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  • MIL-OSI: Drone Technology Advancement for Performing Growing Number of Tasks and Usage Leading to Revenue Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – According to a recent article issued by Fact.MR, the global drone surveying market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.3% during the forecast period of 2023 to 2033. The report said: “The drone surveying market is witnessing increased demand for its services across different industries. The survey done by drones has multiple benefits in comparison to the traditional way of surveys such as lower cost, reduced time, and improved end results. The drone covers a larger area within less amount of time and money for a survey if compared with the traditional or conventional way of surveys. Since the data is captured and generated with actual imagery, it also brings better transparency in the end result. All these benefits have resulted in increased demand from governments and real estate development companies for drone surveying services. The drone surveying service providers are entering into partnerships with companies and the government to carry out surveys on their behalf for the planning and development of urban areas and townships. The image and data collected from the drone surveys are more accurate and can be converted into meaningful output as per the requirements. This helps governments and infrastructure development companies in different stages of planning in township development, urban planning, and land surveys. The continuous advancement of technology in the drone market has led to increased demand for their products and services. The services or task performed by a drone has significantly improved in the last few years which has ultimately resulted in improved demand.”   Active Companies in the Drone Industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI), ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO), New Horizon Aircraft (NASDAQ: HOVR), Unusual Machines (NYSE: UMAC).

    Fact.MR added: “The industries catered to by drones have also increased significantly. Earlier most of the demand for drones was from agriculture and public administration, now it has increased to infrastructure development, mining, energy, education, and transportation among others. Now a mining company can easily calculate/measure the area covered for the mining, or the stockpile volume with the help of drone surveys. It is expected that in the coming years, the drone surveying industry will witness continuous technological advancement, resulting in the expansion of service offerings. The US drone surveying market and construction and mining industry is expected to be the market leader in the demand for drone surveying services. Increased spending from governments and rising demand for residential and commercial spaces would add a significantly high pace to the overall drone surveying demand in the US.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Advances IQ Square Drone to Manufacturing Stage for Outdoor Applications Including Inspections, Surveys, and the Fast-Growth Power Washing Sector – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that its subsidiary ZenaDrone has moved its first batch of IQ Square multifunction drones from prototype to manufacturing stage. This drone was designed for outdoor applications for operator line-of-site inspections such as for building and construction inspections, short-range land surveys, power washing and other business and government applications. The IQ Square is also expected to be a key part of ZenaDrone’s multifunction drone inventory for its Drone as a Service or DaaS business, which enables business and government users to hire a turnkey drone service and drone pilot through a local store for easy subscription-based or pay-as-you-go access to drones for various uses.

    “The IQ Square’s rapid progression from the prototype stage, initiated in 2022, to the manufacturing and assembly stage is a testament to our hardware and engineering team’s dedication and hard work. We see many commercial and government applications for the IQ Square, which we also envision will be central to powering our future DaaS operations as a versatile multifunction drone for multiple outdoor uses requiring line-of-site including fast growth uses like power washing,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    The IQ Square will be equipped with a power wash system for use in larger-scale cleaning jobs such as stadium seating, building exteriors, and public spaces; drones eliminate the need for scaffolding, lifts, or manual labor by providing a more efficient, safe, and cost-effective solution. Tethered to a ground-based water and a power source, it is designed to maintain a continuous supply of high-pressure water needed to clean large areas without the weight limitations of onboard tanks.

    The mold and drone body frames of the first batch of IQ Square drones are currently being completed, after which they will be assembled, integrated, and tested at the company’s Sharjah, UAE production facility. The Company will oversee the integration and quality inspection of electronics, battery and propulsion systems, software, and sensor installation and calibration, concluding with final flight testing.

    According to QYResearch, the global market for drone cleaning services, including applications such as water hose-tethered power washing for stadium seats and public areas, is projected to reach approximately $53.89 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 19.3%.

    ZenaTech’s Drone as a Service or DaaS business model enables government agencies, building developers, entertainment facilities, farmers, environmental firms, etc. to conveniently access a turnkey drone solution via a local store on a pay-as-you-go or subscription basis rather than having to buy the entire drone hardware and software solution. Like Amazon Web Services, where Amazon owns computer equipment platforms and hires the personnel, with the DaaS model, ZenaDrone owns the drones, hires the pilots and ensures regulatory compliance to enable the cost savings, precision and efficiency of drones over existing legacy methods.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the drone industry include:

    Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI) recently announced that its Safe Pro AI subsidiary reached its latest milestone having processed over 1,000,000 real-world images and 20,000 explosive threat detections in Ukraine utilizing its patented AI-powered small object threat detection and drone image analysis and mapping technology.

    Sourced from real-world aerial imagery collected in Ukraine by organizations utilizing commercially available drones over the past two years, SafePro’s latest generation of small object detection models include one of the largest and widest arrays of labeled imagery of landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in existence today. Supported by the hyper scale of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud, this robust dataset enables the patented SpotlightAI™ ecosystem to rapidly detect over 150 types of surface-level explosive hazards, enabling government and humanitarian organizations to quickly assess threats on the ground with sub-centimeter precision. The Company intends to utilize its newly enhanced models to power new threat detection solutions designed for expanded domestic and international applications in defense, public safety and commercial markets.

    ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO) recently announced that it has successfully achieved regulatory compliance with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for its SafeAir systems. This milestone marks a step forward for the company, solidifying its position as a trusted provider of safety solutions in the rapidly expanding drone market.

    ParaZero secured EASA compliance for its SafeAir systems. The Company announced last week that its system is integrated with the DJI Matrice 350, DJI Mavic 3T, and DJI Mavic 3E, and has successfully achieved CE Class C5 compliance. This achievement marks a significant advancement in drone safety and regulatory readiness, particularly within the European market.

    New Horizon Aircraft (NASDAQ: HOVR) announces that John Wyzykowski has been appointed as a Technical Expert.   Horizon Aircraft recently announced that John Wyzykowski has joined the company as a Technical Expert to support the development of its propulsion systems. John is the latest in a series of new hires as Horizon Aircraft continues to bolster its engineering team with people who have proven track records in the aerospace sector. John joins from Lilium, a leading eVTOL developer, where he held the position of Head of Propulsion. With decades of experience in advanced aerospace propulsion, John will play a key role in supporting the ongoing development and optimization of the Cavorite X7, Horizon’s revolutionary hybrid-electric eVTOL.

    John is a recognized expert in propulsion system design, integration, and performance optimization for next-generation aerospace platforms. His extensive background includes work on gas turbine and fully electric propulsion architectures, with a deep understanding of the unique challenges associated with eVTOL applications, including power density, thermal management, and system redundancy. His insights will be instrumental as Horizon Aircraft continues its rigorous testing and refinement of the Cavorite X7’s propulsion system.

    Unusual Machines (NYSE:UMAC) announced it has recently secured Red Cat Holdings (RCAT) as a customer for motors. This marks the company’s first partnership to develop motors built to a U.S. drone producer’s specific requirements. Red Cat will use three motor variants from Unusual Machines for one of its platforms designed for government and commercial applications.

    Red Cat has placed its initial order, marking a significant milestone in Unusual Machines’ efforts to become a Tier 1 supplier of drone motors for American manufacturers. The motors will be among the first produced in Unusual Machines’ U.S.-based manufacturing facility, which is currently under development. In the interim, production will take place in a partnered facility, that we believe will result in a seamless supply chain transition. Unusual Machines expects to begin delivering on Red Cat’s first order by the end of March.

    This order further strengthens the relationship between Unusual Machines and Red Cat, as the companies continue their collaborative work on the FANG™, a high-performance FPV drone designed for defense applications.

    About FN Media Group:

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

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

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    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: GreyMatter by GreyOrange Recognized in Interact Analysis’ Warehouse Software Market Insight Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GreyOrange Inc., a leader in AI-driven fulfillment automation, announces recognition of its GreyMatter hyper-intelligent warehouse orchestration in Interact Analysis’ comprehensive report, Warehouse Software Market Insight. Authored by Interact Analysis Research Manager Rueben Scriven and Senior Analyst Irene Zhang, the report reveals key insights into the rapidly evolving warehouse software market, highlighting a projected CAGR of 12.7% from 2023 to 2030. Interact Analysis predicts the warehouse automation software market will reach over $16 billion by 2030.

    The report underscores the pivotal role of mobile robots in propelling growth within the fleet management system market. Their swift deployment, space efficiency compared to fixed automation, and flexible purchasing models, such as Robotics as a Service (RaaS), have accelerated the adoption of mobile robots – and the need for corresponding software.

    According to the report, “To enhance operational efficiency in warehouses, implementing a Warehouse Execution System (WES) is likely to be considered a strategic choice.”

    “With more disparate automation systems being used, along with more complex logistical processes, the need for fine-tuned orchestration and execution is becoming paramount to stay ahead of the curve,” said Rueben Scriven, Research Manager, Interact Analysis. “Being able to orchestrate fixed automation, mobile automation, and manual operations, GreyMatter is a true Warehouse Execution System.”

    In alignment with this concept, GreyMatter’s hyper-intelligent warehouse orchestration is at the forefront of this software revolution. GreyMatter is designed to solve critical warehouse operation challenges. It seamlessly supports both fixed automation and robotics while maintaining exceptional reliability as agent numbers grow. With advanced functional areas like Fulfillment Engine, Inventory in Motion, and Integrated Automation, GreyMatter ensures precise and efficient operational orchestration.

    “The recognition of GreyMatter’s value to the industry by Interact Analysis is a nod to the commitment of GreyOrange to producing competitive advantages for our customers,” said Akash Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, GreyOrange. “GreyMatter’s capability to operate across various facility types, flex up and down according to inventory levels and demand, and provide agnostic multiagent orchestration for robotic and human labor differentiates the WES, and prepares companies today with solutions for future needs.”

    Download the Warehouse Software Market Insight report, compliments of GreyOrange here.

    Learn more about GreyOrange’s GreyMatter by visiting www.greyorange.com.

    1. Interact Analysis, Warehouse Software Market Insight 2025, Rueben Scriven and Irene Zhang; January 2025

    About Interact Analysis
    Interact Analysis is the leading authority on the warehouse automation market. With analysts located across the world including the US, China, UK, and Germany, Interact Analysis helps its clients stay ahead of the curve with its high quality research and analysis.

    About GreyOrange
    GreyOrange Inc. is at the forefront of AI-driven robotics systems, transforming distribution and fulfillment centers worldwide. Its emphasis on orchestration, innovation, and customer satisfaction marks a new era in efficient, responsive supply chain solutions. The company’s solutions offer a competitive advantage by increasing productivity, empowering growth and scale, mitigating labor challenges, reducing risk and time to market, and creating better experiences for customers and employees. Founded in 2012, GreyOrange is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with offices and partners across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.greyorange.com.

    Media Contact
    Leah R H Robinson, APR
    LeadCoverage
    leah@leadcoverage.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/92008480-c341-412b-9df1-dca3d9c05478

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: New Research by VelocityEHS Drives AI Innovation in EHS & ESG

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VelocityEHS®, the global leader in enterprise EHS & ESG software solutions, has announced the publication of three groundbreaking scientific papers, further cementing its leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in workplace safety and sustainability. These papers, published in the esteemed journals Ergonomics; International Journal of Data Warehousing and Mining; and Elsevier, showcase VelocityEHS’ innovative in musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk assessment, ESG data management, and Chemical Safety.

    Advancements in Ergonomics Risk Assessment

    The first paper, NLP-based Ergonomics MSD Risk Root Cause Analysis and Risk Controls Recommendation, published in Ergonomics and authored by Pulkit Parikh, PhD., Julia Penfield, PhD., Richard Barker, CPE, CSP, Blake McGowan, CPE, and James Richard Mallon, CPE, presents an AI-powered framework that utilizes Natural Language Processing (NLP) to automate the identification of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risks and recommend targeted risk controls.

    By leveraging deep learning and expert-driven ML models, this system goes beyond traditional risk scoring to provide actionable insights that improve workplace ergonomics and reduce injuries.

    “Traditional ergonomics assessments often stop at producing risk scores, leaving companies without clear guidance on control actions,” said Rick Barker, CPE, Senior Director, Solution Strategy.

    Until now, most research using artificial intelligence to combat musculoskeletal disorders has been limited to risk assessment. One of the unanswered questions among researchers is how to enhance the model to offer sustainable improvement strategies.

    Julia Penfield, PhD., VP of Research & Machine Learning at VelocityEHS addressed this challenge: “We presented a framework that goes beyond MSD risk scoring. Along with machine learning, computer vision and natural language processing can propose risk control recommendations to help organizations achieve their goal to create safer workplaces. To the best of my knowledge, we are the first to take this holistic approach.”

    Revolutionizing ESG Data Management

    The second paper, Automatic Question Answering from Large ESG Reports, published in International Journal of Data Warehousing and Mining, and co-authored by Pulkit Parikh, PhD., and Julia Penfield, PhD., introduces the first AI-driven system designed to automatically extract and answer questions from extensive Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) reports.

    ESG reports often exceed 50 pages, making manual extraction for audits, benchmarking, or Scope 3 reporting time-consuming and labor-intensive. Compounding this challenge, audits require answering hundreds of questions, posing difficulties even for experts. Additionally, midsize companies managing Scope 3 reports must manage thousands of suppliers, making it difficult to process ESG data.

    “An AI-system could transform this process, enabling organizations to retrieve relevant information and drive informed decision-making effortlessly and efficiently,” said Dr. Julia Penfield.

    Transforming Chemical Safety with AI-driven SDS Indexing

    The third paper, A Machine Learning Driven Automated System to Extract Multiple Information Fields from Safety Data Sheet Documents, published in Elsevier, and authored by Misbah Khan, Julia Penfield, PhD., Aatish Suman, and Stephanie Crowell, presents an AI-powered system designed to automate the extraction of key chemical safety data from Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

    SDS indexing has evolved from storing physical copies to digitally extracting key fields for inventory and risk management. While essential for compliance, manual SDS indexing is labor-intensive, costly and time consuming. An AI-driven solution will automate this process, allowing organizations to access critical chemical information with speed and accuracy.

    “Effective chemical data management is essential for workplace safety and regulatory compliance. AI is no longer the future of chemical safety — it’s the present. With automated SDS indexing, we’re setting a new standard for speed, accuracy, and compliance,” says Misbah Khan, Staff Machine Learning Scientist, VelocityEHS. “An AI-driven solution will allow an organization’s team member to quickly retrieve SDS information in case of an accident, improving the response time and potentially saving a life. This blend of innovation and responsibility propels us toward an EHS future that’s both efficient and human centered.”

    The paper concluded that an automated system could improve efficiency and compliance by indexing fields, such as product name, manufacturer, supplier, and revision date, with a precision accuracy of 96 to 99%.

    Driving Innovation in Workplace Safety & Sustainability

    These research contributions reflect VelocityEHS’ commitment to pioneering AI to improve workplace safety and operational performance. The company continues to invest in innovation to provide advanced solutions so organizations can reach all their EHS goals.

    To learn how Velocity’s AI Machine Leaning scientists worked with certified ergonomists to deliver the most comprehensive ergonomics assessment tool, watch this video.

    For more about VelocityEHS, visit www.EHS.com.

    About VelocityEHS

    Relied on by more than 10 million users worldwide to drive operational excellence and achieve outstanding outcomes, VelocityEHS is the global leader in true SaaS enterprise EHS & ESG technology. The VelocityEHS Accelerate® Platform is the definitive gold standard, delivering best-in-class software solutions for managing Safety, Ergonomics, Chemical Management, and Operational Risk. In addition, Velocity offers world-class applications for Contractor Safety & Permit to Work, Environmental Compliance, and ESG.

    The VelocityEHS team includes unparalleled industry expertise, with more certified experts in health, safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, sustainability, the environment, AI, and machine learning than any other EHS software provider. Recognized by the EHS industry’s top independent analysts as a Leader in the Verdantix 2025 Green Quadrant Analysis, VelocityEHS is committed to industry thought leadership and to accelerating the pace of innovation through its software solutions and vision. Its privacy and security protocols, which include SOC2 Type II attestation, are among the most stringent in the industry.

    VelocityEHS is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with locations in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; Oakville, Ontario; London, England; Perth, Western Australia; and Cork, Ireland. For more information, visit www.EHS.com. 

    Media Contact:
    Jennifer Sinkwitts
    VelocityEHS
    jsinkwitts@ehs.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump administration sets out to create an America its people have never experienced − one without a meaningful government

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sidney Shapiro, Professor of Law, Wake Forest University

    A worker removes letters from the U.S. Agency for International Development building. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

    The U.S. government is attempting to dismantle itself.

    President Donald Trump has directed the executive branch to “significantly reduce the size of government.” That includes deep cuts in federal funding of scientific and medical research and freezing federal grants and loans for businesses. He has ordered the reversal or removal of regulations on medical insurance companies and other businesses and sought to fire thousands of federal employees. Those are just a few of dozens of executive orders that seek to deconstruct the government.

    More than 70 lawsuits have challenged those orders as illegal or unconstitutional. In the meantime, the resulting chaos is preventing the government from carrying out its everyday functions.

    The administration accidentally fired civil servants who were responsible for safeguarding the country’s nuclear weapons, preventing a bird flu epidemic and overseeing the nation’s electricity supply. A Veterans Administration official told NBC, “It’s leading to paralysis, and nothing is getting done.” A spokesperson at a nationwide program that provides meals to seniors, Meals on Wheels, which the government helps fund, said, “The uncertainty right now is creating chaos for local Meals on Wheels providers not knowing whether they should be serving meals today.”

    Our recent book, “How Government Built America,” shows why the administration’s aim to eliminate government could result in an America that the country’s people have never experienced – one in which free-market economic forces operate without any accountability to the public.

    Federal dollars built the federal interstate highway system and maintain it.
    Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

    A combination of regulation and freedom

    The U.S. economy began in the Colonial era as a mix of government regulation and market forces, and it has remained so ever since. History shows that without government regulation, markets left to their own devices have made the country poorer, killed and injured thousands, increased economic inequality, and left millions of Americans mired in desperate poverty, among other economic and social ills.

    For example, approximately 23,000 people died from workplace injuries in 1913. In 2023, that figure was just 5,283, largely because the Occupational Safety and Health Administration began regulating workplace safety in 1971. Similarly, the rate of deaths in vehicle crashes per mile driven has decreased 93% since 1923, which can be mainly attributed to the ways government has made vehicles and highways safer.

    Government funding and regulation have yielded countless economic benefits for the public, including the launch of many efforts later capitalized on by the private sector. Government funding delivered a COVID-19 vaccine in record time, many of the technologies – GPS, touchscreens and the internet – that are key to the functioning of the cellphone in your pocket, and the highway system that enables travel throughout the country.

    Government management of the economy has prevented economic downturns and enabled quicker recoveries when they have occurred. Government regulations keep private businesses from engaging in reckless economic behavior that harms everyone, as happened in 2008 when loopholes in rules and enforcement allowed the banking industry to invest billions of dollars in worthless securities. The government then spent trillions to prevent major banks from collapsing and to stimulate the nation’s economic recovery.

    More recently, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government spent $3.1 trillion to keep the economy healthy.

    Food and water are safe because the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency act to protect people from becoming ill.

    Because of government oversight, Americans can safely take the medications physicians prescribe to make them better. They can safely put money in checking and savings accounts knowing that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the National Credit Union Administration reduce the likelihood of the bank or credit union failing – and ensure they don’t lose everything if trouble arises.

    The Federal Trade Commission works to ensure the advertising Americans see is not deceptive, and the Securities and Exchange Commission makes sure that the companies people invest in are not making false claims about their financial prospects.

    Americans know that their children can get a free public education and student loans for college or trade schools to advance themselves economically. And government has helped millions of Americans pay for housing, food, medical care and the other necessities of life even if they work full-time or cannot because of age, illness or disability.

    A person gets drinking water from a tap in Jackson, Miss.
    AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

    Not a perfect record

    Admittedly, there is wasteful spending – as much as $150 billion a year in erroneous payments. That is a lot of money, but it’s a tiny sliver – just 2.2% – of the $6.75 trillion the federal government spent in the 2024 fiscal year. And government has not always been a positive force in society, either.

    As we describe in our book, for a very long time the federal government aided and abetted slavery and then racial segregation. It also codified the treatment of women as second-class citizens, and discriminated against members of the LGBTQ community.

    Yet government has addressed these failings as Americans’ understanding of equality has evolved. Over the past century, rights for women, racial and ethnic minority groups and people with a range of sexualities and gender identities have been recognized in constitutional amendments, federal laws, state laws and Supreme Court decisions.

    As our book shows, the responses haven’t always been immediate, but the president and Congress have addressed policy mistakes and incompetent administration by making appropriate adjustments to the mix of government and free markets, sometimes at the behest of court cases and more often through congressional action.

    Until now, however, it has never been government policy to shut down government wholesale by defunding agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development or threatening to do so with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Education.

    Many Trump voters cited economic factors as motivating their support. And our book documents how policies supported by both political parties – particularly globalization, which led to the flood of manufacturing jobs that went overseas – contributed to the economic struggles with which many Americans are burdened.

    But based on the history of how government built America, we believe the most effective way to improve the economic prospects of those and other Americans is not to eliminate portions of the government entirely. Rather, it’s to adopt government programs that create economic opportunity in deindustrialized areas of the country.

    These problems – economic inequality and loss of opportunity – were caused by the free market’s response to the lack of government action, or insufficient or misdirected action. The market cannot be expected to fix what it has created. And markets don’t answer to the American people. Government does, and it can take action.

    Sidney Shapiro is affiliated with the Center for Progressive Reform.

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

    – ref. Trump administration sets out to create an America its people have never experienced − one without a meaningful government – https://theconversation.com/trump-administration-sets-out-to-create-an-america-its-people-have-never-experienced-one-without-a-meaningful-government-250727

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is a united European voice possible in the age of Trump, Putin and far-right politics? Germany’s new leader intends to find out

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, Associate Professor of Critical Cultural & International Studies, Colorado State University

    Could Friedrich Merz be the man to speak for Europe? Sean Gallup/Getty Images

    “Who do I call if I want to speak to Europe?”

    The question was famously attributed to former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and refers to the historical inability of the political entity of Europe to coordinate on a united front in the global arena.

    And despite decades of integration under the European Union, who speaks for Europe – or what the bloc desires to be – is perhaps less clear now than at any point in recent years. Internal cleavages over immigration, right-wing nationalism, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Donald Trump’s return to the White House all challenge the notion of what Europe is and should stand for.

    Friedrich Merz, the expected next chancellor of Germany, offered one continental vision shortly after his conservative party triumphed in the country’s national elections. “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA,” he said.

    Merz’s apparent desire for a stronger German role could portend a balance shift back to Germany’s preeminent place in the EU, a position it has pulled back from in recent years. But it remains an open question as to what extent Europe can be unified given the continent’s political landmines – or even what kind of Europe it would be.

    Filling Merkel’s shoes

    A German leader has, in living memory, succeeded in providing something approaching a singular European voice that the White House could deal with. Europe was long synonymous with Angela Merkel, Germany’s long-lasting – and only female – chancellor, who was known by affectionate nicknames like “Mutti Merkel,” or “Mommy Merkel,” and, during Trump’s first time in office, was even referred to by some as the de facto leader of the free world.

    Her legacy – Merkel served from 2005 to 2021 – was defined in part by strong commitments to clean energy, welcoming hundreds of thousands of refugees during the 2015 European migrant crisis and championing German leadership of the European Union. In the process, she became something of “Europe’s engine.”

    Merkel collaborated especially well with France’s Emmanuel Macron, a passionate fellow Europeanist, communicating a vision of a united Europe and its core values to the rest of the world. Dubbed “Merkron” by commentators, the pair were seen as the EU’s power couple.

    President Emmanuel Macron of France and German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented a formidable European double act.
    Emmanuele Contini/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Meanwhile, former U.S. President Barack Obama often described Merkel as his closest ally, praising her humanitarian vision of refugee politics and even decorating her with the Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that the U.S. can award to a foreign national.

    Merkel was visionary, too, especially regarding the former superpowers of the Cold War and their controversial leaders. A child of East Germany, she never trusted Russia’s Vladimir Putin. She also experienced great difficulties collaborating with Trump during his first presidency. Somewhat anticipating Merz’s recent comments, Merkel in 2017 warned that neither Germany nor the EU could rely on the U.S. the way they used to, urging her fellow Europeans to take their fate and their interests in their own hands.

    A déjà vu of ‘the German question’

    But in some ways Merkel was more popular abroad than at home.

    The so-called “German question” – or the inability of the Germans to unify as a nation in its leadership and “Leitkultur,” or “guiding culture” – has been tormenting the country since the 19th century and gained renewed relevance during the years of German reunification following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

    Years on from the so-called “Miracle of Merkel,” Germany’s increasing internal political divisions – especially pronounced between the country’s West and East – mirror the broader divisions facing the EU at large, including over who should claim the mantle of political leadership and around what vision.

    To regain the gravitas within Europe it had under Merkel, Germany now would need a similar kind of strong and visionary program that resonates with the continent. The country’s political, economic and social challenges in 2025 demand clear national leadership, something that in my opinion neither the unemotional and uncharismatic outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz nor the opposition right-wing leader and soon-to-be successor Merz has demonstrated in public over the past couple of years.

    Although Merkel and Merz represent the same political party, the CDU, their visions for Germany and the EU are strikingly different. A wealthy former business lawyer, Merz’s signature book, “Dare More Capitalism,” is a blueprint for a policy agenda that prioritizes reduction of government intervention, less bureaucracy, lower taxes and pro-market reforms. Merz also wants to strengthen German borders with restrictionist immigration politics, a reflection of how the country has moved far to the right on the issue amid the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), with whom Merz has at times flirted.

    Yet in Merz’s relatively different agenda, he similarly advocates for both Europe and NATO, and wishes to refashion Germany into the powerhouse it was in the Merkel years and make it again the envy of Europe.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel confers with President Donald Trump in 2018.
    Ian Langsdon/AFP via Getty Images

    A changing conception of Europe?

    Given the current “America First” attitude of the Trump administration and the rise of far-right populism across the EU and the world, it is thought-provoking – some would say alarming – that Trump declared the results of an election that saw strong gains for the far right – propelling it into second place – as a “great day for Germany.”

    Whether it is great for Europe depends on what vision of the continent one has in mind. Merz, although more right wing than Merkel, nonetheless has advocated for a strong Europe, led by Germany, that could promote a Europe independent of U.S. influence, appearing to follow in the steps of former French President Charles de Gaulle, who sought to cleave Europe from American dominance.

    During his recent speech at the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Vice President JD Vance warned of a European “threat from within,” disparaging continental governments for their retreat from “fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America,” while defending far-right populism and policies on the continent. Elon Musk subsequently posted on his social platform X: “Make Europe Great Again! MEGA, MEGA, MEGA!”

    Despite the bewilderment and dismay expressed by the European leaders at such statements, today’s tormented and divided Europe can hardly claim it is a problem-free environment, nor that many of the continent’s leaders don’t likewise support such politics.

    The rise of populism and nationalism across Europe poses a huge problem for what could unceremoniously be described as “Old Europe,” especially now, when it is seemingly drifting apart from its former ally and protector, the United States.

    With Russian influence and authoritarian politics growing in Central Europe – especially in Hungary and Slovakia – and ultra-nationalist and far-right ideas likewise strong in Austria, Germany, France and elsewhere, today’s Europe is hardly a unified political, economic and cultural totality.

    In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing political chameleonism, combined with her defense and praise of both Musk and Trump, is also a problem for those searching for a Europe unified more toward the political center.

    Don’t keep me hanging, s’ils vous plaît!

    Less than a year ago, France’s Macron, the still-passionate Europeanist, marked a somber note in suggesting: “We must be clear on the fact that our Europe, today, is mortal. … It can die, and that depends entirely on our choices.”

    ‘Would Henry Kissinger bother to even pick up the phone today?’
    Jack Robinson/Condé Nast via Getty Images

    Among other things, what Macron’s warning points to is the unresolved question of what the European bloc desires to be. So long as the answer to that question remains unclear, Kissinger’s question could be rephrased to, “Is there even a Europe to call?”

    And, given the Trump administration’s emerging hostility to a host of EU policies, including on the war in Ukraine, foreign aid, regulation and trade, there is a further worrying interpretation for EU leaders, even if there were “a Europe to call”: Would Washington bother picking up the phone?

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

    – ref. Is a united European voice possible in the age of Trump, Putin and far-right politics? Germany’s new leader intends to find out – https://theconversation.com/is-a-united-european-voice-possible-in-the-age-of-trump-putin-and-far-right-politics-germanys-new-leader-intends-to-find-out-249241

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council health initiative helping disadvantaged communities shortlisted for national award

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    A city council public health project aimed at reaching people who face difficulties accessing healthcare has been shortlisted for a national award.

    ‘Community First: A Vaccine Success Story from the Potteries’ has been shortlisted in the ‘Community Involvement’ category at this year’s Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards.

    It comes after the initiative not only helped to tackle the immediate issue of Stoke-on-Trent’s first measles outbreak in years in July 2023 – but also formed part of the city council’s wider goal of reducing health inequalities and engaging communities.   

    The vaccine success story focused on reaching disadvantaged communities, including refugees, asylum seekers, women in domestic abuse shelters, and people facing homelessness.

    To make vaccines more accessible, the project set up 13 pop up clinics in diverse locations such as Family Hubs, libraries and shelters to help remove practical barriers and make it more convenient for people to get vaccinated.

    Working closely with the NHS Targeted Vaccination Team and locally trusted organisations, the programme provided culturally sensitive support and information to local communities.

    Trusted community champions from local groups helped answer questions, share accurate information and challenge myths surrounding vaccines.

    Stephen Gunther, Director of Public Health at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “It is amazing to be shortlisted for an LGC Award and it reflects the fantastic work that is being done to help address vaccine hesitancy and low uptake in the city. By partnering with trusted organisations, we were able to reach underserved communities and provide clear, relevant information.

    “This approach not only helped the immediate outbreak, but also forms part of our long-term goal of reducing health inequality and engaging with local communities.

    “By focusing attention on groups that can be hard to reach and embracing diversity and community collaboration, this project has created a sustainable model for future health interventions. I would like to congratulate everybody involved with this project for all their dedication and fantastic work.”

    Matthew Missen, Consultant Public Health at NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board, said: “Strong working relationships and partnership-working between the NHS, local authorities, third sector organisations and community groups has been key to the success of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Vaccination Programme.

    “By working together, we have benefitted from shared intelligence, expertise, resources and relationships with communities, vital to better engaging people more at risk from vaccine preventable diseases. We share the joint aim of making vaccinations accessible to everyone living in our local area.”

    The initiative helped to boost vaccine uptake by 3.1 per cent – after vaccine uptake for both MMR doses in those aged five rose from 83.4 per cent to 86.5 per cent.

    The city council plans to expand this successful approach by including other vaccines like HPV and shingles in similar programmes.

    Plans also include running workshops to help communities better understand the NHS vaccination schedule and strengthen ties with trusted community organisations to tackle broader health challenges.

    Councillor Lynn Watkins, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “It is pleasing to see how involving community can lead to better health outcomes in Stoke-on-Trent and I want to congratulate and thank everybody involved for all their hard work.

    “Making vaccines easier to access and improving uptake is a challenge, but this project has shown it is possible through increasing accessibility and sharing accurate information. The Community First project will form the blueprint for future vaccination programmes.

    “Well done to everyone involved on this national recognition and wish you the best of luck at the awards later this year.”

    The winners of the LGC Awards will be announced at a ceremony at Grosvenor House, London, on Wednesday 11 June 2025.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Unique Tree Enriches UConn’s Landscape

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Down a slight hill towards the West entrance of the W.B. Young Building sits a unique tree. Recently planted and already blending into the landscape, many UConn students, faculty, and staff probably walk right by without registering the young tree.

    But rooted in this addition to UConn’s nationally accredited arboretum is a “forever friendship” between two emeriti faculty members, their families, and the University that served as the backdrop for much of their lives.

    Sidney and Florence, Rudy and Joy

    If you are at all familiar with the fields of horticulture or landscape architecture, the names Sidney Waxman and Rudy Favretti are well known to you. Both men are considered to be pioneers in their respective fields, and both called the University of Connecticut home for their professional pursuits.

    Sidney Waxman, standing among his unique dwarf conifer cultivars. (UConn Photo)

    They were also great friends since their graduate school days at Cornell University, where they graduated in the mid 1950s.

    Sidney Waxman, born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1923, is best known for creating nearly 40 new types of dwarf conifers and trees, including the one outside the Young Building.

    “This tree is a symbol of the strong friendship between Sidney, his wife Florence, Rudy, and myself,” says Joy P. Favretti, Rudy Favretti’s widow. “We had known each other at Cornell. Later when we had all gotten married and moved to Connecticut, we would watch each other’s children when they were small, and they played together here in Storrs. Rudy and Sidney appreciated each other’s work. It really was a forever friendship in so many ways.”

    Waxman founded UConn’s experimental plant nursery, where he focused much of his research on developing new and interesting plants from witches’ brooms. These are abnormalities in a tree or woody plant where a cluster of shoots develop at a single point. Sometimes caused by fungus or other pathogens, the resulting deformities can look like a witch’s broom or a bird’s nest.

    Waxman and his wife Florence often joined forces to collect samples as they traveled around Eastern Connecticut and the New England region.

    “Florence was great at spotting the witches’ brooms,” says Joy Favretti. “Sid would hike into the woods and shoot them down with his rifle. Eventually he had to use other methods and have a crew climb up and cut them down.”

    Many of Waxman’s specimens can be viewed as part of a special collection within UConn’s campus-wide arboretum.

    A New Branch in UConn’s Family Tree

    To say that the young tree developed by Waxman that sits outside the Young Building is special may be an understatement.

    “Sid’s plants are harder and harder to find commercially, so preserving this specimen where the public can enjoy it is really special,” says Sean Vasington, University landscape architect and director of site planning with University Planning, Design & Construction.

    In fact, this tree may be one of the last that Waxman ever created.

    “Rudy’s Joy” may be a one-of-a-kind specimen development by Waxman. (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

    After Waxman’s death in 2005, his son Paul brought the one-of-a-kind specimen to the Favrettis, in accordance with his father’s wishes.

    “When Paul brought the tree, it was very meaningful,” says Joy Favretti. “He told us that it originated from a witches’ broom Rudy had identified.”

    With a nod to the Favrettis’ 60-plus-year romance and based on his admiration for Rudy’s immense contributions to landscape design, Waxman had named the cultivar “Rudy’s Joy.”

    Beyond its sentimental story, there’s a lot that makes the little tree special from a horticultural perspective too.

    The witches’ broom discovered on a Norway Maple was grafted onto a Sugar Maple, New England’s native maple. The tree is well known for its fall colors and sweet syrup. Mark Brand, the chair of UConn’s arboretum and professor of horticulture and plant breeding, is confident the tree won’t reproduce since it doesn’t seem to produce flowers or fruit.

    “Sydney was smart,” says Joy Favretti. “He recognized there was a need for lower growing foundation plants, as many of the new homes being built at the time were only one story or a story and a half. The Connecticut nursery industry and many others were pleased to make them available in their nurseries.”

    While there are still lots of questions surrounding what “Rudy’s Joy” will become, it is likely to be very tall, about 50 feet, and round.

    Part of this uncertainty was by design. Waxman often incorporated fungus strains into his new species, which can cause unique forms to develop. For instance, “Rudy’s Joy” has unique branching and is of an unusual shape.

    “Its globose form and single stem should be very distinctive as the tree matures, especially during the fall when its foliage will turn bright yellow,” says Vasington.

    “It’s going to be notable and highly unusual, that is one thing we know for sure,” says Greg Anderson, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology, member of the UConn Arboretum, and friend of the Favrettis.

    For the Love of the Landscape

    Along with reflecting the genius of Waxman’s experiments, as it grows, “Rudy’s Joy” will be a tangible monument to the contributions Rudy Favretti made to UConn, the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), and the field of landscape architecture around the globe.

    Rudy Favretti ’54 (CAHNR) professor emeritus of landscape architecture speaks at an event to celebrate the Great Lawn, held at the Wilbur Cross North Reading Room on Sept. 26, 2012. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

    Born in 1932 in Mystic, Connecticut to Italian immigrant parents, Favretti’s UConn career began as an undergrad who, in 1955, was hired as an Extension garden specialist. He would later become a professor of landscape architecture and develop UConn’s program, which was nationally accredited with his participation, guidance, and support, nearly 10 years after his departure from UConn.

    “Rudy Favretti’s contributions within our field are renowned and immeasurable, but he is also a big part of UConn’s history and that of the College,” says Vasington.

    While he was a devoted resident of Mansfield, his legacy goes far beyond UConn’s main campus and the surrounding area.

    In 1989, Favretti retired from teaching to build a private design firm with a specialty in preservation.

    Favretti’s influence can also be seen at some of the most important historic gardens in American culture. Nicknamed the “Dean of historic restoration,” Favretti served as the consulting landscape architect for the Garden Club of Virginia for 20 years, from 1978 to 1998. In this role, he conceived of and oversaw the installation of preservation and restoration projects at Monticello, Mount Vernon, and Montpelier, some of Colonial America’s most important landmarks.

    His contribution has had such an impact on the field of landscape architecture that he was inducted as a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 1992, and his collected works are stored in the Smithsonian Institute’s Archives of American Gardens Collections and in UConn’s Dodd Center for Special Collections and Archives.

    During his “retirement,” Favretti found time to serve as head of the Mansfield Planning & Zoning Committee and published books for the Mansfield Historical Society dealing with the history of each of the original town school districts.

    “Rudy’s love of learning and sharing that love with others never stopped,” says Anderson.

    UConn Homecoming             

    In the months leading up to Favretti’s passing, the arboretum committee and the University had hoped to record and honor his contribution to UConn. Unfortunately, a scheduled interview that would have allowed Favretti to speak personally about his beloved university and field of landscape architecture wouldn’t come to pass.

    But his friends, colleagues, and wife Joy kept thinking of a way to honor these “forever friends.”

    In the summer of 2023, Joy offered to donate “Rudy’s Joy” to UConn as a memorial and to have it moved to an appropriate spot on campus for planting. So, in November 2023 the special tree was moved by one of Rudy’s former students from its overcrowded place in the Favretti garden to a welcoming spot where it can grow and develop on UConn’s Storrs campus. Here, the tree looks across to the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, where both Waxman and Favretti devoted so much of their energy and intellect.

    “Here, in this spot, it is a fitting memorial to our forever friendship,” says Joy Favretti.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Business Students Help Landmark Harriet Beecher Stowe Center to Expand Its Audience, Thrive

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A group of first graders from the Annie Fisher Magnet School in Hartford sat cross-legged on the floor at The Stowe Center for Literary Activism in Hartford on a recent Friday morning, eager to explain what the word “freedom’’ means to them.

    The Stowe Center is the final home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the acclaimed author of the anti-slavery novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,’’ published in 1852, which helped change Americans’ attitudes toward abolitionism.

    The Stowe Center’s mission is to encourage social justice and literacy activism by exploring Harriet’s legacy and the ideas of others who advocate for hope and freedom. They seek a world in which engagement leads to empathy, empowerment, and change for good.

    Karen Fisk, executive director of the Stowe Center for Literary Activism in Hartford, says she is grateful for the data analytics insight she received from a team of five UConn business undergraduate students. (Nathan Oldham / UConn School of Business photo)

    “One could definitely argue that that perspective is needed now more than ever,’’ says Executive Director Karen Fisk, who, with her team, welcome some 5,000 visitors to the Center every year.

    UConn Business Students Analyze, Organize Center’s Data

    The Stowe Center, located on Forest Street and adjacent to the Mark Twain House, is one of the prized gems of Hartford, and has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities as critical to American history and culture.

    Although the leadership at the Stowe Center had reams of data about its visitors, it wasn’t in a format that could easily be organized, analyzed, and presented. They wanted to track where their visitors were coming from, what drew them to the Center, and the dates and times when visitation peaked. That information could guide strategy, staffing, and future growth.

    Fisk reached out to the School of Business for help and was connected to staff at the Digital Frontiers Initiative (DFI), which sources, vets, and assigns STEM-based projects to students. Five undergraduate students took on the Stowe Center task as part of their senior Analytics and Information Management (AIM) Capstone Project last semester.

    Aditya Mamidi ’25 (BUS) says he enjoyed the challenge and responsibility that he and his team experienced.

    “The big thing I enjoyed was the creative freedom we had, without the strict guidelines you have with a traditional college project,’’ he says. “We put our heads together to come up with something that we hope The Stowe Center can use for a long time.’’

    In addition to Mamidi, the project team included, from the School of Business: Gregory Bliss ‘25, Liam Wagner ‘25, Alexander Brynczka ’24 and Daniel Rodriguez ’24. Mamidi, Bliss, and Wagner are seniors, and Brynczka and Rodriguez graduated in December.

    ‘It Demonstrates What I Can Do and What I’ve Learned’

    One thing that was important was presenting the data, which spanned from 2017 to today, in a way that was easy to understand for those without an analytics background.

    “We took the time to create in-depth training videos so anyone watching would understand with no trouble,’’ says Mamidi, who plans to intern at Deloitte in Hartford after graduation and is considering an advanced degree in business analytics. “This is definitely going on my LinkedIn, and my resume, because it demonstrates what I can do and what I’ve learned.’’

    Bliss also described the Capstone project as a great experience and says it prepared him for his career, particularly having to pivot in designing a project.

    From left: UConn School of Business students Liam Wagner, Daniel Rodriguez, Alexander Brynczka and Aditya Mamidi (contributed photo)

    The team originally recommended a program that was too expensive for the Stowe Center, and they realized they needed a more affordable plan. They were able to find a substitute plan that worked very well and cost just a fraction of the original price. It is a strategy Bliss knows he will use in the future.

    “If one idea doesn’t work out you need to have a backup plan,’’ Bliss says. “It’s important to be prepared and willing to make adjustments when needed. I enjoyed working with ‘real’ data and knowing that it can benefit the Stowe Center.’’

    Bliss says through this project, as well as his work at National Life Group, he’s confirmed how much he enjoys data project work and has a clearer idea of his immediate career path.

    ‘I Can’t Say Enough…About these Young People’

    Fisk says the students exceeded her expectations with their abilities, professionalism, and project management.

    “What they did was so thorough. They were patient, explained everything well, and were extremely professional. They were quite impressive,’’ she says. “I felt so well taken care of through the whole project.’’

    If it weren’t for the students’ pro-bono work, Fisk says she would have had to start a fundraising initiative to pay to hire a data expert, and that would have greatly extended the project.

    For OPIM professor Jon Moore, who oversaw the project alongside OPIM professor Stephen Fitzgerald, the Capstone project was a valuable experience not only for the students, but also for the Stowe Center and the broader community.

    UConn School of Business student Gregory Bliss (contributed photo).

    “The Stowe Center for Literacy Activism project was an amazing experience for the students, as they got to dive into the Center’s data to create dashboards, insights, and predictive models around attendance and engagement,’’ says Moore, who is also the executive director of DFI. “Their work helped the Stowe Center better understand trends and connect with visitors in smarter, more impactful ways.’’

    “The OPIM department and the School of Business recognize the immense value of collaborating with local organizations like the Stowe Center, giving students the chance to tackle real-world challenges while making a meaningful difference in the community,’’ Moore says. “By leveraging Digital Frontiers as a bridge between academia and industry, the project exemplifies how UConn students gain hands-on experience while delivering meaningful solutions to real-world challenges.’’

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Empower Students with Free Resources to Thrive in Today’s Digital World from the New Digital Citizenship Initiative by Discovery Education with Verizon and Fortinet

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Discovery Education, the creator of essential K-12 solutions used in classrooms around the world, today announced the launch of a new Digital Citizenship Initiative. The Digital Citizenship Initiative is a dynamic partnership that provides educators and students with free tools, resources, and the skills needed to thrive in today’s digital world.

    The Digital Citizenship Initiative grew out of needs summarized in a dedicated white paper entitled Risks and Resilience: Why Digital Citizenship Matters in K12 Education. This study illuminated many of the issues facing today’s students, including cyberbullying, online privacy, and digital footprints. Furthermore, research shows that students remain largely unaware of the impacts of digital technologies on all aspects of life. Discovery Education defines digital citizenship as a set of strategies and behaviors designed to promote a safer online experience for everyone.

    The Digital Citizenship Initiative partners include Impact Leader Verizon and Fortinet. Each partner has helped contribute expert insights to develop standards-aligned digital resources. Resources include ready-to-use materials, digital lessons, DEMystified series videos, and instructional materials spanning disciplines such as science, health, social studies, and English language arts. Educators can expect quarterly content releases covering a range of topics that address digital citizenship.

    “At Verizon, we are driven by purpose and guided by values in all that we do. Being part of the Digital Citizenship Initiative is the latest building block in Verizon’s work to empower people to live, work, and play. Students are our future, and we are proud to support them as they learn to use digital technologies responsibly,” said Alex Servello, Associate Vice President of Responsible Business at Verizon.

    “As a cybersecurity leader, we believe that staying ahead of sophisticated threats and cyber risks requires building a more cyber-aware society,” said Rob Rashotte, Vice President, Fortinet Training Institute. “To help achieve this, Fortinet partnered with educators to develop and make accessible a tailor-made security awareness curriculum to help prepare both educators and students to apply cybersecurity skills at school, at home, and everywhere they need it. We are proud that this curriculum will now be leveraged in the Digital Citizenship Initiative to further develop fundamental security skill sets across our global community.”

    To access the Digital Citizenship Initiative resources, please visit digitalcitizenship.discoveryeducation.com. Educators with access to Discovery Education Experience can find these resources on the Digital Citizenship channel.

    “Digital technology has revolutionized the way students learn, connect, and express themselves. Supporting digital citizenship is critical for preparing students to navigate an increasingly connected and complex online environment,” said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Alliances. “Thanks to our partners – Verizon and Fortinet – for your leadership in preparing students to navigate our tech-driven world responsibly.”

    For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

    About Verizon
    Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $134.8 billion in 2024. Verizon’s world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com or find a retail location at verizon.com/stores.

    About Fortinet
    Fortinet (Nasdaq: FTNT) is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere our customers need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet’s solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Collaboration with esteemed organizations from both the public and private sectors, including Computer Emergency Response Teams (“CERTS”), government entities, and academia, is a fundamental aspect of Fortinet’s commitment to enhance cyber resilience globally. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, and FortiGuard Labs.

    About Discovery Education
    Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, K-12, digital solutions support learning wherever it takes place. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and strategic alliances, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences that engage all students and support higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

    Contacts
    Grace Maliska
    Discovery Education
    Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Triller Group Unveils 2025 Roadmap and Creator-Centric Initiatives in Investor Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Los Angeles, CA, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Triller Group Inc. (“Triller”, “Triller Group” or “the Company”) is thrilled to release its latest investor presentation showcasing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities within the rapidly expanding Creator Economy. Transformative changes in technology and unmet needs of consumers and creators are reshaping the Creator Economy landscape. Triller is uniquely positioned to capitalize on these developments by creating innovative solutions that empower creators and redefine how content is created, distributed, owned and monetized. Through this latest investor presentation, Triller is providing its stakeholders with in-depth insights into its commitment to driving growth in this lucrative marketplace.

    The Creator Economy is on its way to becoming a marketplace exceeding $500 billion. Powerful drivers are converging to create a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Technology continues to disrupt traditional platform and content distribution models. Existing platforms are unable to meet the needs of consumers and creators. Market uncertainties are giving rise to previously unimagined possibilities. Taken together, these developments are creating a unique moment in time to open doors for Triller’s dynamic solutions. The Creator Economy is ripe for Triller’s disruption and innovation.

    Triller Group Inc. stands at the forefront of transformation by offering three proven pathways to capitalize on the burgeoning Creator Economy.

    The Triller App is emerging as one of the most creator-focused platform, equipped with a distinctive vision, comprehensive quarter-by-quarter ready-to-implement plan. With initiatives such as “savemytiktoks” and weekly updates to its new and improved app, Triller is actively bringing its innovative, creator-friendly vision to fruition. Early successes (including the rise to the top tier position in app stores around the globe) have given Triller App significant momentum and the right to win in this space.

    BKFC and TrillerTV are thriving businesses dedicated to producing and delivering authentic and unique content. By integrating these entities more closely, Triller Group can unlock tremendous value, following a proven industry playbook.

    AGBA provides a sophisticated distribution platform for financial services, showcasing an technologically innovative and efficient approach to the distribution of financial services. Through AGBA FinTech investments, Triller Group has a clear pathway to introducing financial services into the Creator Economy, creating new revenue streams and enhancing the overall ecosystem.

    As the Creator Economy continues to flourish, Triller Group Inc. is poised to lead the way, harnessing powerful trends to create lasting impact and drive significant growth.

    “We are at a pivotal moment in the Creator Economy, and Triller Group is committed to leveraging our innovative platforms to empower creators and unlock new opportunities.” Said Wing Fai Ng, CEO of Triller Group. “Our latest investor presentation outlines our vision and strategy, illustrating how we plan to capitalize on the immense potential that lies ahead. Together, we are not just participating in this growth; we are leading it.”

    Investors, analysts, and stakeholders are encouraged to visit https://trillercorp.com/ir/ to download the investor presentation.

    About Triller Group Inc.        

    Triller Group Inc. is a technology powerhouse with a portfolio of high-growth businesses poised to break through in the Creator Economy. Triller App is the most creator focused social platform offering discovery, monetization, and ownership. Supported by Triller Platform, it serves as a cutting-edge social media platform designed for creators, offering innovative tools for content creation, marketing, and brand partnerships. It enables creators to connect with fans, monetize their work, and build meaningful relationships with brands.

    Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) stages live and streaming combat sports events that are rapidly gaining popularity with fans globally. With a focus on exciting matchups and high-energy performances, BKFC has established itself as the fastest-growing combat league in the industry. TrillerTV is Triller Group’s premier live streaming platform, showcasing a diverse array of in-house and third-party sports and entertainment content. With its robust infrastructure, TrillerTV is committed to delivering high-quality live events that captivate audiences and drive subscriber growth.

    Additionally, AGBA serves as a one-stop financial supermarket, providing independent distribution of a wide range of financial products and services. By connecting consumers with essential financial solutions, AGBA enhances Triller Group’s ecosystem, making it easier for users to access the tools they need for financial success.

    Together, these diverse businesses form a unique and integrated ecosystem that positions Triller Group at the forefront of innovation in social media, live entertainment, combat sports, and financial services. For more information about our businesses, visit www.trillercorp.com and www.agba.com.

    Investor & Media Relations:

    Bethany Lai
    ir@triller.co

    Breanne Fritcher
    triller@wachsman.com

    Details:
    Company: www.trillercorp.com
    Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/triller
    X: @Triller_IR

    # # #

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us following the consummation of the business combination; expectations regarding our strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products, pricing, operating expenses, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and our ability to invest in growth initiatives and pursue acquisition opportunities; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in Hong Kong and the international markets the Company plans to serve and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the SEC, the length and severity of the recent coronavirus outbreak, including its impacts across our business and operations. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Drones Becoming Smaller, Lighter, More Reliable Allowing Them to Perform Broader Range of Tasks

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Due to the advancements in software and artificial intelligence, the increasing use of drones is making it easier to control and automate them. They play a crucial role in improving farming techniques. Improving productivity, and are used for environmental monitoring, disaster relief, and search & rescue operations. Drones are becoming smaller, lighter, and more reliable, which allows them to perform a broader range of tasks. Their growing popularity stems from benefits such as improved efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and safety. The increase in precision farming needs, aiming to boost crop productivity, drives market growth. Drone OEMs are investing in R&D for thermal cameras, multispectral sensors, and LiDAR, improving drone efficacy in monitoring fields, creating vegetation maps, and detecting issues such as disease and irrigation irregularities. Thus, it drives the market growth during the forecast period. Agricultural drones, flying at a specific altitude with sensors, provide crucial analytical data for controls crop health, treatment, exploration, field soil analysis, and yield assessments, aiding farmers in making informed decisions and reducing time and costs. According to a report from MarketsAndMarkets “Commercial drones can be provided wireless coverage during emergency cases where each drone serves as an aerial wireless base station when the cellular network goes down. They can also be used to supplement the ground base station to provide better coverage and higher data rates for users. Drones can also assist various terrestrial networks, such as device-to-device and vehicular networks. For instance, due to their mobility and LOS Communications, drones can facilitate rapid formation dissemination among ground device. Furthermore, drones can potentially improve the reliability of wireless links in D2D and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications while exploiting transmit diversity.” Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS).

    MarketsAndMarkets continued: “Flying drones can help broadcast common information to ground devices, thereby reducing interferences in ground networks by decreasing the number of transmissions between devices. Based on operational mode, the commercial drone market has been classified into remotely piloted, optionally piloted, and fully autonomous. The remotely piloted segment is projected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period, driven by the cost-effective usage of remotely piloted UAVs in several applications ranging from defense operations to surveys. Fully autonomous drones significantly enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs across various end use such as agriculture, transport, logistics & warehousing, and Oil & Gas. Based on function, the Commercial Drone market has been segmented into passenger drones, inspection & monitoring drones, surveying & mapping drones, spraying & seeding drones, cargo air vehicles, and others. Passenger Drone segment is projected to record the highest growth during the forecast period with emergence of drone taxis as convenient means of aerial transportation of passenger at high speed.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Advances IQ Square Drone to Manufacturing Stage for Outdoor Applications Including Inspections, Surveys, and the Fast-Growth Power Washing Sector – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that its subsidiary ZenaDrone has moved its first batch of IQ Square multifunction drones from prototype to manufacturing stage. This drone was designed for outdoor applications for operator line-of-site inspections such as for building and construction inspections, short-range land surveys, power washing and other business and government applications. The IQ Square is also expected to be a key part of ZenaDrone’s multifunction drone inventory for its Drone as a Service or DaaS business, which enables business and government users to hire a turnkey drone service and drone pilot through a local store for easy subscription-based or pay-as-you-go access to drones for various uses.

    “The IQ Square’s rapid progression from the prototype stage, initiated in 2022, to the manufacturing and assembly stage is a testament to our hardware and engineering team’s dedication and hard work. We see many commercial and government applications for the IQ Square, which we also envision will be central to powering our future DaaS operations as a versatile multifunction drone for multiple outdoor uses requiring line-of-site including fast growth uses like power washing,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    The IQ Square will be equipped with a power wash system for use in larger-scale cleaning jobs such as stadium seating, building exteriors, and public spaces; drones eliminate the need for scaffolding, lifts, or manual labor by providing a more efficient, safe, and cost-effective solution. Tethered to a ground-based water and a power source, it is designed to maintain a continuous supply of high-pressure water needed to clean large areas without the weight limitations of onboard tanks.

    The mold and drone body frames of the first batch of IQ Square drones are currently being completed, after which they will be assembled, integrated, and tested at the company’s Sharjah, UAE production facility. The Company will oversee the integration and quality inspection of electronics, battery and propulsion systems, software, and sensor installation and calibration, concluding with final flight testing.

    According to QYResearch, the global market for drone cleaning services, including applications such as water hose-tethered power washing for stadium seats and public areas, is projected to reach approximately $53.89 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 19.3%.

    ZenaTech’s Drone as a Service or DaaS business model enables government agencies, building developers, entertainment facilities, farmers, environmental firms, etc. to conveniently access a turnkey drone solution via a local store on a pay-as-you-go or subscription basis rather than having to buy the entire drone hardware and software solution. Like Amazon Web Services, where Amazon owns computer equipment platforms and hires the personnel, with the DaaS model, ZenaDrone owns the drones, hires the pilots and ensures regulatory compliance to enable the cost savings, precision and efficiency of drones over existing legacy methods. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the drone industry include:

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) recently confirms through recent sales activities its positioning and preparedness to support the enhancement of border security amid evolving global trade and security uncertainties and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Highlighting recent sales activities with policing agencies, Draganfly continues to strengthen its position to support border security with advanced drone technology solutions.

    “Recent global trade challenges, tariff uncertainties, and security concerns underscore the critical importance of secure borders and resilient supply chains,” said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly Inc. “Our recent sales activities with policing agencies is a testament to our ability and readiness to provide drone technology and services in support of border security solutions.”

    EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH) recently announced a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (“JAC Motors”) and Hefei Guoxian Holdings Co., Ltd. (“Guoxian Holdings”). Under this agreement, cooperation will focus on establishing a joint venture in Hefei to invest in the construction of a state-of-the-art manufacturing base for low-altitude aircraft. The facility will integrate advanced technology, standardization, and automation to produce intelligent and pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (“eVTOL”).

    The strategic cooperation signing ceremony was attended by key officials including Fei Yuan, Standing Committee Member of Hefei Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Hefei; Xingchu Xiang, Chairman, and General Manager of JAC Motors; Xingke Yin, Vice General Manager of JAC Motors; Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of EHang; and Zhao Wang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang. They were joined by other distinguished guests in witnessing the signing of the strategic cooperation agreement, marking a new milestone in the high-quality development of China’s low-altitude economy ecosystem.

    Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT) recently announced that its Black Widow drone and FlightWave Edge 130 were included on the list of 23 platforms and 14 unique components and capabilities selected as winners of the Blue UAS Refresh. The platforms will undergo National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) verification and cyber security review with the ultimate goal of joining the Blue UAS List.

    Over the coming months, the Blue UAS List and Blue UAS Framework will expand with new additions. The inclusion of the Black Widow and Edge 130 as winners of the Refresh further validates Red Cat’s commitment to delivering NDAA-compliant unmanned systems for defense and government applications.

    AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS) recently announced its participation in the inaugural XPONENTIAL Europe trade show in Dusseldorf Germany held February 18-20, 2025. AgEagle CEO Bill Irby commented, “Invaluable visibility was achieved at XPONENTIAL Europe as AgEagle further strengthened its leadership role in the worldwide UAS marketplace. Our entire product line was presented to a prominent and influential audience both directly by AgEagle and through our industry-leading partners. Notably, major European defense contractor Rheinmetall, presented AgEagle’s eBee VISION as an integral part of their offering as did Dronivo and MKS Servo. The diverse needs of European nations both commercially and defense-wise were reviewed with high-value insight provided by the congregation which included representatives from NATO. AgEagle remains committed to consistently expanding the capabilities and global footprint of our best-in-class UAS products as we continue to build long-term value for all our stakeholders.”

    XPONENTIAL Europe offered a unique combination of trade fair, live demonstrations and a top-class conference program. Daily keynotes by internationally renowned speakers before the start of the trade fair brought exhibitors and visitors together and provided important impetus for the future of autonomy. The tradeshow is the very first event put on by Messe Dusseldorf in partnership with AUVSI. Various members of the drone customer community were present, such as the German Bundeswehr and the U.S. Army, along with members of the press and industrial community.

    About FN Media Group:

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

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

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

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    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: So-called Presidential elections in Georgia’s Abkhazia region on 15 February: joint statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    So-called Presidential elections in Georgia’s Abkhazia region on 15 February: joint statement to the OSCE

    The UK, Canada, Iceland and Norway underline non-recognition of the illegal so-called Presidential elections in Georgia’s Abkhazia region on 15 February 2025.

    2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government“>

    This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

    Thank you, Mr Chair. I am delivering this statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Norway, and my own country the United Kingdom.

    We were concerned to hear of the illegal so-called Presidential elections in Georgia’s Abkhazia region on 15 February 2025.  We do not recognise the legitimacy of these elections.

    We reaffirm our full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We continue to call on the Russian Federation to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions.

    We call upon the Russian Federation to immediately fulfil its obligation under the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008 to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions, fulfil its commitments to allow unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and cease all borderisation tactics.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: SUNation Energy Announces $20 Million Registered Direct Offering Priced at the Market Under Nasdaq Rules

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RONKONKOMA, N.Y., Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SUNation Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNE), a leading provider of sustainable solar energy and backup power solutions for households, businesses, and municipalities, today announced that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors for the purchase and sale of 17,391,306 shares of the Company’s common stock (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) Series A warrants to purchase up to an aggregate 17,391,306 shares of the Company’s common stock and Series B warrants to purchase up to an aggregate 17,391,306 shares of the Company’s common stock at an effective purchase price of $1.15 per share (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) and associated warrants in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules.

    Roth Capital Partners, LLC is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the registered direct offering.

    This registered direct offering will close in two parts. The first closing of the registered direct offering is expected to occur on or about February 27, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and the second closing of the registered direct offering is expected to occur upon the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of approval by the Company’s stockholders in a specially called stockholder meeting to approve the issuance of the series A common stock warrants, series B common stock warrants and the shares of common stock underlying such warrants, in addition to other matters. The gross proceeds from the Offering are expected to be approximately $20 million before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. This includes proceeds of approximately $15 million from the initial closing for 13,043,480 shares of common stock (or common stock equivalents) and proceeds of up to $5 million from the second closing for 4,347,826 shares of Common Stock (or common stock equivalents), Series A warrants to purchase up to 17,391,306 shares of common stock and for Series B warrants to purchase up to 17,391,306 shares of common stock.

    The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund its operations, including for working capital, potential strategic transactions, payment of certain debt obligations and for other general corporate purposes. 

    The Series A warrants will have an exercise price of $1.725 per share subject to standard adjustments for dividends, splits and similar events; a one-time adjustment on the date of issuance (as described in the warrants), subject to a floor price described therein; and also subject to adjustment upon a Dilutive Issuance (as described in the warrants), subject to a floor price described therein. The Series A warrants will be issued at the second closing and will be exercisable immediately after issuance and have a term of exercise equal to 5 years from the date of issuance.

    The Series B warrants will have an exercise price of $2.875 per share subject to standard adjustments for dividends, splits and similar events; a one-time adjustment on the date of issuance (as described in the warrants), subject to a floor price described therein; and also subject to adjustment upon a Dilutive Issuance (as described in the warrants), subject to a floor price described therein. The Series B warrants will be issued at the second closing and will be exercisable immediately after issuance and have a term of exercise equal to 5 years from the date of issuance. The Series B warrants may also be exercised on an alternative cashless basis pursuant to which the holder may exchange each warrant for 3 shares of common stock.

    The securities in the offering described above are being offered by the Company pursuant to a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-267066) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and declared effective by the SEC on September 2, 2022. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement, relating to the offering that will be filed with the SEC. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained, when available, on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or by contacting Roth Capital Partners, LLC at 888 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach CA 92660, by email at rothecm@roth.com.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

    About SUNation Energy, Inc.

    SUNation Energy, Inc. is focused on growing leading local and regional solar, storage, and energy services companies nationwide. Our vision is to power the energy transition through grass-roots growth of solar electricity paired with battery storage. Our portfolio of brands (SUNation, Hawaii Energy Connection, E-Gear) provide homeowners and businesses of all sizes with an end-to-end product offering spanning solar, battery storage, and grid services. SUNation Energy, Inc.’s largest markets include New York, Florida, and Hawaii, and the company operates in three (3) states.

    Forward Looking Statements 

    This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. While the Company believes its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, these plans, intentions, or expectations may not be achieved. For information about the factors that could cause such differences, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in subsequent filings. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Our prospects here at SUNation Energy Inc. are subject to uncertainties and risks. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor provided by the foregoing Sections. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations or forecasts of future events, can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, and are subject to various business risks and known and unknown uncertainties, a number of which are beyond the control of management. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation. The Company cannot predict or determine after the fact what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements or other statements. The reader should consider statements that include the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, “projects”, “should”, or other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends, to be uncertain and forward-looking. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information respecting factors that could materially affect the Company and its operations are contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC which can be found on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Contacts:

    Scott Maskin
    Chief Executive Officer
    +1 (631) 823-7131
    smaskin@sunation.com

    SUNation Energy Investor Relations
    +1 (212) 836-9600
    IR@sunation.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: HashPower Secures Up To $50M Investment MOU in Consensus HK

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HashPower is excited to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) securing up to $50 million in investment for $HPX During a Successful AI & DePIN Powerhouse Event in Consensus HK by HashPower and DePIN X, marking a significant step toward the expansion of AI, DePIN, and decentralized infrastructure innovation.

    This announcement follows the resounding success of AI & DePIN Powerhouse, a premier Web3 event that gathered over 2,000 attendees, including top founders, investors, and industry experts. The event featured thought-provoking panels, networking opportunities, and insightful keynotes, and a firechat with Invest HK on the future of decentralized AI and infrastructure.

    This strategic MOU established with Aethir, Network3, Multiple Network, XPIN Network, Planck Network, DMC AI, and Inferix, aims to foster ecosystem growth, technological advancements, and industry-wide collaboration. Through targeted investments, resource sharing, and joint research initiatives, this partnership will drive sustainable development across AI-powered decentralized infrastructure.

    A Huge Thank You to Our Sponsors and partners
    The success of AI & DePIN Powerhouse would not have been possible without the generous support of our Diamond sponsors and partners: Gaianet、DMC.AI、Wearfit、BIT、Likwid.fi、IO.net，IoTeX，Filecoin，elizaOS，Amber Group，Fenbushi Capital，Nubila，Cyberport，FBG capital. This elite gathering discussed the new cycle of crypto mining, AI, DePIN (decentralized hardware infrastructure) and RWA (real assets on the chain)

    Network3: Network3 is a revolutionary technology that builds a decentralized Edge AI infrastructure, helping AI developers worldwide inference, train, or validate models quickly, conveniently, and efficiently. Network3 has surpassed 630K+ global active nodes, onlined 9,500+ mining machines, raised $5.5M in pre-seed and seed rounds, and $N3 was listed on Bybit, Gate, and BingX on January 22, 2025

    Autonomys: Autonomys is a verticalized decentralized AI (deAI) stack encompassing high-throughput permanent distributed storage, data availability / access layer, scalable distributed compute, and a modular execution layer. Our deAI ecosystem provides all the essential components to build and deploy super dApps (AI-powered dApps) and on-chain agents, equipping them with advanced AI capabilities for dynamic and autonomous functionality.

    About HashPower
    HashPower is revolutionizing the mining industry by bringing traditional operations on-chain. With a globally distributed infrastructure and a commitment to transparency, HashPower makes mining accessible and rewarding for everyone. Learn more at https://www.hashpowerx.com/.

    About DePIN X
    DePINX is a leading mining operator and investment institution in the field of AI and DePIN, with 7 years of rich experience in DePIN mining. The company manages a $50 million mining fund and operates H100 and H200 GPU clusters worth more than $100 million. We maintain in-depth cooperation with top venture capital institutions and mainstream exchanges such as Hashkey, Fenbushi Capital, and Waterdrip Capital, and jointly launched the “Super Node Program”. DePINX is committed to providing comprehensive mining design, technical support and one-stop solutions for AI and DePIN projects, helping projects grow rapidly and promoting long-term sustainable development and ecological win-win. Please follow us on Twitter for the latest updates: https://x.com/depin_x

    HashPower
    Brian
    brian.lam@hashpowerx.com

    DePINX
    Cindy
    cindyyu@depinxcapital.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by HashPower. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed4f54d9-e188-4dd1-bb2e-2e77068c75c2

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/54ffa0e8-32f6-4049-9e80-a3954cf4aa9d

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03bcda0b-bb49-4acf-b6f0-a4bf9d87f066

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Brutalism – the architectural style that dared to summon a new world from the ashes of World War II

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Michael Allen, Visiting Assistant Professor of History, West Virginia University

    Boston City Hall, which was completed in 1968, is considered a classic example of Brutalist architecture. Yunghi Kim/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    Some viewers of “The Brutalist” are probably getting their first taste of Brutalism, the architectural style that gives the film its name.

    The film, which has been nominated for 10 Academy Awards, centers on the efforts of fictional protagonist László Tóth to realize a mammoth, bunkerlike, concrete structure that will house a community center in Pennsylvania.

    A survivor of the Holocaust, Tóth insists on the building’s overwhelming scale, starkly unadorned concrete surfaces and labyrinthine interior in order to create an architectural version of the designer’s own shattered, traumatized inner world. The near-maniacal drive to finish the work becomes an intensely personal project of overcoming his trauma.

    Yet “The Brutalist” doesn’t relay much about Brutalist architecture beyond its reflexive relationship to Tóth. Drawings and photographs of real-life Brutalist buildings appear in several scenes as glimpses into Tóth’s originality and style. But the structures come across as the progeny of one architect’s ego, while the philosophy behind Brutalism remains unexplained.

    The actual story of Brutalism is so much more.

    What you see is what you get

    In my research, I’ve explored how architecture can embody values such as the common good and the human struggle for well-being. Specifically, my work explores how architecture after World War II presented a vision of a new world, one that could overcome decades of violence, exploitation and oppression.

    Brutalism, which flourished from the 1950s until around 1980, is one style that has taught me a lot.

    Brutalist buildings emphasize form using assemblies of monumental geometric shapes. While some critics find Brutalism’s heavy look and utilitarian use of materials like concrete, brick and glass harsh – even ugly – there is a beautiful intent behind them.

    Historian and critic Reyner Banham articulated Brutalism’s core ideas in a 1955 review of Peter and Alison Smith’s Hunstanton School, which was completed in 1954 in Norfolk, United Kingdom.

    Banham latched onto the French term “beton brut” – “bare concrete” – to christen the emergent style. The architects at the forefront of what Banham termed “New Brutalism” were actually thwarting the overly theorized, self-referential modernism of the times. Their buildings, he explained, exhibited three simple traits: an easily visible interior plan, direct expression of structure, and building materials that were valued for their own traits.

    In “The Brutalist,” Tóth’s insistence on plain concrete, as well as Cararra marble for the community center’s altar, captures the core of the philosophy. The materials used for Brutalist structures are not chosen as mere cladding, but as components that are essential to the building’s design. Their presence is an endorsement of their utility and beauty.

    Some Brutalist buildings, such as the Hunstanton School, are made of brick instead of concrete. Others use stone. The goal is honest expression, not in-your-face experimentation.

    Monuments to the masses

    Beyond the devotion to the materials, plan and form of buildings, Brutalism often signified a devotion to social change.

    Brutalism sought to upend preexisting social hierarchies and divisions. Its staggering forms made monuments out of ordinary places frequented by ordinary people: homes, schools, libraries.

    In the U.S., public colleges and universities erected Brutalist structures to celebrate the expansion of higher education to the masses, thanks to the GI Bill. In a project led by Walter Netsch, the University of Illinois-Chicago wove together its buildings with concrete walkways leading to a central, outdoor amphitheater. Harry Weese’s Forest Park Community College in St. Louis consisted of long, monumental brick blocks that made the junior college appear as a temple.

    Chicago-born architect Walter Netsch made an outdoor amphitheater the beating heart of the University of Illinois-Chicago’s campus.
    ArchEyes

    Well-known, if not always well-loved, public buildings such as Boston City Hall, which was built in 1968, expressed faith in modern democracy, giving the majestic government buildings of the past a new look to signify a modern egalitarianism.

    Other projects emphasized the triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement. The Neigh Dormitory at Mary Holmes College in West Point, Mississippi, was completed in 1970 by the firm of Black architect J. Max Bond Jr. Architectural historian Brian Goldstein described it as “modernism as liberation.”

    Despite Brutalism’s social optimism, it is not without detractors. In 2014, Northwestern University demolished Bertrand Goldberg’s Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago despite pleas from preservationists. According to the university, the concrete construction made the building impossible to adapt for new laboratory space.

    In Goshen, New York, county officials long viewed Paul Rudolph’s Orange County Government Center as an ugly and unpleasant seat of government, and almost succeeded in having it demolished. The building has since been remodeled to cloak the Brutalist design.

    New buildings for a new world

    In the U.K., cities faced damages from Nazi bombing during World War II as well as long-deferred upgrades to public housing. Brutalism was a key part of postwar housing recovery and expansion efforts.

    Perhaps the most iconic Brutalist structure in the U.K. is Erno Goldfinger’s 31-story Trellick Tower, a frequent setting for film and music videos.

    That same year, Alison and Peter Smithson unveiled their massive apartment complex, Robin Hood Gardens, in London. With its hulking concrete forms and “streets in the sky” – wide, outdoor decks on each story that were meant to mimic street life and facilitate contact with neighbors – the project demonstrated that working-class people could not only have modern apartments, but also live in new ways. London’s massive, middle-class Barbican Estate, completed in 1982, created a small city within the city, replete with plazas, a waterway and iconic concrete and brick buildings.

    London’s Robin Hood Gardens was famously built with ‘streets in the sky.’
    Matthew Lloyd/PA Images via Getty Images

    Other European Brutalist works directly confront the horrors of World War II.

    The Swiss-French architect and artist known as Le Corbusier built the Convent at Sainte Marie de La Tourette in France in the 1950s with concrete shapes resembling cannons and machine-gun barrels in its walls.

    In Paris, Georges-Henri Pingusson’s Memorial to the Martyrs of Deportation, built in 1962, commemorates the lives of 200,000 victims of the Holocaust through an assemblage of stark, monolithic concrete forms.

    While the Soviet Union’s 1950s and 1960s prefabricated concrete panel housing estates built under Premier Nikita Khruschev embody the Brutalist devotion to cost efficiency and social problem-solving, projects in the former Yugoslavia show how Brutalism could symbolize the rebirth of a people. Housing projects and commercial blocks in New Belgrade forged a new architecture for a new nation – and, in a sense, a new nationality.

    And on the site of the Jasenovac concentration camp in Croatia, run by a Nazi puppet regime, architect Bogdan Bogdanović crafted perhaps the most optimistic acknowledgment of the will to overcome the 20th century’s darkest hours.

    Where slave labor once made bricks, and thousands lost their lives, the designer crafted a massive concrete monument, completed in 1969. The stark form suggests a flower emerging from tortured soil but set upon thriving anyway.

    To me, monuments like Bogdanović’s show how Brutalism is the perfect style to convey the earnest hope that a new world is possible.

    Bogdan Bogdanović’s memorial honors the people killed at the Jasenovac concentration camp in Croatia.
    Stringer/AFP via Getty Images

    Michael Allen is an Advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

    – ref. Brutalism – the architectural style that dared to summon a new world from the ashes of World War II – https://theconversation.com/brutalism-the-architectural-style-that-dared-to-summon-a-new-world-from-the-ashes-of-world-war-ii-248957

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: More Americans of all political stripes support government benefits for low-income people − and Black Lives Matter could be a big reason why

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Karyn Vilbig, PhD Student in Sociology, New York University

    A protester leads a Black Lives Matter rally in San Francisco on June 3, 2020. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

    For all the apparent division over Black Lives Matter, the movement may have had a widespread and positive impact on Americans’ support for policies that help the poor.

    Since the Black Lives Matter movement launched in 2013, several studies using a range of datasets have all found that Americans’ views of Black people have become significantly more positive. As a sociologist who researches the safety net, I wondered how this might translate to support for policies that support low-income Americans.

    That’s because perceptions of Black people have long been one of the best predictors of whether someone favors government aid for low-income people.

    If this has held true, more positive views of Black Americans should translate into more support for social welfare programs. Indeed, since 2012, the share of Americans who support higher spending on these programs has grown by 12%.

    It still wasn’t clear, though, whether that boost in support was due to some other factor – say, the dramatic economic fallout associated with the COVID-19 pandemic or the success of the government stimulus programs that followed – as opposed to shifts in racial attitudes.

    So I decided to explore the extent to which these changes in attitudes about government benefits can be attributed to recent shifts in racial attitudes. I found that nearly all of the increase in support for these safety net programs since 2012 can be explained by changes related to Americans’ racial attitudes.

    Who receives these benefits?

    When Americans think about welfare beneficiaries, they usually picture Black people.

    It’s true that Black Americans are overrepresented among those who receive government assistance. For example, Black people make up just 14% of the U.S. population but 30% of those enrolled in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

    That being said, the majority of recipients of government aid are white.

    For decades, however, TV shows, movies and the news media have portrayed Black people as impoverished recipients of government benefits. This has caused many Americans to incorrectly presume that these programs support mostly Black people.

    Because so many Americans have traditionally held negative views toward Black people, the mental association between Black people and poverty has undermined support for government programs – and has perhaps even prevented the United States from developing the kind of robust social safety net that is found in many other affluent countries.

    The ‘welfare queen’ myth advanced by President Ronald Reagan has been hard to dislodge in the American imagination.

    Feelings toward Black people have shifted

    Since 2012, however, Americans’ racial attitudes have dramatically changed.

    In 2012, for example, 49% of Americans responding to the General Social Survey, a long-standing national survey that measures societal change, said Black-white differences in income, housing and jobs were due to a lack of willpower on the part of Black people. By 2022, the most recent year available, this number had fallen to 29%.

    There’s been a debate about the exact cause of these dramatic changes. But many researchers credit the Black Lives Matter movement.

    Black Lives Matter began in 2013 in response to the acquittal of the man who murdered Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager. It gained further momentum in 2014 with the police killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. In 2020, following the police murder of George Floyd, it became the largest movement in U.S. history by number of protesters.

    Past research has linked specific waves of Black Lives Matter protests to increased attention on racial inequality and decreases in racial prejudice.

    Breaking down the data

    Meanwhile, support for government benefits for low-income people has also grown in recent years.

    To figure out whether increased support for Black people was tied into more support for government aid for the poor, I analyzed two national datasets by running a type of statistical analysis called “decomposition.”

    A decomposition analysis takes the difference between two groups and breaks it into different parts to explain what’s behind that difference. For example, decomposition analysis has been used to explain the pay gap between men and women. These analyses often find that part of the gender pay gap can be explained by differences in the average number of hours men and women work and by differences in the payoff to a college degree experienced by men and women, among other things. Instead of comparing men and women, I compare Americans in 2012 versus Americans in 2020.

    In my analysis, I found that improved attitudes toward Black people between 2012 and 2020, more than any other measure, explained increased support for welfare programs during that same period.

    A second factor also helps to explain the increased support for the safety net: Americans are exhibiting greater alignment between their racial and social policy attitudes.

    In the past, many Americans expressed support for racial equality in principle but opposed the policies that might actually achieve it. I found something new. In 2020, most Americans didn’t just say that they want racial equality in the abstract. They also expressed support for the programs they believed will bring it about.

    Supporters of the Civil Rights Movement demonstrate against racial segregation outside a Woolworth’s store in New York City in 1960.
    Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

    GOP voters have changed, too

    These progressive attitude shifts can even be found among Republican – albeit to a lesser extent. Republican politicians once appealed to voters by disparaging welfare recipients and Black people. In light of these attitude shifts, that approach no longer appears to be a recipe for political success in America.

    Instead, Republicans have made opposition to immigration central to their campaigns. Immigration is an issue where Republicans perform well with voters, and this strategy has paid off at the voting booth.

    But governing requires attention to more than just the issues that poll well.

    Particularly when it comes to decisions about the safety net, Republicans find themselves in an awkward position. As recent budget debates in the House have made clear, the goal of dramatically cutting government spending conflicts with promises to protect the social programs Republican voters increasingly support.

    The safety net may very well become a major liability for the Republican Party. To the extent that the GOP continues to back spending cuts for programs that help millions of low-income people, it will be out of step with many of its voters. But if it follows the lead of right-wing parties in Europe and supports the safety net, it will be at odds with many of its donors.

    Karyn Vilbig received funding for this work from the American Sociological Association’s Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (ASA DDRIG).

    – ref. More Americans of all political stripes support government benefits for low-income people − and Black Lives Matter could be a big reason why – https://theconversation.com/more-americans-of-all-political-stripes-support-government-benefits-for-low-income-people-and-black-lives-matter-could-be-a-big-reason-why-247764

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Israel’s bombing of Gaza caused untold environmental damage − recovery will take effort and time

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lesley Joseph, Research Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina

    Vast areas in Gaza have been reduced to rubble. Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    The war in Gaza has come with an awful cost. Tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed, and thousands more are missing. And while a temporary ceasefire has allowed for increased aid delivery, easing the plight of those facing disease and hunger, experts predict malnutrition and health issues to persist for months or even years.

    Much of the territory’s infrastructure – its schools, hospitals and homes – has been damaged or destroyed. And yet, the tremendous human and societal loss has been augmented by a lesser reported but potentially catastrophic, consequence: environmental devastation.

    In June 2024, the United Nations Environment Programme conducted an environmental impact assessment to evaluate the damage resulting from Israeli military actions in Gaza. It found “unprecedented levels of destruction” from the intensive bombing campaign, along with the complete collapse of water and solid waste systems, and widespread contamination of the soil, water and air. And that was before another six months of bombing caused further damage to Gaza.

    As a scholar of environmental justice, I have thought carefully about the impact that a lack of clean water, access to sanitation facilities, and the absence of basic infrastructure can have on a community, particularly vulnerable and marginalized populations. The current pause in fighting is providing respite for the 2.2 million people in Gaza who have endured more than a year of war. It also provides an opportunity to evaluate the environmental damage to the densely populated enclave in three crucial areas: the water, sanitation and hygiene sector, or WASH; air quality; and waste management.

    Here is what we know so far:

    WASH sector

    According to an interim damage assessment released by the World Bank, U.N. and E.U. in March 2024, an estimated US$502.7 million of damage was inflicted on the WASH sector in Gaza in the initial months of bombing, including damage to approximately 57% of the water infrastructure.

    The United Nations reported that water desalination plants in Gaza, 162 water wells and two of the three water connections with Israel’s national water provider had been severely damaged.

    As a result, the amount of available water in Gaza was at that point reduced to roughly 2-8 liters per person per day – below the World Health Organization emergency daily minimum of 15 liters and far below its standard recommendation of 50-100 liters per day.

    In November 2024, meanwhile, the charity Oxfam reported that all five wastewater treatment plants in Gaza had been forced to shut down, along with the majority of its 65 wastewater pumping stations. This resulted in ongoing discharges of raw, untreated sewage into the environment. As of June 2024, an estimated 15.8 million gallons of wastewater has been discharged into the environment in and around Gaza, according to the U.N. environmental report.

    Meanwhile, sanitation facilities for Palestinians in Gaza are practically nonexistent. Reporting from U.N. Women states that people in Gaza routinely walk long distances and then wait for hours just to use a toilet, and due to the lack of water, these toilets cannot be flushed or cleaned.

    Air quality

    The air quality in Gaza has been drastically impacted by this war. NASA satellite imagery from the first few months of the war found that approximately 165 fires were recorded in Gaza from October 2023 to January 2024.

    With a shortage of electricity, residents have been forced to burn various materials, including plastics and household waste, for cooking and heating. And this has contributed to a dangerous decline in air quality.

    Meanwhile, large amounts of dust, debris and chemical releases have been produced from explosions and the destruction of infrastructure, leading to significant air pollution. In February 2024, the U.N. Mine Action Service estimated that, in the first few months of the war alone, more than 25,000 tons of explosives had been used, equivalent to “two nuclear bombs.”

    Waste management

    In the first six months of bombardment, more than 39 million tons of debris were generated, much of it likely to contain harmful contaminants, including asbestos, residue from explosives and toxic medical waste.

    Human remains are also mixed in with this debris, with estimates that over 10,000 bodies remain under the rubble. Moreover, the three main landfills in the Gaza Strip have been closed and are unable to receive waste or conflict-related debris.

    Substantial damage has been done to five out of six solid waste management facilities, and solid waste continues to accumulate at camps and shelters, with an estimate of 1,100 to 1,200 tons being generated daily.

    The charge of ‘ecocide’

    With such environmental destruction, claims of “ecocide” have been made against the Israeli government by international rights groups.

    Although not presently incorporated into the framework of international law, there have been recent efforts for ecocide to be added as a crime under the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. Indeed, a panel of experts in 2021 proposed a working definition of ecocide as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment caused by those acts.”

    To date, 15 countries have criminalized ecocide, and Ukraine is investigating Russia for ecocide for its destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023.

    Various organizations, including the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, the University of California Global Health Institute and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, have stated that the level of environmental devastation in Gaza reaches the proposed legal definition of “ecocide.”

    Although the Israeli government has not responded to these accusations, it has consistently stated that it has a right to defend itself and that it seeks to protect civilians as it conducts its military operations.

    Health impacts of environmental harm

    Regardless of whether the charge of ecocide applies to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, the environmental impact, the spread of disease, and other harmful health impairments will be felt for years to come.

    The United Nations Relief and Works Agency reported an increase in hepatitis A in the enclave, from 85 cases before the current war to 107,000 cases in October 2024. The WHO has reported 500,000 cases of diarrhea and 100,000 cases of lice and scabies, along with the reemergence of polio.

    Polio virus has been found in wastewater, threatening the lives of Palestinian children in Gaza.
    Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images

    The lack of adequate WASH facilities has also disproportionately affected women and girls by interfering with basic menstrual hygiene, harming their mental and physical health.

    Meanwhile, the increased presence of dangerous air pollutants has led to increases in respiratory issues, including nearly 1 million acute respiratory illnesses. Presently, the most common respiratory ailments in Gaza are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, pneumonia and lung cancer.

    Next steps

    As a licensed environmental engineer, I have never seen the scale of environmental destruction that has occurred in Gaza.

    While the situation is unprecedented, there are concrete steps that the international community can take to help Gaza’s environment recover. The three-stage ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which went into effect on Jan. 19, 2025, is a promising first step. This agreement has allowed some Israeli hostages to be released and Palestinian detainees to return to their homes. It also allows for more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza to deal with the current food crisis and health emergency.

    Nevertheless, there are significant challenges ahead for the people of Gaza. First, the ceasefire agreement will need to hold – and already there are signs of difficulty in implementing the agreement in full. Should fighting resume, that will close or delay the opportunity for engineers and surveyors to perform detailed, comprehensive field assessments.

    Meanwhile, the need for a post-conflict plan for Gaza has never been starker.

    Recovering from Gaza’s environmental devastation will require Israel and neighboring countries, as well as influential world powers such as the United States and the European Union, to work together to rebuild critical infrastructure, such as water and wastewater treatment plants and solid waste infrastructure. Moreover, to succeed, any long-term plan for the reconstruction of Gaza will need to prioritize the needs and perspectives of Palestinians themselves.

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

    – ref. Israel’s bombing of Gaza caused untold environmental damage − recovery will take effort and time – https://theconversation.com/israels-bombing-of-gaza-caused-untold-environmental-damage-recovery-will-take-effort-and-time-245311

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is a charter school, really? Supreme Court ruling on whether Catholic charter is constitutional will hinge on whether they’re public or private

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Preston Green III, John and Maria Neag Professor of Urban Education, University of Connecticut

    The court’s ruling could affect more than religion in schools. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

    In April 2025, the Supreme Court will hear arguments about whether the nation’s first religious charter school can open in Oklahoma. The St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School would be funded by taxpayer money but run by a local archdiocese and diocese.

    The case is often discussed in terms of religion, and a decision in the school’s favor could allow government dollars to directly fund faith-based charter schools nationwide. In part, the justices must decide whether the First Amendment’s prohibition on government establishing religion applies to charter schools. But the answer to that question is part of an even bigger issue: Are charters really public in the first place?

    As two professors who study education law, we believe the Supreme Court’s decision will impact issues of religion and state, but could also ripple beyond – determining what basic rights students and teachers do or don’t have at charter schools.

    Dueling arguments

    In June 2023, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved St. Isidore’s application to open as an online K-12 school. The following year, however, the Oklahoma high court ruled that the proposal was unconstitutional. The justices concluded that charter schools are public under state law, and that the First Amendment’s establishment clause forbids public schools from being religious. The court also found that a religious charter school would violate Oklahoma’s constitution, which specifically forbids public money from benefiting religious organizations.

    The Oklahoma Supreme Court in the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, May 19, 2014.
    AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File

    On appeal, the charter school is claiming that charter schools are private, and so the U.S. Constitution’s establishment clause does not apply.

    Moreover, St. Isidore argues that if charter schools are private, the state’s prohibition on religious charters violates the First Amendment’s free exercise clause, which bars the government from limiting “the free exercise” of religion. Previous Supreme Court cases have found that states cannot prevent private religious entities from participating in generally available government programs solely because they are religious.

    In other words, while St. Isidore’s critics argue that opening a religious charter school would violate the First Amendment, its supporters claim the exact opposite: that forbidding religious charter schools would violate the First Amendment.

    Are charters public?

    The question of whether an institution is public or private turns on a legal concept known as the “state action doctrine.” This principle provides that the government must follow the Constitution, while private entities do not have to. For example, unlike students in public schools, students in private schools do not have the constitutional right to due process for suspensions and expulsions – procedures to ensure fairness before taking disciplinary action.

    Charter schools have some characteristics of both public and private institutions. Like traditional public schools, they are government-funded, free and open to all students. However, like private schools, they are free from many laws that apply to public schools, and they are independently run.

    Because of charters’ hybrid nature, courts have had a hard time determining whether they should be considered public for legal purposes. Many charter schools are overseen by private corporations with privately appointed boards, and it is unclear whether these private entities are state actors. Two federal circuit courts have reached different conclusions.

    In Caviness v. Horizon Learning Center, a case from 2010, the 9th Circuit held that an Arizona charter school corporation was not a state actor for employment purposes. Therefore, the board did not have to provide a teacher due process before firing him. The court reasoned that the corporation was a private actor that contracted with the state to provide educational services.

    In contrast, the 4th Circuit ruled in 2022 that a North Carolina charter school board was a state actor under the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In this case, Peltier v. Charter Day School, students challenged the dress code requirement that female students wear skirts because they were considered “fragile vessels.”

    The court first reasoned that the board was a state actor because North Carolina had delegated its constitutional duty to provide education. The court observed that the charter school’s dress code was an inappropriate sex-based classification, and that school officials engaged in harmful gender stereotyping, violating the equal protection clause.

    If the Supreme Court sides with St. Isidore – as many analysts think is likely – then all private charter corporations might be considered nonstate actors for the purposes of religion.

    But the stakes are even greater than that. State action involves more than just religion. Indeed, teachers and students in private schools do not have the constitutional rights related to free speech, search and seizure, due process and equal protection. In other words, if charter schools are not considered “state actors,” charter students and teachers may eventually shed constitutional rights “at the schoolhouse gate.”

    Amtrak: An alternate route?

    People ride an Amtrak Acela train through Pennsylvania, en route from New York City to Washington, in 2022.
    AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey

    When courts have held that charter schools are not public in state law, some legislatures have made changes to categorize them as public. For example, California passed a law to clarify that charter school students have the same due process rights as traditional public school students after a court ruled otherwise.

    Likewise, we believe states looking to clear up charter schools’ ambiguous state actor status under the Constitution can amend their laws. As we explain in a recent legal article, a 1995 Supreme Court case involving Amtrak illustrates how this can be done.

    Lebron v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation arose when Amtrak rejected a billboard ad for being political. The advertiser sued, arguing that the corporation had violated his First Amendment right to free speech. Since private organizations are not required to protect free speech rights, the case hinged on whether Amtrak qualified as a government agency.

    The court ruled in the plaintiff’s favor, reasoning that Amtrak was a government actor because it was created by special law, served important governmental objectives, and its board members were appointed by the government.

    Courts have applied this ruling in other instances. For example, the 10th Circuit Court ruled in 2016 that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was a governmental agency and therefore was required to abide by the Fourth Amendment’s protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

    Currently, we believe charter schools fail the test set out in the Amtrak decision. Charter schools do serve the governmental purpose of providing educational choice for students. However, charter school corporations are not created by special law. They also fall short because most have independent boards instead of members who are appointed and removed by government officials.

    However, we would argue that states can amend their laws to comply with Lebron’s standard, ensuring that charter schools are public or state actors for constitutional purposes.

    Preston Green III is affiliated with the National Education Policy Center.

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

    – ref. What is a charter school, really? Supreme Court ruling on whether Catholic charter is constitutional will hinge on whether they’re public or private – https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-charter-school-really-supreme-court-ruling-on-whether-catholic-charter-is-constitutional-will-hinge-on-whether-theyre-public-or-private-249428

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Increase of domestic timber to boost UK economy and housebuilding

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Increase of domestic timber to boost UK economy and housebuilding

    New vision by government to deliver on its Plan for Change by increasing timber use in construction and boosting economic growth.

    Credit: BSW Timber

    A new roadmap to get Britain building with the use of sustainable and low carbon building materials, will help solve the housing crisis and achieve 2050 net zero targets.

    New, ambitious plans to increase the use of timber in construction to boost the domestic timber industry, economic growth, rural jobs and housebuilding targets, have been announced by Environment Minister Mary Creagh today (Thursday 27th February) at the Timber in Construction (TiC) Summit in London.

    The government has outlined new methods to deliver on its Plan for Change that will help to build 1.5million sustainable and affordable homes, create a low-waste circular construction sector and drive further investment into domestic timber and wood-processing supply chains.

    Speaking at the TiC Summit, Minister Creagh confirmed the government will recommit to the Timber in Construction Roadmap, which outlines measures to increase the use of timber in the construction sector. 

    David Hopkins (CEO of Timber Development UK), Defra Environment Minister Creagh, Andrew Carpenter (CEO of Structural Timber Association) , Andy Leitch (Deputy Chief Executive of Confor) at the Timber in Construction Summit, London, February 2025 Credit: Timber Development UK

    Using timber in construction is one of the best ways to reduce emissions from buildings. Around 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions are from the built environment, and larger buildings can store up to 400% more carbon when built out of engineered timber products compared to when built with concrete. Currently only 80% of the timber the UK uses is imported.

    The new Timber in Construction Roadmap outlines more ambitious Government priorities and key actions including:

    • Encouraging the use of sustainable, low carbon building materials, and ensuring carbon emissions are considering during the design, construction and use of buildings.
    • Fulfilling the Government’s commitment to delivering 1.5m homes this Parliament by using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) including the use of timber, to boost productivity in housebuilding and deliver high quality, energy efficient new homes.
    • Creating a circular economy by championing timber’s potential for a clean growth future – supporting the construction sector to use the most sustainable, low carbon materials and construction techniques.
    • Accelerating economic growth by creating new and diverse green jobs in the productive forestry and timber sectors, as well as stimulating further investment into domestic timber and wood processing supply chains.

    These actions will go alongside recommitting to existing plans such as promoting timber as a construction material, boosting skills and capacity across the supply chain and increasing the supply of sustainable timber products.

    Environment Minister Mary Creagh said:

    “This Government is getting Britain building.

     “Our Plan for Change will build 1.5 million homes this Parliament. Timber will play a vital role benefitting development and nature.”

    Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford said: 

     ”To reach net zero, we must increase timber production from homegrown trees and use that timber in our buildings to sequester carbon. The Timber in Construction Roadmap will propel forestry production in England to ensure timber security, reduce our dependence on imports, and address the nature crisis by boosting biodiversity, improving water quality, and providing more green spaces for people.

    “The Forestry Commission will continue to collaborate closely with partners from the timber, forestry, and construction sectors in this critical area of work for many years ahead”.

    Alex Goodfellow, Chair of the Confederation of Timber Industries, and CEO of Donaldson Offsite said:

    “The Minister’s support for the Timber in Construction Roadmap shows the Government’s firm commitment to a growth agenda: growth for forestry, for housing, for low-carbon skills and for the economy. The timber supply chain is a major economic player in the UK, connecting rural and urban environments. 

    “Timber frame construction is a well-proven technology and business model for delivering houses rapidly and sustainably while improving quality.  By accelerating this growth we can build more low-carbon housing today while providing a market pull for expanding forests. As a supply chain we will support the Government to deliver on all of the goals in the Roadmap and help build a more sustainable future.”

    The amended Roadmap goes further than previous Government commitments, setting out more ambitious targets and actions to increase the use of homegrown timber in construction in a move to reduce carbon emissions, provide green jobs of the future, create affordable and sustainable housing, and drive-up economic growth.

    Increasing the domestic production of timber will create new green jobs in the forestry and wood processing sectors, which contribute over £3bn to the UK economy.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Black Country street racing injunction remains in place

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The injunction, led by the City of Wolverhampton Council on behalf of Dudley Council, Sandwell Council and Walsall Council and supported by West Midlands Police, prohibits people from: participating in, as a driver, rider or passenger, street racing; from promoting, organising or publicising gatherings; or from participating as a spectator.

    The injunction covers the whole of the boroughs of Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall and anyone found to be breaching it will be in contempt of court and may be imprisoned, fined or have their assets seized. They may also be ordered to pay the council’s legal costs of any hearing.

    The High Court originally granted the full and final injunction in February 2024 with the injunction and power of arrest remaining in force until at least 2027 subject to annual review.

    At yesterday’s review hearing, Mr Justice Ritchie permitted the injunction to continue, with minor amendments to the wording, after hearing evidence from the Claimant councils that there was a “pressing need for a continuance” of the injunction.

    Pardip Nagra, Wolverhampton Anti Social Behaviour Team Leader, told the court that the injunction had reduced racing and led to 7 people being found in contempt of court following committal applications for breach of the injunction in the Black Country over the last 13 months.

    Meanwhile PC Mark Campbell from Operation Hercules, West Midlands Police’s tactical response to street racing, described how there had been a 38% decrease in complaints relating to street racing in the Black Country between 2023 and 2024.

    Mr Justice Ritchie said: “Street racing involves speeding, loud noise, convoys, racing, stunts and obstructions.

    “I find that the order has been very effective in protecting the public, catching criminals, bringing them before the court quickly, and giving them a punishment which seems to be working.

    “This action has probably saved lives and very probably prevented injuries – and the councils and police should be congratulated on doing it.”

    Mr Justice Ritchie added that the injunction will remain in place in its current form until the revised order comes into effect in the coming weeks.

    Speaking on behalf of the Claimant councils, Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Digital and Community, said: “We very much welcome the High Court’s decision to allow the street racing injunction to continue.

    “The court was presented with a wealth of evidence about the impact that the injunction has had, not only in bringing the perpetrators of street racing to justice but in preventing meets from occurring in the first place, and we hope it will continue to restrain this anti-social and dangerous activity across the Black Country.”

    For more information about the street racing injunction, please visit the street racing pages of the applicants – Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell or Dudley – which are in the process of being updated.

    Incidents of street racing should be reported via asbu@wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk or to West Midlands Police on 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.

    Police are also inviting members of the public to submit dash cam or mobile phone footage of street racing events or dangerous driving via its Op Snap website.

    A further annual review of the injunction will be held by the High Court in around 12 months’ time, on a date to be fixed in due course.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council led teamwork helps to keep rough sleeper levels down across city

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The data snapshot – taken once a year and based on one night – puts rough sleeper levels in Wolverhampton at 8.

    The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has published the latest figures following a count in October 2024. It shows Wolverhampton has fewer rough sleepers than most cities in the country and one of the lowest levels in the region.

    Across England the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2024 was 4,667. This has risen for the third year in a row, increasing 20% since 2023. The West Midlands region saw a 35% increase in rough sleepers in 2024 compared to 2023, according to the single night figures.

    City of Wolverhampton Council heads a multi agency approach with the P3 Charity, Good Shepherd Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton BID, Wolverhampton Homes, Recovery Near You, West Midlands Police and others.

    Support offered by partner agencies not only addresses housing issues but also helps with reducing debts, improving skills, controlling substance use and managing mental and physical health issues. All those identified as rough sleeping during the count were offered support, including accommodation.

    Councillor Steve Evans, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “The low figures are a testament to work that goes into supporting our most vulnerable people all year round.

    “Our revised 5 year Homelessness Prevention Strategy underpins our commitment, through a joined up approach, to ensuring no-one is left behind.

    “We will build on partnership work to tackle the root causes of homelessness while working to deliver good homes in well connected neighbourhoods that support strong families where children grow up well and achieve their full potential.”

    Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “People who sleep rough also often have complex and multiple health and care needs. An important part of our work in this area is to help people improve their health and social wellbeing, supporting them to find long term solutions and break the cycle.”

    P3 Charity Head of Support & Community Services, Sam Bailey, said: “We’re proud of the collective difference we’ve made to rough sleeping in Wolverhampton, but we can’t rest on our laurels.

    “In collaboration with our partners, we’ll continue the exceptional, people centric approach that we’re known for, ensuring our interventions are effective and long lasting. Our commitment continues until we’re confident there is no longer anyone in Wolverhampton who needs to spend a night on the streets.”

    For details on how to contact support services to help those experiencing rough sleeping, visit Rough sleeping, P3 Charity or Street Support Network – Find Help.

    Donate online via JustGiving or by using the charity’s tap and go points in Railway Drive or Victoria Square.

    Concerned about someone sleeping rough? Visit StreetLink.

    For help with the cost of living visit Cost of Living Support.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gross Domestic Product, 4th Quarter and Year 2024 (Second Estimate)

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 (October, November, and December), according to the second estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.1 percent.

    The increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected increases in consumer spending and government spending that were partly offset by a decrease in investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased. For more information, refer to the “Technical Notes” below.

    Real GDP was revised up by less than 0.1 percentage point from the advance estimate released last month, primarily reflecting upward revisions to government spending and exports that were partly offset by downward revisions to consumer spending and investment.

    Compared to the third quarter, the deceleration in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected downturns in investment and exports that were partly offset by an acceleration in consumer spending. Imports turned down.

    The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter, revised up 0.1 percentage point from the previous estimate. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased 2.4 percent, revised up 0.1 percentage point. Excluding food and energy prices, the PCE price index increased 2.7 percent, revised up 0.2 percentage point.

    Real GDP and Related Measures
    (Percent change from Q3 to Q4)
      Advance Estimate Second Estimate
    Real GDP 2.3 2.3
    Current-dollar GDP 4.5 4.8
    Gross domestic purchases price index 2.2 2.3
    PCE price index 2.3 2.4
    PCE price index excluding food and energy 2.5 2.7

    GDP for 2024

    Real GDP increased 2.8 percent in 2024 (from the 2023 annual level to the 2024 annual level), the same as previously estimated. The increase in real GDP in 2024 reflected increases in consumer spending, investment, government spending, and exports. Imports increased.

    The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 2.4 percent in 2024, revised up 0.1 percentage point. The PCE price index increased 2.5 percent, the same as the previous estimate. Excluding food and energy prices, the PCE price index increased 2.8 percent, also the same as the previous estimate.

    Next release: March 27, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
    Gross Domestic Product (Third Estimate)
    Corporate Profits
    Gross Domestic Product by Industry
    4th Quarter and Year 2024

    For definitions, statistical conventions, updates to GDP, and more, visit “Additional Information.”

    Technical Notes

    Sources of revisions to real GDP in the second estimate

    Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.3 percent (0.6 percent at a quarterly rate1), an upward revision of less than 0.1 percentage point from the previous estimate, primarily reflecting upward revisions to government spending and exports that were partly offset by downward revisions to consumer spending and investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, were revised down.

    • The revision to government spending primarily reflected an upward revision to federal government spending (notably, defense consumption expenditures), based on Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment data.
    • For both exports and imports, the revised estimates primarily reflected updated data from BEA’s International Transactions Accounts as well as new and revised Census Bureau trade in goods data for December. The revision to imports was led by a downward revision to other goods, reflecting a downward revision to the territorial adjustment.2
    • The downward revision to consumer spending reflected a downward revision to goods that was partly offset by an upward revision to services.
      • Within goods, the downward revision was led by other durable goods (notably, jewelry and watches), based on revised Census Bureau Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) data.
      • Within services, the upward revision was led by recreation services (led by video and audio streaming and rental), based primarily on financial reports for publicly traded companies, and food services, based on revised Census MRTS data.
    • The downward revision to investment reflected a downward revision to nonresidential fixed investment that was partly offset by an upward revision to private inventory investment.
      • Within nonresidential fixed investment, the leading contributor to the downward revision was intellectual property products (led by research and development), based on R&D expenses reported by publicly traded companies.
      • Within private inventory investment, the revision primarily reflected an upward revision to nonfarm inventories (led by merchant wholesale), based primarily on revised Census Bureau book value data.

    More information on the source data and BEA assumptions that underlie the fourth-quarter estimate is shown in the key source data and assumptions table.

    1. Percent changes in quarterly seasonally adjusted series are displayed at annual rates, unless otherwise specified. For more information, refer to the FAQ Why does BEA publish percent changes in quarterly series at annual rates?. 

    2. Consists of transactions between the United States and its territories, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The treatment of U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands in the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPAs) differs from that in the International Transactions Accounts (ITAs). In the NIPAs, U.S. territories are included in the rest of the world; in the ITAs, they are treated as part of the United States.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Fusion Fuel Appoints Luisa Ingargiola to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBLIN, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN – Fusion Fuel Green PLC (Nasdaq: HTOO) (“Fusion Fuel” or the “Company”), a leading provider of gas and hydrogen energy solutions, today announced the appointment of Luisa Ingargiola to its Board of Directors, effective February 24, 2025. Ms. Ingargiola will serve as chairperson of the Audit Committee, replacing Rune Magnus Lundetrae, who will remain a member of the Board. She will also serve as a member of the Nominating Committee, Audit Committee, and Compensation Committee. Following Ms. Ingargiola’s appointment, the Board will be comprised of six directors, four of whom have been determined by the Board to be “independent directors” under the Nasdaq Listing Rules.

    Commenting on the appointment, Jeffrey Schwarz, Chairman of Fusion Fuel, said, “Luisa’s extensive experience in public company governance, capital markets, and financial oversight, coupled with her track record of supporting high-growth companies through complex strategic and financial initiatives, make her a tremendous asset to Fusion Fuel. Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to execute our business strategy and drive long-term value creation. On behalf of my fellow directors, I want to welcome Luisa and look forward to benefiting from her insight and leadership as we build the new Fusion Fuel and position the company for sustainable growth.”

    Ms. Ingargiola currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Avalon GloboCare Corp. (Nasdaq: ALBT) and as a board director for Vision Marine Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: VMAR) and BioCorRx Inc. (OTCQB: BICX), where she also chairs the Audit Committees. Earlier in her career, Ms. Ingargiola was CFO and co-founder of BBHC, Inc., formerly known as MagneGas Corporation. Ms. Ingargiola graduated from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance. She also received a Master of Health Administration from the University of South Florida.

    About Fusion Fuel Green PLC

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

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

    Forward-Looking Statements

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

    Investor Relations Contact
    ir@fusion-fuel.eu

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Mavenir’s Network Intelligence as a Service AI Agents Deliver 40% Mobility KPI Gains in 5G Non-Standalone Networks

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RICHARDSON, Texas, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mavenir, the cloud-native network infrastructure provider building the future of networks, today announced a groundbreaking achievement with its full-stack AI framework, Network Intelligence as a Service (NIaaS). For the first time globally, deep reinforcement learning (RL)-based live AI Agents – an integral component of Mavenir’s NIaaS – are autonomously controlling and performing full-closed-loop optimization for operational 5G non-standalone (NSA) networks, delivering over 40% gains in key performance indicators (KPIs) related to mobility in radio access networks (RAN). The significant performance gains were also cost-effective, since NIaaS runs only on CPUs in the field rather than GPUs. Hosted in Mavenir’s RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), NIaaS has proven these milestones in live Open RAN deployments with two Tier 1 5G NSA operators in South Asia, with each deployment corresponding to 25+ sites and 100+ LTE and New Radio (NR) cells.

    Presenting the first-of-its-kind telco AI capability for large-scale Open RAN operations, Mavenir’s NIaaS has significantly reduced the rate of unstable handovers (including mobility ping-pongs, too-late handovers, too-early handovers, radio link failures and wrong-cell handovers) by 40% to 60% for the aggregate KPI and individual KPI components, thereby improving the mobility robustness of 4G/5G mobile subscribers in the live networks.

    “We are thrilled to lead the industry with our innovative NIaaS that is revolutionizing telecom network operations,” said BG Kumar, President, Access Networks, Platforms, and Digital Enablement at Mavenir. “While traditional SON systems are too functionality-centric, without any guarantees of tangible improvement of the target KPIs in the field, our AI-native NIaaS is KPI-centric, extracting deep-dive intelligence about the KPIs from cell-to-cell, site-to-site, market-to-market, and precisely optimizing those factors impacting the KPIs in the live network. This achievement underscores our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies and our in-house skillset of inventing, innovating and designing state-of-the-art AI/ML models to drive tangible improvements in network performance and customer experience,” added Kumar.

    Looking ahead, Mavenir’s NIaaS will focus on consistently improving other operational Telco KPIs, such as connectivity, coverage, traffic management, accessibility, retainability, traffic quality, efficiency and CAPEX/OPEX. Though hosted in Mavenir RIC for the Open RAN deployments, NIaaS is also offered as a stand-alone telco intelligence capability for other domains (such as Packet Core, IMS, etc.). Moreover, NIaaS is not only confined to offering telco AI capabilities in markets with Mavenir network functions (NFs), but also to markets with third-party NFs as well.

    Mavenir NIaaS thus represents a significant leap forward in live telco AIOps, providing operators with AI-native tools to enhance network efficiency, reduce operational costs, and deliver superior service quality to their customers. As the telecom industry continues to evolve, Mavenir remains at the forefront of innovation, dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible with AI/ML technologies.

    Mavenir’s NIaaS hosts state-of-the-art AI suite including Deep-RL AI Agents – developed by Mavenir – that are blended with transfer learning to autonomously control and optimize mobility offsets across LTE cells, reducing network-wide unstable handovers. These Deep-RL AI Agents for optimization are significantly aided by other agents & models in full-stack AI suite of NIaaS. For example, AI causation and explainability models help in identifying and quantifying the root causes of unstable handovers and mobility KPI degradations, and data clustering and classification models help in correlating radio frequency, mobility, traffic, and other observability patterns across cells and across time, towards evaluating the net effect. The Deep-RL AI Agents address these factors and account for the effect, optimizing the mobility thresholds autonomously in the field.

    About Mavenir:

    Mavenir is building the future of networks today with cloud-native, AI-enabled solutions which are green by design, empowering operators to realize the benefits of 5G and achieve intelligent, automated, programmable networks. As the pioneer of Open RAN and a proven industry disruptor, Mavenir’s award-winning solutions are delivering automation and monetization across mobile networks globally, accelerating software network transformation for 300+ Communications Service Providers in over 120 countries, which serve more than 50% of the world’s subscribers. For more information, please visit www.mavenir.com

    Meet Mavenir at Mobile World Congress 2025, Barcelona, Mar 3-6, 2025.

    To explore Mavenir’s latest innovations and learn more about how Mavenir is delivering the Future of Networks – Today, visit us in Hall 2 (Stand 2H60) at #MWC25.

    Mavenir PR Contact:
    Emmanuela Spiteri
    PR@mavenir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CIRA’s Net Good Grants champion community-led initiatives to strengthen Canada’s internet

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OTTAWA, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The time has never been better to help build a resilient internet in Canada, something that CIRA has been championing for years and has taken on a whole new level of urgency. A strong internet empowers Canada’s economy and provides opportunity for people across the country to build digital skills, start new businesses and advocate for their communities. This year, CIRA is launching the 12th edition of its Net Good Grants program offering over $1,000,000 in grant funding to boost community-led responses to Canada’s digital divide and strengthen our economy.

    CIRA’s Net Good Grants provide financial support to organizations looking to research and develop solutions that get communities online safely, affordably and resiliently. CIRA empowers community-led initiatives to take the lead on addressing access and affordability challenges head on, with a focus on ensuring rural, Northern and Indigenous communities are heard and served. Communities and projects like these have benefitted from CIRA funding:

    • Fort Smith Metis Council in Northwest Territories now have connectivity that offers emergency communications, safety, data mapping and enhanced recreational activities in the campsite area well outside the Fort Smith townsite, used year-round by youth camps, elders and tourists
    • Malahat Nation in British Columbia is now running their own sovereign fibre internet service to community buildings and households that plugs into the single main line coming from the external ISP
    • The first-ever Canadian Youth Internet Governance Forum, a platform for young Canadians, convened to discuss and advocate around internet policy, access to connectivity and youth leadership

    CIRA Net Good Grants 

    For its 12th edition, CIRA’s Net Good Grants will award each project up to $100,000 with a total investment of over $1,000,000. This investment is a key part of Net Good by CIRA’s commitment to build a more sustainable online future for Canadians everywhere. The funding will power essential projects in three core areas: 

    • Infrastructure: connectivity research, network planning and solutions to improve internet access, speed and affordability. 
    • Policy engagement: events, research and policy ecosystem work that broadens public awareness in domestic internet policy and governance. 
    • Online safety: research, educational frameworks, tools, consultations and training programs that increase Canadians’ safety against cybersecurity threats. 

    Applications will be accepted from every province and territory with a focus on projects that benefit rural, Northern or Indigenous communities or K-12 and post-secondary students. CIRA especially encourages applications for eligible projects in the Prairies, Quebec, the North and the Maritimes to help ensure funding reaches traditionally underserved communities. 

    Executive quote 

    “Many Canadians, particularly those in rural and remote areas, do not have adequate access to high-quality internet. That drives CIRA to partner with organizations that are determined to strengthen local communities by delivering internet programs tailored to their residents through our Net Good Grants program. This year, we are keen to invite applications for community-led solutions that address digital challenges in rural, Northern and Indigenous communities across Canada.” 

    — Charles Noir, Vice-president of Community Investment, Policy & Advocacy 

     Who is eligible to apply? 

    • Organizations recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as registered charities; 
    • Not-for-profit organizations; 
    • Indigenous communities; and 
    • Academics and researchers affiliated with a Canadian university or college. 

    Last year, CIRA awarded a total of $1.25 million in grant funding to 15 community-led internet initiatives that improve the lives of Canadians online. For the 2025 edition, a distinguished cross-Canada panel will review, select funding applications and notify all applicants of the grant decisions by July. Organizations are encouraged to submit their application before the deadline on April 9, at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT. A webinar in English on March 4 at 1 p.m. ET and in French on March 5 at 1 p.m. ET will be hosted for all interested applicants.

    Additional information 

    About CIRA  

    CIRA is the national not-for-profit best known for managing the .CA domain on behalf of all Canadians. As a leader in Canada’s internet ecosystem, CIRA offers a wide range of products, programs and services designed to make the internet a secure and accessible space for all. CIRA advocates for Canada on both national and international stages to support its goal of building a trusted internet for Canadians by helping shape the future of the internet. 

    About Net Good by CIRA and CIRA Grants  

    Net Good by CIRA supports communities, projects and policies that make the internet better for all Canadians. CIRA proudly funds Net Good by CIRA from the revenue CIRA generates through .CA domains and cybersecurity services. CIRA Grants is one of CIRA’s most valuable contributions to Net Good, with nearly $12 million invested in hundreds of community-led internet projects across Canada that address infrastructure, online safety and policy engagement needs. 

    Media contact 
    Delphine Avomo Evouna 
    CIRA 
    delphine.avomoevouna@cira.ca  
    613-315-1458 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Captivision Appoints John Jureller to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Captivision Inc. (“Captivision” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CAPT), a pioneering manufacturer and global LED solution provider, today announced the appointment of John Jureller to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Jureller will also serve as Chair of the Company’s Audit Committee, bringing extensive financial leadership and corporate governance expertise to the Company.

    With experience spanning consumer products, communications, private equity, real estate, and healthcare, Mr. Jureller has held key financial leadership roles at multinational public and private companies. He has played an instrumental role in growth capitalizations and strategic transactions for small and micro-cap companies. His former corporate affiliations include PepsiCo, Frontier Communications, General Atlantic and Bankers Trust (now part of Deutsche Bank).

    “We are pleased to welcome John to Captivision’s Board of Directors,” said Gary Garrabrant, Chairman and CEO of Captivision. “John brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our board and our company. His career is distinguished by a rare combination of leadership roles with major corporations and dynamic entrepreneurial enterprises.”

    Mr. Jureller holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management and a B.S. with Distinction from Cornell University.

    About Captivision

    Captivision is a pioneering manufacturer of media glass, combining IT building material and architectural glass. The product has a boundless array of applications including entertainment media, information media, cultural and artistic content as well as marketing use cases. Captivision can transform any glass façade into a transparent media screen with real time live stream capability. Captivision is fast becoming a solution provider across the LED product spectrum.

    Captivision’s media glass and solutions have been implemented in hundreds of locations globally across sports stadiums, entertainment venues, casinos and hotels, convention centers, office and retail properties and airports. Learn more at http://www.captivision.com/.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to expectations for future financial performance, business strategies, or expectations for the Company’s respective businesses. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of the management of the Company. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. These statements constitute projections, forecasts, and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this press release, words such as “believe”, “can”, “continue”, “expect”, “forecast”, “may”, “plan”, “project”, “should”, “will” or the negative of such terms, and similar expressions, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

    The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (1) the ability to raise financing in the future and to comply with restrictive covenants related to indebtedness; (2) the ability to realize the benefits expected from the business combination and the Company’s strategic direction; (3) the significant market adoption, demand and opportunities in the construction and digital out of home media industries for the Company’s products; (4) the ability to maintain the listing of the Company’s ordinary shares and warrants on Nasdaq; (5) the ability of the Company to remain competitive in the fourth generation architectural media glass industry in the face of future technological innovations; (6) the ability of the Company to execute its international expansion strategy; (7) the ability of the Company to protect its intellectual property rights; (8) the profitability of the Company’s larger projects, which are subject to protracted sales cycles; (9) whether the raw materials, components, finished goods, and services used by the Company to manufacture its products will continue to be available and will not be subject to significant price increases; (10) the IT, vertical real estate, and large format wallscape modified regulatory restrictions or building codes; (11) the ability of the Company’s manufacturing facilities to meet their projected manufacturing costs and production capacity; (12) the future financial performance of the Company; (13) the emergence of new technologies and the response of the Company’s customer base to those technologies; (14) the ability of the Company to retain or recruit, or to effect changes required in, its officers, key employees, or directors; (15) the ability of the Company to comply with laws and regulations applicable to its business; and (16) other risks and uncertainties set forth under the section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F entitled “Risk Factors.”

    These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release and the Company’s management team’s current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company and its directors, officers, and affiliates. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company management team’s views as of any subsequent date. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update, add or to otherwise correct any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events, inaccuracies that become apparent after the date hereof or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

    Media Contact:
    Gateway Group
    Zach Kadletz
    +1 949-574-3860
    CAPT@gateway-grp.com

    Investor Contact:
    Gateway Group
    Ralf Esper
    +1 949-574-3860
    CAPT@gateway-grp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: From bootstrapped to scale: Venture builder Disrupt.com to invest $100M to fuel next generation of AI startups from the UAE

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Dubai, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — While venture capital funding contracted globally in 2024, three founders who turned their bootstrapped startup into a $350M exit are taking a contrarian approach. Today, UAE-based venture builder Disrupt.com announces a $100M commitment to build and back AI-first technology ventures globally.

    Founded by Aaqib Gadit, Uzair Gadit, and Umair Gadit – three university friends who grew up in the same household – Disrupt.com represents the founders’ reinvestment of capital following their successful 2022 exit of cloud hosting platform Cloudways to US-listed Digital Ocean Holdings. The $350M acquisition marked the largest exit in Pakistan’s technology sector to date, with the founders now channeling their entrepreneurial expertise and capital back into the ecosystem through a unique venture building approach from their UAE headquarters.

    Disrupt.com founders: (L to R) Aaqib Gadit, Umair Gadit and Uzair Gadit.

    Having already deployed over $40M across their portfolio – including in four growth-stage companies built from idea stage, seven investments in early-stage companies, and an exit valued at $350 million – this new $100M commitment represents a significant expansion of their venture building activities. With a dedicated team of 650+ professionals, Disrupt.com provides not just capital but also the technical and operational expertise startups need to scale.

    “Now is the time to be doubling down on our experience,  financial investment and commitment required to help build the next wave of startups that will shape the future of the world as we know it. With Web 3.0 in its infancy and AI storming into our lives, the opportunity to problem solve and create businesses that will fit the needs of how people live and work is up for the taking. Our region can not only keep up, but lead the way. We are excited to see where this journey will take us,” said founding partner Aaqib Gadit. 

    Unlike traditional venture capital firms, Disrupt.com employs a three-pronged approach to creating value: building their own startups from scratch, co-building ventures alongside external founders, and making strategic investments in early-stage startups and VC funds. Through their unique ‘CoBuild’ model, they function as fractional co-founders, providing dedicated engineering, go-to-market, and operations teams to drive early adoption in a capital-efficient way.

    The firm’s $100M commitment targets five strategic sectors: artificial intelligence as a cross-cutting theme, plus cybersecurity, Web3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation. Disrupt.com primarily targets pre-seed to Series A stage startups that demonstrate strong organic growth potential and clear paths to profitability, rather than pursuing growth at all costs.

    The announcement comes as regional funding has declined sharply, with MENA venture capital investment down 29% to just under $2B in 2024, according to Magnitt. Saudi startups saw a 44% funding drop to $750M, while UAE funding decreased 8% to $613M, creating a challenging environment for early-stage ventures.

    Disrupt.com’s current portfolio showcases their model’s effectiveness, including ZigChain, a Web3.0 platform that has scaled to 500,000+ users and hundreds of millions in managed assets; PureSquare, a cybersecurity venture; and UAE-homegrown fitness apparel brand Squatwolf. The firm has already deployed capital as a strategic investor in several AI-focused startups including organizational transformation platform Agentnoon and climate action scaling tool Ahya.

    Bartolome R. Bordallo, Co-Founder & CEO of ZigChain, highlighted the venture builder’s distinctive approach: “Some investors write checks. Disrupt.com builds with you. They’ve helped us scale from a few early adopters to managing hundreds of millions in assets and launching our own blockchain.”

    Anam Khalid and Wajdan Gul, Co-founders of UAE-based fitness apparel brand Squatwolf, emphasize the founder-first approach: “With Disrupt, you get founder-friendly partners because they’re founders themselves. They understand our challenges and opportunities in a way traditional investors simply cannot.”

    Looking ahead, Disrupt.com will direct its $100M commitment toward ventures with strong product-market fit, well-researched idea-market alignment, and robust unit economics pointing toward profitability.

    Ends

    Media images can be found here. 

    About Disrupt
    Disrupt.com is a leading venture builder and investor that partners with ambitious entrepreneurs to build, scale and invest in high-potential, globally focused technology startups. With a focus on transformative technologies and innovative business models that reshape industries – the firm is dedicated to providing entrepreneurs hands-on expertise and navigating the challenging path to scale.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Human Rights in Russia and the deaths of Alexei Navalny and Boris Nemtsov: Joint Statement to the OSCE, February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Human Rights in Russia and the deaths of Alexei Navalny and Boris Nemtsov: Joint Statement to the OSCE, February 2025

    UK and others commemorate Alexei Navalny and Boris Nemtsov and call on Russia to release political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.

    Thank you  Mr Chair.  I am making this statement on behalf of Albania, Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine and my own country the United Kingdom.   

    Following the anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s death, which followed years of arbitrary detention in poor conditions, we extend our condolences to his family and reiterate that the ultimate responsibility for his death lies with the Russian authorities. Today we also commemorate Boris Nemtsov, ten years after his brutal murder.   

    We regret that Russia’s dire human rights record continues to deteriorate. The Russian government crushes peaceful dissent, maintains a climate of fear and undermines the rule of law. This stands in direct contradiction to shared OSCE principles and commitments on inter alia the right to a fair trial, freedom from arbitrary detention, the right to freedom of assembly and association and the prohibition on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.  

    As we reflect on Navalny and Nemtsov’s enduring legacy, our countries continue to stand with civil society and human rights defenders working tirelessly to build a better future for Russia in the face of immense personal risk. 

    In July 2022, 38 participating States invoked the Moscow Mechanism on threats to the fulfilment of the provisions of the Human Dimension posed by human rights violations and abuses in the Russian Federation.  That Moscow Mechanism report determined that:  “a decade of reform legislation in Russia has completely changed the scope of action of Russian civil society, cutting it off from foreign and international partners, suppressing independent initiatives, stifling critical attitudes towards the authorities, silencing the media and suppressing political opposition”.  

    Such internal clampdowns on human rights and fundamental freedoms helped the Russian Federation prepare the ground for its war of aggression against Ukraine. Since February 2022 the Russian authorities have further tightened internal repression in an apparent attempt to silence all opposition voices.  There are now over 800 political prisoners in Russia, including many imprisoned for speaking out against Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the brutality shown towards the Ukrainian people.  

    In this context we regret Russia’s lack of response to the Vienna Mechanism of March 2024 on treatment of prisoners.   We also recall the 11 October 2024 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation which inter alia examined the widespread and systematic use of torture and ill treatment in the Russian Federation.  

    We reiterate our call to the Russian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all political opposition activists, human rights defenders, journalists and other media actors.   

    We will continue to hold Russia to account against its international obligations and commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms, including OSCE principles and commitments to which it signed up willingly. 

    For as we all agreed in Moscow in 1990, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law constitutes one of the foundations of the international order.  And as we also agreed in Moscow, commitments undertaken in the field of the human dimension are matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the State concerned.  

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 February 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: FMQs: First Minister urged to back greyhound racing ban

    Source: Scottish Greens

    27 Feb 2025 Climate

    This will make a big difference to port communities across Scotland.

    More in Climate

    The introduction of a cruise ship levy will be a crucial step for our environment and for local councils, says Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess, who is her party’s local government spokesperson.
     
    Ms Burgess was responding to the launch of a Scottish Government consultation on the introduction of a levy, which was secured by the Scottish Greens in 2023 and announced at their party conference by co-leader Lorna Slater.
     
    Ms Burgess said:

    “A levy on polluting cruise ships is an important step for our climate and for local government. It will make a big difference for port communities across Scotland, from Ullapool to Greenock, Kirkwall to Edinburgh, Stornoway to Rosyth.
     
    “Cruise ships are one of the dirtiest and most polluting forms of travel, and it is right that we tax them.
     
    “The tourism that these ships bring can have a lot of benefits, but we also know that it can put a lot of pressure on the local environment, infrastructure and services.
     
    “By allowing local authorities to apply a levy they can ensure that local people are not left picking up the bill and that they see a direct benefit from visiting ships.
     
    “We need to ensure that councils have the powers they need to raise funds and deliver change in their communities. 
     
    “That is why the Scottish Greens worked to secure a funding increase for local authorities as part of this year’s Budget and why we delivered powers for them to double council tax for second and holiday homes.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s economy shows new vitality amid high-quality development

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Feb. 27 — As the world’s second-largest economy, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5 percent year on year in 2024, reaching a record of 134.9084 trillion yuan (about 18.58 trillion U.S. dollars). China’s growth rate is among the highest of the world’s major economies, reinforcing its continued role as a key driver of global economic growth. In its pursuit of high-quality development, China’s economy has shown new vitality.

    BOOMING CONSUMPTION

    In recent months, China has seen its consumption sector, a key driver of economic growth, unleash more vitality, with hustle and bustle in the market and new demand fueling and shaping trends.

    Vibrant consumer spending data stemming from the 2025 Spring Festival holiday confirm a strong and energetic start to the year for the world’s second-largest economy.

    Domestic travel spending during the holiday reached 677 billion yuan (about 93.25 billion U.S. dollars), representing a 7-percent increase from the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

    The Spring Festival box office also enjoyed a very positive 2025, with revenue soaring to 9.51 billion yuan (about 1.31 billion U.S. dollars) — a record high.

    China’s policy-backed trade-in program for consumer goods served as a further boost, significantly lifting holiday market sentiment. Sales revenues for household appliances and audiovisual equipment surged by 166.4 percent compared to the 2024 holiday period, while sales of communication devices skyrocketed by 181.9 percent year on year, data from the State Taxation Administration revealed.

    POLICY BOOSTS

    Since last September, China has unveiled a series of measures to boost the economy. These include cuts in the market-based benchmark lending rates and banks’ reserve requirement ratios, and a package of 10 trillion yuan in new fiscal funding to address local government debt risks. A trade-in program for consumer goods such as appliances and automobiles was expanded to revive consumption.

    In the real estate sector, adjustments have also been made to home purchase mortgage rates, transaction taxes and downpayment ratios in order to stabilize the market and reverse a downturn.

    Looking ahead, China plans a stronger macroeconomic policy push for 2025. Authorities have pledged to adopt a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy, strengthen unconventional counter-cyclical adjustments, and expand domestic demand across all sectors.

    As part of the policy push, the country will significantly increase the size of its fiscal deficit in 2025, and allocate a larger scale of government bonds, including ultra-long special treasury bonds and local government special bonds, according to Vice Minister of Finance Liao Min.

    Final details, including this year’s GDP growth target, deficit-to-GDP ratio and other arrangements, will be available during this year’s annual sessions of China’s top legislature and political advisory body in March.

    ROBUST ENGINE

    As the world’s second-largest importer and a major trading partner of more than 150 countries and regions, China’s unwavering commitment to opening up and sharing development benefits with others has created new opportunities for the growth of other countries, according to analysts.

    For seven consecutive years, China has hosted the China International Import Expo, inviting businesses from around the globe to explore the vast potential of its consumer market. Having fully opened its manufacturing sector to foreign investors, China is committed to further opening up sectors such as telecommunications, education, medical services, and more.

    In December 2024, the World Bank raised its forecast for China’s economic growth in 2025, citing “higher-than-expected fiscal spending and more decisive policy actions to stabilize the property sector, following recent guidance from policymakers,” which could push growth above baseline expectations.

    MIL OSI China News –