feedback is generated based on the student’s decisions in the simulations, developed with the help of ChatGPT. This fosters self-reflection and promoting continual improvement in their leadership abilities.

    What will the course prepare students to do?

    Upon completion, students will be able to:

    • Navigate complex guest relations and manage complaints in real time.

    • Make informed operational decisions while balancing guest satisfaction, employee performance and financial considerations.

    • Apply various leadership styles to motivate teams, resolve conflicts and ensure high service standards.

    • Assess their leadership style and adapt it to different situations in hospitality management.

    Betsy A. Pudliner is affiliated with ICHRIE-International Council of Hospitality, Restaurant and Institutional Educators.

    – ref. Schools are harnessing artificial intelligence to revolutionize courses in hospitality management – https://theconversation.com/schools-are-harnessing-artificial-intelligence-to-revolutionize-courses-in-hospitality-management-249423

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Race isn’t a ‘biological reality,’ contrary to recent political claims − here’s how scientific consensus on race developed in the 20th century

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John P. Jackson, Jr., Professor of History and Philosophy of Science, Michigan State University

    ‘The Dying Tecumseh,’ a marble sculpture at the Smithsonian, depicts the Shawnee leader in a heroic light. Frederick Pettrich, Smithsonian American Art Museum, CC BY

    In the recent flurry of executive orders from President Donald Trump, one warned of “a distorted narrative” about race “driven by ideology rather than truth.” It singled out a current exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum titled “The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture” as an example. The exhibit displays over two centuries of sculptures that show how art has produced and reproduced racial attitudes and ideologies.

    The executive order condemns the exhibition because it “promotes the view that race is not a biological reality but a social construct, stating ‘Race is a human invention.’”

    The executive order apparently objects to sentiments such as this: “Although a person’s genetics influences their phenotypic characteristics, and self-identified race might be influenced by physical appearance, race itself is a social construct.” But those words are not from the Smithsonian; they are from the American Society of Human Genetics.

    Scientists reject the idea that race is biologically real. The claim that race is a “biological reality” cuts against modern scientific knowledge.

    I’m a historian who specializes in the scientific study of race. The executive order places “social construct” in opposition to “biological reality.” The history of both concepts reveals how modern science landed at the idea that race was invented by people, not nature.

    Race exists, but what is it?

    At the turn of the 20th century, scientists believed humans could be divided into distinct races based on physical features. According to this idea, a scientist could identify physical differences in groups of people, and if those differences were passed on to succeeding generations, the scientist had correctly identified a racial “type.”

    The results of this “typological” method were chaotic. A frustrated Charles Darwin in 1871 listed 13 scientists who identified anywhere between two and 63 races, a confusion that persisted for the next six decades. There were almost as many racial classifications as racial classifiers because no two scientists could seem to agree on what physical characteristics were best to measure, or how to measure them.

    One intractable problem with racial classifications was that the differences in human physical traits were tiny, so scientists struggled to use them to differentiate between groups. The pioneering African American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois noted in 1906, “It is impossible to draw a color line between black and other races … in all physical characteristics the Negro race cannot be set off by itself.”

    But scientists tried. In an 1899 anthropological study, William Ripley classified people using head shape, hair type, pigmentation and stature. In 1926, Harvard anthropologist Earnest Hooton, the leading racial typologist in the world, listed 24 anatomical traits, such as “the presence or absence of a postglenoid tubercle and a pharyngeal fossa or tubercle” and “the degree of bowing of the radius and ulna” while admitting “this list is not, of course, exhaustive.”

    All this confusion was the opposite of how science should operate: As the tools improved and as measurements became more precise, the object of study − race − became more and more muddled.

    Malvina Hoffman’s sculptures illustrate a map titled Races of the World and Where They Live.
    Malvina Hoffman/Field Museum of Natural History

    When sculptor Malvina Hoffman’s “Races of Mankind” exhibit opened at Chicago’s Field Museum in 1933, it characterized race as a biological reality, despite its elusive definition. World-renowned anthropologist Sir Arthur Keith wrote the introduction to the exhibition’s catalog.

    Keith dismissed science as the surest method to distinguish race; one knows a person’s race because “a single glance, picks out the racial features more certainly than could a band of trained anthropologists.” Keith’s view perfectly captured the view that race must be real, for he saw it all around him, even though science could never establish that reality.

    In the scientific study of race, however, things were about to change.

    Turning to culture to explain difference

    By 1933, the rise of Nazism had added urgency to the scientific study of race. As anthropologist Sherwood Washburn wrote in 1944, “If we are to discuss racial matters with the Nazis, we had better be right.”

    In the late 1930s and early 1940s, two new scientific ideas came to fruition. First, scientists began looking to culture rather than biology as the driver of differences among groups of people. Second, the rise of population genetics challenged the biological reality of race.

    In 1943, anthropologists Ruth Benedict and Gene Weltfish wrote a short work also titled The Races of Mankind. Writing for a popular audience, they argued that people are far more alike than different, and our differences owe to culture and learning, not biology. An animated cartoon short later gave these ideas wider circulation.

    ‘The Brotherhood of Man’ was based on Benedict and Weltfish’s pamphlet and pointed out that differences between people come from their environments.

    Benedict and Weltfish argued that while people did, indeed, differ physically, those differences were meaningless in that all races could learn and all were capable. “Progress in civilization is not the monopoly of one race or subrace,” they wrote. “Negroes made iron tools and wove fine cloth for their clothing when fair-skinned Europeans wore skins and knew nothing of iron.” The cultural explanation for different human lifestyles was more robust than confused appeals to an elusive biological race.

    The turn to culture was consistent with a deep change in biological knowledge.

    Genetic research was taking off in the 1940s, as in this lab at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa.
    Jack Delano, U.S. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, CC BY

    A tool to understand evolution

    Theodosius Dobzhansky was a preeminent biologist of the 20th century. He and other biologists were interested in evolutionary changes. Races, which supposedly didn’t change over time, were therefore useless for understanding how organisms evolved.

    A new tool, what scientists called a “genetic population,” was much more valuable. The geneticist, Dobzhansky held, identified a population based on the genes it shared in order to study change in organisms. Over time natural selection would shape how the population evolved. But if that population didn’t shed light on natural selection, the geneticist must abandon it and work with a new population based on a different set of shared genes. The important point is that, whatever population the geneticist chose, it was changing over time. No population was a fixed and stable entity, as human races were supposed to be.

    Sherwood Washburn, who happened to be Dobzhansky’s close friend, brought those ideas into anthropology. He recognized that the point of genetics was not classifying people into fixed groups. The point was to understand the process of human evolution. This change reversed everything taught by Hooton, his old teacher.

    Writing in 1951, Washburn argued, “There is no way to justify the division of a … population into a series of racial types” because doing so would be pointless. Presuming any group to be unchanging stood in the way of understanding evolutionary changes. A genetic population was not “real”; it was an invention of the scientist using it as a lens to understand organic change.

    Classifying for a purpose, not as a ‘true’ assessment of tall or short.
    Buena Vista Images/Stone via Getty Images

    A good way to understand this profound difference relates to roller coasters.

    Anyone who’s been to an amusement park has seen signs that precisely define who is tall enough to ride a given roller coaster. But no one would say they define a “real” category of “tall” or “short” people, as another roller coaster might have a different height requirement. The signs define who is tall enough only for riding this particular roller coaster, and that’s all. It’s a tool for keeping people safe, not a category defining who is “really” tall.

    Similarly, geneticists use genetic populations as “an important tool for inferring the evolutionary history of modern humans” or because they have “fundamental implications for understanding the genetic basis of diseases.”

    Anyone trying to pound a nail with a screwdriver soon realizes that tools are good for tasks they were designed for and useless for anything else. Genetic populations are tools for specific biological uses, not for classifying people into “real” groups by race.

    Whoever wanted to classify people, Washburn argued, must give the “important reasons for subdividing our whole species.”

    The Smithsonian’s exhibit shows how racialized sculpture was “both a tool of oppression and domination and one of liberation and empowerment.” Science agrees with its claim that race is a human invention and not a biological reality.

    The Conversation U.S. receives funding from the Smithsonian Institution.

    John P. Jackson, Jr. 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. Race isn’t a ‘biological reality,’ contrary to recent political claims − here’s how scientific consensus on race developed in the 20th century – https://theconversation.com/race-isnt-a-biological-reality-contrary-to-recent-political-claims-heres-how-scientific-consensus-on-race-developed-in-the-20th-century-253504

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “Wait, It Is Not About Wigs?” – The Story of Faso Dan Fani Court Robes in Burkina Faso

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    Today’s post is a guest post by a foreign law specialist at the Law Library of Congress, Louis Gilbert. 

    The Real Story Behind Faso Dan Fani Robes

    When I first heard about Burkina Faso reforming its courtroom attire, all I could find were headlines and social media posts claiming the country had banned British-style wigs. The idea was everywhere, fueling debates and drawing comparisons to similar reforms in other parts of Africa. Intrigued, I decided to dig deeper only to realize something surprising: Burkina Faso’s courts never used wigs in the first place.

    The real story, however, was just as fascinating. While the rumors were not entirely accurate, there was truth at their core. It was not about British-style wigs being banned, but rather about replacing French-inspired black satin robes with something far more meaningful for the people in Burkina Faso: courtroom attire made from Faso Dan Fani, a traditional Burkinabe fabric steeped in cultural heritage.

    The New Look for Justice

    On October 23, 2024, Burkina Faso’s Council of Ministers approved a report specifying that courtroom attire for magistrates in the Courts of Appeal and other jurisdictions would now be made from Faso Dan Fani. This report was an implementation of a decree from the previous year, which broadly promoted the use of Faso Dan Fani in various professions, including the judiciary. The new robes keep the classic black gown and toque but add golden embroidery on the sleeves, collar, and the outline of the toque. They also feature Burkina Faso’s flag and a sword-piercing-scales emblem of justice. This is more than a fashion update. It is a reflection of national pride and a practical choice that supports the local cotton industry. Faso Dan Fani robes are a bargain at 150,000 CFA (around U.S. $240), compared to imported gowns that could cost up to 3 million CFA (about U.S. $4,760).

    Vue de pagnes tissés faso dan fani dans une boutique à Ouagadoguogu. Souleymane Yalgweogo. 2019. Used under Creative Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pagnes_tiss%C3%A9s_faso_dan_fani.jpg.

    Faso Dan Fani: Weaving History Into the Future

    So why Faso Dan Fani? This is not just any fabric — it is a cornerstone of Burkinabe identity. Its name translates to “woven loincloth of the homeland,” and it has been a symbol of pride, resilience, and craftsmanship for decades. The vibrant patterns and intricate designs tell stories of tradition and history, all woven by hand on traditional looms. The fabric’s rise as a national emblem dates back to the 1980s under Captain Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader who championed anti-colonialism and economic independence. For Sankara, wearing Faso Dan Fani was more than a style choice; it was an act of defiance against imperialism and a commitment to supporting local industries.

    The Grand Debut

    The new robes officially took center stage on November 18, 2024, during a formal ceremony. Minister of Justice Rodrigue Bayala declared, “[t]his ceremony officially marks the end of the wearing of court suits inherited from the colonial era and the beginning of Faso Dan Fani court suits.” Prime Minister Dr. Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambela emphasized the symbolic weight of the change: “[t]his suit carries a powerful message. It reminds us that justice is rendered in the name of the people of Burkina Faso and that judges must perform their duties with fairness and integrity.” For Abasse Nombré, President of the High Court of Ouagadougou, the new attire represents more than professionalism. “It symbolizes our belonging to the nation and invites us to cultivate the values of integrity, patriotism, and justice,” he said.

    Beyond the Courtroom

    This is not the first time Faso Dan Fani has been used to reimagine traditional uniforms. In September 2024, school uniforms were redesigned to incorporate the fabric, further strengthening the local economy and reinforcing national identity. These changes align with President Ibrahim Traoré’s vision of sovereignty, economic self-reliance, and cultural pride. Since taking office in 2022, Traoré’s administration has pushed to distance Burkina Faso from its colonial past, whether by promoting local products, expelling French troops, or rethinking national symbols.

    A Continental Shift

    Burkina Faso’s move is part of a broader trend across Africa to revisit colonial legacies. From Kenya’s debates over courtroom wigs to changes in education systems, there is a growing movement to embrace cultural heritage and redefine national identities. These reforms are about more than just symbolism—they are about fostering pride and charting a future rooted in independence.

    What This Change Means

    According to the government, replacing colonial-era robes with Faso Dan Fani is not simply a fashion statement. It is about reclaiming identity, supporting local craftsmanship, and moving forward with pride in one’s heritage. So, while the wigs may not have been part of Burkina Faso’s story, the robes certainly are.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Projections of Deficits and Debt Under an Alternative Scenario for the Budget

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    This letter responds to a request for an analysis of projected deficits and debt under an alternative scenario for the budget that reflects two changes to CBO’s baseline. Specifically, Senator Merkley asked how CBO’s projections of deficits and debt would change if certain provisions of the 2017 tax act (Public Law 115-97) were extended permanently. (By statute, estimates of the effects of tax legislation are made by the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, or JCT.) Senator Merkley also asked how those projections would change if revenues were reduced by an additional $150 billion in each year of the 10-year budget window and by a fixed percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) thereafter.

    In CBO’s most recent extended baseline projections, which reflect the assumption that current laws generally remain unchanged, primary deficits (that is, deficits excluding net outlays for interest) average 2.0 percent of GDP over the 2025–2055 period and equal 1.9 percent of GDP in 2055.

    Total deficits average 6.3 percent of GDP over that period and reach 7.3 percent of GDP in 2055. Federal debt held by the public increases from 100 percent of GDP to 156 percent of GDP—exceeding any previously recorded level and on track to increase further.

    CBO estimates that if provisions of the 2017 tax act were extended, tax revenues were lower by the additional amount Senator Merkley specified, and there were no other changes to fiscal policy, debt held by the public would reach 220 percent of GDP in 2055, 63 percentage points higher than in the long-term baseline projections. Interest rates would also be higher, and real gross national product (GNP) per person—a measure of the resources available to U.S. households—would be lower in that year.

    Those estimates incorporate the economic effects that would result from the extension of provisions of the 2017 tax act and the additional reductions in revenues that Senator Merkley specified. Those effects include increases in the supply of labor and investment brought about by lower marginal tax rates on income from labor and capital, increases in output in the short term caused by greater overall demand for goods and services, and decreases in output in the longer term caused by larger federal deficits and debt.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. crude oil exports reached a new record in 2024

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    April 10, 2025

    U.S. crude oil exports in 2024 surpassed the previous record set in 2023, exceeding an annual average of 4.1 million barrels per day (b/d). Despite this new record, crude oil export year-over-year growth slowed to 1% in 2024, compared with 14% in 2023 and 21% in 2022.

    Crude oil production in the U.S. Lower 48 (L48) states, which does not include Alaska or offshore production, reached a record in November 2024, allowing for a greater supply of crude oil to export. Increased production efficiency counteracted a decrease in the number of active oil rigs, resulting in L48 production increasing 3% last year. Unlike in the L48 states, production in Alaska and offshore in the Gulf of America decreased last year because of natural declines in both areas and because of disruptions to crude oil production resulting from above-average hurricane activity in 2024 in the Gulf.

    Europe and the Asia and Oceania region remained the top regional destinations for U.S. crude oil exports. U.S. crude oil exports to Europe have grown significantly in recent years, particularly after Europe banned seaborne crude oil imports from Russia in late 2022. The volume of U.S. crude oil exports to Europe also increased following S&P Global’s 2023 decision to include West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil in European crude oil benchmark Dated Brent.

    For a second consecutive year, the Netherlands, home to a large crude oil storage and trading hub in Rotterdam, received more U.S. crude oil exports than any other country in 2024, averaging 825,000 b/d (32% growth from 2023). Overall, crude oil exports to Europe increased by 6% to 1.93 million b/d in 2024, with decreases in exports to Spain, France, and Italy outweighed by increases to Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.

    Despite China receiving the second-most U.S. crude oil in 2023, exports to China dropped by 53% in 2024 to 217,000 b/d. A net decline in transportation fuel demand in China, which led to a decrease in overall Chinese demand for imported crude oil, and increased crude oil imports from Malaysia and Russia decreased Chinese demand for U.S. crude oil. U.S. exports to Asia overall decreased by 131,000 b/d to 1.58 million b/d as increased exports to South Korea, Singapore, and India were offset by the decrease in exports to China.

    U.S. crude oil exports to India increased 32% in 2024, bouncing back from relative lows in 2023. In 2023, India increased imports of relatively cheap crude oil from Russia, following sanctions that limited the price Russia could charge for crude oil exported using the shipping and insurance services of sanctioning countries. India’s oil consumption growth overtook China’s in 2024, increasing Indian demand for imported crude oil. However, despite this rising demand, Indian imports of crude oil from Russia fell in 2024 as the price discount on oil from Russia narrowed. With the decrease in Russian imports, U.S. crude oil helped fill in the gap, resulting in a nearly 55,000-b/d increase in U.S. crude oil exports to India in 2024.

    Principal contributor: Anne Miranda

    MIL OSI USA News –