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  • MIL-OSI USA: Amata Champions Service Dogs for Veterans, Expanding On Prior Legislative Efforts 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, who serves as Vice Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), is delighted to be part of the introduction of the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act in the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan group of 24 Members of Congress.

    “I’ve gladly cosponsored other bills in previous Congresses, such as the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, to encourage this wonderful work for our Veterans, in providing trained Service Dogs that are a blessing to many Veterans’ lives, but now this bill expands on these efforts in important new ways to reach many more needs,” said Vice Chairman Amata. 

    Under this legislation, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would award grants to nonprofit organizations to assist with programs to provide service dogs to eligible veterans, including training for the service dogs, and extending the availability of this program to veteran disabilities, such as blind, deaf, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), military sexual trauma, paralysis, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

    The PAWS for Veterans Act, signed into law in 2021 after four years of congressional efforts, put a focus on Veterans learning to train their own or others’ dogs, and included a successful pilot program. 

    The new Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act is led by sponsor Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) with Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) co-leading the legislation. Original cosponsors are Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (American Samoa), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Eleanor Norton Holmes (D-DC), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Don Davis (D-NC), David Valadao (R-CA), Greg Murphy (R-NC), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), John Rutherford (R-NE), Jason Crow (D-CO), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Michael Rulli (R-OH), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Craig Goldman (R-TX), August Pfluger (R-TX), Nick LaLota (R-NY).

    Upwards of 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and more than 450,000 service members have been diagnosed with at least one traumatic brain injury over the past two decades. As a result, these veterans suffer from high rates of depression, anxiety, joblessness, homelessness, and substance use disorders, and tragically, on average nearly 17 veterans die by suicide each day. 

    Tens of thousands of service dogs help veterans with disabilities across the United States. Service dogs assist with conditions like blindness, mobility impairments, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. This bipartisan bill establishes a VA grant program to fund nonprofit organizations providing trained service dogs to eligible veterans at no cost. The nonprofits must meet requirements, including training standards and aftercare services, and be accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or a similar organization. The program aims to support veterans with disabilities like PTSD, TBI, military sexual trauma, and more.

    Numerous veterans organizations have endorsed this legislation: American Veterans (AMVETS), Americas Warrior Partnership (AWP), American Kennel Club (AKC), American Humane, Americas VetDogs, Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), Chief Warrant Officers Association (CWOA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Dog Tag Buddies, Elizabeth Dole Foundation (EDF), Guardian Angels, HunterSeven Foundation, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Jewish War Veterans of America (JWV), K9s For Warriors, Lions Club International, National Military Families Association (NMFA), Non-Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Pet Advocacy Network, Retrieving Freedom, Semper K9 Assistance Dogs, The American Legion (TAL), The Independence Fund (TIF), Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), TREA: The Enlisted Association (TREA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Warrior Canine Connection, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).

    “This is about giving our heroes the tools they need to thrive — not just survive —when they come home,” said Congressman Luttrell.

    “As a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and proud grandson of veterans, I know we need to do more to help our veterans address both the visible and invisible wounds of war. These brave men and women put on the uniform to defend our freedom and we have a moral obligation to support them,” said Congressman McGarvey.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/PHILIPPINES – Election campaign between dynasties and polarizations: Bishops’ appeal to consider “the well-being of others”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    PPCRV

    Manila (Agenzia Fides) – In an election campaign marked by events and statements that polarize voters, the Philippines is heading toward the mid-term elections scheduled for May 12, 2025, in which citizens will elect 12 senators, the entire lower house of parliament, and thousands of regional and local representatives.The election campaign, which began on February 11, is dominated by the scandal surrounding Rodrigo Duterte, the former president arrested for crimes against humanity at the instigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Duterte continues to run for mayor of Davao City despite his detention at the ICC. This was confirmed by the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec), which clarified that Duterte has not withdrawn his candidacy for mayor of the city where he began his political career and served for 22 years before becoming president of the Philippines in 2016, nor has he been barred from running. During the 2022 elections, which were later won by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., organizations and observers such as the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) pointed to widespread problems such as vote buying, disinformation campaigns, and even the misuse of state resources by government officials seeking public office.The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) – a church body called upon by civil society to oversee the elections to ensure transparency – also highlighted several factors of serious concern: sexist statements by some candidates expressing violence and contempt for others; the presence of political dynasties in the Philippine landscape; and the significant influence of social media on actors involved in Philippine elections, especially in the local context. “The course of the election campaign,” said Evelyn Singson, president of the PPCRV, “reminds us that the election is sacred and that we should decide and vote based on important values,” citing “fear of God, honesty, education, diligence, helpfulness, caring, and love for the common good.” The fight against “political dynasties,” which are among the factors that lead to corruption, is the specific subject of a petition submitted to the Supreme Court by a group of citizens, including lawyers, former judges, members of social bodies, some Catholic bishops, and representatives of church organizations. Dynasties are prohibited in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, but Congress has never addressed the issue. The signatories of the petition therefore call – as they did in 2012 – for the passage of a special law defining and prohibiting political dynasties. According to non-governmental organizations, clans still dominate politics today: Currently, a quarter of the Senate is made up of just three families, while in the House of Representatives, eight out of ten district seats are held by family dynasties. In light of the upcoming elections, the Catholic bishops of the Philippines have issued a pastoral letter entitled “Be Concerned for the well-being of others,” urging voters to use their voices to protect freedom and ensure the common good. “We must improve the lives of our people, especially the poor and the vulnerable. This is the primary responsibility of a public servant,” reads the letter from the Philippine Bishops’ Conference, which was read during Sunday Masses across the country. “We need competent leaders and legislators with sincere intentions who serve the good of our parishes, cities, provinces, and the entire country,” the letter reads. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 8/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Royal Navy aircraft carrier in final preparation to lead multinational deployment to Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Royal Navy aircraft carrier in final preparation to lead multinational deployment to Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific

    Nearly 4,000 British personnel will support the deployment, which will deliver trade events in Singapore, Japan, and India, promoting Britain’s world-leading industry

    HMS Prince of Wales

    Final preparations are underway for a multinational deployment, led by the Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to the security of the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific, while providing an opportunity to promote British trade and industry.

    Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is scheduled to sail from Portsmouth on 22 April, where it will proceed to join a formation of warships, supply ships, and aircraft off the coast of Cornwall, before departing for the Mediterranean where it will conduct exercises to reinforce European security.

    Around 2,500 personnel from the Royal Navy and 592 from the Royal Air Force will be involved in the eight-month deployment, which will see the group sail through the Indian Ocean to conduct exercises and port visits with partners including the US, India, Singapore, and Malaysia. They will be joined by around 900 personnel from the British Army for exercises during the deployment.

    The deployment, named Operation Highmast, provides an opportunity for the UK’s Armed Forces to conduct a major global deployment and a chance to exercise complex operations alongside partners and allies in the region, with 12 other nations supporting the deployment with ships or personnel.

    The Indo-Pacific is a critical region for UK trade, with imports and exports in the region worth billions of pounds for the UK economy, and the deployment will provide a chance for UK companies to take part in trade events during port visits.

    Trade between the UK and Indo-Pacific accounted for 17% of total trade between the UK and all trading partners in the 12 months to September 2024, with the total amount traded in goods and services between the UK and Indo-Pacific standing at £286 billion in the same period.

    As the biggest class of ship in the Royal Navy, the flight decks of HMS Prince of Wales and her sister ship are roughly the size of three football pitches and defended by advanced weapons. A maritime strike force of this size is composed of multiple types of ship, frigates, destroyers, submarines, and supply ships to support logistics.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:

    I want to thank the thousands of our Armed Forces personnel involved in the delivery of this immensely complex operation, demonstrating the UK’s world-leading capability to deploy a major military force around the world.

    This is a unique opportunity for the UK to operate in close coordination with our partners and allies in a deployment that not only shows our commitment to security and stability, but also provides an opportunity to bolster our own economy and boost British trade and exports.

    As one of only a handful of countries in the world able to lead a deployment of this scale, the Royal Navy is once again demonstrating its formidable capability while protecting British values and sending a powerful message of deterrence to any adversary.

    Of the 12 other nations supporting the deployment, Norway will provide a warship to support the carrier strike group for the entire duration of the deployment. Canada and Spain are among the other nations providing support to the deployment.

    After its compliment of up to 24 Royal Air Force F-35B Lighting fighter jets is embarked on board HMS Prince of Wales, and the departure for the Mediterranean, the group will initially be placed under NATO command as it joins Exercise Neptune Strike – testing the Alliance’s ability to use high-end maritime strike capabilities, including multiple aircraft carrier and amphibious strike groups.

    The group will transit though the Indian Ocean, conducting exercises and port visits with partners including the US, India, Singapore and Malaysia, before joining 19 partner nations for Exercise Talisman Sabre near Australia, and then training alongside the Japanese Self Defence Forces and conducting a port visit to India.

    Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP, said:

    Through this deployment of our Carrier Strike Group and 4,000 Service Personnel, we will stand firm with our allies against those who challenge the international order. Reminding the world that the security of the Euro Atlantic and Indo-Pacific are fundamentally indivisible.

    This isn’t just about hard power; it’s about building influence and opening new trade opportunities both for defence and other sectors of our economy which will deliver British jobs and growth.

    This deployment follows the Prime Minister’s historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, demonstrating this Government’s commitment to keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad.

    Following the inaugural deployment in 2021, the Carrier Strike Group 2025 highlights the strength of the UK’s leadership in seeking to uphold stability in the Indo-Pacific. This has been bolstered by the Royal Navy’s persistent presence in the region through HMS Spey and HMS Tamar, as well as the landmark Global Combat Air Programme collaboration. 

    Keeping the country safe is the Government’s first priority and is the foundation of its Plan for Change. The strength, capability and global reach of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, demonstrated through Operation Highmast, is critical to the security and stability of the UK, supporting the delivery of the Government’s five missions.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 8 April 2025 A journey to safer childbirth in Pakistan

    Source: World Health Organisation

    It’s time. A pregnant woman in Punjab, Pakistan, dials 1-0-3-4, toll-free. Her journey to safe childbirth has been complicated by a lack of transportation. She is connected to a call centre in Lahore that receives 5000 calls a day from pregnant women and their caregivers in need of transportation for delivery or antenatal complications. The call centre was established in 2017 and currently employs 87 call agents. Utilizing Google maps, GPS trackers and text messaging, the call centre operator dispatches a driver to collect labouring women from their homes and transfers them to a primary care centre, where they will deliver their babies with access to interventions to ensure healthy beginnings for both mother and baby. 

    Call agents in Lahore processing calls and dispatching drivers. © RAS Call Center Lahore / IRMNCHN Program

    In 2007, the maternal mortality ratio in Punjab was 227 deaths per 100 000 live births. This was a result of poor socio-economic conditions, challenges in accessing health care in rural areas, and a lack of decision-making power among young women. At the time, approximately 30% of maternal deaths in Pakistan were attributable to delays in reaching health-care facilities, with many women facing long travel distances to give birth as well as lack of access to transportation.

    Over the last two decades, the Government of Punjab has scaled up around 2500 basic health units and equipped 1800 with 24-hour basic obstetric care services. These basic units, the country’s first-level health-care facilities, play a crucial role in addressing maternal and child health issues, especially in rural areas where access to health care is limited. Based on the 2023 census, nearly two thirds of Pakistan’s population resides in rural areas.

    Under the national universal health coverage essential package of health services, the Government of Punjab has now funded a fleet of over 600 ambulances to transport pregnant women from their homes in rural areas to birth centres for delivery. The same service also transports sick children (under age 5 years) for urgent medical care. On average, the rural ambulance service transports 2800 women each day across the province, including public holidays. The cost per transfer for a typical case is approximately US$ 10–15. The service is vital for the more than 30% of pregnant women in Punjab who cannot reach health facilities for safe delivery. Without the service, they would be forced to deliver at home, without access to emergency obstetric and neonatal care.

    “We promote the rural ambulance service through a combination of community outreach and public awareness campaigns. We visit homes, hold community meetings, and distribute informational materials to ensure that every pregnant woman knows about the toll-free number 1-0-3-4 and how to access the service. During the first antenatal care visit, the staff facilitates the registration of pregnant women for the ambulance service. Their personal touch and deep knowledge of their respective communities make a significant difference in spreading the word effectively,” said Saeeda Khan, Lady Health Worker, Ali Raza Abad, Lahore.

    The government’s Integrated Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health & Nutrition Programme oversees the technical and financial aspects, while the central call centre and daily operations are managed by a telecom operator and a private car rental company, respectively. The rental company supplies fuel, drivers and maintains the ambulance, with performance tracked via a dashboard that requires the engine to start within two minutes of case assignment. 

    A pregnant women arriving at a rural health centre in Challian Wala, Punjab to safely deliver her baby. © RHC Challian Wala / M.B. Din

    The real-time dashboard shows GPS-tracked ambulance locations, allowing call centre operators to assign the nearest vehicle to waiting women and their caregivers. Once assigned, both the driver and the woman receive a call and a text message with their respective contact information. The text messages enable communication between drivers and women and allow drivers to pinpoint exact addresses, a task that is often difficult in rural areas.

    “We prioritize calls based on the urgency of the situation, with high-risk pregnancies and emergencies at the top of the list. If a connection drops or a phone battery dies, our system automatically sends text messages to both the driver and the client, ensuring they can still communicate. Additionally, Lady Health Workers and Skilled Birth Attendants are always ready to step in and provide support, ensuring that no woman is left without assistance,” said Bilal Ahmed, District Transport Officer, Outsourced Management Firm.

    Since its debut in 2017, the ambulance service has facilitated the transport of over 3 million women from their homes to health facilities, approximately three and a half million women from primary care to secondary or tertiary hospitals, and around 10 000 children for urgent referrals. It is estimated that at least half of the 500 000 emergency referrals to secondary and tertiary care hospitals have effectively prevented severe morbidity and mortality among mothers and newborns in Punjab. 

    “Without the rural ambulance service, my birth experience would have been incredibly stressful and risky. I would likely have had to deliver at home without skilled medical assistance, which could have jeopardized both my health and my baby’s. The timely support from Lady Health Workers and Skilled Birth Attendants ensured that I received quality care and safe delivery at a health facility. Their presence and the ambulance service made all the difference,” said Keenza Faisal, Beneficiary, Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore.

    Today, there are 157 maternal deaths for every 100 000 live births in Punjab, a decrease of more than 30% from 2007. This decrease has resulted from interventions related to improved access to maternal health services, in addition to addressing the underlying causes for maternal deaths – for instance, through improved access to family planning.

    Still, there is work to be done. 

    Removing barriers like discriminatory social norms, financial constraints and limited decision-making power for women is essential to advancing maternal and newborn health outcomes.

    Ellen Mpangananji Thom / Deputy WHO County Representative, Pakistan

    “Sustainable progress demands more than just service delivery: health systems must address gender inequalities, strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights, and ensure equitable access to quality emergency obstetric and newborn care, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Removing barriers like discriminatory social norms, financial constraints and limited decision-making power for women is essential to advancing maternal and newborn health outcomes,” said Ellen Mpangananji Thom, Deputy WHO County Representative, Pakistan.

    This story was originally brought to life on the WHO-UNFPA Learning by Sharing Portal (LSP), which highlights the critical work of various stakeholders in improving access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services within the broader context of universal health coverage. The LSP seeks to create a repository of implementation stories on effective health system interventions and serves as a valuable resource for shared learning, advocacy and capacity building at global, regional and country levels.

    In follow up to World Health Day, please join the WHO-UNFPA Learning by Sharing Portal (LSP), WHO Pakistan, and the Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department, Punjab, Pakistan, on 9 April at 13:00 CET for an interactive discussion with experts and implementers involved in the roll out of the rural ambulance service in Punjab, Pakistan. Please register for the event here. If you have questions for the implementers, please submit them here.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Aemetis Biogas Monthly RNG Production Increased by 55% in March

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CUPERTINO, Calif., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX), a renewable natural gas and renewable fuels company focused on low and negative carbon intensity renewable fuels, announced today that its production of renewable natural gas (RNG) increased 55% in March compared to February. RNG production from anaerobic dairy digesters increases during periods of warmer weather due to improved temperatures for microbial activity that converts organic material into biomethane and the higher production quantity is expected to continue through the summer.

    Aemetis Biogas also completed a sale of LCFS and D3 RINs at the end of Q1. The LCFS credits were generated from RNG dispensed as transportation fuel in Q4 2024 and were booked under the California Air Resource Board (CARB) reporting process at the end of the first quarter this year. The D3 RINs were from production and dispensing of RNG in February 2025.

    “Aemetis Biogas uses animal waste feedstock to produce domestic energy which is not directly impacted by import/export tariffs. The significant 55% increase in monthly RNG production in March compared to February is on track with our 2025 production plan and generates proportionally larger LCFS and D3 RIN revenues, as well as Section 45Z sellable tax credits,” stated Eric McAfee, chairman and CEO of Aemetis. “We are now completing construction of digesters that will process waste from four additional dairies that are expected to be operational in the next few months, supporting the sale of another round of investment tax credits and further increasing RNG production and associated revenues.”

    Aemetis Biogas is in the final phase of Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) pathway approvals for seven dairy digesters by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which is expected to be received before the end of Q2, which should generate about $6 million per year of increased revenues from LCFS credits at current prices.

    CARB is also in the process of finalizing its November 2024 LCFS amendments that are expected to significantly increase the mandated demand for LCFS credits, and CARB just published its final proposed regulations for a fifteen-day comment period last Friday. The higher LCFS credit prices expected to be created by these regulations will further increase Aemetis Biogas LCFS revenue proportionally to the LCFS credit price increase, potentially generating up to 300% more total LCFS revenue per MMBtu of RNG.

    Aemetis Biogas continues to grow production and revenues as it builds digesters and biogas pipelines to capture methane from 50 dairies that have signed agreements to supply the Central Dairy Digester Project near Modesto, California. When completed, the Aemetis Biogas Central Dairy Digester Project is expected to generate 1.65 million MMBtu of dairy RNG each year. Since California imports more than 75% of the crude oil used to produce diesel, the Aemetis RNG project is planned to replace the primarily imported diesel consumed by trucks that drive 77 million miles per year with low emission, local RNG biofuel produced from American domestic waste sources.

    About Aemetis

    Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is a renewable natural gas and renewable fuel company focused on the operation, acquisition, development, and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace petroleum products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Founded in 2006, Aemetis is operating and actively expanding a California biogas digester network and pipeline system to convert dairy waste gas into Renewable Natural Gas. Aemetis owns and operates a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley near Modesto that supplies about 80 dairies with animal feed. Aemetis owns and operates an 80 million gallon per year production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin. Aemetis is developing a sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel fuel biorefinery in California, renewable hydrogen, and hydroelectric power to produce low carbon intensity renewable jet and diesel fuel. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events or other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections of financial results in 2025 and future years; statements relating to the development, engineering, financing, construction and operation of the Aemetis ethanol, biogas, SAF and renewable diesel, and carbon sequestration facilities; our ability to promote, develop, finance, and construct facilities to produce biogas, renewable fuels, and biochemicals; and statements about future market prices and results of government actions. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “showing signs,” “targets,” “view,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and predictions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results or events could differ materially from those set forth or implied by such forward-looking statements and related assumptions due to certain factors, including, without limitation, competition in the ethanol, biodiesel and other industries in which we operate, commodity market risks including those that may result from current weather conditions, financial market risks, customer adoption, counter-party risks, risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and in our other filings with the SEC. We are not obligated, and do not intend, to update any of these forward-looking statements at any time unless an update is required by applicable securities laws.

    Company Investor Relations
    Media Contact:
    Todd Waltz
    (408) 213-0940
    investors@aemetis.com

    External Investor Relations
    Contact:
    Kirin Smith
    PCG Advisory Group
    (646) 863-6519
    ksmith@pcgadvisory.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Beat the April 15 Tax Deadline, But Don’t Leave Money Behind

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the deadline to file taxes only 7 days away, H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), the company that pioneered the tax prep category 70 years ago, is providing crucial last-minute tips to help taxpayers navigate the final stretch of tax season while ensuring no dollar is left behind. According to IRS data, 2025 filings are slightly lower compared to last year1, which means millions of taxpayers will be scrambling to meet the April 15th deadline.

    “Each year, millions of taxpayers leave billions of dollars behind because they miss valuable deductions and credits they’re entitled to,” said Andy Phillips, Vice President of The Tax Institute at H&R Block. “Filing taxes can be stressful, especially when you’re facing a fast-approaching deadline, but it is important to be thorough and thoughtful when gathering documents and preparing a return because it could be the difference between owing or getting money back.”

    H&R Block’s The Tax Institute is a team of tax attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents who constantly monitor and analyze federal and state tax code changes to enable the company’s vast network of 60,000 tax professionals and DIY products to address each taxpayer’s unique situation, from life changes to changing tax laws.

    Tax Codes That Maximize Your Refund

    H&R Block helps over 20 million clients each year get back or keep every dollar they’ve earned. Here are the top recommendations to reduce tax liability and maximize refunds.

    • File Even If You Can’t Pay: Many people think if they can’t pay, they shouldn’t file—but that’s a big mistake. The penalty for failing to file on time is ten times the penalty for failing to pay on time. Even if you can’t pay by the due date, you will save money by filing on time.
    • Double-Check Your Dependents: Those who support an elderly parent, an adult child, or even a non-relative living in the home, might be able to claim them as a dependent and get extra credits or deductions. Many people assume only young children qualify, but taxpayers should account for all other dependents for possible tax benefits. The child and dependent care credit is another benefit that can help cover a percentage of expenses such as daycare, childcare and summer camp, for a child under 13 years old. This credit can also be available for the costs of caring for a spouse or parent if they cannot care for themselves.
    • Don’t Leave Money Behind: The most common missed credits and deductions are:
      • Education Credits: Students and parents often overlook education credits such as the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC).
      • Child Tax Credit (CTC): The Child Tax Credit is up to $2,000 per child under the age of 17, with up to $1,700 being fully refundable even if no taxes are owed.
      • Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): This credit is designed to benefit low to moderate-income workers. Many eligible taxpayers miss out on this credit because they don’t realize they qualify.
    • Consider filing even if you aren’t required to file: Individuals who don’t meet the minimum income threshold often don’t file because they aren’t required to, but they may qualify for certain credits that result in a refund.
    • Retirement Plan/IRA Early Withdrawal Penalty: There are now two new exceptions to the 10% penalty on early withdrawals from retirement plans or IRAs for emergency personal expenses and for victims of domestic abuse.
    • Natural Disasters: Legislation passed in December allows tax filers to claim losses not reimbursed by insurance without itemizing, meaning they can deduct that loss while still claiming the standard deduction.
    • Include All Sources of Income: Everyone—and especially gig workers, side hustlers and online sellers—should pay attention to the new 1099-K rules. Many will receive a 1099-K for the first time, as the reporting threshold for online sales and third-party payment apps has lowered significantly from $20,000 to $5,000.

    Because these credits and deductions often go unclaimed, H&R Block offers a free Second Look® tax review to double-check up to three years of tax returns for missed credits or deductions. No other company offers this extensive of a review for free2.

    Expert Help No Matter How You File

    The American tax code contains nearly 10,000 sections with up to 174 pages for each, making filing taxes daunting without professional help. Filers with complex tax situations may benefit from expert assistance. H&R Block offers a range of resources and flexible filing options to help last-minute taxpayers file with confidence and get their maximum refund, guaranteed3.

    • Assisted: File in as little as one hour with options to drop off your documents, meet virtually or in-person with one of the 60,000 company tax professionals at one of 9,000 offices. H&R Block has locations in every state and within 5 miles of most Americans many of which have same-day appointments available.
    • DIY Online: File on your own with H&R Block’s DIY online filing tools, supported by AI Tax Assist and Live Tax Pro Support. Clients can ask unlimited questions through AI Tax Assist and receive live support, free of charge in all DIY paid editions.
    • Tax Pro Review: Filers using H&R Block’s intuitive DIY tax prep service, can add Tax Pro Review any time during the online filing process to have a tax pro review your tax return for any errors or missed opportunities. Once complete the tax pro will sign and file the return on the client’s behalf. This provides extra peace of mind for filers who want the flexibility of preparing their own return and the confidence of an experienced tax pro reviewing their return to ensure accuracy.
    • DIY Software: Download our award-winning desktop software trusted by millions of Americans for over twenty years.

    “Whether completing your own taxes online or getting expert assistance from one of our tax pros, we are here to help our customers file accurately, confidently and get their maximum refund guaranteed,” said Phillips.

    What To Do If You Are Unable to File On Time?

    If you are unable to file your taxes by the April 15th deadline, requesting an extension may be a good option. This will give filers until October 15th, 2025, to file a return, but it’s important to remember that an extension to file is not an extension to pay.

    Filers will still need to estimate their tax liability and pay any amount due by April 15th to avoid penalties. Remember that the IRS may have already granted extensions to those affected by natural disasters. Check the IRS website to see if you qualify for automatic relief before requesting an extension.

    To learn more about H&R Block’s tax preparation services, many ways to file, and year-round financial support, visit hrblock.com. For media assets, visit hrblock.com/tax-center/newsroom and for helpful tips and information, follow H&R Block on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. 

    1According to the IRS filing season statistics as of 3/28/2025.
    2At participating offices. Fees apply to file an amended return. The IRS allows taxpayers to amend returns from the previous three tax years to claim additional refunds to which they are entitled.
    3All tax situations are different. Not everyone gets a refund. See hrblock.com/guarantees for complete details.

    Editor’s Note:
    For media assets, visit hrblock.com/tax-center/newsroom or a downloadable Tax Season 2025 media kit, visit https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/media-kit/tax-season-2025/.

    About H&R Block 
    H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) provides help and inspires confidence in its clients and communities everywhere through global tax preparation services, financial products, and small-business solutions. The company blends digital innovation with human expertise and care as it helps people get the best outcome at tax time and also be better with money using its mobile banking app, Spruce. Through Block Advisors and Wave, the company helps small-business owners thrive with year-round bookkeeping, payroll, advisory, and payment processing solutions. For more information, visit H&R Block News.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Melissa Celebrates 40th Anniversary as the Address Expert

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Celebrating an industry milestone, Melissa today announced its 40th anniversary as the Address Expert. The company is a global leader in data quality and address management solutions, and now marks four decades of innovation and market leadership in data quality, identity verification, and customer address management.

    Established in 1985 by Ray Melissa, the company started with a simple ZIP Code data offering aimed at improving address accuracy for mailers. Today, Melissa has grown into a global powerhouse, serving over 10,000 businesses worldwide with a robust suite of solutions that enhance address, email, phone, and identity verification. Melissa’s newly released catalog features a spectrum of integrations, tools, and services supporting customer data quality across key international arenas such as fintech and financial services, healthcare, public sector services, and online commerce.

    “For Melissa, 2025 is an incredibly special year,” said company founder Ray Melissa. “It’s gratifying to reflect on our journey—from a small data provider to an industry leader shaping the future of data quality and verification. Operating at the crossroads of customer data, global business operations, and emerging AI-driven platforms, we take pride in empowering enterprises to harness the full potential of clean, standardized data in an increasingly connected world.”

    Melissa has long focused on global growth, building partnerships that serve a worldwide enterprise customer base and support data professionals from developers to database managers to data end-users. In 2024 alone, the company introduced new integrations with FedRAMP®, Shopify, Microsoft AppSource, and Google Workspace, reinforcing its presence in cloud-based data services. Additionally, Melissa expanded its international footprint by opening new offices in Mexico and Brazil, further solidifying its role as a trusted partner across five continents.

    Beyond geographic expansion, Melissa has remained at the forefront of technological advancements in data quality. The company recently launched its Melissa Alert Service, a cutting-edge solution designed for continuous data monitoring and automated cleansing. Melissa’s success has also been built on strong collaborations with key postal agencies, technology providers, and recognized authoritative data sources. The company maintains USPS® CASS™, PAVE™, NCOALink® Service, and Canada Post SERP® certifications, ensuring its data solutions meet the highest postal standards worldwide. Melissa is also partnered with ESRI, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, with data integrations that support retailers with optimized address data for smarter ecommerce. Partnerships with Salesforce, Talend, Stripe, Snowflake, and other major platforms continue to enable seamless integrations for enterprise clients.

    “Our partnerships have been instrumental in driving Melissa’s reach,” added Melissa. “By working alongside leading global organizations and authoritative data sources, we ensure that businesses have access to the most accurate, up-to-date, and compliant data solutions available. We don’t plan on slowing down and can see a bright future for continued pioneering of smart, sharp data tools to empower business.”

    Click here to download Melissa’s 2025 Data Quality and Enrichment Catalog; to connect with members of Melissa’s global intelligence team, visit www.Melissa.com or call 1-800-MELISSA.

    About Melissa
    Powering clean customer data for 40 years, Melissa is the Address Expert. Providing address validation, address autocomplete, and geo-verified address data for 240+ countries, Melissa supports global businesses with its offices across five continents. Melissa’s suite of data quality, ID verification, and location data tools and services drives better decision-making, reduced costs, increased efficiency, and improved compliance. Our APIs, CRM and ecommerce integrations, and online tools help Melissa’s 10,000 customers worldwide process billions of addresses daily, fully capitalizing on the business value of customer data. For more information, visit www.Melissa.com or call 1-800-MELISSA (635-4772).

    Media contacts
    Greg Brown
    Vice President, Global Marketing, Melissa
    greg.brown@Melissa.com
    +1-800-635-4772 x1130

    MPoweredPR for Melissa
    pr@mpoweredpr.com
    +1-877-794-6777

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Jennifer Hua Brings Deep Transaction Expertise to Monarch Private Capital’s #BestInClass Renewable Energy Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monarch Private Capital (Monarch), a nationally recognized impact investment firm that develops, finances, and manages a diversified portfolio of projects generating both federal and state tax credits, is pleased to welcome Jennifer Hua as Manager, Renewable Energy.

    In this role, Hua will be responsible for identifying and executing on renewable energy opportunities that generate solid and de-risked returns for Monarch’s investors. Her focus includes sourcing, negotiating, structuring, and executing complex tax equity and credit transfer transactions across a diverse portfolio of renewable energy assets.

    Hua brings a decade of energy sector experience to Monarch. Most recently, she served as Associate Vice President at Foss & Company, where she led due diligence and underwriting for a wide range of projects including solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), renewable natural gas (RNG), fuel cells, and advanced manufacturing. Prior to that, Hua spent seven years at Williams Companies, where she held various roles, culminating in Business Development within the company’s New Energy Ventures division. Her experience includes behind-the-meter solar and storage development, M&A support, and counterparty risk management.

    “Jennifer brings the right mix of experience, leadership, and creativity to help further develop Monarch’s #bestinclass processes,” said Bryan Didier, Partner and Managing Director at Monarch Private Capital. “We are building a team that’s not only highly skilled, but collaborative and forward-thinking—and Jennifer is exactly the kind of leader who will elevate the work we’re doing and help us scale with excellence.”

    In addition to her transaction responsibilities, Hua will contribute to the #everbetter of Monarch’s #bestinclass processes, supporting efforts to ensure the highest quality in underwriting, risk analysis, and investor outcomes. As part of the Renewable Energy leadership team, she will collaborate on key initiatives to strengthen internal systems, improve cross-functional coordination, and advance consistency and quality for Monach’s clients across the transaction lifecycle.

    “Monarch is doing the kind of work that moves the needle in clean energy, and I’m excited to join a team so committed to excellence and impact,” said Hua. “I look forward to contributing to a strong culture of collaboration and continuous improvement—particularly in how we close transactions, support investor outcomes, and scale through smart, standardized processes.”

    Hua holds an MBA from the University of Tulsa and a BBA in Finance and International Business from the University of Oklahoma. She is an active member of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) and the Junior League of Denver. Outside of work, she enjoys travel, skiing, cycling, and yoga.

    For more information about Monarch Private Capital, visit www.monarchprivate.com.

    About Monarch Private Capital

    Monarch Private Capital manages impact investment funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs, and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film, and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers, and lenders participating in these federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and professionals located throughout the United States.

    CONTACT
    Jane Rafeedie
    Monarch Private Capital
    Jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com
    470-283-8431

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/828d8460-ce11-479a-b849-62ffdd26215b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Hanover Bank Unveils a Refreshed Logo to Reflect Commitment to Innovation and Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MINEOLA, N.Y., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hanover Bank, the bank subsidiary of Hanover Bancorp (Nasdaq “HNVR”) is excited to unveil its new logo, a brand identity refresh that embodies our continued evolution into a financial services leader recognized for delivering digital banking solutions with unparalleled service.

    Our new logo reflects a forward-thinking vision that builds on the values of trust, stability, and progress – values that have always been at the heart of Hanover Bank since our founding in 2009 – underscoring our commitment to innovation and tradition.

    “We take great pride in our legacy and the strong relationships we’ve built over the years, and this logo represents our commitment to propelling them forward as we deliver a more agile, innovative, and client-focused banking experience, reinforcing our leadership in an ever-evolving world,” said Michael P. Puorro, Chairman and CEO of Hanover Bank.

    The refreshed logo is part of a broader initiative to enhance our banking experience for both individuals and businesses. Our updated identity will be phased in across all touchpoints, including digital platforms, branch signage, advertising and much more.

    “As we look toward the future in an increasingly digital world, we remain steadfast in upholding the core values that have been the foundation of our success. This symbolizes our dedication to both progress and transformation, while reinforcing our ongoing commitment to innovation,” concluded Mr. Puorro.

    For more information, please visit hanoverbank.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.

    About Hanover Community Bank and Hanover Bancorp, Inc.

    Hanover Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: HNVR), is the bank holding company for Hanover Community Bank, a community commercial bank focusing on highly personalized and efficient services and products responsive to client needs. Management and the Board of Directors are comprised of a select group of successful local businesspeople who are committed to the success of the Bank by knowing and understanding the metro-New York area’s financial needs and opportunities. Backed by state-of-the-art technology, Hanover offers a full range of financial services. Hanover offers a complete suite of consumer, commercial, and municipal banking products and services, including multi-family and commercial mortgages, residential loans, business loans and lines of credit. Hanover also offers its customers access to 24-hour ATM service with no fees attached, free checking with interest, telephone banking, advanced technologies in mobile and internet banking for our consumer and business customers, safe deposit boxes and much more. The Company’s corporate administrative office is located in Mineola, New York where it also operates a full-service branch office along with additional branch locations in Garden City Park, Hauppauge, Forest Hills, Flushing, Sunset Park, Rockefeller Center and Chinatown, New York, and Freehold, New Jersey, with a new branch opening in Port Jefferson, New York in early 2025.

    Hanover Community Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and is an Equal Housing/Equal Opportunity Lender. For further information, call (516) 548-8500 or visit the Bank’s website at www.hanoverbank.com.

    Press Contact:
    Ms. Annette Esposito
    First VP-Director of Marketing
    (516) 548-8500

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Enphase Energy Expands in Europe with IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase, Delivering Three-Phase Backup Power in Luxembourg

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, today announced the launch of its most powerful and versatile battery yet, the IQ® Battery 5P with FlexPhase, for customers in Luxembourg. The IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase is an all-in-one AC-coupled system that is designed to deliver reliable backup power and supports three-phase electrical system applications, which is the predominant configuration for homes in Luxembourg. Enphase recently launched the FlexPhase battery in Germany, Austria, Switzerland.

    The IQ Battery 5P starts at 5 kWh of capacity and multiple units can be configured to provide up to 70 kWh. Each 5 kWh battery is designed to deliver continuous power of up to 3.84 kW in single-phase configuration and 1.28 kW per phase in three-phase configuration. The new batteries can be configured to meet the needs of each homeowner, offering grid-tied support or backup power. The batteries are designed to discharge up to two times the maximum continuous power for three seconds, enabling the start-up of high-power devices without the grid when paired with the IQ® System Controller 3 INT. The IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase comes with an industry-leading 15-year warranty in Luxembourg.

    “Many Luxembourg homeowners appreciate flexible backup power solutions, and the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase delivers exactly that,” said Cristian Hotescu, CEO of ENR LUX, an installer of Enphase products in Luxembourg. “The scalable capacity and support for three-phase systems make it the perfect fit for our customer base with diverse home energy needs.”

    “Backup power solutions that are not only reliable but also adaptable to their unique energy needs are popular among many Luxembourg homeowners,” said Amine M’ghari, CEO of Bauer Energie, an installer of Enphase products in Luxembourg. “Whether for self-consumption, grid support, or full backup power, the IQ Battery 5P delivers outstanding performance, backed by Enphase’s reputation for quality and reliability.”

    “Enphase has once again set the bar high with the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase,” said Michelangelo Di Lorenzo, CEO of Ecosphere Home, an installer of Enphase products in Luxembourg. “The ability to scale from 5 kWh to 70 kWh while supporting three-phase configurations makes it one of the most versatile storage solutions on the market. Many of our customers appreciate this level of customization, especially given the increasing focus on energy resilience.”

    “The continued expansion of the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase in Europe is a major step forward for Enphase,” said Sabbas Daniel, senior vice president of sales at Enphase Energy. “Luxembourg is an important and growing market for solar and batteries, with most homes built on three-phase power. Our FlexPhase technology delivers a solution that not only adapts seamlessly to both single-phase and three-phase systems, but also offers powerful backup and enhanced self-consumption — all in one streamlined product. This is about giving homeowners and installers more flexibility, more resilience, and more value, without compromise.”

    For more information about the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase in Luxembourg, please visit the Enphase website.

    About Enphase Energy, Inc.

    Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power — and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped approximately 80.0 million microinverters, and approximately 4.7 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.

    ©2025 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements related to the expected capabilities and performance of Enphase Energy’s technology and products, including safety, quality, and reliability; and statements regarding the timing and availability Enphase Energy’s products in Luxembourg. These forward-looking statements are based on Enphase Energy’s current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties including those risks described in more detail in Enphase Energy’s most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other documents filed by Enphase Energy from time to time with the SEC. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.

    Contact:

    Enphase Energy

    press@enphaseenergy.com

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plans submitted for first Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood development

    Source: City of Manchester

    Great Places Housing Group has submitted its proposals for the first planned scheme to be delivered as part of the recently approved masterplan for the Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood in east Manchester.

    The affordable housing scheme of 82 apartments for social rent will be on a vacant site on the corner of Grey Mare Lane and Ashton New Road. The former brownfield site was previously occupied by the Manchester Bar pub, which was demolished in 2020.

    The development will deliver a mix of one and two-bed apartments. The proposals include private garden spaces for a number of ground floor apartments, a communal garden, balconies for the majority of apartments above ground floor level and high-quality landscaping. A planned new pedestrian link will also improve the connectivity to Grey Mare Lane and Ashton New Road from Newcombe Close.

    The scheme has been developed working in close partnership with Manchester City Council, One Manchester, and This City as part of the wider proposals for the Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood masterplan. The masterplan, which was approved in September, will deliver 1,000 new homes, including a significant number of affordable homes, and new green spaces.

    Commenting on the planning submission Helen Spencer, our Executive Director of Growth, said:

    “We are delighted to submit our plans for the first of our planned affordable housing developments as part of the wider regeneration of the Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood. This project represents a significant step forward in our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable homes for the community in East Manchester.

    “This development has been made possible through our close partnership with Manchester City Council, One Manchester, and This City. Together, we are dedicated to transforming the Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood into a vibrant and sustainable community. We look forward to seeing these plans come to fruition and making a positive impact on the lives of local residents.”

    Cllr. Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development at Manchester City Council, added:

    “The Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood is a key regeneration programme for us and this planning application represents the first site of a transformational programme of housing and estate investment in the coming years that will see at least 1,000 new homes, including a large number of social, Council and affordable homes and new green spaces.

    “We have been working closely with the local community around the plans to invest in their community both through formal consultation and a local community steering group, and this is just the start for Grey Mare Lane. Sites will come online quickly in the next few months, and we will begin to realise the potential of the neighbourhood.”

    Find out more about the Grey Mare Lane regeneration

    The development is the first of two proposed developments in the area to be delivered by Great Places, with details for a second affordable homes development on a site on Sunny Lowry Road expected to be submitted next year.

    The new housing investment within the Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood is part of the Council’s commitment to delivering at least 36,000 new homes through to 2032 as part of the city’s ambitious housing strategy. This will include 10,000 new affordable homes, and 3,000 of these will be in the city centre.

    Find out more about Manchester City Council’s housing strategy

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Dangers grow for Myanmar quake survivors, health system ‘overwhelmed’

    Source: United Nations 2-b

    Humanitarian Aid

    In earthquake-shattered central Myanmar, people are sleeping in the streets in fear of buildings collapsing, facing early monsoon rains and the risk of waterborne diseases, the UN warned on Tuesday.

    Ten days after a 7.7 magnitude quake levelled buildings and buckled bridges across central Myanmar, the latest death toll has passed 3,500 and is “likely to rise”, said Titon Mitra, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Representative in the country, speaking from the devastated city of Mandalay.

    He said that the response has moved into a “tragic phase” shifting from rescue to recovery efforts.

    Well over 4,000 people have been injured in the quakes last week and more than 80 per cent of buildings have been damaged – especially in the major townships of Sagaing, Mandalay and Magway.

    “The health system is completely overwhelmed, hospitals are unable to cope with the number of patients they’re dealing with,” Mr. Mitra said, adding that medicines and healthcare items are in “incredibly short supply”.

    According to the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA), more than 500,000 people across the country have been left without access to life-saving health care.

    UNDP’s Mr. Mitra also stressed that the risk of waterborne diseases is very high because urban water pipe systems are broken and water storage facilities are damaged.

    “Sanitation is now becoming a big issue as people who have been forced out of their homes are resorting to open defecation,” he warned.

    The disaster has been compounded by intense rainfall which started earlier than expected last week in Mandalay, impacting the response and worsening the living conditions of homeless survivors.

    Monsoon threat

    Myanmar’s meteorology department forecasts rain and strong winds in large parts of the country through Friday.

    Mr. Mitra said that shelter is a major issue. People are “fearful” to go back into their damaged homes and are sleeping on the streets at night, “often without any sort of cover”, he told journalists in Geneva via video link .

    Food is also in huge demand as markets are “severely disrupted” in Sagaing and Magway, people don’t have incomes and there are “signs of hyperinflation in place”, he said.

    Mr. Mitra said the UN system is mobilized and has conducted initial rapid needs assessments. UNDP is also evaluating the integrity of buildings to determine if they are safe to use.

    This uncertainty has impacted a hospital in Sagaing where “all the patients are in the car park in 40°C heat”, he said. “If we consider the building can accommodate them, then we want to move them back as quickly as possible.”

    Hostilities have not stopped entirely but he expressed optimism that aid can reach all those in need, following the ceasefire announced days after the disaster by the military and resistance groups.

    Aid access plea

    It remains the case that the military authorities control many affected areas and coordinate the provision of support.

    “With an active civil war, we have to make sure that the aid, if it’s coordinated by military authorities, is going to areas which may be in resistance control,” he insisted.

    The earthquake disaster – second only to Cylone Nargis in 2008 that killed more than 130,000 people – has compounded chronic and “very deep vulnerabilities” in Myanmar, the UNDP official said.

    The country’s people have already suffered more than four years of fighting sparked by the military junta’s February 2021 coup d’état.

    Prior to the earthquakes, nearly 20 per cent of the rice fields were already lost to conflict, more than 3.5 million people had been forced to flee their homes, over 15 million were facing hunger and an estimated 19.9 million were in need of assistance.

    “I hope… when the cameras turn away from Myanmar, as they inevitably will and have in the past, that this doesn’t return to being a neglected crisis”, he concluded.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Abaxx Provides Q1 2025 Corporate Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Abaxx Technologies Inc. (CBOE:ABXX)(OTCQX:ABXXF) (“Abaxx” or the “Company”), a financial software and market infrastructure company, majority shareholder of Abaxx Singapore Pte Ltd., the owner of Abaxx Commodity Exchange and Clearinghouse (individually, “Abaxx Exchange” and “Abaxx Clearing”), and producer of the SmarterMarkets™ Podcast, provides an update on operational milestones and the continued execution of the Company’s business strategy in the first quarter of 2025.

    The Company also announces that it plans to host an investor call and presentation on Thursday, April 10th. For more information, see “Q1 2025 Business Update Investor Call” below.

    Abaxx Corporate Milestone Highlights

    Commercial Development

    • Executed the Company’s first trades in Nickel Sulphate and Lithium Carbonate Futures, including the world’s first trade of a non-Chinese, USD-denominated and physically-deliverable Lithium Carbonate Futures contract.
    • The Company saw the first OTC LNG cargo trade indexed to Abaxx LNG Futures (see the Company’s press release from March 24, 2025).
    • Established active market makers in all three LNG contracts and both carbon contracts across our trading hours.
    • A total of six clearing firms, 29 trading firms, and 14 interdealer brokers (IDBs) are now connected to Abaxx Exchange and Clearing, with an additional four clearing firms, 12 trading firms, and 12 IDBs currently in progress.
    • Completed the first brand listing under the Lithium Carbonate Futures contract.
    • Finalized onboarding with a major global data distribution network expected to expand visibility of Abaxx markets to over 100 million viewers. Added six new market data partners in Q1 2025, bringing the total to six.
    • Engaged in exploratory discussions with an external exchange group seeking to use Abaxx Clearing for third-party clearing services, and also engaged in exploratory discussions with external exchange groups based in China to collaborate on cross-jurisdictional (i.e. onshore/offshore) product listing opportunities with Abaxx Exchange and Clearing.

    Exchange Product Development

    • Launched four new battery metals contracts in Q1 2025, including Nickel Sulphate Futures and three regional physically-deliverable Lithium Carbonate Futures contracts.
    • Submitted a 1-kilobar Singapore Gold Futures contract for regulatory review.
    • Currently in the final development stage of: (i) a financially-settled copper spread contract to support price transparency in global base metals markets, and (ii) the first contracts in a suite of weather futures.

    Risk and Regulatory Development

    • Applied to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for recognition as a Foreign Board of Trade (FBOT).
    • Completed public consultation on rule amendments to introduce additional currencies as acceptable margin collateral.
    • Convened the inaugural meeting of its Risk Advisory Panel and successfully executed a default management fire drill.

    Systems and Operations Development

    • Expanded system capabilities to support multi-currency settlement and collateralization, with projected completion by May 2025.
    • Completed the upgrade of Verifier+ (a digital credentials storage provider) into the Abaxx Trade Registration Platform.
    • Continued progress on ISO/IEC 27001 audit for Abaxx Exchange infrastructure, with certification targeted for June 2025.
    • Enhanced client onboarding workflows and expanded market data access to support growing participant demand.

    Abaxx Console Suite Development

    • Rolled out Verifier+ v2.0 with expanded capabilities and integrated the app with Abaxx Exchange to enable passwordless login for the Abaxx Trade Registration Platform (ATRP).
    • Advanced Abaxx Messenger into pre-release testing as a member support tool for Abaxx Exchange.
    • Reached the initial development milestone for Abaxx Sign, currently progressing through testing and feedback with design partners.
    • Initiated development of AbaxxOne, a middleware solution connecting enterprise identity systems (e.g., Auth0, Okta) to ID++ and the Abaxx Console Suite.

    Financing Development

    • On March 27, 2025, the Company announced it had closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement, securing C$22.85 million through the issuance of secured convertible debentures bearing 7.0% annual interest, convertible at C$13.00 per share and maturing in 2028. The Company is currently in discussions for a potential second tranche (see the Company’s press release dated March 27, 2025).

    Following the successful launch of Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing in mid-2024, the first quarter of 2025 marked a period of accelerated growth across product development, commercial engagement, and systems expansion. First trades were executed in the Nickel Sulphate and Lithium Carbonate markets, alongside the first OTC LNG cargo trade indexed to Abaxx LNG Futures, reflecting early adoption of our benchmark contracts.

    We launched four new contracts across our battery metals product suite and submitted a 1-kilobar Singapore Gold Futures contract to support Asia’s kilobar market, an offering not currently matched in London or New York. In parallel, we incorporated Abaxx Spot, a separate entity designed to support convergence between futures and physical gold markets. While the gold futures contract will be listed by Abaxx Exchange, Abaxx Spot enables electronic settlement and physical delivery of 99.99% purity kilobars in Singapore through a secure, transparent gold pool. Together, these initiatives advance our vision of building smarter markets for physical gold trading. Onboarding momentum continued through targeted, on-the-ground engagement at commercial events globally.

    We also scaled platform infrastructure, enhancing client onboarding workflows, expanding market data access, and progressing toward ISO 27001 certification. Core protocol development advanced with upgrades to the ID++ protocol and Verifier+, the initiation of AbaxxOne middleware, and continued development of Abaxx Messenger.

    The following sections provide further information related to these developments across business units and platform initiatives.

    Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing Developments

    Risk and Regulatory: Abaxx Exchange submitted its application to the U.S. CFTC for recognition as a Foreign Board of Trade (FBOT). Once granted, this recognition would enable U.S. trading participants to directly access products listed on Abaxx Exchange. In February, the Company completed a public consultation on rule amendments to support the introduction of additional currencies as acceptable margin collateral. These amendments are now under regulatory review, with the final list of approved currencies to be announced in due course.

    The Company also convened the inaugural meeting of its Risk Advisory Panel on March 17, 2025 with participation from all three direct clearing members. The Risk Advisory Panel serves as a forum for ongoing collaboration between the clearinghouse and its members to strengthen risk management, transparency, and operational resilience. In late March, Abaxx Clearing conducted its first default management firedrill with member participation, a process which validated its preparedness to manage member defaults and execute crisis response procedures effectively.

    Commercial: The Abaxx Commercial team secured market participation leading to the first trades in Nickel Sulphate and Lithium Carbonate Futures during the first quarter of 2025, including the world’s first trade of a non-Chinese, USD-denominated and physically-deliverable Lithium Carbonate Futures contract. The quarter also saw the first OTC LNG cargo trade indexed to Abaxx LNG Futures, reflecting growing confidence in Abaxx’s benchmark contracts. Active market makers were established across all three LNG contracts and both carbon contracts during core trading hours.

    Onboarding efforts continued across firm types. Abaxx maintained six active clearing members and non-direct clearing firm connections, with four additional clearers, that include global bank clearers, currently in progress to establish new clearing connectivity. Twenty-nine trading firms comprised of merchant traders and financial trading firms are now fully onboarded to execute Block Trades with twelve additional firms currently in the onboarding process; clients connected to Abaxx continue to be able to access Abaxx markets through the central limit order book. Fourteen interdealer brokers (IDBs) are onboarded with twelve more in progress. The quarter also included the first brand listing under the Lithium Carbonate Futures contract.

    Abaxx representatives participated in over 300 high-level meetings across 10 global industry events in Q1 2025. Executives were featured on panels at both E-World and the FT Commodities Global Summit, supporting commercial visibility and momentum. Abaxx was also shortlisted for the World LNG Award for Outstanding Contribution 2024.

    To support commercial growth in Asia in Q1, Abaxx expanded marketing efforts in China, including the launch of a dedicated Chinese-language website (https://cn.abaxx.exchange/) and the announcement of a co-hosted Mandarin-language battery metals seminar with Shanghai Metals Market, taking place April 8, 2025. The team also engaged in exploratory discussions with an external exchange group seeking to use Abaxx Clearing for third-party clearing services, and also engaged in exploratory discussions with external exchange groups based in China to collaborate on cross-jurisdictional (i.e. onshore/offshore) product listing opportunities with Abaxx Exchange and Clearing.

    To support broader market visibility, Abaxx Exchange launched abaxx.exchange/marketdata to provide access to market data publicly. Abaxx also formally launched its market data program in Q1, with six partners onboarded to date: five subscribers and one redistributor. Progress is underway to onboard multiple data distributors, including the leading global financial data provider currently in technical integration, another with a distribution network expected to extend Abaxx market visibility to over 100 million viewers, as well as additional partners supporting our broader data distribution strategy.

    Systems and Operations: Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing continued to operate reliably with no downtime since launch, supporting stable onboarding and trading. Systems testing is underway to support multi-currency settlement and collateralization, with rollout on track for completion by May 2025. The ISO/IEC 27001 audit for Abaxx Exchange infrastructure is in progress, with certification targeted for June 2025.

    The Company continues to enhance client onboarding workflows to ensure a seamless experience for market participants. In parallel, integration work is advancing across major market data vendors to expand access to Abaxx Exchange market data and meet growing participant demand.

    Exchange Product Development: Development of the Gold Singapore Futures contract progressed through Stage 3 (Industry Review/Risk/Regulatory), with launch planning underway. Abaxx also advanced a regional copper spread futures contract, a suite of weather derivatives, and carbon market contracts aligned with regional compliance programs, each currently in Stage 3. Certain weather and compliance carbon futures are expected to become the first Abaxx contracts priced in currencies other than U.S. dollars.

    Enhancements to the LNG contract suite included updates to the LNG Northwest Europe contract to incorporate Phase 2 compliance requirements under the EU Methane Regulation. Additional research is underway to update the list of eligible ports, including newly commissioned infrastructure. As of April 4, 2025, Calcasieu Pass LNG was added as an Eligible Loading Port under the Abaxx LNG Gulf of Mexico Futures Contract.

    Phase 2 work also continued on contract extensions designed to complement Abaxx benchmark products, as well as on meeting regulatory requirements for a suite of physically and financially-settled options.

    Additional Corporate Updates

    Abaxx Console Apps:   The Company released upgrades to the ID++ protocol and Verifier+ in Q1 2025, including integrations with Abaxx Exchange and SmarterMarkets Coffeehouse™. Verifier+ improvements followed its public release on the Apple App Store and Google Play, with enhanced app speed, simplified account recovery, broader device compatibility, and expanded user controls for account editing and deletion. Device-native features such as PIN entry and camera functionality were also upgraded.

    Messenger is in its final stages of pre-release testing ahead of deployment as a user support tool for Abaxx Exchange. Feature development for initial release is complete, with improvements to maintaining performance at scale now in testing. These include faster load times for messages, improved performance under load, and interface tools that help support teams manage multiple, ongoing conversations.

    Development of AbaxxOne was initiated as a middleware solution connecting enterprise identity systems (e.g., Auth0, Okta) to the Abaxx ecosystem.

    Abaxx Sign reached its initial functional milestone and is now progressing through internal testing and design partner feedback cycles.

    Integration of PrivacyCode progressed in Q1, with Verifier+ now available as a login option. This marks continued growth in the number of applications and platforms offering Verifier+ as a privacy-enabled authentication method across the Abaxx ecosystem.

    SmarterMarkets™: SmarterMarkets™ conducted on-site interviews at key industry events hosted by the Futures Industry Association and Financial Times in Q1 2025, capturing real-time insights from global market participants for upcoming compilation episodes. These conversations contribute to the ongoing dialogue around the future of energy, climate, technology, and finance — conversations that the SmarterMarkets Coffeehouse platform is designed to elevate.

    Development also began on the mobile application for SmarterMarkets Coffeehouse™, and contributor onboarding was completed for the first cohort of over 50 thought leaders across energy, AI, digital identity, carbon, and market infrastructure. Early contributors have begun publishing content on the platform. By combining verifiable credentials with tiered levels of access, Coffeehouse is designed to facilitate more open and trusted dialogue than traditional social media environments currently support.

    Those interested in joining as commenters or members can join the waitlist at https://smartermarkets.media/waitlist/.

    Q1 2025 Business Update Investor Call

    The Company plans to host a quarterly business update investor presentation, to provide a business update and respond to investor questions.

    The Company will hold the investor presentation via Zoom Meetings on Thursday, April 10th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST). The Company invites current and prospective shareholders to attend this quarterly business update and Q&A session with the Abaxx executive team. Attendees may email their questions in advance to ir@abaxx.tech.

    Registration will be required to access the meeting. Following the presentation, a recording of the session will be made available on the Abaxx Investor Relations website at investors.abaxx.tech.

    PRESENTATION DETAILS
    DATE: Thursday, April 10, 2025
    TIME: 10:00 a.m. EST
    LOCATION: Zoom Meeting
    To receive the meeting link and passcode, please register here.
    QUESTIONS: Please submit questions ahead of the presentation to: ir@abaxx.tech

    About Abaxx Technologies

    Abaxx is building Smarter Markets — markets empowered by better financial technology and market infrastructure to address our biggest challenges, including the energy transition. In addition to developing and deploying financial technologies that make communication, trade, and transactions easier and more secure, Abaxx is a majority-owner of Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing, subsidiaries recognized by MAS as an RMO and ACH, respectively.

    Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing are a Singapore-based commodity futures exchange and clearinghouse, introducing centrally cleared, physically deliverable commodities futures and derivatives to provide better price discovery and risk management tools for the commodities critical to our transition to a lower-carbon economy.

    For more information please visit abaxx.tech, abaxx.exchange and smartermarkets.media.

    For more information about this press release, please contact:
    Steve Fray, CFO
    Tel: +1 647 490 1590

    Media and investor inquiries:
    Abaxx Technologies Inc.
    Investor Relations Team
    Tel: +1 647 490 1590
    E-mail: ir@abaxx.tech

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes certain “forward-looking statements” which do not consist of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe Abaxx’s future plans, objectives, or goals, including words to the effect that Abaxx expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as “seeking”, “should”, “intend”, “predict”, “potential”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “estimates”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, “continue”, “plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Since forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to Abaxx, Abaxx does not provide any assurance that actual results will meet respective management expectations. Risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors involved with forward- looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

    Forward-looking information related to Abaxx in this press release includes, but is not limited to: the business plans and objectives of Abaxx; the development of new products, futures contracts, markets and technologies and associated benefits; anticipated receipt of regulatory approvals; closing of a second tranche offering of secured convertible debentures; and onboarding of clearing members and firms. Such factors impacting forward-looking information include, among others: the inability to receive regulatory approvals in connection with financings or inability to finalize transaction documentation; risks relating to the global economic climate; dilution; Abaxx’s limited operating history; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for Abaxx to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on Abaxx and the industry; acquiring and maintaining regulatory approvals for Abaxx’s products and operations; the ability to list Abaxx’s securities on stock exchanges in a timely fashion or at all; network security risks; the ability of Abaxx to maintain properly working systems; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; and volatile securities markets impacting security pricing unrelated to operating performance. In addition, particular factors which could impact future results of the business of Abaxx include but are not limited to: operations in foreign jurisdictions, protection of intellectual property rights, contractual risk, third-party risk; clearinghouse risk, malicious actor risks, third-party software license risk, system failure risk, risk of technological change; dependence of technical infrastructure; and changes in the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labor and international travel and supply chains, and the risk factors identified in the Company’s most recent management discussion & analysis filed on SEDAR+. Abaxx has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of Abaxx’s normal course of business.

    Abaxx cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. In addition, although Abaxx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. When relying on forward- looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Abaxx has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraphs will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Abaxx as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Abaxx undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and information. Cboe Canada does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: No major gaffes and no knockout punch: the first leaders’ debate was a pedestrian affair

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Marks, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Partnerships, Western Sydney University

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have faced off in the first leaders’ debate of the 2025 federal election. The debate, hosted by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph, was held at the Wenty Leagues Club in Sydney’s western suburbs, where an audience of 100 undecided voters asked questions of both leaders.

    All the expected topics were canvassed, including the cost of living, the economy, housing, health and education, immigration, the war in Gaza, and of course US President Donald Trump. So how did the two leaders shape up? Three expert authors give their analysis.

    Andy Marks, Western Sydney University

    A funny thing happened on the way to the “people’s forum”. It reverted to a festival of rhetoric. The first federal election leaders’ debate between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton began personably.

    The Sky News debate saw Anthony and Peter – yes, first names only – take questions from the floor. It could have been the local sports team’s AGM. It wasn’t.

    “Who’s doing it tough?” Sky News host Kieren Gilbert asked the audience. A sprinkle of hands, some reluctant, some defiant, rose.

    “That was a very confronting scene,” Dutton remarked. “To see that many hands go up”, he added, reflected what he had seen throughout the government’s term: “people in tears” because they couldn’t cope with rising costs.

    Albanese took a different approach. “Wages are up. Unemployment is low,” he said. The election, he argued, is about “what happens next”. The road ahead, he commented, was uncertain. “The world has thrown a lot of challenges at us. We’ve responded the Australian way.”

    The focus was on ideal versus experience. “All you need is your Medicare card, not your credit card,” Albanese assured a questioner of his commitment to lift bulk-billed healthcare.

    Dutton turned that proposition around, asking the questioner, “What’s your experience? Do you use your Medicare card, or your credit card too?” It was his most effective moment.

    Albanese went full-Rudd zinger on energy. “The only gas policy the Coalition has is the gaslighting of the Australian public.”

    When Albanese and Dutton were unleashed on each other, the debate descended into the usual contest over conflicting accounts of surplus records.

    When it mattered, however – when audience members had the floor – it was a forum on what voters were experiencing, and which leader proved the better listener. That won’t be answered until polling day.

    Andrea Carson, La Trobe University

    Dutton faced a tough start to the first televised leaders’ debate of the 2025 federal election campaign, with reports his father had been rushed to hospital shortly before the cameras rolled.

    But if he was rattled, he didn’t show it. Dutton wasted no time speaking to what he saw as Labor’s weaknesses, beginning with cost of living: power bills up, businesses going bust, grocery prices climbing.

    Meanwhile, Albanese began with a few stammers, but quickly dispelled memories of his 2022 gaffes by confidently rattling off numbers that told a story of economic recovery amid the COVID-induced cost-of-living crisis.

    With the primary vote share at record lows for both major parties, and with more Australians voting for minor parties and independent candidates, this is a crucial time to capture Australian’s attention before early voting opens next Tuesday.

    Whether this debate reaches enough voters behind the News Corp paywall is questionable, but the debate’s soundbites will likely have a longer life than the 60-minute broadcast.

    Using the tricks of the trade, Albanese repeated questioner’s names and thanked them for their service as school teachers and truckies, for caring for children, and for keeping Australia moving. He came ready with a well-worn prop – waving his green and gold Medicare card to spruik his plans to increase bulk billing for GP visits.

    But Dutton wasn’t having a bar of it, stating he had seen the stunt before and that “the Mediscare campaign” continues. Albanese retorted by pointing to Dutton’s track record as health minister, claiming bulk billing was then in freefall. Women in the audience nodded in agreement. It was a little win for Albanese.

    Predictably, both leaders kept to their areas of perceived strength: healthcare and education for Labor; the economy and keeping a lid on immigration for the Coalition. Both skirted the tricky question on the Gaza war – and avoided direct criticism of Trump.

    The debate covered plenty of ground – solar power, fuel excise, cuts to universities’ foreign student numbers – but featured little mention of regional Australia or global security.

    Albanese finished his pitch on a message of “staying the course”. Dutton returned to where he started: the economy, promising the Coalition could do it better, weaving in the threat of a Labor/Greens coalition government.

    There were no fatal blows. Just like the polls, it was too close to call an outright winner. But not to worry. There will be another debate next week, this time on the ABC.

    Emma Shortis, RMIT University

    As someone who spends far too much time focused on US politics, it was a little bit refreshing to watch a debate that was a little bit … boring. Two blokes in suits, badly lit, talking about actual policy. In quite a bit of detail!

    We often worry, with good reason, that Australian politics is being Americanised. Tonight showed that isn’t necessarily the case – in fact, the Trump administration’s dismantling of US democracy didn’t feature much this evening.

    And there certainly weren’t many of the outrageous features of US politics – there was some bluster, of course, and some pretty concerning rhetoric around “immigration” – but this wasn’t anything like the corrosive, paranoid politics of America today.

    Albanese opened the debate by noting that “the world has thrown a lot of challenges at Australia”, without mentioning the United States. That’s despite the fact the second Trump administration has effectively set the agenda of Australian politics for the past week at least.

    But the very first question was about the “Trump pandemic”. Albanese was right to say in his response that Trump’s tariffs are an act of “economic self-harm” by the US. It does seem a stretch to suggest Australia got “a better deal” on tariffs because of representations made by the Australian government. Given what we know about the second Trump administration and its treatment of traditional allies, that seems unlikely.

    Dutton once again made the argument that he would be better placed to negotiate with Trump because of his experience with Trump mark 1. But again, given how the Trump administration is treating America’s traditional allies, that’s not particularly convincing.

    Surprisingly, the AUKUS submarine pact only got a mention right at the end. Albanese affirmed Labor’s support for the deal and said the government wouldn’t link the tariff issue to defence. That might be politically desirable, but it will be increasingly difficult as Trump continues to put pressure on the alliance. If Trump places no value in Australia’s free trade agreement with the US, what reason is there to believe he places any value in any other agreements?

    As more and more attention is focused on what “security” actually means, those arbitrary dividing lines to which Australian politics has been so accustomed – such as the one between our defence and trade relationship with the US – might be becoming a little bit blurrier.

    Emma Shortis is also Director of the Australia Institute’s International & Security Affairs Program.

    Andrea Carson and Andy Marks do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. No major gaffes and no knockout punch: the first leaders’ debate was a pedestrian affair – https://theconversation.com/no-major-gaffes-and-no-knockout-punch-the-first-leaders-debate-was-a-pedestrian-affair-253711

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The capital has transferred more than 100 plots of land to investors for the development of sports infrastructure

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Since 2016, the city has provided investors with more than 150 hectares of land in all administrative districts of the capital for the construction of sports facilities. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “Investors and developers are actively involved in the development of the capital’s sports infrastructure. For the construction of facilities, the city regularly puts land up for open auctions and provides it as part of large-scale investment projects. Since 2016, 106 plots of land with an area of about 155 hectares have been allocated for the construction of sports complexes. The area of buildings and associated infrastructure will be about 1.2 million square meters,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    Large-scale investment projects (MaIP) have been implemented in Moscow since 2016. Objects aimed at developing urban infrastructure and creating jobs can receive this status.

    “Since 2016, 58 plots with an area of 121 hectares have been transferred to investors for the construction of sports facilities within the framework of the MAIP. In addition, entrepreneurs can obtain land for the construction of sports and recreation complexes by participating in open auctions. All the necessary information can be found on the capital’s investment portal. Over the same period, the winners of the auctions received 48 plots with a total area of almost 34 hectares,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property

    Maxim Gaman.

    For example, in the Kurkino district, a large-scale investment project for the construction of an ice arena has already been implemented on a 1.8-hectare site. It is intended for ice hockey and figure skating training, as well as for choreography classes, general physical training, and team games.

    The Ramenki sports complex was built on a 0.3-hectare site within the framework of the MaIP in the district of the same name. The area of more than six thousand square meters houses a pool for recreational swimming and aqua aerobics, a children’s pool for swimming lessons, a multi-purpose games hall for basketball, volleyball, mini-football and tennis training, a gym, halls for martial arts, boxing, choreography, yoga, Pilates, rhythmic and recreational gymnastics.

    In Zelenograd on Zarechnaya Street, an investor leased a 0.6 hectare plot of land for the construction of a sports and recreation complex as a result of an auction. As a result, a private sports complex with a swimming pool and specialized areas for recreational recreation was opened for local residents.

    In Novo-Peredelkino, the investor leased a land plot of 0.28 hectares in the area of the 11th microdistrict near Borovskoye Highway. The entrepreneur is building a multifunctional sports complex on it.

    Earlier Sergei Sobyanin opened The historic Lokomotiv stadium in Lublin after modernisation.

    The construction of social facilities in Moscow corresponds to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152309073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: OTC Markets Group Welcomes TDG Gold Corp. to OTCQX

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced TDG Gold Corp. (TSXV: TDG; OTCQX: TDGGF), a major mineral tenure holder in the historical Toodoggone District of north-central British Columbia, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. TDG Gold Corp. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink® market.

    TDG Gold Corp. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol “TDGGF.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

    Trading on the OTCQX Market offers companies efficient, cost-effective access to the U.S. capital markets. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

    TDG Gold Corp.’s CEO and Director, Fletcher Morgan, commented, “As TDG continues to grow, so too does our shareholder base. Trading on OTCQX will increase TDG’s visibility, liquidity and accessibility to our current and prospective U.S. and global shareholders.”

    About TDG Gold Corp.
    TDG is a major mineral tenure holder in the historical Toodoggone District of north-central British Columbia, Canada, with 100% ownership of ~50,000 hectares of brownfield and greenfield exploration ground.

    In 2023, TDG defined the 5.5 sq.km Greater Shasta-Newberry exploration target area (news release Jan 25, 2023) which is located directly adjacent to the gold-rich copper porphyry AuRORA1 discovery announced by Freeport McMoran Inc. and Amarc Resources Ltd. (news release Jan 17, 2025).

    In 2024, TDG identified new copper-gold target areas over an expanded footprint covering ~53 sq.km known as the ‘Baker Complex’ (news release Feb 28, 2024), including the North Quartz (news release Apr 02, 2024) and Trident (news release Mar 07, 2024) targets. In January 2025, TDG identified an additional porphyry copper +/- molybdenum target at Erebus located within the Bot project (news release Jan 17, 2025). In February 2025, TDG completed the Sofia acquisition, which includes porphyry copper +/- molybdenum +/- gold targets (ARIS Report 41231).

    TDG’s other projects include the former producing, gold-silver Shasta and gold-silver-copper Baker mines, which produced intermittently between 1981-2012, and the historical high-grade gold Mets developed prospect, all of which are road accessible, and combined have over 65,000 m of historical drilling. These projects have been advanced through compilation of historical data, new geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys and, at Shasta, 13,250 m of modern HQ drill testing of the known mineralization occurrences and their potential extensions. In 2025, TDG published an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for Shasta (news release Jan 08, 2025), which remains open at depth and along strike.

    About OTC Markets Group Inc.

    OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX® Best Market, OTCQB® Venture Market, and Pink® Open Market.

    Our OTC Link® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

    OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN, OTC Link NQB, and MOON ATS™ are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

    To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

    Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

    Media Contact:
    OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Questor Announces Award of $2.4MM Contract

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questor Technology Inc. (“Questor”, the “Company”), listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker QST, has secured a $2.4 million contract to supply clean combustion solutions in Iraq. This Middle East and North Africa (MENA) initiative aims to significantly reduce flaring and methane emissions. Notably, this is the second unit being supplied in the MENA region for the same client, a leading global exploration and production company renowned for its efforts in minimizing flaring and methane emissions associated with energy production.

    Iraq is the second-largest crude oil producer in OPEC and the sixth-largest total petroleum liquids producer globally, with production exceeding 4.4 million barrels per day. Questor’s clean combustion solution will be integrated into the Al Ratawi site to reduce emissions in line with Iraq’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) guidelines. Questor’s ISO 14034-certified clean combustion units are engineered to meet the highest global emissions standards, ensuring 99.99% combustion efficiency. These units are designed to handle complex pollutants, including sour gas, making them ideal for large-scale oil and gas processing facilities and refineries. Manufactured in Canada, Questor’s technology not only delivers significant cost savings in capital, fuel, and operations but also supports sustainable energy production. This latest contract underscores Questor’s expanding presence in the MENA region and its commitment to advancing environmental goals through innovative solutions.

    Questor is proud to partner with its clients to responsibly and sustainably produce energy globally. This purchase order highlights Questor’s reputation for delivering cost-effective, high-performance technology and highlights its expanding presence in global markets. As the company continues to grow, it remains dedicated to advancing sustainable energy infrastructure and supporting its clients in achieving their environmental goals.

    ABOUT QUESTOR TECHNOLOGY INC.

    Questor Technology Inc., incorporated in Canada under the Business Companies Act (Alberta) is an environmental emissions reduction technology company founded in 1994, with global operations. The Company is focused on clean air technologies that safely and cost effectively improve air quality, support energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions. The Company designs, manufactures and services high efficiency clean combustion systems that destroy harmful pollutants, including Methane, Hydrogen Sulfide gas, Volatile Organic Hydrocarbons, Hazardous Air Pollutants and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene) gases within waste gas streams at 99.99 percent efficiency per its ISO 14034 Certification. This enables its clients to meet emission regulations, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address community concerns and improve safety at industrial sites.

    The Company also has proprietary heat to power generation technology and is currently targeting new markets including landfill biogas, syngas, waste engine exhaust, geothermal and solar, cement plant waste heat in addition to a wide variety of oil and gas projects. The combination of Questor’s clean combustion and power generation technologies can help clients achieve net zero emission targets for minimal cost. The Company is also doing research and development on data solutions to deliver an integrated system that amalgamates all the emission detection data available to demonstrate a clear picture of the site’s emission profile.

    The Company’s common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “QST”. The address of the Company’s corporate and registered office is #1920, 707 – 8th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 1H5.

    QUESTOR TRADES ON THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE UNDER THE SYMBOL ‘QST’

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This document is not intended for dissemination or distribution in the United States.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Tariffs stir inflation fears in US but offer targeted industry gains, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Tariffs stir inflation fears in US but offer targeted industry gains, says GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    The imposition of steep US tariffs on imports is expected to weigh on household consumption and economic growth in the near-term, while offering limited relief to select domestic industries such as steel, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s Macroeconomic Outlook reveals that the US GDP growth is forecast to slow to 2.0% in 2025 and further to 1.9% in 2026, compared to 2.8% in 2024. Real household consumption expenditure is projected to grow at a slower pace of 2.2% in 2025, reflecting increased economic uncertainty and the inflationary impact of tariffs on consumer goods, particularly imported automobiles.

    Gayatri Ganpule, Economic Research Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The new tariffs introduced in early April 2025 have triggered a wave of market volatility and investor concern. The S&P 500 fell by 4.8% following the announcement, while the US dollar weakened. Although the tariffs aim to protect domestic manufacturing and reduce trade imbalances, they are likely to fuel inflation by increasing the cost of imported goods, notably vehicles and auto parts, which are essential household expenses.”

    The 25% tariff on foreign-manufactured automobiles is expected to directly contribute to a rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which could constrain the Federal Reserve’s ability to ease interest rates. This may result in prolonged higher borrowing costs, further pressuring consumer confidence and investment momentum. However, certain industries have seen positive impacts.

    The domestic steel sector, for example, has experienced a surge in benchmark hot-rolled coil prices, up more than 30% since January 2025, leading to stronger performance for firms like Nucor and Steel Dynamics. Moreover, the Congressional Budget Office anticipates $800 billion in customs revenue over the next decade.

    Ganpule concludes: “While the broad-based tariffs present significant economic risks, targeted measures have provided a lifeline to struggling industries. Striking the right balance between domestic industry protection and inflation management will be critical for sustaining long-term economic stability in the US.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Opening of the Space for collective work in the Advanced Engineering School of NSU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    On April 8, NSU opened a Collaborative Work Space for staff and students of the Advanced Engineering School. The new complex, located in the university building, will become a unique platform for scientific and educational initiatives that promote the development of engineering competencies.

    The key element of the Space are two fab labs: “Space Instrumentation” and “Chemical Synthesis”. The fab lab “Space Instrumentation” provides students with the opportunity to participate in the development and testing of small spacecraft for the federal project “Sphere” of the state corporation “Roscosmos”. It uses modern equipment for balancing and adjusting space devices.

    The Chemical Synthesis FabLab is aimed at student practice in the field of oligonucleotide synthesis and bioengineering. These modern opportunities give NSU undergraduates and students a chance to participate in solving real problems presented by industrial partners and gain valuable practical experience.

    The Space has a VR studio designed to visualize geological and geophysical research. Here, students will be able to test, debug projects, and practice their skills in controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using modern equipment.

    — All competence centers — there are six of them in our Advanced Engineering School today — they are aimed specifically at forming teams that are capable of developing, implementing, and realizing advanced tasks. And this is, in fact, the exclusivity of this Advanced Engineering School — this is the merit of the team that works here. The team that has assembled united employees of Novosibirsk University, representatives of scientific organizations of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, our industrial partners, including the largest corporations — Roscosmos, Rostec, Rosatom, Sibur Holding, Gazprom Neft and a number of other regional partners. All of them really closely monitor what is happening, but they do not just observe — they give specific tasks, and students of Novosibirsk University and students of other universities who have become participants in the Advanced Engineering School program successfully cope with their solution, — noted Vice-Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Irina Manuilova.

    In addition, the Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region spoke about some figures of the project:

    — Over the three years of work, 46 educational programs have been developed within the framework of the PIS, under which 648 students are currently studying. 830 specialists have received unique competencies in six areas of the NSU PIS within the framework of additional education. During this time, 2936 schoolchildren from the Novosibirsk Region and other regions who come here have gone through a variety of pre-professional project-based events — Olympiad tasks and tournaments. Over three years, more than a billion rubles of extra-budgetary funds have been attracted to scientific developments. The opening of new spaces once again confirms the desire to create an environment that facilitates the training of qualified engineering personnel.

    Director of NSU PIS Sergey Golovin spoke about the projects being implemented, additional education for schoolchildren and the current structure of NSU PIS and shared his impressions:

    — The space we are opening today is a very important step for us. We finally have our own home — a place where students can do their project work, where we can bring our partners and work here with pleasure ourselves.

    The demand for the PIS is very high, since two events took place before the opening: a delegation from the Sibur company arrived, and a meeting with a representative of the Roscosmos company took place. I really hope that the number of such events will increase. And through these events, we will involve more and more industrial partners in our interaction, – shared the director of the PIS NSU Sergey Golovin.

    The NSU PISH initiative is supported by the Novosibirsk Region Government, which promotes the development of youth engineering education and the creation of laboratories for talented students. Partnership with leading companies such as Rosatom, Roscosmos, Rostec, Sibur Holding and Gazprom Neft opens up broad prospects for professional growth and employment for NSU PISH students and postgraduates.

    The Advanced Engineering Schools Program, of which NSU PISH is a part, is aimed at implementing the Decree of the President of Russia and strategic initiatives for the development of engineering education in the country. By 2030, it is planned to increase the number of such schools to 100, transmitting the successful experience of existing schools and ensuring the continuity of educational activities, support for young talents.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Tech Developed for Home Health Monitoring  

    Source: NASA

    Even before we’re aware of heart trouble or related health issues, our bodies give off warning signs in the form of vibrations. Technology to detect these signals has ranged from electrodes and patches to watches. Now, an innovative wall-mounted technology is capable of monitoring vital signs. Advanced TeleSensors Inc. developed the Cardi/o Monitor with an exclusive license from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. 
    Over the course of five years, NASA engineers created a small, inexpensive, contactless device to measure vital signs, a challenging task partly because monitoring heart rate requires picking out motions of about one three-thousandth of an inch, which are easily swamped by other movement in the environment.  
    By the late 1990s, hardware and computing technology could meet the challenge, and the NASA JPL team created a prototype the size of a thick textbook. It would emit a radio beam toward a stationary person, working similarly to a radar, and algorithms differentiated cardiac and respiratory activity from the “noise” of other movements.  
    When Sajol Ghoshal, now CEO of Austin, Texas-based Advanced TeleSensors, participated in a demonstration of the prototype, he saw the potential for in-home monitoring. By then, developing an affordable device was possible due to the miniaturization of sensors and computing technology.  

    The Cardi/o Monitor is 3 inches square and mounts to a ceiling or wall. It can detect vital signs from up to 10 feet. Multiple devices can be scattered throughout a house, with a smartphone app controlling settings and displaying all data on a single dashboard. The algorithms NASA developed detect heartbeat and respiration, and the company added heart rate variability detection that indicates stress and sleep apnea.  
    If there’s an anomaly, such as a dramatic heart rate increase, an alert in the app calls attention to the situation. Up to six months of data is stored in a secure cloud, making it accessible to healthcare providers. This limits the need for regular in-person visits, which is particularly important for conditions such as infectious diseases, which can put medical professionals and other patients at risk.  
    Through the commercialization of this life-preserving technology, NASA is at the heart of advancing health solutions.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Connected Learning Ecosystems: Educators Gather to Empower Learners and Themselves

    Source: NASA

    Many educators would agree that despite working and communicating with dozens, even hundreds, of people each year, the role can feel isolating. Learners come and go, leaving educators to question: Was anything retained? Will they take this knowledge home? Will they share it at their after-school activities? How will it ultimately impact their lives and perspectives? What some educators may not fully realize is that they are not alone in their efforts. Their classroom or alternate education space is but one step along a learning pathway that winds through an entire network of educators. Learning pathways take many forms, but are most effective when each stop along the path builds upon what a learner has experienced during previous stops. These networks of educators, known as Connected Learning Ecosystems (CLEs), exist wherever learning takes place. Simply put, CLEs are made up of all the people involved at any point in a youth’s learning journey.
    With this in mind, the NASA Science Activation Program’s Learning Ecosystems Northeast (LENE) project has been working to connect and support the regional networks found throughout Maine and the Northeastern United States, with a shared focus on Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) education. This inspiring community includes classroom teachers, librarians, 4-H staff, and land trust educators, to name a few, all collaborating to advance education about our changing planet and improve data literacy across a variety of learning environments.
    In support of these regional networks, LENE hosts a Connected Learning Ecosystems Gathering twice each year, a multi-day event designed to unite educators who have these shared STEM education goals. These gatherings provide opportunities to reflect on past successes and plan future projects, ultimately benefiting not just the educators, but every learner they reach. They also help strengthen and amplify the lasting and positive impact these educators have on the lives of the youth they support.
    This year’s Gathering took place in late February in Orono, ME at the University of Maine (a LENE project partner). The event featured hands-on science activities adaptable to various learning spaces, dedicated reflection time for educators, and collaborative planning sessions to design cross-context learning opportunities for local youth. Participants engaged with NASA’s Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program, supported by Jen Bourgeault (GLOBE US Country Coordinator) and Haley Wicklein (GLOBE Assistant US Country Coordinator), who facilitated field data collection and program exploration. NASA Subject Matter Expert Shawn Laatsch from UMaine’s Versant Planetarium led an immersive evening show on the molecular world inside the human body and also previewed other potential field trip shows for students. One highlight of the Gathering was a presentation on climate science and ice core collection by experts Sean Birkel and Daniel Dixon from UMaine’s Climate Change Institute. Educators also participated in a hands-on activity using model ice cores designed by project partner UMaine 4-H. Rounding out the two-day event were deep-dive sessions into various connected learning projects, where educators shared their insights, from idea formation to project execution and reflection.
    One educator shared about their experience: “I just want the leadership team to know how grateful I am to be part of this community. As a veteran teacher of 28 years, this is by far the BEST workshop I have ever attended. The passion for evidence-based science among this group is incredible. I feel seen and connected in ways that other workshops have never made possible. I will definitely be a lifelong member and will be bringing more people to CLE workshops. Thank you for making this meaningful and valuable.”
    Another educator shared, “During the gathering, I had the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and make new connections within [my region]. I engaged in insightful conversations with several individuals, discussing shared interests in environmental education, science literacy, and place-based learning…. From these connections, I hope to foster new collaborations that enhance environmental literacy opportunities for students and communities. By working together, I believe we can create interdisciplinary programs that bridge science, sustainability, and civic engagement in meaningful ways.”
    Despite the support of regional groups, feelings of isolation persist, particularly in rural areas. These biannual gatherings serve as powerful reminders that this work is happening statewide, and that Connected Learning Ecosystems help establish and strengthen a network to bridge the distance between educators.
    These Gatherings are part of ongoing programming organized by Learning Ecosystems Northeast, based at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, that fosters peer communities across the Northeast through which teachers, librarians, and out-of-school educators can collaborate to expand opportunities for youth to engage in data-driven climate investigations and integrate in- and out-of-school learning.
    The Learning Ecosystems Northeast project is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AB94A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about Learning Ecosystems Northeast: https://www.learningecosystemsnortheast.org/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS RELEASE: HAWAIʻI CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION AND STATEWIDE PARTNERS PROMOTE EQUAL HOUSING AT APRIL CONFERENCE

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    NEWS RELEASE: HAWAIʻI CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION AND STATEWIDE PARTNERS PROMOTE EQUAL HOUSING AT APRIL CONFERENCE

    Posted on Apr 7, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    HAWAIʻI CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION

    KOMIKINA PONO KĪWILA O HAWAIʻI

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

    MARCUS KAWATACHI

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

     

     

    HAWAIʻI CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION AND STATEWIDE PARTNERS PROMOTE EQUAL HOUSING AT APRIL CONFERENCE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 7, 2025

    HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission (HCRC) and agencies statewide are hosting a free Fair Housing Month Conference on April 24, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to promote awareness and understanding of fair housing laws. The event will provide key insights on Hawaiʻi’s fair housing protections, best practices for housing professionals, and resources for tenants and property owners.

    “Fair housing is more than a legal obligation—it is essential to fostering inclusive communities,” said HCRC Executive Director Marcus Kawatachi. “This conference is an opportunity to educate the public and ensure that everyone in Hawaiʻi has equal access to housing, free from discrimination.”

    Hawaiʻi’s fair housing law, established in 1967 as Act 103 and now codified as Chapter 515 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, prohibits housing discrimination based on race, sex (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientation, color, religion, marital status, familial status, ancestry, disability, age, or HIV status. The law aligns with the federal Fair Housing Act and remains a cornerstone of the state’s civil rights protections.

    HCRC works alongside the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority, Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Department of Hawaiian Homelands, county housing agencies and the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi to uphold these protections and address fair housing violations.

    In recognition of these ongoing efforts, Governor Josh Green, M.D., has proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month in Hawaiʻi, encouraging residents, businesses and organizations to uphold the principles of equal housing opportunity.

    For more information, contact the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission at 808-586-8636.

    # # #

    Equal Opportunity Employer/Program

    Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

    TDD/TTY Dial 711 then ask for 808-586-8842

    View DLIR news releases: http://labor.hawaii.gov/blog/category/news/

    Media Contact:

    Marcus Kawatachi

    Executive Director

    Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission

    Phone: 808-586-8636

    Email: [email protected]

    Website: http://labor.hawaii.gov/hcrc

    Chavonnie Ramos

    Public Information Officer

    Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

    Phone: 808-586-9720

    Email: [email protected]

    Website: http://labor.hawaii.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHHL AWARDS NEARLY 100 TURNKEY HOMES IN WAIKAPŪ, MAUI

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DHHL AWARDS NEARLY 100 TURNKEY HOMES IN WAIKAPŪ, MAUI

    Posted on Apr 7, 2025 in Featured, Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI 

    DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS

    KA ʻOIHANA ʻĀINA HOʻOPULAPULA HAWAIʻI

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA 

    KALI WATSON

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE 

    KATIE L. LAMBERT

    DEPUTY DIRECTOR

    KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE

    DHHL AWARDS NEARLY 100 TURNKEY HOMES IN WAIKAPŪ, MAUI

    Development of Phase II to Start in May 2025; Families to Move In Early 2026

     

    Governor Josh Green, M.D., state and county leaders greet and congratulate Puʻuhona Phase II awardees.

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 7, 2025

    KAHULUI, MAUI – Within the Pilina Building at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, tables decked with vibrant purple orchid lei lay at the ready, while the melodic sounds of leo kiʻekiʻe and the distinct chatter of excitement signaled the start of a transformational day for which many have waited decades.

    On Saturday, April 5, 2025, nearly 300 beneficiaries and their ʻohana eagerly awaited the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ (DHHL) Puʻuhona Phase II lot selection where 91 turnkey homes were awarded for Maui’s newest homestead community in Waikapū.

    “The wait for a home should never be measured in decades and these 91 families have endured against all odds,” said Governor Josh Green, M.D. “We have a responsibility to them, and to every Native Hawaiian on the waitlist to move faster, build smarter and deliver on the promise of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.”

    For almost four hours, applicants’ names were announced in the order they applied; starting with those from the late 1980s. As awardees took their places in line to select their lots, some considered the number of bedrooms they’d need for their growing families; others considered the lots’ locations.

    Regardless of their selection, everyone was grateful for a piece of land to call home.

    “This project is not just about building homes, it’s about rebuilding ancestral connections, creating opportunities, and empowering generations to thrive on the ʻāina,” said DHHL Director Kali Watson. “Prince Kūhiō’s vision was clear – to empower Native Hawaiians through land. Through the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, he worked to return the lands to Native Hawaiians, fostering a sense of pride, identity, and belonging. We walk that same path today, guided by his vision.”

    The awarding of homes marks progress in the development of the department’s first Act 279 project. Act 279 allocated a historic $600 million in general funds to the DHHL in 2022 to specifically tackle its long-standing waitlist.

    In June of 2024, 52 homes were offered as part of Puʻuhona Phase I making it the first such award on the Valley Isle in 17 years. Phase I families are expected to move into their homes this summer.

    Construction on Phase II is set to begin in May of this year. The first homes are scheduled for completion in February 2026.

    Phase II offered 91 homes of two- to five bedrooms. Homes range in price from $411,422 to $699,000.

    Puʻuhona: Maui’s Newest Homestead Community

    Puʻuhona is the name of the first of four puʻu, or hills, that travel up to Hanaʻula, Waikapū’s highest peak. Named in likely reference to the native tree, hona was highly valued for the fibers found in its inner bark, which were used to craft rope and cordage for fishnets. The creation and intertwining of these materials represent the unity and growth of a community as individual strands come together to form a stronger bond.

    “Every day we strive to build balanced, resilient communities, and Puʻuhona is no exception,” said Dowling Company president and developer, Everett Dowling. “The needs of our Native Hawaiian community are at the forefront in the development of each homestead community, and we will continue to build until everyone on the waitlist has a house of their own.”

    The department acquired the roughly 47-acre parcel through a land transfer with the Dowling Company, Inc. in exchange for affordable housing credits from the county of Maui.

    Puʻuhona will comprise 137 turnkey homes and 24 improved vacant lots: each lot averaging 7,500 square feet in size. Groundwork on the project began in May 2023.

    More to Come on Maui

    The DHHL has six homestead projects in development on the island of Maui.

    This includes:

    • Honokōwai: 50 lots
    • Leialiʻi 1B: 181 lots
    • Wailuku single-family: 207 lots
    • Waiehu mauka: 404 lots
    • Kamalani: 400 lots
    • Kēōkea-Waiohuli: 404 lots

    “To our ‘ohana: please don’t lose hope. The department has more than 1,600 units coming to the island of Maui and we look forward to the opportunity to award leases later this year,” Watson added. “With the backing of Governor Green, our department will explore innovative ways to get our people into the homes they rightfully deserve.”

    To learn more about DHHL’s upcoming Maui projects, click here.

    Click here to download visuals, soundbites.

    B-ROLL (3:53)

    SOUNDBITES

    Tina Leikaha, Puʻuhona awardee, Kahului resident

    (:08 seconds)

    “I’m so excited, I was nervous, being patient, but when they called my name, I was like, oh my gosh, I just said chee hoo.” 

    (:12 seconds)

    “At least my kids can come home now, we have them in the mainland, some of them live in Vegas, Washington, Oregon, so now they can come home, whenever they like, we have a home for them.” 

    Sheldean Dudoit, Puʻuhona awardee, Makawao resident

    (:19 seconds)

    “I feel relieved now being able to call a place home, not only for me but for my kids, knowing that I’ve been through a lot of obstacles in my life but now I see the end and there’s the bright light at the end of the tunnel.”

    (:18 seconds)

    “I really thought like aww man, I was giving up hope, and my sister was like, no, you’re going to get something, you’re going to get something, just hang in there, so I just had to keep the faith, and it all paid off.”

    # # #

     

    About the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands:

    The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands carries out Prince Jonah Kūhiō  Kalanianaʻole’s vision of rehabilitating native Hawaiians by returning them to the land. Established by U.S. Congress in 1921 with the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the Hawaiian homesteading program run by DHHL includes management of more than 200,000 acres of land statewide with the specific purpose of developing and delivering homesteading.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis proclaims California Library Week 2025

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 7, 2025

    Sacramento, California – Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis today issued a proclamation declaring April 6 to April 12, 2025 as California Library Week.

    The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below:

    PROCLAMATION

    During National Library Week, we celebrate the essential services, resources, and opportunities that libraries and library workers provide for all Californians. Free and open to all, each of our 1,127 public libraries is a community hub for education and lifelong learning, health and wellness, civic engagement, and workforce and economic development.

    Libraries are gateways not just to learning but to new opportunities and ideas. Our state’s public libraries provide hundreds of thousands of programs each year and continually evolve and adapt to the needs of all Californians. They offer online tutoring, adult literacy programs, summer reading, test prep, resources for science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM), early learning for infants and toddlers, meals for children, and services for job seekers.

    Libraries are community centers and shelters, serving as heating and cooling centers, technology and communication providers, and safe places during emergencies. They provide free Wi-Fi and offer collaborative workspaces, career centers, quiet spaces for studying, and community gardens.

    But the heart and soul of California’s libraries are the workers who help people of all ages and all backgrounds access the resources, programs, and services they need and serve as a key source for trusted information. Librarians help us start new chapters at every stage of our lives, from showing us the magic of reading as children to teaching us new skills in our golden years, with expanded digital access offering more opportunities than ever before.

    School and library book challenges have been on the rise for some time, many targeting LGBTQ+ authors and writers of color. But now libraries themselves – and their critical programs and supports – are under attack, too. Now more than ever, we must celebrate and support the vital role that libraries, and all that they offer, play in keeping Californians informed and supported. These institutions house millions of books and materials that reflect the breadth of our rich diversity and defend the essential role of public libraries in protecting intellectual freedom.

    In California, we know libraries hold more than books — they are the heart of our communities. During National Library Week, we honor our libraries and the dedicated library workers who offer endless possibilities to enrich the lives of Californians across the state.

    NOW THEREFORE I, ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Acting Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim proclaim April 6 to April 12, 2025 as “California Library Week.”

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 3rd day of April 2025.

    ELENI KOUNALAKIS

    Acting Governor of California

    ATTEST:

    SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.

    Secretary of State

    Recent news

    Apr 7, 2025

    News What you need to know: CAL FIRE is launching a new campaign supporting Californians to take steps now – including home hardening and defensible space – to prepare for peak fire season. SACRAMENTO – “Prepare your home and property! Start at the house and work your…

    Apr 7, 2025

    News What you need to know: As National Library Week begins, California is suing the Trump administration after millions of dollars in grants to the state’s libraries were terminated abruptly when the federal administration illegally dismantled a federal agency….

    Apr 5, 2025

    News Family farmers share how these cuts will harm their businesses and communities What you need to know: Governor Newsom sent a letter of appeal today to the Department of Agriculture asking for a reversal of the termination of $47 million meant to support…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: With peak fire season on horizon, California launches statewide wildfire preparedness campaign

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 7, 2025

    What you need to know: CAL FIRE is launching a new campaign supporting Californians to take steps now – including home hardening and defensible space – to prepare for peak fire season.

    SACRAMENTO – “Prepare your home and property! Start at the house and work your way out.” Millions of Californians will soon see that message as the state launches a new wildfire preparedness campaign to support preparation efforts for fire season.

    As California heads into peak wildfire season, CAL FIRE is urging residents across the state to take proactive steps now to protect their homes and communities. Today’s campaign launch follows Governor Newsom’s action last month proclaiming a state of emergency to fast-track critical projects protecting communities from wildfire, ahead of peak fire season. 

    2025 has already seen an unprecedented start to the year with January’s Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles. These fires rank as the second and third most destructive in California’s history, underpinning the importance of acting now to prepare one’s family, property, and community for wildfire.

    The Los Angeles fires are a stark reminder of the year-round threat wildfire poses for our communities. As we head into peak fire season, we’re ramping up efforts to communicate with those in areas where preparedness measures like home hardening and defensible space can save lives. Now is the time to prepare your home and property.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    This year’s campaign emphasizes two essential strategies in wildfire preparedness: home hardening and defensible space. Now through late May residents across the state will see digital and social media advertising, posters and materials at hardware and convenience stores, and messaging at gas pumps and other popular locations in Wildland Urban Interface communities. Outreach will be delivered in both English and Spanish to reach as many Californians as possible.

    Creating a five foot buffer zone of defensible space, known as Zone 0, and taking steps to harden your home has been scientifically proven to be the most effective way to increase the likelihood of your home surviving a wildfire.

    Governor Newsom has invested unprecedented resources into wildfire response and prevention, including nearly doubling CAL FIRE’s budget to $4 billion and investing 10x the amount than when the Governor took office for forest and land management. The state has also created the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet, increased the use of prescribed burns, and implemented new technologies including AI and satellite technology to fight fires.

    Key tips to prepare for wildfire 

    Home hardening:

    • Install or upgrade to fire-resistant materials on roofs, vents, siding, windows, and decks.
    • Clear debris from roofs, gutters, vents, and under decks.
    • Seal all cracks and openings larger than 1/8 inch to prevent embers from entering the home.

    Defensible space:

    • Maintain a 5-foot ember-resistant zone immediately around the home—no flammable vegetation or materials.
    • Maintain 100 feet of defensible space, including trimming trees, cutting grasses, and removing dead vegetation.
    • Store combustible items (firewood, propane tanks, vehicles) at least 30 feet away from structures.

    To make preparation easier, CAL FIRE offers the firePLANNER tool at ReadyForWildfire.org, where residents can:

    • Create a custom wildfire readiness plan.
    • Access checklists, safety tips, and alerts.
    • Stay informed with real-time wildfire and evacuation updates.

    Now is the time to act. Start at the house and work your way out. Learn more at ReadyForWildfire.org. 

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Apr 7, 2025

    News What you need to know: As National Library Week begins, California is suing the Trump administration after millions of dollars in grants to the state’s libraries were terminated abruptly when the federal administration illegally dismantled a federal agency….

    Apr 5, 2025

    News Family farmers share how these cuts will harm their businesses and communities What you need to know: Governor Newsom sent a letter of appeal today to the Department of Agriculture asking for a reversal of the termination of $47 million meant to support…

    Apr 5, 2025

    News California Just a Nevada-Sized Economy Away from Overtaking Germany and Japan as World’s No. 3 Economy— Bloomberg News SACRAMENTO — As President Trump threatens the U.S. economy with reckless tariffs and rising uncertainty, Governor Gavin Newsom announced new…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California sues Trump administration after funding for critical library services threatened

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 7, 2025

    What you need to know: As National Library Week begins, California is suing the Trump administration after millions of dollars in grants to the state’s libraries were terminated abruptly when the federal administration illegally dismantled a federal agency.

    Sacramento, California – As National Library Week begins, Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration after millions of dollars in grants to state libraries were terminated abruptly through the Trump administration’s efforts to illegally shutter the agency that administers them. This threatens federal funding to California libraries that support library staff and critical library programs, including literacy and language tutoring and summer reading and activity programs.

    In California, we know libraries hold more than books. Libraries, and librarians, stand at the crossroads of opportunity and information, offering countless programs and supports for everyone in the community, from career help to free meals for children. An attack on libraries is an attack on communities – and California is fighting back.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    “Our libraries are hubs for learning, civic engagement, and community. They provide important services to Californians, from kids summer reading and meal programs, to programs that help families, seniors, and veterans navigate an increasingly digital world,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “On Friday, we sued the Trump Administration for unlawfully attempting to shutter the Institute of Museum and Library Services—a federal agency that supports libraries across the nation. This National Library Week, we recognize the essential role that libraries play in our communities and to preserve our rich cultural heritage, and vow to continue the fight to ensure that all Californians can access the public services libraries provide our communities every day.”

    Executive Order No. 14238 continues the Trump administration’s unlawful attack on several Congressionally-established agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which supports educational and cultural institutions and programs across the country. Through IMLS’s Grants to States Program, the California State Library received $15.7 million in federal funding to support statewide library programs and staffing – less than 40 cents per Californian. Over 21 percent of that funding has yet to be sent to California. 

    IMLS funds support numerous programs that serve all Californians – especially lower-income families, seniors, and veterans. These funds also help expand access to the Career Online High School program that enables adults to earn their high school diplomas through local libraries, and the Braille and Talking Book Library that ensures that visually impaired Californians have free access to books in accessible formats. If the Order stands, all functions and staff positions paid for with IMLS funding will be at risk. 

    Attorney General Bonta joined the lawsuit alongside the attorneys general of New York, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. 

    This is California’s 12th lawsuit against the Trump administration. A copy of the lawsuit is available here.

    More on California’s State Library

    With IMLS funding, the State Library works with the 1,127 libraries across the state to provide high-quality literacy and summer programs, high-speed broadband, disaster preparedness, early learning, homework help, teen services, career resources, and collections. It supports transparency, providing free and open access to government information through the Federal and State Depository Library Programs. The State Library also maintains and expands the Braille and Talking Book Library, providing audio and braille books, magazines, and descriptive videos to blind and print disabled Californians. 

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Apr 5, 2025

    News Family farmers share how these cuts will harm their businesses and communities What you need to know: Governor Newsom sent a letter of appeal today to the Department of Agriculture asking for a reversal of the termination of $47 million meant to support…

    Apr 5, 2025

    News California Just a Nevada-Sized Economy Away from Overtaking Germany and Japan as World’s No. 3 Economy— Bloomberg News SACRAMENTO — As President Trump threatens the U.S. economy with reckless tariffs and rising uncertainty, Governor Gavin Newsom announced new…

    Apr 4, 2025

    News “California is not Washington, D.C.” What you need to know:As President Trump’s tariffs take effect, Governor Gavin Newsom is pursuing new strategic partnerships with international trading partners while calling for California-made products to be excluded from…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Phillips 66 Files Definitive Proxy Statement and Issues Letter to Shareholders

    Source: Phillips

    Highlights Results of Transformative Strategy and Path to Future Value Creation
    Demonstrates Elliott’s Thesis is Based on Flawed Assumptions and Changes Would be Destructive to Long-Term Shareholder Value
    Urges Shareholders to Vote “FOR” ONLY Phillips 66’s Nominees on the WHITE Proxy Card

    HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) today announced that it has filed its definitive proxy materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 21, 2025. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 4, 2025 are entitled to vote at the meeting.
    In addition, the Board wrote a letter to shareholders that highlights valuable information to make an informed voting decision, including:
    The consistent, compelling value Phillips 66 delivers for its shareholders;
    The bold steps Phillips 66 has taken to drive shareholder value under Mark Lashier’s leadership;
    Progress made across business areas and future actions that will drive continued outperformance;
    Phillips 66’s track record of allocating capital effectively and prioritizing consistent shareholder returns across economic and industry cycles; and
    How Elliott’s misguided proposals will disrupt Phillips 66’s momentum by pushing for irreversible change that will destroy shareholder value.
    Phillips 66 also published a video on Phillips66Delivers.com, which reiterates Phillips 66’s differentiated platform, transformative strategy, approach to capital allocation and history of engagement with Elliott Investment Management (“Elliott”).
    The full text of the Board’s letter to shareholders follows:
    Dear Fellow Shareholders,
    Thank you for your investment in Phillips 66 and your continued support.
    The Board is committed to protecting your investment and focused on sustainable long-term value creation. For twelve years, we reliably grew our dividend and consistently returned capital to shareholders, delivering more than $43 billion1 in cumulative shareholder distributions.
    Phillips 66’s Strategy Delivers Consistent and Compelling Long-Term Value
    Our ability to continue to deliver long-term value for you is on the line – and your vote at our 2025 Annual Meeting is very important to us.
    You face an important choice regarding your Phillips 66 investment:
    On one side isa Board and management team implementing a clear transformative strategy that has delivered results. The strategy is in its early stages and has significant room to deliver further value.
    On the other side isan activist hedge fund pushing an aggressive short-term agenda– including a rushed breakup of our Company based on flawed analysis – that would introduce unnecessary risk and disruption, slow our momentum and jeopardize your invested capital and long-term returns.
    We do not dismiss Elliott’s ideas – in fact, we’ve welcomed their ideas throughout our entire engagement with them. We encourage healthy debate in the board room and that spirit extends to how we incorporate shareholder feedback. We care about finding the right path to drive the highest value for your investment.
    Given our assessment of where Phillips 66 is in its strategy, current market conditions and specific costs and risks related to Elliott’s thesis, we believe pursuing their ideas puts your investment at risk.
    Elliott continues to use its activist playbook to avoid collaboration, cloud the discussion and drive a false narrative to promote their short-term agenda. Meanwhile, Phillips 66’s Board and management team are taking bold steps to drive shareholder value.
    Phillips 66 is in the Early Innings of a Deliberate Transformation
    Under CEO Mark Lashier’s leadership since July 2022, Phillips 66 has made a series of bold decisions for shareholders, including:
    Returning $13.6 billion to shareholders;1
    Nearly doubling EBITDA contributions from our Midstream segment from 2021 levels;
    Divesting a total of $3.5 billion in assets;
    Announcing plans to cease operations at our Los Angeles refinery; and
    Fulfilling our commitment to substantially reduce controllable costs.
    These are significant actions where the benefits to shareholders are just starting to be realized. Since Mark became CEO, we have delivered strong total shareholder returns, significantly outperforming a weighted average of our proxy peers2 – 67%3 vs 42%3.
    Phillips 66’s Strategy and Current Initiatives are Built for Consistent Returns While Providing Shareholders with Meaningful Upside
    Elliott wants a quick win by breaking up the Company, based on inflated and unrealistic assumptions. As we continue to execute our strategy, we are confident we will continue to deliver outperformance for our shareholders.
    The path to additional shareholder value is in the ongoing efforts across our business, including:
    Phillips 66 has a track record of allocating capital efficiently and generating high returns on invested capital. Since 2015, we have delivered Return on Capital Employed (“ROCE”)4 of 11%, outperforming the weighted average of our proxy peers. We achieved this by being highly selective when deciding where to deploy our capital within the business. This proven and disciplined approach to capital allocation will help deliver value for our shareholders.
    Since our formation in 2012, we have returned more than $43 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases1. We have grown our dividend at a 15% Compound Annual Growth Rate (“CAGR”). The dividend we pay to our shareholders has grown every single year since we have been a publicly traded company.
    So, What is at Risk with Elliott’s Proposals?
    Elliott seeks rapid, irreversible change in pursuit of an unrealistic thesis – and risks halting the momentum on our long-term value-creating strategic plan.
    Elliott’s thesis jeopardizes shareholders’ realization of value from our long-term strategy.
    Their thesis is inherently based on short-term market fluctuations, aspirational valuations and unrealistic assumptions.
    Elliott’s analysis of a potential spin of the midstream business understates one-time costsand ongoing dis-synergies.
    Their analysis of a potential sale of the midstream business unrealistically asserts that cash buyers exist at a $50 billion price tag and would pay for 100% of synergies, both of which are highly unlikely. In addition, tax leakage costs could be as high as $10 billion.
    Elliott’s analysis notably excludes external factors, such as the timing risk of valuations in commodity businesses, which can significantly impact transactions in our industry.
    The Board is committed to thoroughly evaluating Phillips 66’s portfolio to maximize long-term shareholder value. We debate these topics rigorously and always carefully review all options, but we will not favor short-term decision making under the pressure of one shareholder at the expense of all others.
    To Sum it All Up: Long-Term Value Creation is Phillips 66’s North Star
    Phillips 66 is executing a disciplined strategy that continues to deliver tangible results and has significant room to drive further shareholder value. Our strong track record of financial performance, operational excellence and shareholder returns underscores our ability to successfully navigate industry cycles. We are well positioned to continue building on these successes to provide you with consistent and compelling long-term returns.
    We urge you to support Phillips 66 at the 2025 Annual Meeting. Your investment is best served by having a Board focused on creating reliable value, both now and in the future.
    We unanimously recommend you vote “FOR” ONLY Phillips 66’s nominees on the WHITE proxy card.
    Thank you for your continued support.
    Sincerely,
    The Phillips 66 Board of Directors

    _________________________________________

    1

    Shareholder distribution through dividends paid on common stock and repurchases of common stock.

    2

    Calculated as the weighted average of Refining (CVI, DINO, DK, MPC, PBF, VLO), Midstream (OKE, TRGP, WMB), and Chemicals (DOW, LYB, WLK) Performance Proxy Peers’ TSR based on the weighting of consensus NTM EBITDA estimates for PSX’s segments.

    3

    Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) from June 30, 2022 to March 31, 2025

    4

    Non-GAAP financial measure. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measure can be found here.

    5

    Excludes adjusted turnaround expenses. Non-GAAP financial measure. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measure can be found here.

    About Phillips 66
    Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) is a leading integrated downstream energy provider that manufactures, transports and markets products that drive the global economy. The company’s portfolio includes Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, Marketing and Specialties, and Renewable Fuels businesses. Headquartered in Houston, Phillips 66 has employees around the globe who are committed to safely and reliably providing energy and improving lives while pursuing a lower-carbon future. For more information, visit phillips66.com or follow @Phillips66Co on LinkedIn.
    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws relating to Phillips 66’s operations, strategy and performance. Words such as “anticipated,” “committed,” “estimated,” “expected,” “planned,” “scheduled,” “targeted,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “will,” “would,” “objective,” “goal,” “project,” “efforts,” “strategies” and similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes generally indicate forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on management’s expectations, estimates and projections as of the date they are made. These statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, and you should not unduly rely on them as they involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include: changes in governmental policies or laws that relate to our operations, including regulations that seek to limit or restrict refining, marketing and midstream operations or regulate profits, pricing, or taxation of our products or feedstocks, or other regulations that restrict feedstock imports or product exports; our ability to timely obtain or maintain permits necessary for projects; fluctuations in NGL, crude oil, refined petroleum, renewable fuels and natural gas prices, and refining, marketing and petrochemical margins; the effects of any widespread public health crisis and its negative impact on commercial activity and demand for refined petroleum or renewable fuels products; changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely affect programs including the renewable fuel standards program, low carbon fuel standards and tax credits for renewable fuels; potential liability from pending or future litigation; liability for remedial actions, including removal and reclamation obligations under existing or future environmental regulations; unexpected changes in costs for constructing, modifying or operating our facilities; our ability to successfully complete, or any material delay in the completion of, any asset disposition, acquisition, shutdown or conversion that we have announced or may pursue, including receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals or permits related thereto; unexpected difficulties in manufacturing, refining or transporting our products; the level and success of drilling and production volumes around our midstream assets; risks and uncertainties with respect to the actions of actual or potential competitive suppliers and transporters of refined petroleum products, renewable fuels or specialty products; lack of, or disruptions in, adequate and reliable transportation for our products; failure to complete construction of capital projects on time or within budget; our ability to comply with governmental regulations or make capital expenditures to maintain compliance with laws; limited access to capital or significantly higher cost of capital related to illiquidity or uncertainty in the domestic or international financial markets, which may also impact our ability to repurchase shares and declare and pay dividends; potential disruption of our operations due to accidents, weather events, including as a result of climate change, acts of terrorism or cyberattacks; general domestic and international economic and political developments, including armed hostilities (such as the Russia-Ukraine war), expropriation of assets, and other diplomatic developments; international monetary conditions and exchange controls; changes in estimates or projections used to assess fair value of intangible assets, goodwill and property and equipment and/or strategic decisions with respect to our asset portfolio that cause impairment charges; investments required, or reduced demand for products, as a result of environmental rules and regulations; changes in tax, environmental and other laws and regulations (including alternative energy mandates); political and societal concerns about climate change that could result in changes to our business or increase expenditures, including litigation-related expenses; the operation, financing and distribution decisions of equity affiliates we do not control; and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Phillips 66’s businesses generally as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Phillips 66 is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
    Additional Information
    On April 8, 2025, Phillips 66 filed a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”) and accompanying WHITE proxy card with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”) and its solicitation of proxies for Phillips 66’s director nominees and for other matters to be voted on. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that Phillips 66 has filed or may file with the SEC in connection with any solicitation by Phillips 66. PHILLIPS 66 SHAREHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (AND ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ACCOMPANYING WHITE PROXY CARD AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT SOLICITATION MATERIALS FILED WITH THE SEC AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Proxy Statement, any amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement and other documents (including the WHITE proxy card) filed by Phillips 66 with the SEC without charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by Phillips 66 with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge at Phillips 66’s investor relations website at https://investor.phillips66.com or upon written request sent to Phillips 66, 2331 CityWest Boulevard, Houston, TX 77042, Attention: Investor Relations.
    Certain Information Regarding Participants
    Phillips 66, its directors, its director nominees and certain of its executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in connection with the solicitation of proxies from Phillips 66 shareholders in connection with the matters to be considered at the 2025 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the names of such persons and their respective interests in Phillips 66, by securities holdings or otherwise, is available in the Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 8, 2025, including in the sections captioned “Beneficial Ownership of Phillips 66 Securities” and “Appendix C: Supplemental Information Regarding Participants in the Solicitation.” To the extent that Phillips 66’s directors and executive officers who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation have acquired or disposed of securities holdings since the applicable “as of” date disclosed in the Proxy Statement, such transactions have been or will be reflected on Statements of Changes in Ownership of Securities on Form 4 or Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3 filed with the SEC. These documents are or will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
    Non-GAAP Measures — This letter includes non-GAAP financial measures, including, “adjusted EBITDA,” “refining adjusted controllable costs,” and “return on capital employed.” These are non-GAAP financial measures that are included to help facilitate comparisons of operating performance across periods and to help facilitate comparisons with other companies in our industry. Where applicable, these measures exclude items that do not reflect the core operating results of our businesses in the current period or other adjustments to reflect how management analyzes results. Click here to find reconciliations to, or further discussion of, the most comparable GAAP financial measures.
    This letter also includes forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure estimates such as, but not limited to “adjusted EBITDA,” “controllable costs” and “refining adjusted controllable costs,” which, as used in certain places herein, are forward looking non-GAAP financial measures. These forward-looking estimates or targets depend on future levels of revenues and/or expenses, including amounts that could be attributable to non-controlling interests or related joint ventures, which are not reasonably estimable at this time. Accordingly, reconciliations of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest GAAP financial measure cannot be provided without unreasonable effort. Below are definitions of these non-GAAP measures and identification of the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
    EBITDA is defined as estimated net income plus estimated net interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as estimated EBITDA plus the proportional share of selected equity affiliates’ estimated net interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization less the portion of estimated adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests. Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the consolidated company and income before income taxes is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for operating segments. Refining adjusted controllable cost is the sum of operating and SG&A expenses for our Refining segment, plus our proportional share of operating and SG&A expenses of two refining equity affiliates that are reflected in equity earnings of affiliates. The per barrel amounts are based on total processed inputs, including our proportional share of processed inputs of an equity affiliate, for the respective period.
    References in this letter to shareholder distributions and returns to shareholders refer to the sum of dividends paid to Phillips 66 stockholders and proceeds used by Phillips 66 to repurchase shares of its common stock. References to run-rate cost savings or run-rate business transformation savings, include cost savings and references to run-rate synergies include cost savings and other benefits that will be captured in the sales and other operating revenues impacting gross margin; purchased crude oil and products costs impacting gross margin; operating expenses; selling, general and administrative expenses; and equity in earnings of affiliates lines on our consolidated statement of income when realized. References to run-rate sustaining capital savings include savings that will be captured in the capital expenditures and investments on our consolidated statement of cash flows when realized. References to run-rate savings represent the sum of run-rate cost savings and run-rate sustaining capital savings. References in this letter to “synergies” are supported by management’s estimates and assumptions. These estimates are derived from the Company’s internal projections and other relevant data. However, because these synergies are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), they cannot be directly reconciled to GAAP measures. The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures provide valuable insight into optimization benefits, but cautions that such synergies may not be realized in full or at all.
    Basis of Presentation – Effective April 1, 2024, we changed the internal financial information reviewed by our chief executive officer to evaluate performance and allocate resources to our operating segments. This included changes in the composition of our operating segments, as well as measurement changes for certain activities between our operating segments. The primary effects of this realignment included establishment of a Renewable Fuels operating segment, which includes renewable fuels activities and assets historically reported in our Refining, Marketing and Specialties (M&S), and Midstream segments; change in method of allocating results for certain Gulf Coast distillate export activities from our M&S segment to our Refining segment; reclassification of certain crude oil and international clean products trading activities between our M&S segment and our Refining segment; and change in reporting of our investment in NOVONIX from our Midstream segment to Corporate and Other. Accordingly, prior period results have been recast for comparability.

    Source: Phillips 66

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales revolutionizes Inflight Entertainment (IFE) with 360Stream Live TV and innovative Near-Live highlights

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales revolutionizes Inflight Entertainment (IFE) with 360Stream Live TV and innovative Near-Live highlights

    • Thales revolutionizes inflight TV with 360Stream – the industry’s first and only event-based programming and DVR (Digital Video Recording) capability that redefines watching TV at 40,000 feet.
    • Thales’s 360Stream delivers powerful Live TV across mixed fleets working on any IFE system and any connectivity provider, with an industry-first service delivering Near-Live news & sports highlights fleet-wide within an hour.
    • Live TV and Near-Live services are now flying with BBC News, CNN, and EuroNews, among much more.

    Thales launches 360Stream, the industry’s first and only live, event-based programming solution for inflight entertainment (IFE). 360Stream delivers what the industry has craved for decades: live sports, news, and special events for passengers onboard, ensuring they never miss a moment of the action. An ideal choice for airlines with diverse fleets, Thales’s Live TV is a true over-the-top service that works seamlessly with any IFE system, any connectivity provider, and personal electronic devices.

    Never miss a moment with industry-first DVR functionality

    With live content and event-based programming, 360Stream redefines TV at 40,000 feet with the industry’s first DVR capability. Airlines are able to record content as it is streamed live, giving passengers control to play, pause, rewind, or skip to live – just like they would at home. ​

    Technical breakthrough for an exceptional experience on board

    360Stream delivers the highest streaming quality in the industry, intelligently managing bandwidth that can be enhanced for major live events. It delivers a consistent TV experience across entire fleets, even with various IFE providers. Passengers can access content on their personal electronic devices without downloading an application. Launch content partners include BBC News, CNN, and EuroNews, with more being added by Thales. Airlines can include their own partners within three days.

    Near-Live fresh & relevant content every hour

    Thales’s near-live service, another industry first, delivers highlights of major events, like sports games and news, to the aircraft within an hour. The 100% automated Near-Live content workflow seamlessly connects Thales’s intelligent ground and aircraft systems, ensuring passengers stay informed with the latest news and game-changing sports moments. With this automated service, Thales is setting a new standard for speed, efficiency, and the future of inflight content delivery.

    Available now: Live TV with 360Stream and Near-Live ​

    This technological leap in passenger experience is flying now. Passengers already enjoy multiple global news channels and sports from around the world. Keeping flyers connected, live onboard

    “Thales has delivered an industry first with 360Stream, to connect passengers with the world’s ‘happening now’ content. The innovative service benefits passengers with relevant and timely content so they won’t miss out on news and events.“Working on any satellite network and with any inflight entertainment system provider, airlines are empowered to increase passenger engagement with flexibility for the future.” Niels Steenstrup, Chief Executive Officer, Thales InFlyt Experience.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: We must get disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction right — here are 5 ways to deliver results

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    We’ve done well in raising the profile of disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction — now it’s time to deliver results on the ground.

    As Sendai implementation picks up pace, I suggest five areas that could offer lasting wins for persons with disabilities – a group that comprises 15% of the global population.

    In early April 2025, I had the privilege of attending the Global Disability Summit in Berlin, which was hosted by the Governments of Germany and Jordan. Held at Station Berlin, at historic Potsdamer Platz, the event brought together more than 4,000 participants from across the world to explore how we can put persons with disability at the heart of every aspect of human life, to ensure that they are fully included in our collective flourishing.

    The atmosphere was truly inspiring, charged with hope, optimism and a palpable “can do” attitude. The phrase, “nothing about us, without us” rang out clearly as a powerful, heartfelt dictum. I was particularly glad to see disaster risk reduction (DRR) featuring prominently at the Summit.

    While the global, national, and local discourse on the topic has come a long way, specific on-the-ground actions still need to catch up. As one speaker said during the Opening Ceremony, we need to cultivate a sense of “radical curiosity about the experiences of persons with disability.”

    We’ve seen in several recent disasters that mortality and morbidity rates among persons with disability have been several times higher than the general populace – a reminder of the urgent work ahead. In the remaining five years of the Sendai Framework, if we pursue the following five strands with urgency, we will show the concrete results that we need:

    1. Embed disability inclusion in DRR plans and strategies

    A decade into the Sendai Framework’s implementation, the most progress has been on Target E – plans and strategies for disaster risk reduction. Yet many of these still fall short of addressing the specific needs and capacities of persons with disabilities.

    These strategies must be informed not only by data and evidence – such as census information on persons with different types of physical and intellectual disabilities – but also by the lived experience of persons with disabilities themselves. To make this happen we need to build an institutional culture that is responsive to specific individual needs, especially those of the most vulnerable people.

    2. Gather data on disaster impacts on persons with disabilities

    The Sendai Monitor calls for disaster loss data that is disaggregated by gender, age, and disabilities. However, only a few dozen countries presently collect and report such data for persons with disabilities. In some data-scarce contexts, this may be a challenging task – especially when the baseline data on persons with disabilities don’t exist.

    However, we must start somewhere. If we begin collecting data on disaster impacts on persons with disabilities now, in a few years this will throw up rich insights that can help us refine our strategies for persons with disabilities.

    3. Move from policies and guidelines to specific actions:

    In recent years, several countries – and sub-national bodies – have developed and adopted policies and guidelines for disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction – a close-to-home example (for me) is India, with guidelines at the national level and the sub-national level(Kerala State as one instance).

    What specific actions flow from these instruments? In the context of early warning systems, we’ve seen examples of standard operating procedures developed to ensure a suite of disability inclusive actions – from accessible warning and inclusive evacuation plans to suitable evacuation infrastructure. However, such concrete actions should also extend to address comprehensive disaster risk reduction efforts.

    Let’s take flood risk management as an example: if a community has to relocate away from a flood-prone settlement, how can it ensure that the new location is suitable for persons with disabilities? Or if houses are being retrofitted and being raised on stilts, how can these meet the needs of persons with disabilities? Similarly, what does it mean for persons with disabilities to “build back better” after disasters? We need to stretch our imagination of risk reduction to turn policies and guidelines into concrete inclusive actions.

    4. Extend access to assistive technologies

    The last decade has seen great progress in assistive technologies for persons with disabilities. Rapid advances in fields such as AI, neurosciences, and synthetic biology promise an even brighter future. But access to these technologies is highly unequal – between men and women, between developing and developed countries, between rural and urban areas, and so on.

    Governments must take a proactive policy stance to address these inequalities. Could disability-disaggregated census data be used to incentivize both public and private sector investments in developing assistive technologies that are cost-efficient and affordable?

    5. Ask: is it really working?

    And finally, we must find smarter ways to asses our impact. A good start would be for every post-disaster “after action review” to include this key question for persons with disabilities: “Did the systems work for you?”

    At UNDRR, we have made disability-inclusive DRR a priority. In my recent missions to Australia, Finland, Fiji and Germany, I was struck by deep commitment to this cause – and a rising sense of urgency – from governments. In Berlin, I had rich discussions with ministers from Italy and Scotland – both are serious about making real changes in their countries.

    UNDRR has endorsed the Amman-Berlin Declaration, the fruit of the Global Disability Summit. This declaration calls for all international development programmes to be inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities, and for at least 15% of country-level development programmes to explicitly pursue disability inclusion as an objective: “15 percent for the 15 percent.”

    We are making steady progress on disability inclusion in disaster risk reduction. With accelerated action and wider mobilization, transformational change is within reach!

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: West Yorkshire manufacturer opens factory and expands global reach with UKEF support

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    West Yorkshire manufacturer opens factory and expands global reach with UKEF support

    Rosehill Polymers Group has opened a new factory in Sowerby Bridge following a previous financing agreement with UK Export Finance (UKEF) and Virgin Money.

    • The company now exports directly to over 60 countries, through an established network of distributors and end customers.

    • The financing is also supporting apprenticeship schemes and university placements in West Yorkshire, helping to develop the region’s future manufacturing workforce.

    Founded in 1988, Rosehill Polymers Group is a UK manufacturer of high-performance polymer systems using recycled rubber. Its solutions are widely used across sectors such as highways, rail, energy, sport, and security infrastructure.

    In 2023, UKEF, the UK government’s export credit agency, issued a credit guarantee for Rosehill under its General Export Facility. This unlocked new financing from Virgin Money, enabling Rosehill to scale its operations and invest in global growth.

    Thanks in part to this financing, the company has now expanded its direct export markets from 52 to over 60 countries and opened a second factory in Sowerby Bridge. This reflects strong international demand and the versatility of its solutions across diverse applications.

    In 2024–25 alone, Rosehill used the new financing to break into nine new export markets, including Chile, Colombia, the Cayman Islands, South Africa, Angola, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, and Romania.

    Further growth is anticipated in 2025, with market entries planned in Argentina, Bolivia, Panama, Suriname, French Guiana, Namibia, Malaysia, Croatia, Latvia, and Singapore.

    With around 100 staff based at its West Yorkshire site, including in-house chemists and technical specialists, Rosehill continues to invest in skills through apprenticeships and university placements, ensuring a strong foundation for the future.

    UKEF’s support has been instrumental in helping Rosehill drive sustainable manufacturing growth, expand its international footprint, and contribute to the UK’s global trade ambitions under the government’s Plan for Change.

    Alexander Celik, CEO at Rosehill Polymers Group, said:

    “Rosehill has an established history of exporting our products to several developed key markets. However, as competition within the sector increases, it is more important than ever to mirror this success elsewhere. Working with UKEF has not only enabled us to tap into the potential held within Latin America, Southeast Asia and Europe, but also expand our innovative product offering to even more customers worldwide.

    “As we enter this next exciting phase of growth, our attention turns to meeting global demand, all while providing opportunities for people across Yorkshire. Our apprenticeship and placement schemes lay at the heart of what we do, and as we expand our overseas footprint, we hope to see this result in increased opportunities to attract the best talent to the industry.”

    Alissia Deane, West Yorkshire Export Finance Manager at UKEF, said:

    “The support provided to Rosehill Polymers highlights UKEF’s commitment to helping British SMEs achieve growth in overseas markets – something which in turn supports economic growth across the UK.

    “It’s fantastic to see how our support ended up helping Rosehill to reach new export markets and develop jobs and talent in the local manufacturing industry.”

    Craig Wilson, Head of FX Sales & Trade Finance at Virgin Money, said:

    “Rosehill are a fabulous example of a successful and innovative UK manufacturing business growing their customer base through the world, and in the process growing their workforce locally.

    “We are proud to be a key partner of Rosehill and provide some of the international tools and expertise to help them to continue to grow their already impressive international success.  The current deal in conjunction with UK Export Finance is another great example of collaboration between Virgin Money and UKEF to support customers trading internationally.”

    Contact 

    Media enquiries:

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –