Category: Middle East

MIL-OSI Global: Cockney Yiddish: how two languages influenced each other in London’s East End

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nadia Valman, Professor of Urban Literature, Queen Mary University of London

Yiddish is a familiar presence in contemporary English speech. Many people use or at least know the meaning of words like chutzpah (audacity), schlep (drag) or nosh (snack).

These words have been absorbed into English from their original speakers, eastern European Jews who migrated to Britain in the late 19th century, through generations of living in close proximity in areas like London’s East End.

Linguistics scholars have even theorised that elements of a Yiddish accent may have influenced the cockney accent as it evolved in the early 20th century. Phonetic analysis of cockney speakers recorded in the mid-20th century suggests that East Enders who grew up with Jewish neighbours spoke English with speech rhythms typical of Yiddish.

A distinctive pronunciation of the “r” sound is thought to have originated among Jewish immigrants and spread into the wider population.

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But, as we explore in our new podcast, cockney reshaped the Yiddish language too. This can be seen in surviving texts from the popular culture of the Jewish immigrant East End, including newspapers and songsheets, where songs, poems and stories dramatise the thrills and challenges of modern London.

The Yiddish music of London’s East End brought together the Yiddish language and Jewish culture of eastern Europe with the raucous, irreverent style of the cockney music hall. Theatres and pubs overflowed with audiences eager to see the immigrant experience in Whitechapel represented in all its perplexity and pathos, with a good measure of slapstick comedy.

A Yiddish music hall song from around 1900 jokes that East Enders live on “poteytes un gefrayte fish” – a Yiddish version of the cockney staple fish and chips. The song lists the many novelties that immigrants encountered on arriving in the metropolis: trains running underground, women wearing trousers and people speaking on telephones.

Yiddish music hall song ‘London hot sikh ibergekert’ (London has turned itself upside down) performed by the author’s (Vivi Lachs) band Katsha’nes.

Yiddish was also the language of street protest in the Jewish East End. During the “strike fever” of 1889, when workers throughout east London were demanding better pay and working conditions, the Whitechapel streets resonated with the voices of Jewish sweatshop workers singing:

In di gasn, tsu di masn fun badrikte felk rasn, ruft der frayhaytsgayst (In the streets, to the masses / of oppressed peoples, races / the spirit of freedom calls).

This song was penned by the socialist poet Morris Winchevsky, an immigrant from Lithuania who spoke Yiddish as a mother tongue but preferred to write in literary Hebrew. In London he switched to writing in the vernacular language of Yiddish in order to make his writing more accessible to immigrant Jewish workers. The song became a rousing anthem in labour protests across the Yiddish-speaking world, from Warsaw to Chicago.

The decline of Yiddish

Yet from the earliest days of Jewish immigration to London, the Yiddish-language culture of the East End was a focus of anxiety for the Jewish middle and upper class of the West End. They regarded Yiddish as a vulgar dialect, detrimental to the integration of Jewish immigrants in England.

While they provided significant philanthropic support for immigrants, they banned the use of Yiddish in the educational and religious institutions that they funded.

In 1883, budding novelist Israel Zangwill was disciplined by the Jews’ Free School, where he worked as a teacher, for publishing a short story liberally sprinkled with dialogues in cockney-Yiddish.

By the 1930s Yiddish had begun to decline. As Jews moved away from the East End, local Yiddish newspapers folded and publications dwindled.

The Yiddish writer I.A. Lisky, who wrote fiction for a keen but diminishing readership in the London Yiddish newspaper Di tsayt, movingly described a young woman and her grandmother who each harbour complex hopes and worries but cannot communicate: “Ken ober sibl nit redn keyn yidish un di bobe farshteyt nor a por verter english. Shvaygt sibl vayter.” (But Sybil spoke no Yiddish, and her grandmother knew only a few words of English. So she remained silent.)

Yiddish-language newspapers like Der Fonograf flourished in the early 20th century East End.
Courtesy of Jewish Miscellanies website.

Jewish writers of the postwar period were haunted by the sense of a lost connection to the Yiddish language and culture of previous generations.

The novelist Alexander Baron, who grew up in Hackney, remembered his grandparents reading Yiddish literature and newspapers, and his parents speaking Yiddish when they did not want their children to understand what they were saying.

In his novel The Lowlife (1963) the narrator’s vocabulary is peppered with Yiddish words. But these fragments are all that remains of his link to the East End where he was born. When he returns to these streets, he feels that “my too, too solid flesh in the world of the past is like a ghost of the past in the solid world of the present; it can look on but it cannot touch”.

Yiddish in London today

If you walk through the north London neighbourhood of Stamford Hill today, you’ll hear Yiddish on the streets and see new Yiddish books on the shelves of the local bookshops. Although they have no connection to the Victorian Jewish East End, the ultra-orthodox Hasidic community who live there speak Yiddish as their first language.

And for a younger generation of secular Jews, Yiddish is also acquiring a new appeal. They look to past traditions of Jewish diasporism to forge an identity rooted in language, culture and solidarity with other minorities rather than nationalism.

London is one centre of this worldwide revival: the Friends of Yiddish group established in the East End in the late 1930s is now flourishing in its contemporary incarnation as the Yiddish Open Mic Cafe. And Yiddish is once again a language that anyone can learn.

The Ot Azoy Yiddish summer school is in its 13th year, and new Yiddish language schools are thriving, including east London-based Babel’s Blessing, which teaches diaspora languages including Yiddish and offers free English classes to refugees and asylum seekers. The annual Yiddish sof-vokh hosts an immersive weekend for Yiddish learners.

Yiddish culture too is being rejuvenated. Projects we have been involved with include the Yiddish Shpilers theatre troupe, the Great Yiddish Parade marching band, which has brought Winchevsky’s socialist anthems back onto London’s streets, and the London band Katsha’nes, which has reimagined cockney Yiddish music hall songs for the 21st century.

If Yiddish was once reviled as a debased, slangy mishmash, full of borrowings and adaptations, it’s precisely for those qualities that it is celebrated today.

Nadia Valman received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for research included in this article.

Vivi Lachs received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for research included in this article.

– ref. Cockney Yiddish: how two languages influenced each other in London’s East End – https://theconversation.com/cockney-yiddish-how-two-languages-influenced-each-other-in-londons-east-end-252779

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Putin dodges peace talks in Istanbul as Russia pushes for territorial concessions from Ukraine

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sam Phelps, Commissioning Editor, International Affairs

This article was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email newsletter. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox.

Demands by British, French, German and Polish leaders in Kyiv last weekend that Russia agree to a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine or face possible “massive” sanctions went down in Moscow about as well as you’d expect. In an address from the Kremlin, Russian president Vladimir Putin lambasted European powers for talking to Russia “in a boorish manner and with the help of ultimatums”.

He did, however, offer a counter-proposal: an invitation for Ukraine to take part in direct talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Putin called the talks “the first step towards a long-term, lasting peace”. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, accepted the invitation and announced he would attend the talks in person. He challenged Putin to do the same.

But on the eve of the talks it was announced that, no, Putin wouldn’t attend and a junior delegation would be sent in his place. Zelensky, who is in Turkey anyway for talks with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has called the Russian envoy “phony” and accused Moscow of sending “stand-in props”.

Putin’s no-show, alongside Russia’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire as a precursor to negotiations, probably says all you need to know about whether Moscow truly intends to bring the war to an end. But, regardless, the talks are the first to take place directly between the two warring parties since the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

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The Russian delegation in Istanbul is being led by Vladimir Medinsky, a Putin aide who led the previous round of direct peace talks with Ukraine. This is evidence, as Stefan Wolff and Tetyana Malyarenko also point out, that Russia wants the talks to be based on the same framework as in 2022 – namely, forcing Ukraine to accept significant restrictions on its military and sovereignty.

Wolff and Malyarenko, who are two regular contributors to our coverage of the war in Ukraine, explain that Russia’s territorial demands have become more contentious since the start of the war. Russia’s current position is that it sees international recognition of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, and the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions as part of Russia as “imperative”.

This is a non-starter for Ukraine. But Wolff and Malyarenko suggest there could be some flexibility on accepting that some parts of Ukrainian territory are under temporary Russian control in exchange for peace.

The problem, they write, is that much of the territory Russia currently occupies, including Crimea and land on the shores of the Azov Sea, is of key strategic value for Russia. Donetsk and Luhansk, meanwhile, have substantial economic value because of the resources located there.

In any case, there is no guarantee that territorial concessions from Kyiv now would put a permanent end to the war, write Wolff and Malyarenko. This is because it “does not address the fundamental issue of how to deal with a vengeful and revisionist autocracy on Europe’s doorstep”.

Read more:
Territorial concessions will be central to any Ukraine peace deal, and to Russia’s long-term plan

Lasting peace between India and Pakistan, two countries that regularly clash over control of the disputed Kashmir region, is proving equally tricky to find. Several rounds of military strikes, prompted by a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April that killed at least 31 people, have recently brought the nuclear powers closer to war than they have been in decades.

The Trump administration initially expressed reluctance to get involved, saying it was “none of our business”. But as hostilities rapidly escalated, raising the prospect of nuclear war, US officials stepped in and talked down the two countries. A ceasefire was agreed that, for almost a week now, seems to have held.

Alex Waterman and Sudhir Selvaraj, experts on peace studies at the University of Bradford, say the ceasefire represents an “incredibly precarious peace”.

That ceasefires have been agreed – and respected – by the two parties before is cause for optimism, they write. But cross-border tensions have increased in recent years. Waterman and Selvaraj argue this has been part of a strategy used by Pakistan’s powerful army to deflect attention away from political and economic crises at home.

Tensions remain high and may, at some point, spill over again. Some of the decisions taken by India after the recent terror attack, for instance, such as the suspension of a treaty governing water sharing of rivers in the Indus basin, could compel further support for militant groups in Kashmir. Despite a US offer to mediate talks between the two countries, deeper resolution looks a way off.

Read more:
India and Pakistan have agreed a precarious peace – but will it last?

Donald Trump, meanwhile, is wrapping up his four-day tour of the Middle East. His visit has seen him sit down with the Saudi crown prince and the Qatari emir (as well as Syria’s leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa) to discuss bolstering economic and security ties.

In that sense, the trip has been a resounding success. Trump signed a US$142 billion (£107 billion) arms deal with Saudi Arabia and agreements with Qatar that, according to the White House, will “generate an economic exchange worth at least US$1.2 trillion”.

Adam Hanieh, a professor of political economy at the University of Exeter, explains that arrangements like these are part of a long history in which the Gulf monarchies have supported the architecture of US global power.

In this piece, Hanieh explores how the vast amounts of income generated by the Gulf’s nationalised petroleum industries in the 20th century was invested into US financial markets. Gulf states, he writes, were essential contributors to the growth of the US as a global financial power.

The US promised military protection in return, resulting in a web of American military bases across the region. As Trump’s lavish welcome in the Middle East shows, the relationship between the US and Gulf monarchies looks robust.

But much has changed in the past two decades, says Hanieh, referring to China’s rise as a global manufacturing hub. The Gulf is a critical energy lifeline for Beijing, while China’s demand for oil, gas and petrochemicals will be a vital part of the Gulf’s economic future.

Read more:
Not every US president gets a free private jet, but the Gulf states have boosted US economic dominance for decades

Trump is no stranger to competition with China, as his first five months in office have shown. Tit-for-tat tariffs that the US and China imposed on each other quickly snowballed into heavy duties, as high as 145% on Chinese goods looking to enter the US.

However, after weeks of signalling that tariff levels could reduce, US and Chinese officials announced this week that US tariffs on Chinese goods would drop to 30% for a period of 90 days, while Chinese tariffs on US products would drop back to 10%. Trade negotiations between the two countries will continue.

We asked Chee Meng Tan, an assistant professor of business economics at the University of Nottingham, what the deal means for China. He says the tariff reduction has provided China with much-needed relief as it attempts to repair its ailing economy.

But China will ultimately hope to bring US tariffs down to around 10%, in line with the rest of the world. And, as Tan explains, there is more China can do to persuade the Trump administration to cut tariffs further. Ensuring the flow of critical minerals to the US and assuring its support for US agriculture, an important political support base for Trump, will be key.

China needs to engage with the US and lower US tariffs as much as possible. But it will want to look at other options, writes Tan, rather than relying on an unpredictable Trump. The next 90 days are a big deal for Beijing.

Read more:
China-US trade war: the next 90 days are a big deal for Beijing as it seeks long-term solutions

Jonathan Este is on holiday.

World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get updates directly in your inbox.

– ref. Putin dodges peace talks in Istanbul as Russia pushes for territorial concessions from Ukraine – https://theconversation.com/putin-dodges-peace-talks-in-istanbul-as-russia-pushes-for-territorial-concessions-from-ukraine-256504

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove, House Judiciary Democrats File Resolution Demanding Trump Comply With Constitutional Rules on Foreign Gifts By Seeking the Consent of Congress Before Accepting Qatari “Flying Palace”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

Resolution Comes as President Trump Plans to Accept a $400 Million “Flying Palace” From the State of Qatar—A Gift That Will Cost Taxpayers, Threaten National Security and Violate the Constitution Unless Congress Consents

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) joined Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Judiciary Committee Democrats in filing a Resolution condemning President Donald Trump’s efforts to accept a $400 million luxury private jet from the royal family of Qatar without obtaining Congress’s approval, in violation of the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause.

“Donald Trump is the grift that keeps on grifting. From unelected billionaires with conflicts of interest conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government to promoting a crypto meme coin from the Oval Office, corruption is taking hold in the highest levels of the Trump Administration. Donald Trump’s intention to accept a $400 million blatant bribe from Qatari royalty is yet another example of corruption hiding in plain sight,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “I am proud to join Ranking Member Raskin and Judiciary Democrats in exercising our Constitutional authority to accept or reject gifts from foreign nations. We condemn this blatant bribe that would not only jeopardize our national security but the integrity of the presidency and our nation as a whole.”

“The Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause is clear: Donald Trump cannot accept gifts ‘of any kind whatever’ from foreign states or kings without Congressional consent—and that includes Trump’s Con Air One, a flying bribe from the Qatari royals,” said Ranking Member Raskin. “Today, House Judiciary Democrats are filing a resolution instructing Trump either to turn down this Qatari ‘flying palace’ or to come to Congress immediately and seek our consent to accept it. It is what the Constitution requires and what previous Presidents have always done, from Abraham Lincoln to John F. Kennedy. The Constitution charges Congress with ensuring the President does not use the highest office in the land as a get-rich-quick scheme to pocket lavish gifts from foreign Presidents, Dictators, and Emirs. It is high time that Congress do its job.”

On May 11, an ABC News report revealed that President Trump planned to accept a $400 million private jet from the Qatari royal family—a lavish and unconstitutional gift that would become the property of his personal presidential library foundation at the conclusion of his term.

In a news conference on May 12, when asked about this reported gift, Trump stated, “I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer… I could be a stupid person and say, ‘no, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’”

While Trump claimed that this extravagant gift from a foreign government would result in “big savings [that] will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT,” it in fact would require potentially billions of dollars in taxpayer funds to retrofit and debug the plane.

All House Judiciary Democrats are original cosponsors of the Resolution.

Click here to read the resolution.

# # #

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: V. Zelensky refused to participate in Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

ANKARA, May 15 (Xinhua) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference held at the Ukrainian Embassy in Turkey on Thursday that he will not personally participate in the talks with the Russian side in Istanbul, but the Ukrainian side will send a high-level delegation to them.

V. Zelensky arrived in Ankara at midday on May 15, after which he held several hours of closed-door talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at his residence. He then made the above statement at a press conference at the Ukrainian embassy.

He said that the Ukrainian delegation would be headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and would include representatives of military and intelligence agencies. It is not yet clear when the talks will take place – May 15 or 16.

The head of the Russian delegation to the talks with Ukraine, Vladimir Medinsky, said on Thursday: “We view these talks as a continuation of the peace process in Istanbul, which, unfortunately, was interrupted by the Ukrainian side three years ago. Our official delegation has been approved by a presidential decree, and it has all the necessary competencies and powers to conduct negotiations.”

“The delegation is set on a constructive mood, on finding possible solutions and points of contact. The goal of direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side is to sooner or later establish long-term peace by eliminating the basic root causes of the conflict,” the head of the Russian delegation emphasized. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Judiciary Democrats Open Investigation into Trump’s Qatari Plane Deal, Seek Answers from Trump DOJ and White House Counsel

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Committee Democrats Request Trump Admin Provide Memos Defending Blatantly Unconstitutional Attempt to Accept Qatari “Flying Palace” Without Congressional Consent

WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, member of the House Judiciary Committee, led Committee Democrats in a letter demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) and White House Counsel’s Office provide legal memoranda that reportedly bless Donald Trump’s efforts to flout the clear text of the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause and accept a luxury private jet—described as a “flying palace”—from the State of Qatar without seeking the consent of Congress.

“President Trump is reportedly relying on memos that you authored, at his request, to accept a $400 million airplane from the State of Qatar—described in media reports as a ‘flying palace’ and ‘the most luxurious private jet in the world’—without obtaining, or even seeking, Congress’s consent. Any legal memo purporting to make such a claim would obviously fly in the face of the text of the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, which explicitly prohibits the President from accepting any ‘present [or] Emolument . . . of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State’ unless he has ‘the Consent of Congress.’ Accordingly, we are writing to request that you provide the Committee on the Judiciary with these memos immediately as their analysis and conclusions are apparently the basis for the President’s decision to disregard the plain text of the Constitution,” wrote the Members.

On May 11, an ABC News report revealed that President Trump plans to accept a $400 million private jet from the Qatari Royal Family to use as Air Force One—a lavish and unconstitutional gift which he intends to transfer to his personal presidential library foundation at the conclusion of his term.

Reports indicate that the DOJ and White House Counsel’s Office are aiding Trump’s efforts to paper over this clear Constitutional violation and reportedly drafted an analysis for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth concluding that it is legal for the Department of Defense to accept the aircraft as a gift and later turn it over to Trump’s presidential library.

The Constitution is clear that Congress—not the Attorney General or the White House Counsel—has the exclusive authority to approve or reject a gift “of any kind whatever” given to the President by a foreign government.

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s involvement in this matter is particularly egregious since she should have recused herself given her conflict of interest. Bondi was previously a registered foreign agent of the Qatari government, earning $115,000 per month to lobby on its behalf prior to entering the Administration.

Trump’s acceptance of this unprecedented and unconstitutional gift has sparked bipartisan criticism and outrage, with even Republican Members of Congress and conservative media raising concerns about national security risks and the appearance of corruption. Additionally, this supposedly “free plane” may cost the taxpayer billions of dollars to overhaul to meet “all the survivability, security and communications requirements of Air Force One.”

Judiciary Democrats requested Attorney General Bondi and White House Counsel David Warrington provide all documents and communications related to or purporting to justify or provide legal analysis regarding the constitutionality of the President’s acceptance of the Qatari plane; all documents and communications related to an agreement between the State of Qatar and the United States regarding the transfer of the plane; and all documents related to whether Attorney General Bondi should recuse herself in matters related to emoluments from Qatar.

The letter comes after Judiciary Democrats filed a Resolution demanding Trump comply with the Constitutional rules on foreign gifts by seeking the consent of Congress before accepting the Qatari plane.

Click here to read the letter.

Issues: Foreign Affairs & National Security, Government Reform & Ethics

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Siege of Gaza: MSF denounces new aid mechanism proposed by US and Israel story May 15, 2025

Source: Doctors Without Borders –

As hunger deepens and Gaza’s health system collapses, the US and Israel are pushing a new aid mechanism, which raises widespread ethical, legal, security, and logistical concerns, said Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières on Wednesday.

The plan—centered around the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—seeks to bypass UN-led coordination and place aid delivery under direct Israeli control, effectively forcing a militarized system on humanitarian organizations, donors, and civilians, said MSF.

The United States, the UN, EU member states, and all those with influence over Israel must urgently use their political and economic leverage to stop the instrumentalization of aid.
Avril Benoît, CEO of MSF USA

Rather than facilitate access, the plan threatens to further institutionalize obstruction, instrumentalize aid, and entrench the Israeli occupation. By conditioning lifesaving assistance on displacement and compliance with Israeli screening, the plan violates humanitarian principles. Making aid conditional on forced displacement and vetting of the population would be another tool in the ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population. MSF firmly rejects and condemns this plan of full control over who receives aid. We cannot accept a system which subjugates humanitarian aid to military and occupation objectives.

We are witnessing, in real time, the creation of conditions for the eradication of Palestinian lives in Gaza, said MSF.

Children hold empty pots waiting in line at a community kitchen in northern Gaza. | Palestine 2025 © Nour Alsaqqa/MSF

The obstruction of humanitarian aid is a direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2720, which calls for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians. Claims that aid is being diverted by Hamas remain unverified and in no way justify such measures. As the occupying power, Israel must facilitate impartial humanitarian assistance for the population in need.

“The United States, the UN, EU member states, and all those with influence over Israel must urgently use their political and economic leverage to stop the instrumentalization of aid,” said Avril Benoît, CEO of MSF in the United States. “Humanitarian supplies, food, fuel, and medicines must be allowed to reach the people of Gaza now. Humanitarian aid must reach all the people who desperately need it.”

A 5-month-old child is screened for severe acute malnutrition at Nasser Hospital. | Palestine 2025 © Nour Alsaqqa/MSF

Since Israel’s resumption of attacks and its total blockade of aid launched on March 2, Gaza has become hell on earth for Palestinians. The survival of Palestinians lies at the mercy of Israeli authorities, who are denying the entire population access to food, water, medical care, and shelter. Israel continues to pursue its campaign of ethnic cleansing by deliberately destroying the conditions necessary for life.

Organizations including World Central Kitchen and the World Food Programme (WFP) have announced that they have no more food stocks available in Gaza. Most community kitchens and bakeries have closed. MSF medical teams in Gaza City have seen a 32 percent increase in the number of patients presenting with malnutrition over the past two weeks.

Message from Gaza: “We are running out of time to save lives”

View the timeline

Dwindling fuel stocks are limiting the ability to desalinate and distribute water. The health facilities that are still functioning—already critically inadequate in number and capacity for the population—are still being attacked and are suffering from rapidly diminishing stocks of medications and other essential supplies. MSF teams in Gaza have not been able to receive any supplies for 11 weeks and face critical shortages of essential medical items such as sterile compresses and sterile gloves.

This 4-year-old child was severely burned and lost her mother and two siblings in an Israeli airstrike that struck their tent in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis. She is unable to heal properly because of the lack of proper nutrition and protein. | Palestine 2025 © Nour Alsaqqa/MSF

Israel’s evacuation orders and established no-go military zones now cover 70 percent of Gaza. The population has been forcibly transferred from one place to another, while not a single area of Gaza has been spared from attacks. The desperateness of the situation is such that MSF teams have treated and discharged patients only to see them return with new injuries.

Israel’s plan to instrumentalize aid is a cynical response to the very humanitarian crisis they created. If they wished, Israel and its allies could lift the blockade today and let humanitarian aid reach all those in Gaza whose survival depends on it.

We speak out. Get updates.

MIL OSI NGO –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The Russian delegation in Istanbul is determined to find possible solutions and points of contact – head of the delegation V. Medinsky

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

Moscow, May 15 (Xinhua) — The Russian delegation views the talks with Ukraine as a continuation of the peace process in Istanbul, which was interrupted in 2022, Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation at the talks with Ukraine, said on Thursday.

“We view these negotiations as a continuation of the peace process in Istanbul, which, unfortunately, was interrupted by the Ukrainian side three years ago. Our official delegation was approved by the presidential decree, and it has all the necessary competencies and powers to conduct negotiations,” V. Medinsky said.

“The delegation is set on a constructive mood, on finding possible solutions and points of contact. The task of direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side is to sooner or later reach the establishment of long-term peace, eliminating the basic root causes of the conflict,” the head of the Russian delegation emphasized.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to journalists in the Kremlin on the night of May 11, proposed that the Ukrainian side resume direct negotiations, interrupted in 2022, without preconditions. It was proposed to begin the dialogue on May 15 in Istanbul. Later on May 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed to V. Putin on the social network X to hold a personal meeting in Turkey on May 15 to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict. He added that Ukraine also expects a full and long-term ceasefire starting on May 12. On Wednesday, V. Putin approved the composition of the Russian delegation for negotiations with Ukraine, headed by Russian presidential aide V. Medinsky. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Violent man’s sentence extended after abusing against ex-partner
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Violent man’s sentence extended after abusing against ex-partner

A violent man who assaulted and harassed his ex-partner in a sustained campaign of abuse has had his sentence extended after the Solicitor General intervened.
Jordan Crewe (27), from Caerphilly, has had his two-year sentence increased after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that Crewe was sentenced to 16 months in March 2022 for harassment and malicious communication offences committed against his ex-partner. The court also placed Crewe under a 12-year restraining order.

On the same day that Crewe was released on license in the October, he immediately breached his bail conditions when he barged into his ex-partner’s home before assaulting her and deflating her tyres.

The next day, Crewe visited his ex-partner’s home and, even after he was recalled to prison, continued to harass his ex-partner, sending abusive letters, messages and phone calls. He also asked his ex-partner to drop the charges against him.

Crewe was released from prison in May 2023 under strict conditions not to contact his ex-partner unless for extenuating circumstances.

However, a year later Crewe reignited his campaign of harassment. Over three months, Crewe sent unsolicited text messages asking the victim where she was, he activated a tracker app on the victim’s phone without her consent, he didn’t allow his ex-partner to see her family without him present and controlled what she wore.

Crewe sent videos where he simulated committing suicide, groped her in public, assaulted her and bit his ex-partner’s face.

The abuse and harassment culminated in an incident on New Years Eve where the victim was in a car with Crewe before he shouted at her, threatened to assault the victim’s family, and eventually assaulted his ex-partner in her car.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the victim said that she was a happy bubbly person but now a shell of the person she was before. She also added that the mental and emotional abuse suffered will stay with her forever.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Jordan Crewe’s tirade of abuse against his ex-partner was appalling. He carried out a systematic campaign of violence and coercive control. Thankfully the Court has recognised the severity of Crewe’s actions and increased his sentence.

On 18 February 2025, Jordan Crewe was sentenced to two years at Cardiff Crown Court for one count of harassment, one count of strangulation, one count of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, and one count of controlling or coercive behaviour.

On Thursday 15 May 2025, the Court of Appeal extended Crewe’s sentence to two years and ten months’ under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

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Published 15 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI: Spiritual Business Guide ‘Zen and Stilettos’ Sells 100,000 Copies, Enters Publisher’s Top-10

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

BALI, INDONESIA, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Elizaveta Babanova’s debut book, “Zen and Stilettos,” has sold approximately 100,000 copies since its release, securing a spot in her publisher’s top-10 bestsellers list in its first year.

Market analysts report that the book, which combines spiritual practices with practical business advice, has resonated with readers seeking to balance material success with personal development, particularly among professional women aged 30-45.

“When I achieved what once felt impossible—discovering my purpose—I forged a path forward,” Babanova said in a recent interview. “At its core is my mission: to help others rediscover their soul’s intention, reconnect deeply with their essence, and live a multifaceted, fulfilling life.”

Industry experts attribute the book’s commercial success to its practical approach to spirituality in an increasingly complex business environment. Nielsen BookScan data indicates a 23% growth in the personal development category over the past year, with spiritual business guides showing particular strength.

“I spent years searching for meaning,” said Babanova, who holds a background in finance before transitioning to writing and entrepreneurship. “It’s striking how much of the external world seems designed to disconnect us from our true selves.”

According to published reports, Babanova’s second book, “The Best Year of My Life,” has also achieved bestseller status. Both titles have maintained strong sales momentum through traditional retail and e-commerce platforms.

The author has leveraged her literary success to develop additional creative ventures, including the “Path of the Soul” music series, featuring music composed by Elizaveta and performed by Tchaikovsky and Gnesin Conservatories graduates. The concerts have been staged in Bali and the United Arab Emirates. This spring, “Path of the Soul” concerts will be performed in Damanhur, Italy and Moscow, Russia.

“Through books, music, broadcasts, and writing, I share my inner state,” Babanova explained. “Those who resonate with it form a natural, deep connection. There’s no greater joy than helping others unlock their divine potential—it fulfils my own purpose.”

Market analysts note that Babanova’s success represents a growing trend of merging traditional business principles with holistic approaches to personal development. Her ability to translate spiritual concepts into commercially viable products has positioned her as a notable figure.

In addition to her writing and music, Babanova operates Mystic Travel, which organises retreats to locations she describes as sacred “places of power.” “For most of my adult life I have been called to places on Earth that hold sacred codes,” Babanova said of the travel venture. “They’re like haute cuisine: you can follow a Michelin-starred chef’s recipe, but it’s never the same as tasting their dish in their kitchen. Similarly, documentaries and books can’t rival the visceral transformation of being in these spaces. Their energy expands and reshapes you,” said the world traveler, who has spent time in over 45 countries.

The diversified business model has proven effective, with revenue streams from book sales, concert tickets, retreat packages, and merchandise contributing to overall growth. Industry analysts project continued expansion as Babanova’s brand gains international recognition.

According to publisher announcements, her forthcoming book, “Dance in Abundance,” will be released in 2025 and will deeply explore universal codes of abundance, including ancient initiation traditions and their modern applications. An English-language edition is being prepared for international distribution.

“I have deeply immersed myself in the study of the ancient practice of initiation,” Babanova said regarding her upcoming work. “During one of my own, I received an insight about crafting a line of sacred artefacts. In ancient times, every significant initiation was marked by a special object—a symbol of transformation that amplified a person’s desired qualities.”

That insight led to developing a pearl jewellery brand that combines natural elements with spiritual symbolism, adding another dimension to her business portfolio.

According to social media analytics firm Socialblade, the author maintains active social media channels with over 500,000 combined followers across platforms, where she shares content related to personal growth and business development.

“Creative expression became my way of sharing profound inner states,” Babanova said. “Books, albums, and concerts flowed naturally from what I felt. Words alone couldn’t capture the depth of those emotions, so I turned to music and performance to convey unconditional love and the joy of existence.”

Market research firm BookScan reports that the success of “Zen and Stilettos” has helped drive a 15% increase in the spiritual business advice subcategory over the past fiscal year. The book has been particularly successful in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg, with growing interest in international markets.

Literary critics have noted the book’s accessibility despite addressing complex philosophical concepts. The Russian Publishers Association recognised the work in its annual report as an example of effectively bridging practical business advice with personal development principles.

“Every project starts as a personal need—to experience and express life as something magnificent and eternal. Then it finds its audience, resonating with those meant to connect with it,” Babanova explained her creative process.

According to development partners, the author plans to launch a mobile application called “World of Abundance” later this year. The application will feature daily practices and support resources for her tribe.

Babanova’s rise in the publishing industry follows a broader trend of increasing consumer interest in integrated approaches to business success and personal fulfilment. Global market research firm Ipsos reports that 67% of professionals consider spiritual well-being important to their career development.

Media contact

Brand: Eliza Babanova

Contact: Eliza Babanova

E-mail: info@elizavetababanova.com

Website: https://elizavetababanova.com

The MIL Network –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Israeli airstrikes kill at least 80 in Gaza, cripple cancer hospital

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

GAZA, May 15 (Xinhua) — At least 80 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Palestinian medical and institutional sources said.

The shelling of the town killed 54 people, including women and children, according to a press statement issued by Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis.

Gaza’s European Hospital, the only medical facility in the Palestinian enclave that provides cancer care, was put out of action by recent Israeli airstrikes, according to health officials in the Palestinian enclave.

The attacks by the Jewish state “caused significant damage to infrastructure, in particular sewer lines, damaged department buildings and destroyed roads leading to the hospital,” the authorities said in a press statement.

Medical sources also told Xinhua that another 26 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City and other areas in the northern part of the enclave.

On May 13, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the Jewish state’s military would enter the Gaza Strip “with full force” in the coming days to continue the defeat of the Hamas movement.

Israel resumed full-scale military action in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month truce. Since then, 2,876 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,800 wounded, according to health officials in the enclave.

The total number of Palestinians killed since the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict began on October 7, 2023, reached 53,010 as of Thursday, according to official statistics from Gaza’s health authorities. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Report: Deadly Gaps

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

In September 2025, the Global Fund, the main funder of a worldwide response to HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, will host its eighth replenishment conference, where donor countries will make pledges to fund its vital, life-saving work.

Ahead of the conference, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has released a report based on our experience with the communities we serve. This report highlights the challenges this replenishment faces, including the impact of shrinking donor support. Without sufficient funding there will be antiretroviral, antimalarial and tuberculosis drug stockouts, people will travel long distances only to be turned away at dispensaries, community health workers will go unpaid or under-supported, and critical prevention activities will be neglected. These challenges are not confined to ‘fragile’ settings. People in countries with functioning health systems that are simply under-resourced will also feel the impacts.

This report references findings from Burundi, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, and Sudan.

The stakes for replenishment are high. Now is the time to step up—to protect gains made and ensure a future where HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria do not threaten millions of lives.

Deadly Gaps: Executive Summary pdf — 3.37 MB Download

Deadly Gaps: Don’t turn away from saving lives pdf — 11.64 MB Download

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MIL OSI NGO –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Iraq: Concluding Statement of the 2025 IMF Article IV Mission

Source: IMF – News in Russian

May 15, 2025

A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Mr. Jean-Guillaume Poulain, met with the Iraqi authorities in Amman and Baghdad during May 4–13 to conduct the 2025 Article IV consultation. The following statement was issued at the end of the mission:

A highly uncertain global environment, falling oil prices, and acute financing pressures, are taking a toll on economic activity and exacerbating Iraq’s existing vulnerabilities, calling for urgent measures to preserve fiscal and external stability. These include containing the fiscal deficit by mobilizing non-oil tax revenues and reining in the public wage bill, completing the restructuring of state-owned banks, and promoting private sector growth, by reforming the labor market, improving the business environment, enhancing governance and fighting corruption. Building on recent progress, the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) should continue modernizing the banking system and supporting private banks in expanding their corresponding banking relationships.

Recent Economic Developments, Outlook and Risks

The non-oil sector grew at a slower pace last year and inflation remained subdued. Following a very strong growth of 13.8 percent in 2023, Iraq’s non-oil GDP is expected to have considerably moderated to 2.5 percent in 2024, driven by a slowdown in public investment and in the services sector, as well as a weaker trade balance. The agriculture, manufacturing, and construction sectors remained resilient, benefiting from post-drought recovery, expanded refining capacity, and strong growth in credit to households. The decline in oil production weighed on overall growth, which contracted by 2.3 percent for the year. Inflation dropped to 2.7 percent by end-2024, amid lower food price inflation and liquidity absorption from the CBI.

The fiscal position has deteriorated, along with external balances. The 2024 fiscal deficit is estimated at 4.2 percent of GDP, compared to 1.1 percent in 2023, reflecting rising spending on wages and salaries and energy purchases. Financing constraints have led to reemergence of arrears notably in energy and capital expenditure. On the external front, the current account surplus narrowed sharply from 7.5 percent to 2 percent of GDP, due to a surge in goods imports. Nonetheless, external buffers remain strong, with reserves at US$100.3 billion at end-2024—covering over 12 months of imports.

Non-oil growth is projected to remain subdued in 2025 amid a challenging global environment and financing constraints. Non-oil GDP is projected to slow down to 1 percent this year as the impact of falling oil prices and financing constraints weigh on government spending and consumer sentiment. The current account is expected to weaken considerably in 2025 primarily due to declining oil export revenues. The deterioration in the external position is projected to weigh on foreign reserves.

Policy Priorities

Iraq’s vulnerabilities have increased in recent years due to a large fiscal expansion. Beside weighing on prospects of private sector-led growth, current public employment policies and resulting wage costs are unsustainable given Iraq’s low non-oil tax base. Accordingly, dependence on oil revenues has worsened, and the oil price required to balance the budget increased to around $84 in 2024, up from $54 in 2020.

These challenges have been exacerbated by the sharp decline in oil prices in 2025, requiring an urgent policy response. In the very short-term, the authorities should review current and capital spending plans for 2025 and limit or postpone all non-essential expenditure. At the same time, there may be scope to increase non-oil revenues by revising customs duties as well as introducing or raising excise taxes. The authorities should also explore options to diversify the creditors base for increasing financing availability. Monetary financing of the deficit should be avoided as it could fuel inflation, drain FX reserves, and weaken the CBI’s balance sheet.

More broadly, a sizable fiscal consolidation is needed to mitigate macro-fiscal risks, ensure debt sustainability, and rebuild fiscal buffers. On the revenue side, besides customs duties and excise taxes, there is scope to gradually reform personal income tax by limiting exemptions and increasing rates. Strengthening tax administration—through digitalization, improved enforcement, and better collection—is essential. A more effective tax administration should allow for eventually introducing a general sales tax. On the spending side, curbing current expenditures, particularly via comprehensive wage bill reforms, limiting mandatory hiring, and adopting attrition rule, would yield significant savings. Recent efforts to better target the public distribution system are welcome, but there is scope to further improve targeting and eventually shift to cash-based social safety nets. Finally, it is urgent to reform the public pension system through raising the retirement age and reducing both the accrual and replacement rates is needed to enhance its sustainability.

Implementing these reforms would also create fiscal space to increase capital spending. Expanding non-oil investment, especially in trade and transportation infrastructure should help economic diversification. Substantial investments are also required to modernize the electricity sector and develop natural gas resources, both of which are essential for improving energy security and reducing dependence on gas imports. Improved procurement, public financial management, and corruption control would enhance the effectiveness of any additional public investment.

Further efforts are needed to mop up excess liquidity in order to improve monetary policy transmission. While the CBI has made progress in absorbing excess liquidity, additional adjustments could enhance the effectiveness of the framework. Key measures include increasing the issuance of CB-bills, focusing on the short maturity (14-day) at the policy rate, revising size limits on individual banks’ bids, and improving liquidity forecasting tools and practices. To safeguard its balance sheet and preserve credibility, the CBI should continue to avoid financing the government deficit.

The mission commended the CBI for the successful transition to the new trade finance system. Trade finance is now fully processed by commercial banks through their correspondent banking relationships. This has also supported the recent decline in the spread between the official and parallel market exchange rates. Nonetheless, further efforts are needed to further reduce the spread, including by imposing Iraqi dinar usage for car and real estate transactions, improving customs controls to curb smuggling, and simplifying FX access.

While initial steps to reform state-owned banks are encouraging, broader efforts are needed to strengthen the financial sector. The restructuring plan for state-owned banks should be finalized without delay, encompassing treatment of non-performing loans, and recapitalization needs. In parallel, the mission welcomed progress in digitalization and the authorities’ intention to undertake a comprehensive banking sector overhaul. Reforms should include enhancing corporate governance, digital infrastructure, and cybersecurity, while promoting a stronger role for private banks. Efforts to enhance AML/CFT measures by tackling the deficiencies identified in the MENAFATF Mutual Evaluation report should continue.

Chronic power shortages, electricity losses and excessive tariff subsidization continue to weigh on the economy. Addressing inefficiencies in the electricity sector is important for fiscal sustainability and improving productivity. In 2024, distribution losses reached 55 percent, driven by theft and illegal connections, leading to significant financial losses. The authorities are deploying smart meters and have introduced other measures to enhance billing and collection. However, progress should be accelerated. Once collection substantially improves, achieving cost recovery will also require electricity tariff increases, with carefully calibrated subsidies targeted to low-income users. Recent disruptions in electricity imports from Iran further underscore the need for diversified supply and the development of gas projects.

Combating corruption and governance weaknesses is imperative to support economic development. Steps taken in the implementation and upgrade of the national anticorruption strategy and the improvements in corruption perception indices are positive developments. However, corruption remains a significant hurdle for growth. Strengthening accountability frameworks for the operation of state-owned and private enterprises in the oil, electricity and construction sectors is critical, and thorough compliance with Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative standards and the enactment of the law on Transparency and Access to Information should be prioritized. Additionally, aligning anticorruption legal frameworks with international covenants and best practice, and strengthening the independence of the judiciary are essential for effective enforcement and for the protection of economic rights.

A comprehensive structural reform agenda is essential to unlock growth potential. The mission estimates that a comprehensive set of reforms covering the labor market, business regulation, the financial sector and governance could double non-oil potential GDP growth over the medium term. On labor market, priorities include increasing labor force participation, particularly among women, by improving female education and further reducing barriers to their work and mobility, and reforming public sector hiring, which distort labor markets and reduce productivity. Efforts to better align skills with labor market needs should intensify. More generally, simplifying regulations and reducing bureaucratic impediments in e.g. business registration or tax administration should increase participation in the formal economy and help private sector development.

The mission would like to thank the Iraqi authorities and various stakeholders for their excellent hospitality and cooperation and candid discussions during the mission.

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Mayada Ghazala

Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

@IMFSpokesperson

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/15/mcs-iraq-concluding-statement-of-the-2025-imf-article-iv-mission

MIL OSI

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Supervised Exercise Improves Broken Hip Outcomes in Older Women
Source: US State of Connecticut

Results from a recent multi-center, randomized, controlled trial demonstrate that testosterone gel does not improve long-distance mobility compared to exercise alone in older women recovering from a hip fracture.

The STEP-HI (Starting a Testosterone and Exercise Program after Hip Injury) study results were published in JAMA Network Open on May 15. This is to date the largest study of testosterone administration to women following a fracture of the hip.

UConn Center on Aging was a clinical trial site for the national STEP-HI study since its launch in 2018.

Threat of Broken Hips in Older Women
“Historically, despite dramatic advances in surgical techniques, nearly three out of four older women fail to regain their previous level of function following hip fracture even when followed by the usual level of rehabilitation,” shares study co-author Dr. George Kuchel, director of the UConn Center on Aging.

In fact, hip fractures are the most serious type of osteoporotic fracture, as they are accompanied by considerable pain, loss of muscular and bone strength, reduced mobility and independence with daily activities, and increased risk for future fractures and death. After a hip fracture, patients undergo surgery to repair the broken bone, followed by a period of rehabilitation.

Patient does leg presses at UConn Center on Aging. (Lauren Woods/UConn Photo)

Results of the STEP-HI Clinical Trial
The large STEP-HI study focused on interventions intended to improve outcomes after standard therapy was completed. The study, “Effects of Exercise Training and Testosterone Therapy in Older Women after Hip Fracture: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” provides valuable information that does not support adding low-dose testosterone to exercise in women recovering from a hip fracture to improve long-distance mobility. Testosterone is a hormone present in all women that declines with age. It has effects on muscle that were hypothesized to augment the benefits of exercise during the recovery period.

The study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial that enrolled women aged ≥ 65 years who had a recent surgical repair of a hip fracture, met objective criteria for mobility impairment, and were community-dwelling. Participants (n=129) were recruited from 8 clinical sites in the United States between February 2018 and February 2023.

Key findings of the study include:
- 24 weeks of supervised exercise combined with testosterone therapy did not significantly improve Six Minute Walk Distance (a measure of long-distance mobility) compared to supervised exercise alone. This suggests that adding testosterone to exercise may not provide further benefits beyond exercise itself in terms of long-distance mobility in older women post hip fracture.
- Adding testosterone therapy to exercise had positive effects on short-distance mobility and balance, while also reducing the requirement of assistive walking devices at the end of the study. These secondary findings will require further research to confirm.
Jenna M. Bartley, Ph.D. served as the UConn Center on Aging’s clinical trial site principal investigator alongside Kuchel and Richard Fortinsky, Ph.D.

“While we did not see improvements with testosterone in endurance activities, these findings are important for our understanding of how older women can best recover from hip fracture. While we thought that adding an anabolic agent like testosterone would aid in mobility improvements, we did not see a benefit in that aspect. We did see a benefit of testosterone in other functional domains, but more research is needed to confirm those findings,” Bartley reports.

Kuchel, director of the UConn Center on Aging, agrees.

“Our findings did not demonstrate any additional benefits in long-distance mobility of testosterone replacement beyond the positive effects of exercise. However, our findings confirm that more intense and sustained exercise protocols are well-tolerated by older women and can result in substantial functional improvements.”

Kuchel stresses a secondary post hoc finding of the study that needs further investigation.

“Among women who required a walker or cane at baseline, those who were randomized to receive exercise and testosterone replacement were more likely to be able to walk without a cane or walker 6 months later as compared to women receiving only exercise or usual care. These findings will require future study and further confirmation,” says Kuchel of UConn.

Striking Impact of Strength Training for Older Women at UConn Center on Aging
“What was most striking from our STEP-HI study was how well the older women performed the progressive resistance training and how much they improved over the course of the study,” says Principal Investigator Bartley at UConn.

She says while some women were hesitant at first, by the end of the study some were leg pressing over 100lbs!

“It was really impressive to see the progress over time from these women. It really is never too late to start an exercise training program!” Bartley advises.

Also, Bartley shared how progressive resistance training for 6 months led to huge improvements in functional outcomes.

‘‘The power of weight training is really impressive, even in these older women. This research really highlighted how older women can benefit from weight training despite being recently injured or more frail,” concludes Bartley.

The study team of co-authors concluded overall that: “Although testosterone did not provide the functional benefits to older women recovering from a hip fracture that we were expecting, our study offers valuable information on the importance of exercise and other treatments during recovery,” wrote the study co-authors led by Dr. Ellen F. Binder of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Other study co-authors include: Sarah D. Berry, MD, MPH, Peter Doré, MS, Steven R. Fisher, PT, PhD, Richard H. Fortinsky, PhD, Camelia Guild, MPH, Douglas P. Kiel, MD, MPH, Robin L. Marcus, PT, PhD, Christine M. McDonough, PT, PhD, Kelly M. Monroe, MSW, Denise Orwig, PhD, Rocco Paluch, MA, Dominic Reeds, MD, Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD, Elena Volpi, MD, PhD, Kenneth B. Schechtman, PhD, and Jay Magaziner, PhD.

The JAMA Network Open study co-authors are faculty at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the UConn Center on Aging, Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew Senior Life and the Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, University of Texas Medical Branch, University of Utah, University of Pittsburgh. University at Buffalo, University of Colorado, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio GRECC, Sealy Center on Aging, and the University of Texas Medical Branch.

This work is in part supported by the following grants: The National Institute on Aging provided funding and supervision for STEP-HI under award numbers: R21 AG023716, R34 AG040257, R01 AG051647, P30 AG067988 (UConn Older Americans Independence Pepper Center), P30 AG024832, P30 AG028747. Support for STEP-HI at the Baltimore site was also provided by the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (GRECC).

MIL OSI USA News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI: AutoScheduler Introduces GenAI-Driven Orchestration
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Austin, Texas, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Orchestration Platform and WMS accelerator, is offering an exclusive session where CEO Keith Moore will demonstrate the latest innovation on the AutoScheduler platform: GenAI-Driven Orchestration. The session takes place on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM CDT.

“With GenAI-Driven Orchestration, companies can move beyond optimization to create operations that learn, evolve, and unlock new levels of efficiency,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “This session will showcase how GenAI-Driven Orchestration helps our customers identify margin gaps, streamline execution, and make smarter, faster decisions that drive measurable impact.”

At the session, attendees will discover how Generative AI is enhancing warehouse orchestration by enabling:
- Site accountability and performance tracking to surface margin gaps and drive consistent improvement.
- Enhanced decision making to reduce manual inputs and maximize throughput.
- Harmonized visibility to eliminate blind spots and drive smarter, real-time decisions.
At the recent Gartner® Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo, AutoScheduler and PepsiCo discussed how PepsiCo uses AI and optimization to improve warehouse efficiencies, including an average of 9 – 14% productivity gains per facility.

“This demonstration isn’t a PowerPoint – it’s a live look at how GenAI is orchestrating real-time warehouse execution at scale,” adds Moore.

To register for the free event, visit: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/9140815653517074011

About AutoScheduler.AI

AutoScheduler.AI empowers you to take full control of your warehouse with a cloud-based solution that seamlessly integrates with your existing WMS/LMS/YMS or any other solution. We automate critical tasks like labor scheduling, dock management, and task sequencing, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. You’ve already invested in the software to run your warehouse—what we do is provide the orchestration layer that ties it all together to make real-time data driven decisions. With AutoScheduler.AI, you get smart orchestration for a smarter, more agile warehouse. For more information, visit: http://www.autoscheduler.ai.

Contact:
Becky Boyd
MediaFirst PR
Becky@MediaFirst.Net
Cell: (404) 421-8497

The MIL Network –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI: EVA AI Launches First Real-Time AI Antivirus for Web3 to Block On-Chain Threats
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EVA AI – a leading provider of decentralized security solutions and one of Q1’s top-performing on-chain projects – has launched EVA Sentinel Extension, the first AI-powered antivirus built exclusively for Web3 users. The browser-based tool operates in real time, auditing tokens, scanning smart contracts, and blocking malicious scripts — all without requiring a wallet connection or compromising user privacy.

As adoption of decentralized applications (dApps) accelerates, so does the frequency of on-chain threats. In 2024 alone, Web3 users lost over $1.7 billion to scams and exploits, according to Chainalysis – the majority of which began with invisible, malicious code embedded in contracts or websites. EVA Sentinel was designed to stop these threats before users engage with them.

“EVA Sentinel Extension is our answer to an increasingly hostile Web3 landscape,” said Extiint, Co-founder of EVA AI. “Users deserve better protection, and that starts with full transparency and real-time threat detection, before a wallet is ever connected. Our mission is to deliver first-rate security for Web3 and beyond. DeFi is the future, and we’re committed to building protection that evolves alongside the groundbreaking advancements happening across the space.”

A New Standard for Web3 Security

EVA Sentinel Extension is the first tool of its kind to deliver real-time, AI-powered protection without requiring setup, browser changes, or wallet permissions. It activates the moment a user visits a site or interacts with on-chain elements – flagging risks and blocking attacks before any transaction takes place.

Key capabilities include:
- Real-Time Token & Contract Audits
Instantly analyzes any token or smart contract encountered while browsing – offering actionable insights before users approve, sign, or swap.
- Auto-Blocking of Untrusted Scripts
Detects and disables malicious code before it can execute – stopping phishing attempts, drainers, and stealth exploits at the source.
- Ultra Protection Mode
Preemptively disables all Web3 scripts on uncertified or untrusted websites. Users can whitelist or blacklist sites manually.
- EVA Logo Risk Indicator
A color-coded icon (green, yellow, red) appears in-browser to signal the threat level of any webpage at a glance.
- EVA Widget
An optional, on-page tool that lets users:

• View smart contracts loaded on any webpage

• Audit tokens or contracts instantly

• Monitor transactions in real time

• Auto-scan tokens before buying or approving
- Popup & Ad Removal
Blocks Web2-originating popups and ads often used to deliver hidden scripts and phishing attempts.
- P2P Community Trust System
Every site trusted or blacklisted by users feeds into a shared intelligence network, strengthening threat detection across the entire EVA ecosystem.

Privacy by Design

Unlike most wallet-connected security tools, EVA Sentinel is completely wallet-free. It doesn’t manage private keys, request permissions, or store personal data – ensuring robust protection with complete privacy.

“You shouldn’t have to connect your wallet to know if you’re at risk,” said Cosmo, Co-founder of EVA. “EVA is invisible until you need it, but always watching for threats.”

Available Now

EVA Sentinel Extension is now available for Chrome and Brave browsers. Users can install the tool and begin browsing Web3 with full protection in under 60 seconds.

A more advanced version, EVA Plus, is scheduled for release in June – bringing enhanced AI protections and premium security layers for power users and institutions.

Download now:

https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/eva-sentinel/fbemejbekefmhnfhknjdelipddeadofo

Learn more: www.eva-ai.cloud

About EVA AI

Security is the foundation of EVA. From our real-time API – trusted by over 45 on-chain projects – to the EVA Sentinel Extension, we deliver advanced, AI-powered protection for the entire Web3 stack. EVA safeguards users, developers, and protocols with tools that audit smart contracts, detect threats autonomously, and defend against exploits in real time. Whether it’s a dApp, token, or transaction, EVA ensures Web3 is safer for everyone.

With EVA, security isn’t a feature – it’s the foundation.

Media contact:

Eva Team
cosmo@eva-ai.cloud

The MIL Network –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Not every US president gets a free private jet, but the Gulf states have boosted US economic dominance for decades

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Adam Hanieh, Professor of Political Economy and Global Development, Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter

After signing a US$142 billion (£107 billion) arms deal with Saudi Arabia, Donald Trump said the US bond with that country was “more powerful than ever”. He was also reportedly quite pleased with the gift of a private jet from Qatar.

But these arrangements are just the latest developments in a long history of the Gulf monarchies supporting the architecture of American global power. And while the six Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman) have recently started redirecting their energy and trade ties eastward, especially towards China, they remain deeply embedded in the US-led financial order.

As I explore in my recent book, Crude Capitalism, the Gulf states were instrumental in the rise of American global economic dominance.

With oil emerging as the dominant fossil fuel through the second half of the 20th century, the Gulf’s nationalised petroleum industries generated vast amounts of income. Much of this was invested back into the US financial markets, particularly treasury bonds (essentially a long-term loan to the US government). This gave the US access to cheap foreign capital and reinforced the global dominance of the dollar.

Put simply, the Gulf states were not peripheral to the US’s growing financial power – they were an essential contributor.

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

This arrangement also involved a political bargain: US military protection for the Gulf monarchies in exchange for investment flows and energy stability. The result was a web of US military bases across the region and a deep alignment between authoritarian Gulf regimes and western strategic interests.

But much has changed in the past two decades. China’s rise as a global manufacturing hub has driven a huge increase in oil consumption, shifting the direction of the Gulf’s oil exports away from the US and western Europe towards China and east Asia.

These energy ties have been accompanied by much deeper trade interdependence and a huge increase in Chinese investments in the Gulf. In 2005, China was responsible for just 9% of the Gulf’s imports. Today, that figure is over 20%, while the US and EU’s share has fallen from 45% to 16%. China has also recently overtaken the US as the largest foreign investor in Saudi Arabia.

From Beijing’s perspective, the Gulf is a critical energy lifeline. From the Gulf’s side, China’s continuing demand for oil, gas and petrochemicals is a vital part of its economic future.

For the moment, that economic situation looks pretty robust. In 2024, Gulf countries held around US$800 billion in foreign reserves (foreign currencies and other assets), which is more than India or Switzerland. Their sovereign wealth funds (a state owned investment fund) manage another US$4.9 trillion of assets.

Private wealth, including that held by ruling families, stood at US$2.8 trillion in 2022, and is expected to reach US$3.5 trillion by 2027.

Much of this money is invested domestically, in sectors including infrastructure, real estate and renewable energy. But an astonishing amount flows directly into US markets.

Oil be back

According to US Treasury data, total Gulf holdings of American securities (bonds, stocks and corporate debt) rose from US$611 billion in 2017 to over US$1 trillion in 2024. Outside of Canada and financial hubs like London and Ireland, the Gulf is now the largest foreign investor in the US stock market.

Another route through which Gulf wealth flows back into the US is via military procurement. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the Gulf states accounted for 22% of all global arms imports between 2019 and 2023 – more than any other region in the world.

Riyadh, money to build.
Kashif Hameed/Shutterstock

The US supplies the overwhelming majority of these weapons. In this way, Gulf spending supports the American military industry, and in return, these states become more closely tied to the US military’s umbrella.

These deep military, financial and strategic ties help explain the real focus of Trump’s visit to the Gulf. Much of the discussion will have centred on massive investment pledges made by Gulf states to the US – including Saudi Arabia’s promise to invest up to US$600 billion, and the UAE’s commitment to a US$1.4 trillion investment over ten years.

And such pledges reflect a broader agenda which involves expanding deals in artificial intelligence, critical minerals, energy infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.

So Trump travelling to the region is not just about private jets and spectacle. It is about the continuing relevance of a structural relationship essential to American power, and a deepening financial integration between the Gulf and the US.

For even as the Gulf reorients its energy flows eastward, it remains deeply tied to US finance, the US military industry and US assets. In an era of weakening US global power – and the possible spectre of a deeper clash with China – this is what will define Trump’s visit.

Adam Hanieh 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. Not every US president gets a free private jet, but the Gulf states have boosted US economic dominance for decades – https://theconversation.com/not-every-us-president-gets-a-free-private-jet-but-the-gulf-states-have-boosted-us-economic-dominance-for-decades-256655

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Flight PS752 Commemorative Scholarship Program now accepting applications

Source: Government of Canada News

May 15, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

Today, the third edition of the Flight PS752 Commemorative Scholarship opened for applications for the 2025 to 2026 academic year. The scholarship program was created to honour the 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents who were among the 176 people killed in the unlawful downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 by the Iranian regime on January 8, 2020. Among those victims were brilliant minds and dedicated students who made significant contributions to Canadian educational institutions.

Following the wishes of their loved ones and to honour the legacy of every single victim, Canada’s Flight PS752 Commemorative Scholarship Program is disbursing 176 scholarships over 5 years. International and Canadian students enrolled at colleges and universities in Canada are eligible to apply if their field of study aligns with one of the victims’ academic or professional backgrounds or focuses on the prevention of air disasters.

Since the scholarship program’s launch in 2023, 68 scholarships have been awarded to eligible recipients, including Canadian and international doctoral, graduate, undergraduate and college students studying at post-secondary institutions across Canada. Recipients come from a wide range of educational programs, from business administration to engineering to health sciences, and some are family members of the victims of Flight PS752.

The deadline for applications is June 15, 2025.

MIL OSI Canada News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Welch Leads 28 Colleagues in Introducing Senate Resolution Decrying Two-Month Blockade on Food and Medicine in Gaza

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

Welch delivers remarks on the Senate Floor calling for an immediate end to the blockade of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led 28 of his Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to bring an end to the blockade of food and lifesaving humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza. In their resolution, the Senators express grave concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the imminent starvation of tens of thousands of children.
On Tuesday evening, Senator Welch took to the Senate Floor to highlight the unprecedented crisis unfolding in Gaza:
“It’s been over two months since the Israeli government has been using its power to withhold food, medicine, lifesaving cancer treatments, dialysis systems, formula, and more from starving and suffering families across Gaza. Half a million Palestinians in Gaza are facing starvation, and that number is rising…All the while, these trucks that are filled with food and medicine—much of that aid provided by the United States and our allies—is right there across the border…We cannot have or sanction a government-intentional policy of starvation,” said Senator Welch on the Senate floor. “I’m offering a resolution with my colleagues that makes a simple point: it notes simply that children are starving to death. They’re starving to death as we are here comfortably debating what we think are important issues. And it must be the effort of all of us to do all we can to bring this siege and this war to an immediate end.”
Watch the Senator’s full remarks below:

On March 2, 2025, the Israeli Government began blocking all food and emergency aid—including food, medicine, infant formula, fuel, and other lifesaving humanitarian supplies—from reaching Palestinian civilians in Gaza. In the same month, all 25 World Food Program (WFP)-supported bakeries in Gaza closed, wheat flour and cooking fuel ran out, and food parcels distributed to families—with two weeks of food rations—were depleted. According to the United Nations, about 10,000 children have been identified as suffering from acute malnutrition since January 2025.
Joining Senator Welch on the resolution are Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
The Senators’ resolution is supported by Anera, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, J Street, and Oxfam America.
“In Gaza today, children are starving, hospitals are collapsing, and families are in a state of desperation. This resolution is a call to conscience, a moment of moral reckoning. Will the world be complicit in Gaza’s collapse, or part of its recovery? We call on the U.S. government in the strongest terms to act swiftly, using all the leverage at its disposal, to urgently permit humanitarian organizations to deliver aid into Gaza. This resolution is a critical step in the right direction,” said Sean Carroll, President and CEO, Anera.
“The crisis in Gaza has reached a breaking point, with over two months of a total blockade cutting off food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. More than two million Palestinians are trapped, starving, and facing a potential famine that could claim thousands of lives. It’s encouraging to see Senator Welch and his colleagues introduce a resolution highlighting this urgent humanitarian suffering. Congress and the Trump Administration must use every diplomatic tool available to demand the immediate, full reopening of Gaza’s borders to deliver life-saving aid,” said Hassan El-Tayyab, Legislative Director for Middle East Policy, Friends Committee on National Legislation.
“This resolution comes at a moment of moral reckoning, as conditions in Gaza have become even more unbearable,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, President, J Street. “Children are surviving on one meal every few days. To deliberately starve civilians is immoral. To use water, fuel, food as tools of war is unconscionable. Humanitarian aid must immediately be allowed to enter Gaza unconditionally.”
“The more than two-month-long siege, with no aid being allowed to enter, has now pushed nearly the entire population in Gaza to the brink of starvation. Every day, parents wake up and spend their days searching for something to feed their children – often coming back with nothing. Humanitarian organizations know how to reach the people who most urgently need food, water, medical care, and other lifesaving essentials when we have supplies and can do our work safely, but right now we can’t. We are in a race against time, and we need action from U.S. leaders to allow us to do our jobs, keep pushing for a permanent, immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access and an end to the siege, and a return of all hostages and unlawfully detained prisoners,” said Abby Maxman, President and CEO, Oxfam America.
Read and download the full text of the resolution.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: President Trump Welcomed to the UAE by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

President Donald J. Trump was welcomed to the United Arab Emirates by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwSK_ay8kIw

MIL OSI Video –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: V. Zelensky arrived in Turkey, while V. Putin decided not to participate in peace talks in Istanbul

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

ANKARA, May 15 (Xinhua) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived here on Thursday to meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan amid renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine.

His visit to Turkey follows calls from Russian President Vladimir Putin to resume stalled peace talks in Istanbul.

V. Zelensky stated that he is ready to take part in direct peace talks with Russia in Istanbul, but only on the condition that V. Putin also takes part in them.

“I am waiting for who will arrive from Russia, and then I will determine what steps Ukraine should take. The signals from them in the media are not convincing yet,” V. Zelensky said late on Wednesday.

However, the Kremlin announced that Putin would not join the Russian delegation at the talks in Istanbul on Thursday, and Russia would be represented by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.

Speaking at an informal NATO meeting in Antalya, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said: “The talks that will take place in Istanbul will probably allow us to open a new page.”

The last direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul in March 2022, but the parties failed to agree on a cessation of hostilities. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI: Micropolis to Present at the Aegis Capital Corp. 2025 Virtual Conference on May 20th

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Micropolis Holding Co. (“Micropolis” or the “Company”) (NYSE: MCRP), a pioneer in unmanned ground vehicles and AI-driven security solutions, today announced that its management team is scheduled to present at the Aegis Capital Corp. 2025 Virtual Conference on May 20, 2025.

Presentation Details:
Date: May 20, 2025
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Webcast: Register Here

For more information, please contact your Aegis Capital representative or email KCSA Strategic Communications at Micropolis@kcsa.com.

About Micropolis Holding Co.
Micropolis is a UAE-based company specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), AI systems, and smart infrastructure for urban, security, and industrial applications. The Company’s vertically integrated capabilities cover everything from mechatronics and embedded systems to AI software and high-level autonomy.

For more information please visit www.micropolis.ai.

Investor Contact:
KCSA Strategic Communications
Valter Pinto, Managing Director
PH: (212) 896-1254
Valter@KCSA.com

Media Contact:
Jessica Starman
media@elev8newmedia.com

The MIL Network –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI: Drone as a Service Market Well Poised for Sustained Growth in Commercial, Industrial and Civic Usage
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PALM BEACH, Fla., May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Industry experts are expecting the Drone Service market to flourish. One such report from FACT.MR projected that the drone services market is valued at USD 8.66 billion in 2025 and the industry will grow at a CAGR of 14.3% and reach USD 32.96 billion by 2035. The report said: “In 2024, the drone services industry recorded dynamic shifts fueled by regulatory clarity, commercial adoption, and end-user digitization efforts. Fact.MR analysis found that demand surged notably in the precision agriculture segment, particularly across North America and Western Europe, as growers adopted drone-based imaging and multispectral analysis to improve field-level decision-making. In the mining as well as construction sectors, companies increased use of aerial mapping, which provided real-time volumetric analysis as well as site safety compliance. At the same time, drone-enabled monitoring made substantial progress in city policing and border security, with large pilot schemes initiated in the Middle East and South Asia. Commercial media organizations, event producers, and property agents also ramped up drone-based photography as well as filming in anticipation of increasing visual content needs. These trends reinforced a larger move away from use-case limitations toward operational adoption across industries.” Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL), Unusual Machines, Inc. (NYSE American: UMAC), NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR).

FACT.MR continued: “As the sector moves into 2025, the environment is on the cusp of increased scalability. Business drone fleets are moving from pilot to standard operations, particularly in logistics and asset inspection. Fact.MR indicates that increasing adoption of AI-driven navigation, enhanced battery density, and BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) capabilities will drastically enhance service accuracy and cost-effectiveness. Valued at USD 8.66 billion in 2025 and expected to reach USD 32.96 billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 14.3%, the industry is well placed for sustained growth in industrial and civic usage. To stay ahead, companies must immediately pivot toward building integrated drone service platforms that combine AI-enabled flight autonomy, sector-specific analytics, and BVLOS capabilities. This intelligence highlights a shift from isolated deployments to enterprisescale drone ecosystems, requiring the client to reprioritize R&D toward modular, scalable solutions for logistics, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors.”

ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Reports Nearly Double Revenue Year-Over-Year for the First Quarter of 2025 – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces financial results for the first quarter 2025.

First Quarter 2025 Highlights:
- Total revenues for the first quarter of 2025 were $1.13 million, up 92% compared to $591,379 for the first quarter of 2024 primarily due to acquisitions and organic growth.
- ZenaTech’s new Drone as a Service or DaaS segment grew from completing two acquisitions of land survey drone servicing companies ─ Oregon-based Weddle Surveying and Florida-based KJM Land Surveying. The Company also signed five LOIs (Letter of Intent) for additional acquisitions during the quarter.
- The company acquired Othership, a UK workplace management software company supporting its enterprise SaaS software segment, where it plans to leverage workplace AI and quantum computing productivity solutions targeting business and government customers.
- The company made investments in longer term growth and in new segment development that caused general and administrative expenses to increase to $5.75 million in Q1 2025 versus about $0.7 million in Q1 of 2024. This primarily consisted of sales and marketing activities, new hires, professional services, and finance expenses.
- ZenaTech made investments in its subsidiary ZenaDrone’s UAE manufacturing capabilities during the quarter, including hiring 35 new engineers and technicians. Also announced was the opening of a drone testing facility in Turkey for beyond-the-line-of-sight drone testing.
- Drone product highlights in Q1 include finalizing the third-generation design and “production model” of the ZenaDrone 1000 drone that will enable the start of scaling up of production. The company also announced the IQ Square drone has moved from prototype to manufacturing stage.
- The commence of work on a heavy-lift gas-powered ZD 1000 model for longer fight times for US defense applications took place during the quarter. Testing also commenced on a new high-density drone battery and a proprietary communications system for this drone.
- The company reported that ZenaDrone is preparing for Green UAS followed by Blue UAS certification required to sell to the US Military. Additionally, it is reviewing and putting in place cybersecurity practices, documentation, and internal controls necessary to apply for this certification.
- ZenaTech further expanded its Taiwan drone component manufacturer─ Spider Vision Sensors, adding additional engineering and business development staff. It also announced the first Blue UAS-certifiable drone sensors are under development.
“The first quarter of 2025 was a very strong and encouraging start to the year as revenue nearly doubled, up 92% primarily due to acquisitions and organic growth across both our software and drone segments,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D. “During the first quarter we launched our Drone as a Service or DaaS business segment with a vision to have a national footprint in the US and globally.”

“Although expenses increased during the first quarter, these are investments intended to grow the company over the long-term, namely in marketing, manufacturing, product development and testing capacity, which we believe will yield future rewards.

“We believe that this quarter’s performance demonstrates that our strategy to disrupt legacy businesses like land surveys via a DaaS business model is on track. Our momentum is strong, and we are well positioned to expand our range of drone services with a pipeline of over 20 acquisitions over the next 12 months,” concluded Dr. Passley. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

In Additional ZENA News: ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) Exterior Building Power Washing to Dubai Tapping into a Global Drone Cleaning Services Market Growing to USD 13 Billion by 2030 – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announced it is expanding its United Arab Emirates (UAE) presence by establishing a new office to sell Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) offerings based in Dubai. Initially this office will focus on delivering drone-powered cleaning services for building exteriors using the IQ Square drone tethered to a water pipe and electrical cord. The company is currently obtaining a permit from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority to begin power wash testing and operations. Supporting this expansion, ZenaTech will hire two business development managers and up to four additional drone pilots, with drones supplied from its subsidiary ZenaDrone which has a manufacturing hub in nearby Sharjah.

The global drone power washing market falls under a broader drone cleaning services market category that was valued at approximately USD 4.36 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 13.2 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 17% according to market analyst Valuates Reports , fueled by increasing demand for safe, efficient and cost-effective maintenance solutions.

“With rising demand for tech-enabled and efficient maintenance solutions, whether for power washing buildings, renewable energy assets, or public spaces, we believe AI-powered drones will bring new safety standards, cost-efficiency, and greater environmental sustainability to maintenance tasks. UAE’s openness to innovative technology makes it an ideal launchpad for these DaaS solutions that we hope to expand to all seven emirates in addition to the US and Europe,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.zenatech.com/newsroom/

Other recent developments in the drone industry include:

Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL), a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, recently provided an operating update and released financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. The first quarter 2025 results filing is accessible on the Company’s investor relations website.

Stuart Simpson, CEO at Vertical, said: “2025 is on pace to be a transformational year for Vertical as we advance our piloted flight test programme and move into the final flight test phases. With the announcement of our hybrid-electric programme – opening up new high-value markets – and the expansion of our partnership with Honeywell to certify critical flight systems, we are deepening our technical and commercial edge. With growing regulatory confidence in the VX4 and a strong team behind us, we’re well positioned to deliver a scalable, certifiable aircraft to the global market.”

Unusual Machines, Inc. (NYSE American: UMAC) (“Unusual Machines” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of drone components, recently announced it will exhibit at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2025, the premier event for autonomy and uncrewed systems, taking place May 20-22, 2025, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

Unusual Machines will host a booth on the expo floor, where the Company will feature its new U.S.-made FPV motors and its growing portfolio of Blue UAS Framework-approved drone components. These offerings underscore Unusual Machines’ commitment to delivering high-performance, NDAA-compliant drone technology for defense, commercial, and public safety applications.

Attendees are invited to visit the booth for product demonstrations and to meet with representatives from Unusual Machines. The Company will be actively engaging with integrators, OEMs, and procurement professionals throughout the event and will be ready to take orders on-site.

Vision software company Foresight Autonomous Holdings has integrated NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) Jetson Orin generative AI computing modules into its 3D-perception system.

Foresight is using Nvidia’s Jetson Orin Nano and Jetson AGX Orin modules to improve the capabilities of its perception systems deployed in various use cases, with a major focus on autonomous drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Jetson modules, which are used in generative AI, computer vision and advanced robotics, upgrade Foresight’s vision system with the computing power needed for autonomous drones and UAVs, according to Foresight.

Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) recently announced operating and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. The Company issued a shareholder letter discussing those results, as well as its second quarter 2025 estimates.

Commenting on first quarter 2025 results, Adam Goldstein, Archer’s founder and CEO, said: “Archer’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and reshaping the future of aviation for years to come. This quarter, the team made strong progress across our civil and defense efforts as we continue to deepen our strategic partner relationships and prepare for commercialization in the UAE later this year.”

About FN Media Group:

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SOURCE: FN Media Group

The MIL Network –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: UK government must immediately close Wethersfield mass containment site for asylum seekers
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –
A new report released by MSF shows how people staying in Wethersfield mass containment site in the UK are experiencing severe mental health distress.

Wethersfield continues to be used as an accommodation site for asylum seekers despite the government promising to end its use.

We call on the UK government to end the use of mass containment sites for asylum seekers and encourage the use of dignified and safe accommodation within communities.
For over one year, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in partnership with Doctors of the World (DOTW) UK, ran a general healthcare mobile clinic outside the main gates of the former Royal Air Forces base at Wethersfield, in the United Kingdom (UK). Between November 2023 and December 2024, we documented how the isolated site, which accommodates up to 800 men aged between 18 and 65, causes immense harm.

A new report based on medical data and interviews with the men held at Wethersfield in 2024 highlights mental health distress amongst our patients and protection concerns at the site.

“A Lonely Place” How Wethersfield is harming asylum seekers pdf — 1.6 MB Download

“When I first saw the military camp, it was a reminder of the military camps in my home country. Very isolated atmosphere. You can’t socialise and you can’t learn,” says a resident at Wethersfield in 2024.

The top five countries of nationality of patients attending our mobile clinic were Iran, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Syria, and Sudan. As such, many have fled violence, persecution and conflict and will go on to be recognised as refugees by the UK government.

“Most of the consultations were for psychological problems. Many people felt anxious and stressed and said Wethersfield reminds them of previous difficult experiences such as imprisonment, torture or living in areas of conflict,” says Emma Withycombe, MSF’s medical activities manager. “It seems very cruel that people who have experienced so much hardship are now living here. The government has chosen to accommodate people in a place that causes harm.”

In the absence of safe alternatives, many people seeking safety are forced to risk their lives and take dangerous journeys to reach the UK.
The report reveals:

A lack of safe routes to the UK

Everyone who accessed our services had crossed the Channel by small boat. In interviews, participants described dangerous journeys to get to the UK. Three quarters of patients disclosed previous experiences of violence or abuse in their countries of origin and on their journeys to the UK.

Mental health impacted by the site

The men we interviewed spoke about the major impact the site was having on their mental health, as well as on the mental health of those around them. 62 per cent of those accessing our service presented with severe mental distress and 30 per cent reported suicidal ideation.

Serious failures to protect and safeguard

Our medical team observed that many individuals were accommodated onsite despite being ‘unsuitable’ according to the Home Office’s own guidance. We made a total of 226 safeguarding referrals due to concerns about individual patient safety and wellbeing.

“People are dying at the UK borders, dying in camps and hotels. Our patients in Wethersfield have survived conflict, persecution, and harrowing journeys to the UK with no safe route to asylum. The government should not be putting refugees into camps once they arrive here,” says Simon Tyler, Executive Director of DOTW.

Despite evidence that mass containment causes immense psychological harm and suffering, and the government’s own promises to end its use, Wethersfield remains open. In April 2025, Prime Minister Starmer refused to set a date for when the site would close.

“It is beyond comprehension that Wethersfield remains open, a site which has been the source of intense suffering for people who came to the UK in search of safety. From MSF’s work at the site, we know many of the individuals accommodated here have experienced violence and trauma and will have complex psychological needs,” says Jacob Burns, project manager for MSF. “We had hoped this Labour government would establish a dignified and compassionate asylum system. Instead, we are witnessing a continuation of the same inhumane and restrictive policies, that are fundamentally failing those who are most in need of care and protection.”

MSF calls on the UK government to:

Close Wethersfield immediately and end the policy of mass containment for people seeking safety in the UK.

Place people seeking safety in the UK in dignified and safe accommodation in the community.

Ensure access to specialist mental health support for asylum seekers in the UK.

Home Office accommodation sites must have clear and transparent safeguarding pathways in place before opening.

Open new and expand existing safe routes for people seeking safety to reach the UK.
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MIL OSI NGO –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Congress began losing power decades ago − and now it’s giving away what remains to Trump

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Charlie Hunt, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Boise State University

Where did Congress go? Julia Nikhinson/Bloomberg Creative via Getty Images

Republicans in Congress have been making behind-the-scenes efforts to pass major domestic legislation via the federal budget process. They include potential cuts to Medicaid and extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts.

But even though it’s Congress’ job to pass a budget and set tax policy, most media outlets have been content to frame key elements of the legislation as being driven not by Congress but by the president.

So the news media say that the purpose of the bill is to “deliver Trump’s agenda” or to pass the “Trump tax cuts.” Many have even adopted President Donald Trump’s trademark name for the legislation: his “big, beautiful bill.”

Along with Casey Burgat and SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, I am co-author of a textbook titled “Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch.” In that book, it was important to us to highlight Congress’ clear role as the preeminent lawmaking body in the federal government.

But since Trump’s inauguration, Congress has ceded huge swaths of its policymaking responsibility to the president. That makes the media’s focus on Trump unsurprising. And there’s no denying that Trump has had enormous impact during his first 100 days in office.

During that time, Congress has been unwilling to assert itself as an equal branch of government. Beyond policymaking, Congress has been content to hand over many of its core constitutional powers to the executive branch. As a Congress expert who loves the institution and profoundly respects its constitutionally mandated role, this renunciation of responsibility has been difficult to watch.

And yet, Congress’ path to irrelevance as a body of government did not begin in January 2025.

It is the result of decades of erosion that created a political culture in which Congress, the first branch of government listed in the Constitution, is relegated to second-class status.

President Donald Trump holds one of the many executive orders he has signed during his second term.
Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images

The Constitution puts Congress first

The 18th-century framers of the Constitution viewed Congress as the foundation of republican governance, deliberately placing it first in Article 1 to underscore its primacy. Congress was assigned the pivotal tasks of lawmaking and budgeting because controlling government finances was seen as essential to limiting executive power and preventing abuses that the framers associated with monarchy.

Alternatively, a weak legislature and an imperial executive were precisely what many of the founders feared. With legislative authority in the hands of Congress, power would at least be decentralized among a wide variety of elected leaders from different parts of the country, each of whom would jealously guard their own local interests.

But Trump’s first 100 days turned the founders’ original vision on its head, leaving the “first branch” to play second fiddle.

Like most recent presidents, Trump came in with his party in control of the presidency, the House and the Senate. Yet despite the lawmaking power that this governing trifecta can bring, the Republican majorities in Congress have mostly been irrelevant to Trump’s agenda.

Instead, Congress has relied on Trump and the executive branch to make changes to federal policy and in many cases to reshape the federal government completely.

Trump has signed more than 140 executive orders, a pace faster than any president since Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Republican Congress has shown little interest in pushing back on any of them. Trump has also aggressively reorganized, defunded or simply deleted entire agencies, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

These actions have been carried out even though Congress has a clear constitutional authority over the executive branch’s budget. Again, Congress has shown little to no interest in reasserting its power, even during recent budget talks.

Many causes, no easy solutions

Even so, Congress’ weakening did not begin with Trump. There’s no one culprit but instead a collection of factors that have provided the ineffectual Congress of today.

One overriding factor is a process that has unfolded over the past 50 or more years called political nationalization. American politics have become increasingly centered on national issues, parties and figures rather than more local concerns or individuals.

This shift has elevated the importance of the president as the symbolic and practical leader of a national party agenda. Simultaneously, it weakens the role of individual members of Congress, who are now more likely to toe the party line than represent local interests.

A participant holds a sign during a GOP town hall meeting with U.S. Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy on March 20, 2025, in Salt Lake City.
AP Photo/Rick Egan

As a result, voters focus more on presidential elections and less on congressional ones, granting the president greater influence and diminishing Congress’ independent authority.

The more Congress polarizes among its members on a party-line basis, the less the public is likely to trust the legitimacy of their opposition to a president. Instead, congressional pushback − sometimes as extreme as impeachment − can thus be written off not as principled or substantive but as partisan or politically motivated to a greater extent than ever before.

Congress has also been been complicit in giving away its own power. Especially when dealing with a polarized Congress, presidents increasingly steer the ship in budget negotiations, which can lead to more local priorities – the ones Congress is supposed to represent – being ignored.

But rather than Congress staking out positions for itself, as it often did through the turn of the 21st century, political science research has shown that presidential positions on domestic policy increasingly dictate – and polarize – Congress’ own positions on policy that hasn’t traditionally been divisive, such as funding support for NASA. Congress’ positions on procedural issues, such as raising the debt ceiling or eliminating the filibuster, also increasingly depend not on bedrock principles but on who occupies the White House.

In the realm of foreign policy, Congress has all but abandoned its constitutional power to declare war, settling instead for “authorizations” of military force that the president wants to assert. These give the commander in chief wide latitude over war powers, and both Democratic and Republican presidents have been happy to retain that power. They have used these congressional approvals to engage in extended conflicts such as the Gulf War in the early 1990s and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan a decade later.

What’s lost with a weak Congress

Americans lose a lot when Congress hands over such drastic power to the executive branch.

When individual members of Congress from across the country take a back seat, their districts’ distinctly local problems are less likely to be addressed with the power and resources that Congress can bring to an issue. Important local perspectives on national issues fail to be represented in Congress.

Even members of the same political party represent districts with vastly different economies, demographics and geography. Members are supposed to keep this in mind when legislating on these issues, but presidential control over the process makes that difficult or even impossible.

Maybe more importantly, a weak Congress paired with what historian Arthur Schlesinger called the “Imperial Presidency” is a recipe for an unaccountable president, running wild without the constitutionally provided oversight and checks on power that the founders provided to the people through their representation by the first branch of government.

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

– ref. Congress began losing power decades ago − and now it’s giving away what remains to Trump – https://theconversation.com/congress-began-losing-power-decades-ago-and-now-its-giving-away-what-remains-to-trump-254984

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Ukraine, Russia prepare for peace talks in Istanbul as Zelensky meets Erdogan

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

Ukrainian and Russian delegations were expected to meet for peace talks on Thursday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepared for a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

Upon arriving in Ankara, Zelensky told reporters that Ukraine’s delegation included top-level representatives from the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, military, and intelligence agencies.

“We have a top-level delegation,” he said, although he noted that the composition of the Russian delegation had not yet been officially communicated.

Zelensky also emphasized that decisions on the next steps in the negotiation process would be made after his discussions with Erdogan. “We need to understand what level of the Russian delegation (we’re dealing with) and what mandate they have,” he said.

The talks followed a proposal from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15. Zelensky confirmed his participation and expressed hope of meeting with Putin, but the Russian leader has yet to show up.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, said he might attend the talks in Istanbul on Friday. “If something (a development) happens and it’s appropriate, I might go on Friday,” he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was in Antalya for a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting, said Trump supports any initiative that could bring about a just peace.

“There is no military solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” Rubio said. “We want to see progress made in the coming days.”

MIL OSI China News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/PAKISTAN – Between Kashmir and Baluchistan: “Now is the time for unity and peace”

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Mostafameraji – Wiki Commons

Karachi (Agenzia Fides) – “Now is the time for unity and peace. I would like to recall the words of Pope Leo XIV: Peace be with you. We address this message to India, to our Indian brothers, with whom we are called to build coexistence, and also to our brothers in Baluchistan, which is an integral part of Pakistan,” Father Mario Angelo Rodrigues, a priest of the Archdiocese of Karachi, told Fides. In recent days, tensions have flared between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir region, a conflict for which a truce has been signed. In the west of the country, the situation has also worsened with the intensification of the conflict in Baluchistan, one of the provinces that form the Pakistani territory, in which an irredentist movement has been present since the time of Pakistan’s independence. Recently, civil society leader Mir Yar Baloch declared that “Balochistan is not Pakistan,” calling for independence from Pakistan and appealing for support from India and the international community. He has denounced decades of violence, forced disappearances, and human rights violations in the region. Father Rodrigues, who began his pastoral work in Balochistan as a young priest, recalls: “There I met peaceful, hospitable, life-loving people. We defend human dignity, fundamental rights, prosperity for all, and reject all forms of violence. Unfortunately, when terror erupts in the region, the military intervenes, and I can imagine the suffering this causes for the civilian population.” Today, Balochistan represents a concern for the Pakistani government. Despite this, the priest insists on the importance of promoting national unity and including all ethnic and religious groups and launch an appeal for the unity of Pakistan and for peace,” says the priest. “In Karachi, the Baloch communities are well integrated. We have Baloch children in our school, who live in complete harmony with their classmates. That is the model to follow,” says Rodrigues, currently principal of St. Patrick High School, a Catholic institution with more than 4,000 students.The local population continues to report serious human rights violations committed against civilians and those who oppose the policies of the Pakistani government, considered repressive. The Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), an insurgent group active in the region, has carried out violent attacks. On March 11, it hijacked the Jaffar Express passenger train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with at least 380 people on board. The hijacking ended after the intervention of the Pakistani army. The province of Baluchistan has been involved in insurgencies and conflicts by Baloch separatists since 1948.An estimated 7 million Baloch people live in Pakistan, mainly in the province of Baluchis, although there are also significant communities in Sindh and Punjab. They represent about 3.6% of the national population. Baloch communities are also found in Iran and Afghanistan. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 15/5/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI: North America Drone Market Size Expected Reach $31 Billion By 2034 as Revenue Opportunities Jump
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PALM BEACH, Fla., May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The Drones-As-A Service market is expected to continue substantial growth in the coming years. The adoption of advanced technologies in drones, such as thermal imaging, gas detection, and loudspeakers, is increasing, particularly in public safety and emergency response. Drones equipped with these technologies are used extensively by fire departments, search and rescue teams, and law enforcement to manage disasters and enhance surveillance. The primary reasons for the adoption of these technologies include the need for enhanced operational efficiency and safety in executing complex tasks such as infrastructure inspections, disaster management, and agricultural monitoring. The ability of drones to provide high-resolution imagery and real-time data is invaluable in these contexts, enabling better decision-making and resource allocation. A report from Market.us projected that the North America Drone Market size is expected to be worth around USD 31,062.9 Million By 2034, from USD 11,445.1 Million in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034.The U.S. Drone market was estimated at USD 10,869.4 Million in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% from 2025 to 2034. The report said: “The primary reasons for the adoption of these technologies include the need for enhanced operational efficiency and safety in executing complex tasks such as infrastructure inspections, disaster management, and agricultural monitoring. The ability of drones to provide high-resolution imagery and real-time data is invaluable in these contexts, enabling better decision-making and resource allocation.” Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV).

The Market.us report continued: “The North America drone market is characterized by a significant presence of small and medium-sized enterprises, with a considerable portion being small drone companies. This market is seeing growth in diversity with the entry of major tech companies like Alphabet and Intel. The integration of cutting-edge technologies by companies such as DJI, which recently introduced a LiDAR system for professional surveying, exemplifies the ongoing innovation within this sector. Several key drivers are propelling the North America drone market. Regulatory developments have played a crucial role, especially with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) updating rules to allow more extensive commercial drone operations, including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights. Additionally, technological advancements in drone hardware and software are enhancing their capabilities, making them more appealing for commercial applications.” It concluded: “The US Drone Market is valued at approximately USD 10,869 Million in 2024 and is predicted to increase from USD 11,999 Million in 2025 to approximately USD 29,233.5 Million by 2034, projected at a CAGR of 10.4% from 2025 to 2034. The presence of supportive government policies and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations has facilitated controlled commercial drone operations, especially in areas such as logistics, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection. Moreover, consistent investment by the U.S. Department of Defense in military drones has further strengthened the market.”

ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Reports Nearly Double Revenue Year-Over-Year for the First Quarter of 2025 – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces financial results for the first quarter 2025.

First Quarter 2025 Highlights:
- Total revenues for the first quarter of 2025 were $1.13 million, up 92% compared to $591,379 for the first quarter of 2024 primarily due to acquisitions and organic growth.
- ZenaTech’s new Drone as a Service or DaaS segment grew from completing two acquisitions of land survey drone servicing companies ─ Oregon-based Weddle Surveying and Florida-based KJM Land Surveying. The Company also signed five LOIs (Letter of Intent) for additional acquisitions during the quarter.
- The company acquired Othership, a UK workplace management software company supporting its enterprise SaaS software segment, where it plans to leverage workplace AI and quantum computing productivity solutions targeting business and government customers.
- The company made investments in longer term growth and in new segment development that caused general and administrative expenses to increase to $5.75 million in Q1 2025 versus about $0.7 million in Q1 of 2024. This primarily consisted of sales and marketing activities, new hires, professional services, and finance expenses.
- ZenaTech made investments in its subsidiary ZenaDrone’s UAE manufacturing capabilities during the quarter, including hiring 35 new engineers and technicians. Also announced was the opening of a drone testing facility in Turkey for beyond-the-line-of-sight drone testing.
- Drone product highlights in Q1 include finalizing the third-generation design and “production model” of the ZenaDrone 1000 drone that will enable the start of scaling up of production. The company also announced the IQ Square drone has moved from prototype to manufacturing stage.
- The commence of work on a heavy-lift gas-powered ZD 1000 model for longer fight times for US defense applications took place during the quarter. Testing also commenced on a new high-density drone battery and a proprietary communications system for this drone.
- The company reported that ZenaDrone is preparing for Green UAS followed by Blue UAS certification required to sell to the US Military. Additionally, it is reviewing and putting in place cybersecurity practices, documentation, and internal controls necessary to apply for this certification.
- ZenaTech further expanded its Taiwan drone component manufacturer─ Spider Vision Sensors, adding additional engineering and business development staff. It also announced the first Blue UAS-certifiable drone sensors are under development.
“The first quarter of 2025 was a very strong and encouraging start to the year as revenue nearly doubled, up 92% primarily due to acquisitions and organic growth across both our software and drone segments,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D. “During the first quarter we launched our Drone as a Service or DaaS business segment with a vision to have a national footprint in the US and globally.”

“Although expenses increased during the first quarter, these are investments intended to grow the company over the long-term, namely in marketing, manufacturing, product development and testing capacity, which we believe will yield future rewards.

“We believe that this quarter’s performance demonstrates that our strategy to disrupt legacy businesses like land surveys via a DaaS business model is on track. Our momentum is strong, and we are well positioned to expand our range of drone services with a pipeline of over 20 acquisitions over the next 12 months,” concluded Dr. Passley. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

In Additional ZENA News: ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) Exterior Building Power Washing to Dubai Tapping into a Global Drone Cleaning Services Market Growing to USD 13 Billion by 2030 – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announced it is expanding its United Arab Emirates (UAE) presence by establishing a new office to sell Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) offerings based in Dubai. Initially this office will focus on delivering drone-powered cleaning services for building exteriors using the IQ Square drone tethered to a water pipe and electrical cord. The company is currently obtaining a permit from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority to begin power wash testing and operations. Supporting this expansion, ZenaTech will hire two business development managers and up to four additional drone pilots, with drones supplied from its subsidiary ZenaDrone which has a manufacturing hub in nearby Sharjah.

The global drone power washing market falls under a broader drone cleaning services market category that was valued at approximately USD 4.36 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 13.2 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 17% according to market analyst Valuates Reports , fueled by increasing demand for safe, efficient and cost-effective maintenance solutions.

“With rising demand for tech-enabled and efficient maintenance solutions, whether for power washing buildings, renewable energy assets, or public spaces, we believe AI-powered drones will bring new safety standards, cost-efficiency, and greater environmental sustainability to maintenance tasks. UAE’s openness to innovative technology makes it an ideal launchpad for these DaaS solutions that we hope to expand to all seven emirates in addition to the US and Europe,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.zenatech.com/newsroom/

Other recent developments in the drone industry include:

Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, recently reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 and provides a corporate update.

Recent Operational Highlights:
- Announced the expansion of our multi-domain Family of Systems with a new line of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). This strategic move marks Red Cat’s official entry into the rapidly evolving maritime autonomy market and reinforces its position as a provider of comprehensive, interoperable unmanned systems for air, land, and sea operations.
- Expanded our Red Cat Futures Industry Consortium to include Palantir and Palladyne to boost AI capabilities in contested environments, including visual navigation.
- Introducing Black Widow™ and Edge 130 drones to the Latin American market at LAAD 2025 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in April 2025.
- Introduced our Black Widow™ short-range reconnaissance drone and Edge 130 Tricopter to the Middle East market at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Feb 17-21, 2025.
- Introduced Black Widow™ to the Asia Pacific Market at the AISSE conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia in January 2025.
- Announced that the Black Widow drone and FlightWave Edge 130 were included on the list of 23 platforms and 14 unique components and capabilities selected as winners of the Blue UAS Refresh. The platforms will undergo National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) verification and cyber security review with the ultimate goal of joining the Blue UAS List.
- Partnered with Palantir to deploy Warp Speed, Palantir’s manufacturing OS. This collaboration will transform our supply and manufacturing operations with Palantir’s AI enabled monitoring, process flow enhancement and comprehensive data analysis. Palantir’s Warp Speed will optimize Red Cat’s production and streamline its supply chain, change management, and quality assurance, ultimately reducing costs and improving margins.
AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), a leading provider of advanced drone and aerial imaging solutions, recently announced the sale of 20 high-performance RedEdge-P cameras to Wingtra, a global leader in vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone surveying technology.

This transaction strengthens the partnership between AgEagle and Wingtra, combining AgEagle’s advanced camera technology with Wingtra’s innovative drone platforms to deliver unparalleled aerial mapping and surveying solutions. The cameras are designed for precision agriculture and environmental monitoring, water management, and geospatial applications, and support Wingtra’s ability to provide high-quality data collection for its customers worldwide.

Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer, recently announced its first quarter financial results. Key Financial and Operational Highlights for Q1 2025:
- Revenue for the first quarter of 2025 was $1,547,715 which represents a 16% year over year increase. Product sales of $1,541,811 were up 24.5% over the same period last year.
- Gross profit for Q1 2025 was $310,088 up 10.7% from $280,011 for the same period last year. Gross margin percentage for Q1 2025 was 20.0% compared to 21.1% in Q1 2024. Gross profit would have been $271,422 and gross margin would have been 17.5%, not including a one-time non-cash recovery of a write down of inventory of $38,666. The decrease is due to the sales mix of the products sold.
- The comprehensive loss for the period of $3,433,712 includes non-cash changes comprised of a positive change in fair value derivative of $157,830, a recovery of a write down of inventory of $38,666, and an impairment gain on notes receivable of $25,951 and would otherwise be a comprehensive loss of $3,656,159 vs an adjusted comprehensive loss of $3,559,976 for the same period last year. Contributors to the slight year-over-year increase are increased research and development, office and miscellaneous, professional fees, share based payments, and wages offset by change in derivative liability.
AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) recently announced a new contract with the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) to modernize the Netherlands’ Puma™ UAS fleet with expanded capabilities for enhanced situational awareness and operational effectiveness.

Under the contract, the Dutch MoD is modernizing its Puma 3 AE UAS fleet with advanced capabilities that empower forces to carry out mission-critical operations autonomously and securely—even in GPS-denied and contested environments. Upgrades will boost survivability, strengthen communications and add the option for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) to maximize operational agility. Deliveries are underway, with the upgraded systems set for rapid deployment at the squad and platoon levels.

Additionally, the Netherlands is expanding its UAS portfolio with the acquisition of Puma LE, which delivers extended endurance and range. Both Puma 3 AE and Puma LE provide scalable ISR capabilities for tactical formations and civilian missions.

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The MIL Network –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI: T1 Energy Takes Steps to Bring Investment to G2_Austin Solar Cell Project

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

AUSTIN, Texas, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — T1 Energy Inc. (NYSE: TE) (“T1,” “T1 Energy,” or the “Company”) announced this morning that the Company has entered into a Heads of Agreement to pursue an investment in the planned G2_Austin 5 GW solar cell manufacturing facility. The non-binding agreement was signed this week at a ceremony in Riyadh hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Investment (“MISA”) to commemorate the Trump administration’s ‘America First’ program and the Kingdom’s commitment to investing in critical U.S. energy infrastructure projects.

“We wish to extend our sincerest appreciation to the Saudi Ministry of Investment for hosting our delegation. We are honored to sign this landmark agreement which is intended to bring in strategic capital to support America’s advanced manufacturing sector,” said Daniel Barcelo, T1’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. “The U.S. needs to establish a domestic solar manufacturing supply chain, and T1 is at the forefront of that mission with our world-class operating G1_Dallas facility and planned G2_Austin project. This agreement is a positive step towards an investment to accelerate our development plans and our strategy to become a U.S. solar energy leader built on domestic content and leading-edge technology.”

Representatives from T1 and our Saudi partner, Manaar Gulf Saudi Arabia Ltd., signed the agreement on May 13th at a ceremony in Riyadh welcoming a U.S. delegation from the Trump administration and U.S. industrial partners to the Kingdom. The event promoted Gulf Corporation Council investment in America to support the ‘America First’ agenda.

“T1 is grateful to be part of a larger conversation to reshore American manufacturing through cooperative efforts with our overseas industrial partners,” added Daniel Barcelo. “With this agreement in place, our teams will be working to secure this capital and advance T1’s mission to bring investment, jobs, and key supply chains to America. As this relationship develops, we are also pleased to examine complementary opportunities to invest in the Kingdom’s solar manufacturing sector.”

About T1 Energy

T1 Energy Inc. (NYSE: TE) is an energy solutions provider building an integrated U.S. supply chain for solar and batteries. In December 2024, T1 completed a transformative transaction, positioning the Company as one of the leading solar manufacturing companies in the United States, with a complementary solar and battery storage strategy. Based in the United States with plans to expand its operations in America, the Company is also exploring value optimization opportunities across its portfolio of assets in Europe.

To learn more about T1, please visit www.T1energy.com and follow us on social media.

Investor contact:

Jeffrey Spittel
EVP, Investor Relations and Corporate Development
jeffrey.spittel@T1energy.com
Tel: +1 409 599 5706

Media contact:

Russell Gold
EVP, Strategic Communications
russell.gold@T1energy.com
Tel: +1 214 616 9715

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including without limitation with respect to: a potential investment in G2 Austin; the Company’s ability to bring in strategic capital to support America’s advanced manufacturing sector; the Company being at the forefront of the development of domestic solar manufacturing supply chains; the Company’s development plans and strategy to become a U.S. solar energy leader built on domestic content and leading-edge technology; the investment by the Gulf Corporation Council in America to support the ‘America First’ agenda; T1’s participation in the reshoring of American manufacturing; the Company’s mission to bring investment, jobs and key supply chains to America; and any complementary opportunities that T1 may explore with respect to investments in the Kingdom’s solar manufacturing sector. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual future events, results, or achievements to be materially different from the Company’s expectations and projections expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors include, but are not limited to, those discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in (i) T1’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 31, 2025, as amended and supplemented by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 30, 2025, (ii) T1’s post-effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on January 4, 2024, and (iii) T1’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on September 8, 2023 and subsequent amendments thereto filed on October 13, 2023, October 19, 2023 and October 31, 2023. All of the above referenced filings are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to the Company as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

T1 intends to use its website as a channel of distribution to disclose information which may be of interest or material to investors and to communicate with investors and the public. Such disclosures will be included on T1’s website in the ‘Investor Relations’ section. T1, and its CEO and Chairman of the Board, Daniel Barcelo, also intend to use certain social media channels, including, but not limited to, X, LinkedIn and Instagram, as means of communicating with the public and investors about T1, its progress, products, and other matters. While not all the information that T1 or Daniel Barcelo post to their respective digital platforms may be deemed to be of a material nature, some information may be. As a result, T1 encourages investors and others interested to review the information that it and Daniel Barcelo posts and to monitor such portions of T1’s website and social media channels on a regular basis, in addition to following T1’s press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts. The contents of T1’s website and its and Daniel Barcelo’s social media channels shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The MIL Network –

May 16, 2025

MIL-OSI: Odysight.ai Reports Financial Results for The First Quarter of 2025 and Provides Business Update

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

OMER, Israel, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Odysight.ai Inc. (NASDAQ: ODYS), a leading provider of visual based predictive maintenance (PdM) and condition-based monitoring (CBM) solutions, announces its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and provides a business update.

Key highlights

●	First quarter revenues totaled $2.1 million.

●	Uplisted to the Nasdaq Capital Market in February 2025 and raised gross proceeds of $23.7 million.

	Net cash position¹ of approximately $37.2 million as of March 31, 2025.

●	Commercial achievements:

–	Partnered with Israel Railways to develop advanced AI-powered visualization system to prevent derailments and enhance railway safety.

–	Received an initial purchase order from a European partner for a combined industrial solution, using Odysight.ai’s sensors and machine learning algorithms, designed to monitor the condition of belts and cables used across various industrial sectors such as cranes, elevators and transportation systems.

Einav Brenner, Chief Financial Officer of Odysight.ai: “We’re making important strides in building the technological and operational foundations that will support our long-term growth. While some of this progress is not yet reflected in our financial results, we are focused on strengthening our infrastructure, expanding our technological capabilities, establishing relationships with global leaders in our industry and positioning ourselves for future success in Aerospace and new verticals. Our successful uplisting to Nasdaq and recent capital raise mark major milestones for the Company. These achievements not only strengthen our balance sheet, but also enhance our visibility, credibility and access to global customers and investors. We believe we are well-positioned to support our strategic initiatives and drive sustainable, long-term growth. These are investments in a differentiated value proposition — for our customers, our partners and our shareholders.”

Financial highlights for three months ended March 31, 2025

Revenues were approximately $2.1 million, compared to $0.2 million from the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase was primarily attributed to the full recognition of approximately $1.7 million in revenues from the fulfillment of contract with a Fortune 500 medical company.

Backlog² was approximately $14.8 million as of March 31, 2025.

Cost of Revenues was $1.5 million, compared to $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase was primarily attributed to the approximately $1 million in cost of revenues related to the fulfillment of a contract with a Fortune 500 medical company, and to the recognition of an inventory impairment of $0.2 million.

Gross Profit (Loss) was $0.6 million, reflecting a gross margin of 26%, compared to gross loss of $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The improvement is attributable to Industry 4.0 revenues and to the contract fulfillment related to a Fortune 500 medical company.

Operating expenses were $5.1 million, compared to $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase was primarily driven by the expansion of the Company’s operations, including the development of new Industry 4.0 products and one-time expenses related to the Company’s uplisting to Nasdaq.

Net loss was $4.3 million, compared to $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Cash Balance¹ as of March 31, 2025 was $37.2 million, compared to approximately $17.0 million as of March 31, 2024. In February 2025, the Company uplisted to the Nasdaq Capital Market and completed a U.S. underwritten public offering with gross proceeds of approximately $23.7 million.

About Odysight.ai

Odysight.ai is pioneering the Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) markets with its visualization and AI platform. Providing video sensor-based solutions for critical systems in the aviation, transportation, and energy industries, Odysight.ai leverages proven visual technologies and products from the medical industry. Odysight.ai’s unique video-based sensors, embedded software, and AI algorithms are being deployed in hard-to-reach locations and harsh environments across a variety of PdM and CBM use cases. Odysight.ai’s platform allows maintenance and operations teams visibility into areas which are inaccessible under normal operation, or where the operating ambience is not suitable for continuous real-time monitoring.

We routinely post information that may be important to investors in the Investors section of our website. For more information, please visit: https://www.odysight.ai or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Backlog

We present our results of operations in a way that we believe will be the most meaningful and useful to investors, analysts, rating agencies and others who use our financial information to evaluate our performance. Backlog is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for any GAAP financial measures, including revenue or net income (loss), and, as calculated, may not be comparable to companies in other industries or within the same industry with similarly titled measures of performance. In addition, backlog should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Therefore, backlog should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding long-term growth prospects, future plans related to infrastructure, technological capabilities and relationships with global leaders and success in Aerospace and new verticals. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Those statements are based on information we have when those statements are made or our management’s current expectation and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward- looking statements. Factors that may affect our results, performance, circumstances or achievements include, but are not limited to the following: (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, including those that utilize our micro Odysight.ai technology or offer Predictive Maintenance and Condition Based Monitoring applications, (ii) lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device and related industries from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, product malfunctions and the functionality of Odysight.ai’s solutions under all environmental conditions, (vi) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on third-parties for assistance, (vii) an inability to establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities to commercialize our products, (viii) an inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, (ix) our efforts obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) our reliance on a single customer that accounts for a substantial portion of our revenues, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, including for miniature video sensors which are suitable for our Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor technology products, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain, (xiii) the impact of computer system failures, cyberattacks or deficiencies in our cybersecurity, (xiv) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical, global supply chain and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction, including the adoption or expansion of economic sanctions, tariffs or trade restrictions and (xv) political, economic and military instability in Israel, including the impact of Israel’s war against Hamas. These and other important factors discussed in Odysight.ai’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 26, 2025, and our other reports filed with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Odysight.ai undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Company Contact:

Einav Brenner, CFO
info@odysight.ai

Investor Relations Contact:

Miri Segal
MS-IR LLC
msegal@ms-ir.com
Tel: +1-917-607-8654

¹Including cash, cash equivalents, short term deposits and restricted deposit/cash.

²Backlog is measured and defined differently by companies within our industry. We refer to “backlog” as our booked orders based on purchase orders or hard commitments but not yet recognized as revenue. Backlog is not a comprehensive indicator of future revenue and is not a measure of profitability. Orders included in backlog may be cancelled or rescheduled by customers. A variety of conditions, both specific to the individual customer and generally affecting the customer’s industry, may cause customers to cancel, reduce or delay orders that were previously made or anticipated. Projects may remain in backlog for extended periods of time.

ODYSIGHT.AI INC.
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2025			2024
	Unaudited
	USD in thousands (except per share data)

REVENUES		2,065			187
COST OF REVENUES		1,527			410
GROSS PROFIT (LOSS)		538			(223	)
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES		2,487			1,567
SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSES		396			234
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES		2,215			1,340
OPERATING LOSS		(4,560	)		(3,364	)
FINANCING INCOME, NET		295			202
NET LOSS		(4,265	)		(3,162	)

ODYSIGHT.AI INC.
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	March 31,			December 31,
	2025			2024
	Unaudited			Audited
	USD in thousands
Assets

CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		36,881			18,164
Restricted cash		326			–
Restricted deposit		–			322
Accounts receivable		192			1,510
Inventory		–			203
Other current assets		692			588
Total current assets		38,091			20,787

NON-CURRENT ASSETS:
Contract fulfillment assets		–			1,017
Property and equipment, net		407			407
Operating lease right-of-use assets		995			1,113
Severance pay asset		254			259
Other non-current assets		96			96
Total non-current assets		1,752			2,892

TOTAL ASSETS		39,843			23,679
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable		486			442
Contract liabilities – short term		243			702
Operating lease liabilities – short term		505			539
Accrued compensation expenses		1,456			1,124
Related parties		218			120
Other current liabilities		510			368
Total current liabilities		3,418			3,295

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Contract liabilities – long term		–			1,373
Operating lease liabilities – long term		406			508
Liability for severance pay		254			259
Total non-current liabilities		660			2,140

TOTAL LIABILITIES		4,078			5,435

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, 16,307,321 and 12,612,517 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively		17			13
Additional paid-in capital		85,987			64,205
Accumulated deficit		(50,239	)		(45,974
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY		35,765			18,244

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY		39,843			23,679

The MIL Network –

May 16, 2025

Israeli military strikes kill scores in Gaza, medics say

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Israeli military strikes killed at least 60 people in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Palestinian medics said, as the United States and Arab mediators pushed for a ceasefire deal and U.S. President Donald Trump visited the Middle East.

Most of the victims, including women and children, were killed in Khan Younis in southern Gaza in airstrikes that hit homes and tents, they said.

The dead included local journalist Hassan Samour, who worked for the Hamas-run Aqsa radio station and was killed along with 11 family members when their home was struck, the medics said.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has intensified its offensive in Gaza as it tries to eradicate Hamas in retaliation for the deadly attacks the Palestinian militant group carried out on Israel in 2023.

Hamas said in a statement that Israel was making a “desperate attempt to negotiate under cover of fire” as indirect ceasefire talks take place between Israel and Hamas, involving Trump envoys and Qatar and Egyptian mediators in Doha.

Israel carried out the latest strikes on the day Palestinians commemorate the “Nakba”, or catastrophe, when hundreds of thousands of people fled or were forced to flee their hometowns and villages during the 1948 Middle East war that gave birth to the state of Israel.

With most of the 2.3 million people in Gaza internally displaced, some residents of the tiny enclave say suffering is greater now than at the time of the Nakba.

“What we are experiencing now is even worse than the Nakba of 1948,” said Ahmed Hamad, a Palestinian in Gaza City who has been displaced multiple times.

“The truth is, we live in a constant state of violence and displacement. Wherever we go, we face attacks. Death surrounds us everywhere.”

ESCALATING VIOLENCE

Palestinian health officials say the Israeli attacks have escalated since Trump started a visit on Tuesday to the Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates that many Palestinians had hoped he would use to push for a truce.

The latest strikes follow attacks on Gaza on Wednesday that killed at least 80 people, local health officials said.

Little has come of new indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas led by Trump’s envoys and Qatar and Egyptian mediators in Doha.

Hamas says it is ready to free all the remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza in return for an end to the war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prefers interim truces, saying the war can only end once Hamas is eradicated.

“At a time when mediators are exerting intensive efforts to put the negotiation back on the right track, the Zionist occupation (Israel) responds to those efforts by military pressure on innocent civilians,” the group said in a statement.

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants an open-ended war and he doesn’t care about the fate of his hostages,” it said.

Israel invaded Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken as hostages to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 52,900 Palestinians, according to local health officials. It has left Gaza on the brink of famine, aid groups and international agencies say.

A U.S.-backed humanitarian organisation will start work in Gaza by the end of May under an aid distribution plan, but has asked Israel to let the United Nations and others resume deliveries to Palestinians now until it is set up.

No humanitarian assistance has been delivered to Gaza since March 2, and a global hunger monitor has warned that half a million people face starvation in Gaza.

-Reuters

May 16, 2025

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