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  • MIL-Evening Report: It’s the most American of sports, so why is the NFL looking to Melbourne for international games?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney

    Melbourne’s status as the sporting capital of Australia is well-established: the Victorian city hosts annual events such as the Australian Open tennis tournament, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Melbourne Cup horseracing carnival, Boxing Day cricket Test and more.

    Now the United States’ National Football League (NFL) is set to join the party.

    In May last year, the NFL earmarked Australia as a future host for an international game.

    Now it has been reported the NFL is set to lock-in three regular season games in Melbourne at the MCG, starting in October 2026, just after the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final.

    The teams set to feature in the first game are 2022 Super Bowl winners the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles will play in next week’s Super Bowl and feature an Australian, Jordan Mailata, on their team.

    The Rams and the Eagles both have international marketing rights to Australia – giving the clubs an opportunity to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the US through fan engagement, events and commercial opportunities.

    What’s in it for Victoria?

    The NFL contests would pour millions of dollars into the Victorian economy; each team would travel with hundreds of staff, while thousands of fans would likely travel from interstate and overseas.

    The Victorian government has not revealed any revenue estimates but last year’s Super Bowl week in Las Vegas generated more than $US1 billion ($A1.61 billion) in economic impact.

    Given the NFL’s love of razzmatazz, it would likely host a week-long procession of activities and fan zones across the city before almost certainly filling the MCG with 100,000 spectators.

    However, the choice of the MCG as a venue was not without controversy.

    The MCG boasts the biggest capacity of any stadium in Australia, but it is an oval shape, not rectangular, which makes the viewing experience more difficult when it hosts sports such as soccer, rugby – or NFL.

    Critics have suggested Accor Stadium in Sydney’s west or Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane (both rectangular venues) would be better for these games.

    What’s in it for the NFL?

    The NFL has broadened its international presence during the past decade or so, and now hosts eight games internationally each season.

    But why did NFL decide on Australia to join the likes of England, Germany, Spain, Brazil and Mexico?

    It chose places with strong sports consumer marketplaces, where streaming is popular and destinations where US fans are likely to travel to.

    Australia, while not as popular as in the days of Paul Hogan, is still a popular destination for many Americans, especially those who like sports.

    American football is far from a dominant sports code in Australia but is still a significant global market for the NFL, with an estimated fan base of more than six million supporters across the country.

    But principally, it’s about the money.

    The NFL’s media broadcast deal is one of, if not the, most lucrative in world sports: the TV and streaming media rights are said to be worth more than $US100 billion ($A161 billion).

    Analysts estimate the NFL’s international games will collectively add $US1 billion ($A1.61 billion) to the league’s TV rights.

    This has helped the NFL build a huge global audience, which Commissioner Roger Goodell has said is a key strategy:

    The media platforms are essential – we want to reach the most people we can through our media partners, because that’s how most people experience football. But when we bring games (to international markets), it is […] the spark that lights the flame. Playing the games is a big part of making our game global.

    The NFL is also looking to Australia for future athletic talent.

    In recent years, NFL and college football teams have regularly recruited Australian athletes as punters (specialist kickers), who grew up kicking balls and can transfer their skills to the American game.

    The NFL also recently set up a talent academy on the Gold Coast to encourage talented youngsters from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific to pursue their NFL dream.

    What fans can expect

    Melbourne is not Las Vegas, but even so, if confirmed, the games will deliver some old-fashioned American showbiz to the state.

    The MCG will likely be packed with fans (both hardcore and casual) for the contest, and of course the sport’s famous half-time shows.

    And then there’s the athletic brilliance of the players: the game is considered by some to be as intellectual as chess but with enormous physical prowess required. The chance to see these massive athletes up close will no doubt be a huge drawcard.

    NFL fans in Australia – and very likely New Zealand, the Pacific and even further abroad – will no doubt be waiting with bated breath for the league to confirm the games, and then try to find a way to secure sought-after tickets.

    Tim Harcourt supports both the Green Bay Packers to keep his Wisconsin in laws happy and the Minnesota Vikings as he once lived in Minneapolis.

    – ref. It’s the most American of sports, so why is the NFL looking to Melbourne for international games? – https://theconversation.com/its-the-most-american-of-sports-so-why-is-the-nfl-looking-to-melbourne-for-international-games-248870

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall, Rep. Van Duyne Reintroduce Legislation to Reduce Overbearing Regulations for America’s Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D., and U.S. House Representative Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24) introduced the bicameral Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act to protect our small businesses from the financial burden of top-down federal regulations. 
    When Washington, D.C. imposes regulations, it often comes at a significant cost to our locally-owned businesses. In 2022 alone, complying with regulations cost American small businesses an average of $15,133.57 (adjusted for 2024 dollars) per employee on their payroll. The Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act alleviates these costs and requires the Administration to submit an annual report to Congress outlining the impacts of regulations on small businesses. 
    “I will always stand with Main Street over Wall Street, and remain laser-focused on supporting our nation’s small businesses. That means making it easier for them to do their jobs and keeping the federal government out of the way!” said Senator Marshall. “It’s time to slash the red tape and create a regulatory environment that ensures America’s small businesses, the backbone of our economy, thrive.”
    “After Biden-Harris imposed more than $1.7 trillion in regulatory costs and inflicted 20% inflation, America’s small businesses are in desperate need of relief. I’m glad to partner with Senator Marshall to reintroduce the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act to slash burdensome regulations for our job creators as we work to keep the American Dream alive for the next generation,” said Rep. Van Duyne (R-TX-24). 
    “The first rule of economic growth is to stop stifling entrepreneurs. Yet, that’s exactly what Washington does to small businesses. Startups and mom-and-pops can’t afford full-time staff dedicated to regulatory compliance they way bigger companies can. Capping regulatory costs for small businesses at current levels is an important step towards better regulatory policy, as are the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act’s improved transparency requirements.” said Ryan Young, Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Economist.
    “The Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act directs the SBA Administrator to quantify and monitor regulatory costs on small businesses, which is greatly needed as the cumulative costs are overwhelming small firms and undermining their competitiveness. Quantifying these costs on an annual basis and determining whether rules cumulatively exceed a zero-based regulatory budget provide a framework that promotes accountability and sensible regulation. SBE Council strongly supports this legislation, as it will help Congress with critical oversight and help to inform and educate regulators about the need to consider small business impact as they propose and advance their regulatory initiatives.” said Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council.
    “Small businesses often deeply suffer the effects of federal regulations because they have limited resources for compliance. This bill from Senator Roger Marshall and Representative Beth Van Duyne would ensure these burdens are minimized and tallied,” said Nicholas Johns, Senior Policy and Government Affairs Manager, National Taxpayers Union. “National Taxpayers Union applauds this bill because it would prevent the Small Business Administration from hindering companies under their purview and create a government-wide report detailing the regulatory costs on small businesses.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Marshall, Hawley Demand Answers from Ford For Terminating Partnership with Kansas City Company

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Senators Roger Marshall M.D. and Josh Hawley (R-MO) sent a letter to the Ford Motor Company demanding answers for terminating its partnership with Jack Cooper, a Kansas City-based company. 
    For over 40 years, Jack Cooper and Ford have had a strong business partnership until Ford abruptly ended its deal before the contract deadline and without explanation, leading to 400 Kansas City area jobs being lost. The letter requests Ford to provide an explanation for ending its deal with Jack Cooper and affirm that Ford will fulfill all legal obligations resulting from the agreement ending.
    “For over four decades, Jack Cooper has been a reliable partner to Ford, fulfilling all performance standards and playing an important role in Ford’s success. To end such a relationship without a clear and justified cause strikes us as a profound betrayal of American workers, who have buoyed Ford for nearly half a century,” the members wrote.“This decision disrupts lives and erodes the community’s trust in what is supposed to be a paradigmatic American company. Yet, the workers at Jack Cooper and their families are still waiting for answers,” the members continued.

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Waitangi Treaty Grounds address

    Source: ACT Party

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

    E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e rau Rangatira

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

    Tuatahi, ki a maimoatia te reo me te ahurea Māori

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

    Tuarua, ki a whakatika ngā hapa o mua.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Perhaps blaming me is a convenient distraction from other failures.

    The numbers don’t lie.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    That’s my wero to you,

    Ngā mihi.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Right place, right time for Waitangi rescue

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    It was a case of right place, right time for the Police Maritime Unit after rescuing two teenagers struggling to keep afloat in the water off Waitangi Wharf.

    At about 3.30pm on Tuesday, the Police Maritime Unit were returning to the wharf when they noticed two heads bobbing in the water.

    Sergeant Jesse Jenden says the pair were with a group of others jumping into the water when they got out of their depth and found themselves struggling against the strong current.

    “They were being swept out in the strong current and were near the 5-knot marker, about 300 metres from the wharf.

    “They were with about 20 kids on the wharf but none of them had noticed they had been swept away.

    “It was obvious they were struggling.”

    Sergeant Jenden says when they pulled up alongside the two girls and offered help they quickly accepted and were helped onboard.

    “Another few minutes and it could have been a different result.

    “Both were fully clothed and wearing crocs, which would also have restricted their ability to swim.

    “I guess it was a case of being in the right place at the right time, and I’m glad we were there to help.”

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: White Supremacist Leader Found Guilty of Conspiring to Destroy Regional Power Grid

    Source: US State of Vermont

    After a six-day trial, a jury found Brandon Russell, 29, of Orlando, Florida, guilty of conspiracy to damage an energy facility.

    According to evidence presented at trial, from at least November 2022 to Feb. 3, 2023, Russell conspired to carry out attacks against critical infrastructure, specifically transformers located within electrical substations, in furtherance of his racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist beliefs. Russell posted links to open-source maps of infrastructure, which included the locations of electrical substations, and he described how a small number of attacks on substations could cause a “cascading failure.” Russell also discussed maximizing the impact of the planned attack by hitting multiple substations at one time.

    Russell recruited a Maryland-based woman, Sarah Beth Clendaniel, to carry out the attacks in Baltimore and elsewhere. They planned to damage energy facilities involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity and to cause a significant interruption and impairment of the Baltimore regional power grid. The intended monetary loss associated with the planned attacks would have exceeded $75 million. Clendaniel identified five substations to target, and Russell attempted to secure a weapon for Clendaniel. Clendaniel stated that if they hit a number of substations all in the same day, they “would completely destroy this whole city,” and that a “good four or five shots through the center of them . . . should make that happen.” She further added, “[i]t would probably permanently completely lay this city to waste if we could do that successfully.”

    Russell faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to damage an energy facility and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17.

    On Sept. 25, 2024, Clendaniel was sentenced to 18 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for conspiring with Russell to damage or destroy an energy facility. Clendaniel was also sentenced to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and 3 years of supervised release.

    The FBI investigated the case.

    The Justice Department’s National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Votes “No” on Director of National Intelligence Nominee Tulsi Gabbard in Senate Intelligence Committee

    US Senate News:

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

    February 04, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., voted against advancing Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to serve as director of national intelligence in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today.

    “Tulsi Gabbard’s statements, writings, and record since she left Congress show that she views issues of national security and foreign intelligence primarily through an extreme partisan lens. Disturbingly, Ms. Gabbard refused to commit to opposing an illegal order from Donald Trump, in response to my question at her confirmation hearing. I am not convinced that she would stand up to demands to defund intelligence community oversight bodies, fire intelligence officials for perceived disloyalty to Donald Trump, or grant Elon Musk’s DOGE henchmen access to sensitive systems and materials,” Wyden said.

    “During her confirmation process, however, I was encouraged by her commitments related to FISA, encryption, protections for whistleblowers and journalists, and numerous other topics.  If Ms. Gabbard is confirmed by the full Senate, it is my intention to hold her to these commitments.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

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

    Image of bomb disposal robot.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Notes to editors

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New reforms to support victims of child sexual abuse

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Victims of child sexual abuse will be better supported with new reforms that prioritise their rights.

    • Three-year limit for compensation claims to be axed – enabling victims to come forward when ready
    • Burden of proof to shift from survivors to defendants – protecting victims from reliving trauma
    • Measures deliver recommendations of Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

    The Government is delivering on recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) to make it easier for victims to gain an apology and to pursue claims in the civil court.

    The three-year time limit for victims to bring personal injury claims will be removed. So will the burden of proof that currently rests on victims’ shoulders, who must prove it is possible to hold a fair trial for one to go ahead. Now, that burden is lifted off victims and placed on defendants, who must show a fair trial cannot proceed if they intend to block one. This will enable cases to be heard more easily, and protect victims from reliving their trauma.

    The Law of the Apologies will also be amended to encourage employers to apologise to people wronged by their employees, where currently they fear doing so because of institutional liability, meaning that victims are likelier to receive apologies from schools, care facilities or hospitals for abuse carried out by an individual at these institutions.

    The Government has listened to victims, survivors and experts through two consultations – and they have said they want action.

    Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said:

    Child sexual abuse causes lifelong trauma and these important changes, recommended by Professor Jay, are long overdue.

    These measures help survivors pursue their path to justice. They build on the Government’s mission of halving violence against women and girls and support our Plan for Change.

    Currently civil child sexual abuse claims must be brought within three years of turning 18, unless the victim can prove a fair trial can proceed despite the time lapse. But as the IICSA heard, a “significant number” of claims are being rejected because it can take “decades for survivors to feel able to discuss their sexual abuse”.

    As a direct result of today’s reforms, all cases brought will proceed unless the defendant proves that a fair hearing cannot take place, for example due to lack of evidence.

    IICSA also heard that in many child sexual abuse cases, an apology by an institution was desired but never delivered, blocking victims’ path to closure.

    Often organisations are reluctant to apologise because of concerns it may be interpreted by individuals such as insurers, as an admission of fault. The Government will clarify, as per the IICSA recommendation, that apologies could and should be offered by employers for the actions of current or former employees.

    Justice Minister Sarah Sackman KC said:

    The courts must work for the public they serve – and we recognise that victims and survivors need time to process their trauma.

    By changing the law, it will now be possible for victims to come forward, and seek justice, when they feel ready to do so.

    The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse heard the powerful testimonies of more than 7,000 victims and made 20 final recommendations.

    The measures announced today build on action already taken across government to respond to horrific child sexual abuse crimes, including providing £10 million to drive change at a local level to protect children across the country from grooming gangs, and a suite of legislative measures to tackle online child sexual abuse, including two world leading measures on AI-generated child sexual abuse material. These measures form part of our commitment – underscored by our Plan for Change – to halve violence against women and girls this decade.

    Legislation will also be brought forward to make grooming an aggravating factor in the sentencing of child sexual offences, and introduce a new Mandatory Reporting duty, in the Crime and Policing Bill to be put before Parliament this Spring. A new offence will also be created so anyone covering up child sexual abuse will face criminal sanctions.

    Changes to the Law of Apologies and Limitation Law, follow two Government consultations in 2024.

    Gabrielle Shaw, Chief Executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), said:

    This is a watershed moment for survivors of child sexual abuse. These reforms recognise the long-term impact of trauma and ensure survivors are not excluded from seeking redress simply because of the time taken to come forward.

    NAPAC also welcomes greater clarity on apologies. A sincere apology, when freely given and supported by meaningful action, is invaluable – especially as part of wider efforts to ensure accountability and prevent future harm.

    These important changes reflect the growing understanding of what survivors need to access justice and healing, and we welcome the government’s commitment to making them a reality.

    Civil claims are made where someone feels that they have suffered a harm or a wrong which another person or organisation is accountable for. It is made by issuing a claim form at the relevant court (such as the County Court), and serving it on the defendant. 

    Further information:

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: US State Government of Utah

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Work progressing to address seafarer wage theft

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Government’s work to address seafarer wage theft has taken an important step forward, with the signing of an enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Fair Work Ombudsman and Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

    The MoU paves the way for these agencies to improve seafarer wage compliance monitoring, share regional contacts, and conduct joint inspections of foreign-flagged vessels suspected of wage non-compliance.  

    This will help level the playing field for Australian crewed vessels by preventing foreign vessels from undercutting Australian legal requirements to pay correct wages. 

    It forms part of our Government’s commitment to ensuring seafarers on foreign vessels operating under a temporary licence in Australian waters are paid the wages they are owed. 

    It also helps deliver on our priority of ensuring all employers comply with the Fair Work Act, and our commitment to protecting workers from wage theft.

    This MoU is an important milestone in our $2.7 million compliance program pilot, which is allowing the Fair Work Ombudsman, Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development  to ramp up monitoring activities of seafarer wages on foreign-flagged vessels – as well as investigations into potential non-compliance by employers.

    We look forward to seeing this work continue and to support all seafarers and our maritime industry. 

    Quotes attributable to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King:

    “The Albanese Government is committed to rebuilding Australia’s shipping capabilities and supporting its current and future seafarers. 

    “That is why we have committed to the establishment of a strategic fleet and appointed a taskforce to provide recommendation to government on its establishment. Additional funding for increased compliance activity related to the payment of wages was one of the recommendations.

    “We are delivering on our commitments to build Australia’s future.”

    Quotes attributable to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt: 

    “The Albanese Government is committed to standing up for Australian workers so to ensure they earn more and keep more of what they earn.

     “This work builds on the workplace relations changes we’ve already delivered, including criminalising wage theft.

     “The MoU is an important step towards better protecting seafarers from wage theft and ensuring no worker is underpaid.”

    MIL OSI News –

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

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    24cr374

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: CORROBINNIE ROAD, COOTRA GRASS FIRE (Grass Fire)

    Source: Country Fire Service – South Australia

    Issued on
    05 Feb 2025 10:07

    Issued for
    COOTRA GRASS FIRE in Pinkawillinie Conservation Park on the Eyre Peninsula.

    Warning level
    Advice – Monitor Conditions

    Action
    Monitor local conditions and stay informed if you are in this area. Decide what you will do if the situation changes.

    At this time there is no threat to life or property and firefighters are attending this fire.

    More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.

    MIL OSI News –

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

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mission Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Larceny

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Larceny. The sentencing took place on February 3, 2025.

    Preston White Feather, age 28, was sentenced to one year in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. White Feather was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,888.56.

    White Feather was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2024. He pleaded guilty on October 31, 2024.

    The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in December 2023 within the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On December 9, 2023, White Feather stole merchandise from a convenience store in Mission, South Dakota. He was identified on surveillance video and was subsequently apprehended by law enforcement.

    This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

    This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Senior Litigation Counsel Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.   

    White Feather was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Norris Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Norris, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on February 4, 2025.

    Harold White Hat, age 41, was sentenced to one year and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    White Hat was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on October 31, 2024.

    White Hat was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in 2022. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment. In July of 2024, White Hat relocated from his registered address in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but he did not thereafter update his sex offender registration.  He was arrested in Todd County, South Dakota, on August 23, 2024.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Senior Litigation Counsel Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

    White Hat was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sisseton Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Abuse

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Sisseton, South Dakota, man convicted of Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on January 27, 2025.

    Nathaniel Yazzie, 24, was sentenced to one year and seven months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Yazzie was indicted for Child Abuse by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on October 31, 2024.

    On July 29, 2024, Yazzie struck a three-year-old child multiple times in the face and head while the child was in his care. A concerned party heard the child being abused in Yazzie’s room and called law enforcement. Upon arrival at Yazzie’s residence, law enforcement found the child with a bloody lip and bruising on his face, including linear bruises consistent with being slapped. Yazzie was arrested on tribal charges, and the child was transported to the hospital for medical care.

    This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

    Yazzie was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

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

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oregon Check Casher Sentenced to Federal Prison for Payroll Tax Scheme Involving $177 Million

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.–A Tualatin, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for conspiring to defraud the United States and filing false currency transaction reports.

    David Katz, 48, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $44,877,254 in restitution to the IRS.

    According to court documents and trial testimony, from January 2014 through December 2017, Katz, as president of Check Cash Pacific, Inc., conspired with others in the construction industry to defraud the United States by facilitating under-the-table payments to construction workers. To carry out the scheme, sham construction companies were created and used to cash more than $177 million in payroll checks at different Check Cash Pacific locations. The cash was used to pay construction workers under-the-table, with no taxes being withheld or reported to the IRS.

    Construction companies would notify Katz when they planned to bring checks into one of his check cashing locations so that Katz could ensure he had enough cash on hand to complete the transaction. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of payroll checks were cashed daily and Katz was aware that at least one of his co-conspirators used a false name and social security number. Acting as compliance officer, Katz allowed hundreds of false regulatory reports to be filed knowing they contained the fake identity.

    For his role in the scheme, Katz received a 2% commission on each transaction which, in total, amounted to more than $4 million. Over the course of their conspiracy, Katz and his co-conspirators prevented the IRS from collecting more than $44 million in payroll and income taxes due on the cash wages.

    On December 2, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a five-count indictment charging Katz with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and four counts of filing false currency transaction reports with FinCEN. On June 12, 2024, a federal jury in Portland found  Katz guilty of all charges.

    This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Robert S. Trisotto and Andrew T. Ho, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Veea Issues Letter to Shareholders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Veea Inc. (NASDAQ: VEEA), a pioneer in edge computing and AI-driven solutions, today issued a Letter to Shareholders from Founder and Chief Executive Officer Allen Salmasi.

    Dear Fellow Shareholders,

    On the occasion of Veea ringing the Nasdaq Opening Bell on February 5, I want to welcome our shareholders and share our insights with respect to our vision, strategy, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

    Connecting the World at the Edge
    I am thrilled to share with you that a monumental shift in technology has occurred, one that now directly aligns with our vision of the future dating back to the founding of the company ten years ago. This transformation is the convergence of Edge Computing, Hyperconverged Networks, and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the very edge that all things connect to the network, commonly referred to as Edge AI.

    We have developed a portfolio of fully integrated, scalable, and turnkey wireless and wired communications and computing devices and services – VeeaHub products, VeeaWare, and VeeaCloud – that deliver cloud-to-edge solutions and allow businesses to manage high volumes of data to enable real-time applications and maintain system reliability. Our solutions have been iterated over the last several years to minimize production costs, reduce installation expenses, and deliver scalability with easy integration to third party solutions, resulting in a lower total cost of ownership compared to typical edge computing solutions.

    We possess more than 100 exclusively-owned patents covering 26 patent families, and a significant partner ecosystem. Our products have been deployed to enterprises and SMB/SMEs across several countries, providing real-world solutions across various end markets. We are transforming lives from remote villages in Indonesia, where Veea’s mesh network is empowering internet connectivity in health, education, and agriculture, to retailers in Mexico, farms in North America, a campus in Hong Kong, and a 21-acre commercial building complex in Orlando, Florida where our Veea Edge Platform is enabling common indoor and outdoor common area Wi-Fi.

    Well Positioned to Support the 5thIndustrial Revolution
    Significant advances in AI technologies are now driving the 5th Industrial Revolution, fundamentally reshaping how we live, work, and interact. Unlike previous industrial revolutions driven by mechanization, electricity, computing, and automation, the 5th Industrial Revolution is characterized by the seamless integration of AI and human intelligence to enhance decision-making, improve productivity, and drive innovation across every sector. This is not just a technological trend; it is a pivotal force shaping the future of industries, economies, and our organization.

    AI inferencing is at the heart of this revolution, driving a new business paradigm that demands a fresh approach to technology infrastructure and service delivery. AI inferencing refers to the process where a trained AI model applies its learned knowledge to analyze new, unseen data and generate predictions or decisions based on the patterns it has identified during training; essentially, it’s the “action” of using an AI model to make sense of “new information” and draw conclusions from it. For many enterprise and consumer use cases massive amounts of data must be collected and processed at the edge. Among many of its utilities, this is what Veea Edge Platform does most efficiently.

    Veea’s unique implementation of Edge AI brings the power of AI closer to where data is generated—at the “edge” of networks. This means faster decision-making, reduced latency, enhanced security, increased reliability, data privacy and sovereignty, and real-time insights without the dependency on centralized cloud infrastructure. Edge Computing complements this by processing data locally, significantly improving efficiency and reducing bandwidth costs.

    Edge Computing is not just a supporting technology—it is the core capability that enables AI inferencing to deliver real-time, context-aware insights to both enterprises and consumers alike. By processing data closer to the source, Edge Computing ensures that AI applications are responsive, resilient, and efficient. This shift requires businesses to adopt new operational models, emphasizing agility, scalability, and decentralized intelligence.

    AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS)
    At Veea, we are at the forefront of this transformation, leveraging Edge Computing to power our AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS) offerings. Traditional business models are no longer sufficient to support the speed, scale, and complexity required by broadly adopted AI-driven applications. Some believe that AI Agents will eventually replace SaaS solutions.

    Hyperconverged Networking (HCN) is the backbone that supports this rapid data processing and AI-driven environment. By integrating computing, storage, and networking into a unified system, HCN enhances scalability, simplifies IT infrastructure, and ensures robust data flow between edge devices and core systems. Veea’s virtualized software environment, supporting cloud-native applications, together with one of the most advanced HCN implementations, positions us very well to lead in the delivery of highly optimized solutions in this new era, creating unparalleled value for our customers and sustainable growth for our shareholders.

    Through the seamless integration of Edge AI, Edge Computing, and Hyperconverged Networking, all supported by Veea’s cloud-managed products, we are driving:

    – Innovation: Delivering cutting-edge products and services that meet the demands of the widest range of the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

    – Operational Efficiency: Reducing costs and improving performance for many industries.

    – Growth Opportunities: Expanding into new markets and sectors that are rapidly adopting AI inferencing and edge technologies.

    – Shareholder Value: Enhancing our competitive advantage, creating revenue streams, and supporting long-term financial performance.

    A Unique Business Model Supported by Technology that Delivers Solutions to Real World Problems
    What sets Veea apart in this transformative era is our unique business model as a Managed Service Provider (MSP) that is delivering solutions such i) as 5G fixed wireless access through our VeeaHub edge computing products with AI-driven cybersecurity, and a range of value-added services currently being rolled-out by network operators to SMBs and SME, as one of its highly scalable use cases, and ii) Edge AI inferencing through our innovative AIaaS offering with complete turnkey hardware and software solutions (i.e., full stack). This model allows us to deliver AI-powered applications and insights at scale without requiring the end-users to invest heavily in infrastructure or specialized talent.

    Through our AIaaS platform, we provide end-to-end management of AI workloads, from deployment and optimization to continuous monitoring and maintenance. This approach offers several key differentiators:

    – Scalability: Clients can easily scale their AI capabilities as their business grows, without the complexities of managing hardware and software.

    – Cost Efficiency: By offering AI on a subscription basis, we lower the barriers to entry, making advanced AI accessible to organizations of all sizes.

    – Agility: Our managed services enable rapid deployment and iteration, allowing businesses to adapt quickly to changing market demands.

    – Expertise: Clients benefit from our deep expertise in AI, edge computing, and hyperconverged networking, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.

    AI inferencing supported by Edge AI represents a compelling business model and a significant growth opportunity for several reasons:

    – Explosive Market Demand: The global demand for real-time, data-driven decision-making is rising across industries including retail, healthcare, manufacturing, smart buildings, smart cities, and smart farming. Organizations need solutions that process data instantly, making Edge AI inferencing critical.

    – Recurring Revenue Streams: The MSP and AIaaS business models enable predictable, recurring revenue through subscription-based offerings. This stabilizes our financial outlook and supports sustainable growth.

    – Competitive Advantage: Edge AI allows businesses to differentiate themselves through faster, smarter, and more secure operations. By providing managed AI inferencing services, we help our clients maintain a competitive edge, which in turn strengthens our market position.

    – Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Our managed services reduce the cost and complexity for customers, making it more attractive for businesses to adopt advanced AI without large upfront investments.

    – Global Scalability: The decentralized nature of Edge AI allows us to serve clients worldwide, expanding our reach and unlocking new markets without the limitations of traditional centralized data processing.

    – Rapid Innovation Cycle: Continuous improvements in AI algorithms, edge devices, and networking technologies create opportunities for us to innovate and offer enhanced services regularly, driving both customer retention and new customer acquisition.

    – Portable Software Stack: Our full stack software can run on third-party hardware (i.e., CPU-based or GPU-based servers, Access Points (APs), routers, etc.) with a Linux host that meet our minimum requirements, making our cloud-managed platform hardware agnostic.

    In Closing
    Our commitment to innovation and excellence, combined with a differentiated business model, not only strengthens our value proposition to customers but also positions us to develop a robust, recurring revenue stream that drives sustainable growth and profitability.

    We are committed to investing in these transformative technologies, fostering strategic partnerships, and continuing to lead in innovation. Our goal is to ensure that Veea remains at the forefront of this technological revolution, delivering growth and value to our shareholders.

    Thank you for your continued support and trust in our vision. Together, we are shaping the future.

    Warm regards,

    Allen Salmasi
    Founder & Chief Executive Officer

    About Veea
    Veea Inc. (NASDAQ: VEEA) was formed in 2014 and is headquartered in New York City with a rich history of major innovations in the development of advanced networking, wireless and computing technologies. Veea makes living and working at the edge simpler and more secure. Veea has unified multi-tenant computing, multiaccess multiprotocol communications, edge storage and cybersecurity solutions through fully integrated cloud- and edge-managed products. Veea’s fully integrated turnkey solution offers end-to-end cloud management of devices, applications and services with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), optionally with a highly simplified plug and play 5G-based Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) offering. Veea Edge Platform™ enables direct connections from the wide area optical fiber, cellular and satellite networks to devices on the local area networks created by a VeeaHub® mesh cluster over network-managed Wi-Fi and IoT devices – a unique patented capability called Multiprotocol Private Network Slicing (MPNS) for ISPs to offer subscription-based services for one or a group of endpoints. Veea Developer Portal and development tools provide for rapid development of edge applications including federated learning with pre-trained models for inferencing to cost-effectively enable Edge AI for most enterprise use cases.

    Veea was recognized in 2023 by Gartner as a Leading Smart Edge Platform for the innovativeness and capabilities of our Veea Edge Platform™ and a Cool Vendor in Edge Computing in 2021. Veea was named in Market Reports World’s in its research report published in October 2023 as one of the top 10 Edge AI solution providers alongside IBM, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services among others. For more information about Veea and its product offerings, visit veea.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”) as well as Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe the Company’s future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely” or other comparable terms, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release regarding the Company’s strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties including those regarding: the Company’s business strategies, and the risk and uncertainties described in “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements” and the additional risk described in Veea’s Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 and any subsequent filings which Veea makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements made in the press release relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in the press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by law. You should read this press release with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.

    The Equity Group

    Devin Sullivan
    Managing Director
    dsullivan@equityny.com

    Conor Rodriguez
    Analyst
    crodriguez@equityny.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tourist destinations in China attract visitors with ice and snow activities

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

    Tourist destinations in China attract visitors with ice and snow activities

    Updated: February 5, 2025 07:17 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 31, 2025 shows people visiting Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. During the Spring Festival holiday, many tourist destinations in China have attracted visitors with ice and snow activities. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A tourist plays the ice-decorated piano on the Central Street in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 30, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 31, 2025 shows people visiting Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 31, 2025 shows people visiting Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People ski at Lake Songhua Resort in Jilin City, northeast China’s Jilin Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People ski at Qiangrengu ski resort in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Jan. 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the Central Street in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 30, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A tourist skis at Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort in Altay, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 28, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on Feb. 3, 2025 shows the ice and snow festival at Longtan Park in Dongcheng District in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A child has fun at a snow resort in north China’s Tianjin, Feb. 4, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Skiers pose for a group photo at Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort in Altay, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 28, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 31, 2025 shows people skiing at Qiangrengu ski resort in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit a snow town scenic spot in Zunhua City, north China’s Hebei Province, Feb. 4, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit a scenic spot in Tangshan, north China’s Hebei Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 3, 2025 shows people skiing at a ski resort in Huai’an City, east China’s Jiangsu Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit Lake Songhua Resort in Jilin City, northeast China’s Jilin Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s sci-tech museums draw over 3 mln visits during Spring Festival holiday

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

    BEIJING, Feb. 4 — China’s sci-tech museums have received more than 3 million visits during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, according to the China Science and Technology Museum (CSTM) on Tuesday.

    The Beijing-based CSTM said that it has guided the public to explore the scientific elements of Spring Festival customs. During the holiday, the museum welcomed more than 150,000 visits, of whom over 90 percent came from outside the capital city.

    Sci-tech museums across the country have launched various Spring Festival-themed science exhibitions, integrating Chinese zodiac culture, intangible cultural heritage techniques and cutting-edge technologies.

    East China’s Fujian Science and Technology Museum is holding an exhibition on the “wisdom of the snake,” allowing visitors to learn about snake biology. In another sci-tech museum in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a humanoid robot interacts with audiences, showcasing the latest progress in China’s robotics technology.

    The CSTM said that it will lead the country’s sci-tech museums to continue innovating forms of science popularization in 2025.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mast Exposes Outrageous USAID and State Department Grants

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-321-9747

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast released the following video exposing radical, far-left grants issued by the State Department and United States Agency for International Development under the Biden administration.

    WATCH HERE

    Democrats and unaccountable bureaucrats don’t want Americans to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are being wasted abroad. Chairman Mast is here to set the record straight.

    Several egregious examples include:

    $15 million for condoms to the Taliban through USAID.

    $446,700 to promote the expansion of atheism in Nepal through the State Department.

    $1 million to boost French-speaking LGBTQ groups in West and Central Africa through the State Department.

    $14 million in cash vouchers for migrants at the southern border through the State Department.

    $20,600 for a drag show in Ecuador through the State Department.

    $47,020 for a transgender opera in Colombia through the State Department.

    $32,000 for an LGBTQ-centered comic book in Peru through the State Department.

    $55,750 for a climate change presentation warning about the impact of climate change in Argentina to be led by female and LGBT journalists through the StateDepartment.

    $3,315,446 for “being LGBTQ in the Caribbean” through USAID.

    $7,071.58 for a BIPOC speaker series in Canada through the State Department.

    $80,000 for an LGBTQ community center in Bratislava, Slovakia through the State Department.

    $3.2 million to help Tunisian migrants readjust to life in Tunisia after deportation through the State Department.

    $16,500 to foster a “united and equal queer-feminist discourse in Albanian society” through the State Department.

    $10,000 to pressure Lithuanian corporations to promote “DEI values” through the State Department.

    $8,000 to promote DEI among LGBTQ groups in Cyprus through the State Department.

    $1.5 million to promote job opportunities for LGBTQ individuals in Serbia through USAID.

    $70,884 to create a U.S.-Irish musical to promote DEI in Ireland through the State Department.

    $39,652 to host seminars at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on gender identity and racial equality through the State Department.

    $2.5 million to build electric vehicle charging stations in Vietnam’s largest cities through USAID.

    $425,622 to help Indonesian coffee companies become more climate and gender friendly through USAID.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Superseding Indictment Charges Chinese National in Relation to Alleged Plan to Steal Proprietary AI Technology

    Source: US State of California

    Note: View the superseding indictment here. 

    A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today charging Linwei Ding, also known as Leon Ding, 38, with seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets in connection with an alleged plan to steal from Google LLC (Google) proprietary information related to AI technology.

    Ding was initially indicted in March 2024 on four counts of theft of trade secrets. The superseding indictment returned today describes seven categories of trade secrets stolen by Ding and charges Ding with seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets.

    According to the superseding indictment, Google hired Ding as a software engineer in 2019. Between approximately May 2022 and May 2023, Ding uploaded more than 1,000 unique files containing Google confidential information from Google’s network to his personal Google Cloud account, including the trade secrets alleged in the superseding indictment.

    While Ding was employed by Google, he secretly affiliated himself with two People’s Republic of China (PRC)-based technology companies. Around June 2022, Ding was in discussions to be the Chief Technology Officer for an early-stage technology company based in the PRC.  By May 2023, Ding had founded his own technology company focused on AI and machine learning in the PRC and was acting as the company’s CEO. 

    The superseding indictment alleges that Ding intended to benefit the PRC government by stealing trade secrets from Google. Ding allegedly stole technology relating to the hardware infrastructure and software platform that allows Google’s supercomputing data center to train and serve large AI models. The trade secrets contain detailed information about the architecture and functionality of Google’s Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) chips and systems and Google’s Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) systems, the software that allows the chips to communicate and execute tasks, and the software that orchestrates thousands of chips into a supercomputer capable of training and executing cutting-edge AI workloads. The trade secrets also pertain to Google’s custom-designed SmartNIC, a type of network interface card used to enhance Google’s GPU, high performance, and cloud networking products.  

    As alleged, Ding circulated a PowerPoint presentation to employees of his technology company citing PRC national policies encouraging the development of the domestic AI industry. He also created a PowerPoint presentation containing an application to a PRC talent program based in Shanghai. The superseding indictment describes how PRC-sponsored talent programs incentivize individuals engaged in research and development outside the PRC to transmit that knowledge and research to the PRC in exchange for salaries, research funds, lab space, or other incentives. Ding’s application for the talent program stated that his company’s product “will help China to have computing power infrastructure capabilities that are on par with the international level.”

    If convicted, Ding faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine for each trade-secret count and 15 years in prison and $5,000,000 fine for each economic-espionage count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Boome and Molly K. Priedeman for the Northern District of California and Trial Attorneys Stephen Marzen and Yifei Zheng of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

    Today’s action was coordinated through the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states.

    A superseding indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Mexican Nationals arrested with 14 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Seattle – Three citizens of Mexico were arrested late last week in Bellevue, Washington in connection with a drug deal involving more than 25 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. All three men are being held at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, Washington, on a criminal complaint.

    According to records filed in the case, on January 29, 2025, an undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations began communicating with a transnational drug organization about purchasing crystal methamphetamine. The deal was set for the next day: 30 pounds of crystal methamphetamine for $62,000 to be exchanged at a restaurant parking lot in Bellevue.

    After the undercover agents were shown the drugs, they walked the defendants back towards a vehicle where they claimed the money was waiting. As law enforcement swooped in to arrest the drug traffickers, they attempted to flee but were taken into custody. The men are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with attempt to distribute.

    The three men are identified as:

    Eber Omar Barrones-Madrid, age 24

    Juan Jose Prado-Estrada, age 25

    Jose Manuel Ochoa-Sanchez, age 27

    The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitdeer Announces Strategic Acquisition of 101 MW Site and Gas-fired Power Project in Alberta to Deliver the Industry’s First Fully-Vertically Integrated Bitcoin Mining Site

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitdeer Technologies Group (NASDAQ: BTDR) (“Bitdeer” or the “Company”), a world-leading technology company for blockchain and high-performance computing, today announced the successful close of the acquisition of a fully licensed and permitted 101 MW site and gas-fired power project situated on 19 acres of land near Fox Creek, Alberta in an all-cash transaction for $21.7 million. The site has potential to scale to 1 GW of power, reflecting Alberta’s abundant energy resources, supportive regulatory posture and pro-business environment.

    The 101 MW gas-fired power project includes all permits and licenses required to construct an on-site natural gas power plant, as well as approval for a 99 MW grid interconnection with Alberta Electric System Operator (“AESO”). Bitdeer will develop and construct the power plant in partnership with a leading Engineering, Procurement and Construction (“EPC”) company and is expected to be energized by Q4 2026.

    Concurrently, the Company plans to build 99 MW of datacenter capacity for Bitcoin mining. This newly acquired site and power generation project provides the Company a unique opportunity to become the world’s first fully-vertically integrated Bitcoin miner at scale and potentially achieve some of the lowest Bitcoin mining production costs in the industry.

    Strategic Benefits

    • Full vertical integration: The Company will have control of the land, power generation, electrical and datacenter infrastructure as well as using its own internally developed and manufactured Bitcoin mining machines. The Company can deploy approximately [9] EH/s of its SEALMINER A3 mining machines upon completion, which are anticipated to have industry leading machine-level efficiency of 11-12 J/TH.
    • Low Power Costs: Projected energy production costs of approximately $20 to $25 per MWh1, based on current gas prices.
    • Sustainability & Potential Carbon Credit Upside: As part of the project acquisition, Bitdeer will deploy a carbon utilization system that captures CO2 making the project a net zero carbon producer. This initiative aims to offset Canada’s carbon tax obligations and may generate future revenue through carbon credits.
    • Energy Cost Optimization & Revenue Flexibility: The Company expects to curtail and sell power back to the Alberta grid to stabilize prices during periods of high demand. The Company estimates this could potentially optimize costs even further.

    “We are really excited about planting roots in Alberta, our first site in Canada. This acquisition is the culmination of extensive collaboration with multiple government agencies and the Canadian Blockchain Consortium. It marks a significant step in our strategy to become the first fully-vertically integrated Bitcoin miner, giving us unmatched control over costs, energy efficiency, and scalability,” said Haris Basit, Chief Strategy Officer at Bitdeer. “By combining our own power generation, SEALMINER mining machines and opportunistic grid participation, we believe this site will set a new benchmark for industry unit economics.”

    Regarding the project, Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta said, “We are so pleased to welcome the world’s first net-zero, fully integrated off-grid Bitcoin mining facility — right here in Alberta. Today’s investment is another sign that Alberta continues to be a leader in technology and innovation not only across the country, but across the world. If you want to do business and have a plan to bring your own power, then Alberta is the place for you.”

    Estimated Costs and Development Timeline
    The Company plans to commence site preparation and initial infrastructure development in Q2 2025 and energization in Q4 2026.

    Asset Actual and Estimated Costs
    101 MW Fox Creek Site and 19-acre land near Fox Creek, Alberta $21.7 million cash
    Gas-fired power plant ~$90 million
    Electrical & datacenter infrastructure $300K per MW or ~$30 million
     

    About Bitdeer Technologies Group
    Bitdeer is a world-leading technology company for blockchain and high-performance computing industry. Bitdeer is committed to providing comprehensive computing solutions for its customers. The Company handles complex processes involved in computing such as equipment procurement, transport logistics, datacenter design and construction, equipment management, and daily operations. The Company also offers advanced cloud capabilities to customers with high demand for artificial intelligence. Headquartered in Singapore, Bitdeer has deployed datacenters in the United States, Norway, and Bhutan. To learn more, visit https://ir.bitdeer.com/ or follow Bitdeer on X @ BitdeerOfficial and LinkedIn @ Bitdeer Group.

    Investors and others should note that Bitdeer may announce material information using its website and/or on its accounts on social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Therefore, Bitdeer encourages investors and others to review the information it posts on the social media and other communication channels listed on its website.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “look forward to,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Bitdeer’s annual report on Form 20-F, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Bitdeer’s subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Bitdeer specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether due to new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers should not rely upon the information on this page as current or accurate after its publication date.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    Investor Relations
    Orange Group
    Yujia Zhai
    bitdeerIR@orangegroupadvisors.com

    Public Relations
    BlocksBridge Consulting
    Nishant Sharma
    bitdeer@blocksbridge.com

    1 Assumes natural gas costs of ~$2.06 / GJ, plus regular maintenance and O&M

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    About Truety

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

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

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

    Tree kangaroos are easily spotted with thermal drones. Emmeline Norris

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

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

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

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

    Rugged, dense rainforests

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

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

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

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

    Hotspots in the treetops

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Shedding light on a hidden species

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Craning for a better view

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –