NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Land reform in South Africa doesn’t need a new law: the state should release property it owns – economists

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Johann Kirsten, Director of the Bureau for Economic Research, Stellenbosch University

    South Africa’s new Expropriation Act, which was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in January 2025, has been at the centre of a political storm set off by the new US administration under President Donald Trump.

    The Expropriation Act is not entirely new. It mainly updates the existing legislation from 1975 to align it with the constitution of democratic South Africa. But some have misinterpreted it as making room for land grabs by the state. That’s not what it does in reality. Property rights remain intact in South Africa.

    Hot on the heels of this furore has been a notice from the minister of land reform and rural development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, that the government is embarking on a new bit of legislation, the “Equitable Access to Land Bill”.

    There have been discussions over the last 10 years about developing a land reform framework bill or land redistribution bill. The main idea is to foster conditions that enable citizens to get access to land equitably. Land ownership was heavily skewed towards white people under apartheid.

    The parliamentary committee heard from the minister on 20 February 2025 that there were gaps between the white paper on South African land policy and existing legislation. The bill seeks to close the gaps. It would provide for, among other things, principles for access to land, access to land by the state and citizens, the identification and selection of beneficiaries, applications and records for land allocations, a register of agricultural land, notification of present land ownership, land ownership ceilings, a land tribunal and regulations.

    Based on our years of work on land reform and agricultural policy it’s unclear to us why such a bill is necessary. We believe there are two reasons a new law would be superfluous. Firstly, South Africa already has roughly 16 laws that address the issue of land. Secondly, policymakers tend to ignore the facts on land reform progress.

    It is hard not to view the obsession with new legislation by every new minister as a distraction from the core issues. The minister should be focusing on distributing the land the government has acquired to black farmers and give them title deeds. This will be sufficient effort to build an inclusive agricultural sector, while continuing with existing programmes of land acquisition from the open market.

    There are also other areas that should be reformed that would make a difference. These include making more finance available to aspirant black farmers and fixing the deeds office to reduce land registration times.

    What’s in place

    There should be no need for new legislation if one considers all the different pieces of legislation and government programmes that are already aimed at a more equitable distribution of land. There are at least 16 laws related to farm land and the restitution and redistribution process. These include:

    • Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Act, signed into law in January 2025

    • State Land Disposal Act, 1961 (Act No. 48 of 1961)

    • Deeds Registries Act, 1937 (Act No. 47 of 1937)

    • Land Reform: Provision of Land and Assistance Act, 1993 (Act No. 126 of 1993)

    • Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act No. 22 of 1994)

    • Communal Property Associations Act, 1996 (Act No. 28 of 1996)

    • Land Reform (Labour Tenants) Act, 1996 (Act No. 3 of 1996)

    • Protection of Informal Land Rights Act, 1996 (Act No. 31 of 1996)

    • Extension of Security of Tenure Act, 1997 (Act No. 62 of 1997).

    In addition, South African policymakers tend to ignore the facts on land reform progress.

    As we have argued before, the mix of government programmes to restore land rights and redistribute land has already addressed 25% of the total area of farm land defined and registered by formal title deeds. This means that 19.5 million hectares of the 77.5 million hectares of South Africa’s farm land have been affected by the government land reform programmes.

    There is an important nuance here: 2.5 million hectares have been acquired by the state and are now owned by the State Land Holding Account.

    Calls for the state to redistribute this land to black farmers have been falling on deaf ears, and black farmers continue to despair.

    The government has been slow to distribute the land it has acquired. This shows that the problem of South Africa’s land reform is not only about acquisition but also the distribution of land with title deeds to beneficiaries.

    Included in the total of 19.5 million hectares are private purchases of farm land by black South Africans. We estimate a total of 2.4 million hectares have been acquired in this way up to the end of 2024.

    These individuals used their own funds or borrowed funds to acquire the land without using any of the state programmes.

    Some answers

    We have always argued that the private transactions where no bureaucrats are involved happen much quicker than any government programmes. The table below shows the relevant statistics for the last four years and confirms the argument.

    The table shows that over the last four years private land transactions (that is without any involvement of bureaucrats) have contributed 32% to the total area of farmland transferred or restituted. The land claims process, in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, has made the biggest contribution of 60% (with 36% of land restituted via financial compensation and 24% of land transferred to claimants). Other government land reform programmes made a very small contribution.

    Do we have more equitable access to farm land (or rural land) after 30 years of democracy? To answer this question, we need to take into account the occupation of farm land under traditional tenure arrangements and occupation on land owned by the state, including the South African Development Trust land as well as the land recently acquired by the state under the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy programme, which is in most cases leased to black beneficiaries for short terms.

    In addition, we account for the land redistribution programme and the land transferred back to land claimants. The numbers below provide an interesting picture of black ownership of rural land in South Africa. In some provinces, equitable access has shown remarkable progress, as shown in the table below.

    Instead of a new law, this is what’s needed

    First, access to affordable and preferential finance for land acquisition by black farmers would make an important contribution to equitable access. But no new law is needed to enable this. The answer lies in changing the way the Land Bank is funded so that it can provide affordable finance to aspirant farmers. This would be a game changer.

    Secondly, government should act on the president’s proposal to establish the Land Reform Agency, release more unused state land for agricultural use and change the regulations to facilitate private land donations to beneficiaries.

    Thirdly, fix the processes and data issues in the deeds office, which could reduce the time and costs to register property transfers.

    – Land reform in South Africa doesn’t need a new law: the state should release property it owns – economists
    – https://theconversation.com/land-reform-in-south-africa-doesnt-need-a-new-law-the-state-should-release-property-it-owns-economists-250674

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Campaign to Recruit Federal Workers Into State Service

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today launched a new “You’re Hired” initiative to recruit talented public sector workers into State service. This initiative comes as the new federal administration utilizes the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to lay off thousands of highly-qualified workers in the federal government.

    “The federal government might say, ‘You’re fired,’ but here in New York, we say, ‘You’re hired.’ In fact, we love federal workers,” Governor Hochul said. “Whatever your skills, we value public service. Check out potential jobs at ny.gov/wewantyou. Come join our New York State family.”

    To kick off this initiative, Governor Hochul released a video message to invite federal workers to join the New York State workforce. The Governor’s video message is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here.

    Since taking office, Governor Hochul has implemented several initiatives to strengthen New York’s public workforce. In 2023, Governor Hochul extended 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave to the entire state workforce, for the first time in state history. In 2024, the state launched the NY HELPS program, temporarily waiving civil service exam requirements for many job vacancies, resulting in nearly 24,000 appointments in state government, on top of 6,000 appointments in local governments. Additionally, the state created 10 Centers for Careers in Government, offering job seekers guidance on civil service systems and career opportunities. The Governor has also lifted the hiring freeze, expanded opportunities for individuals and veterans with disabilities, and funded new testing centers to further support the workforce.

    New York State Department of Civil Service Commissioner and Civil Service Commission President Timothy R. Hogues said, “Public service is a noble calling, and we’re looking for the best and brightest to come work for New York State. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we have been working hard to retain and recruit the next generation of employees and servant-leaders. By coming to work for the Empire State, you’ll have the opportunity to help your neighbors, community and state in a variety of ways — serving, protecting, and caring for your fellow New Yorkers and our wonderful resources in solid, stable jobs. Check out NY.gov/WeWantYou to get started in a new and rewarding career, today.”

    New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Careers in public service offer stability, competitive pay, great benefits and a chance to make a difference in the lives of your fellow New Yorkers. I encourage all former federal workers with a continued interest in public service to check out the many careers in New York State government today.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Readout of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher W. Grady’s Phone Call with France’s Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Thierry Burkhard

    Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

    Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Public Affairs

    February 25, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:

    Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher W. Grady spoke with France’s Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Thierry Burkhard yesterday by phone.

    Adm. Grady and Gen. Burkhard shared perspectives on the latest developments in Syria, as well as the Gaza and Lebanon ceasefire agreements. Additionally, the military leaders discussed ongoing deliberations regarding Ukraine.

    The long-standing military alliance between the U.S. and France is essential to peace and stability around the world.

    For more Joint Staff news, visit: www.jcs.mil.
    Connect with the Joint Staff on social media: 
    Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube,
    LinkedIn and Flickr.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Readout of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher W. Grady’s Meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Chief of the General Staff Gen. Fayyadh Al Ruwaili

    Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

    Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Public Affairs

    February 25, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:

    Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher W. Grady met with Saudi Arabia’s Chief of the General Staff Gen. Fayyadh Al Ruwaili yesterday at the Pentagon.

    Adm. Grady and Gen. Al Ruwaili discussed the continued Houthi threat in the Middle East, the latest developments with the transition in Syria, the current progress with the ceasefire agreements in Lebanon and Gaza, and opportunities for further defense cooperation.  Additionally, Adm. Grady reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the security of Saudi Arabia.

    The U.S. and Saudi Arabia share a longstanding partnership and are committed to peace and security in the Middle East region.

    For more Joint Staff news, visit: www.jcs.mil.
    Connect with the Joint Staff on social media: 
    Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube,
    LinkedIn and Flickr.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 500 years ago, German peasants revolted – but their faith that the Protestant Reformation stood for freedom was dashed by Martin Luther and the nobility

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Michael Bruening, Professor of History, Missouri University of Science and Technology

    A sketch of groups of peasants wandering around the countryside during the German Peasants’ War. Warwick Press via Wikimedia Commons.

    Five hundred years ago, in the winter of 1524-1525, bands of peasants roamed the German countryside seeking recruits. It was the start of the German Peasants’ War, the largest uprising in Europe before the French Revolution. The peasants’ goal was to overturn serfdom and create a fairer society grounded on the Christian Bible.

    For months, they seized their landlords’ monasteries and castles. By March 1525, the peasant armies had grown to encompass tens of thousands of peasants from Alsace to Austria and from Switzerland to Saxony.

    The peasants had economic grievances, to be sure, but they also drew inspiration from the message of freedom, or “Fryheit” in German, being preached by theologian Martin Luther, who had recently launched the Protestant Reformation.

    Luther’s rejection of the peasants’ cause, however, would help lead to their crushing defeat.

    I am a scholar of the Reformation, and I included the peasants’ list of demands in my book on the debates of the era. The question of the legitimacy of the peasants’ uprising was one of the most consequential debates of the era.

    Luther’s message of freedom

    In 1517, eight years before the German Peasants’ War, Luther launched the Reformation with his 95 Theses. The theses reflected Luther’s belief that the pope and the Catholic Church were preying on the poor by selling them indulgences, taking their money for a false promise that their sins would be forgiven.

    Luther taught instead that God freely forgives the sins of believers. In one of his most famous early treatises, “The Freedom of a Christian,” written in 1520, Luther argued that because they are saved or “justified” by faith alone, Christians are entirely free from the need to do works to merit salvation. This included fasting, going on pilgrimages and buying indulgences.

    Luther’s attacks on the Catholic Church, clergy and monks quickly grew more vehement. He and his allies lambasted them for fleecing the peasants and the poor through usury, a practice of lending money at high rates of interest. Since the Bible provided no support for such practices, they argued, the poor should be free of them.

    The Twelve Articles

    In her 2025 book “Summer of Fire and Blood,” Reformation scholar Lyndal Roper argues that the religious element of the peasants’ war was central. The German peasants were among the first to try to unlock the revolutionary potential of Reformation teachings to fight social and economic injustice.

    The peasants’ efforts to do so can be seen in the most important statement of their demands: The Twelve Articles. The articles are rooted in Reformation ideas and demanded, among other things, each village’s right to elect its own pastor and to be exempt from payments and duties not found in the Bible.

    A pamphlet that peasants distributed with their Twelve Articles in 1525.
    Otto Henne am Rhyn: Cultural History of the German People, via Wikimedia Commons

    Most important was the message of freedom in the third article: “Considering that Christ has delivered and redeemed us all, without exception … it is consistent with Scripture that we should be free.” It was a cry for equality based on Christ’s redemption of all, rich and poor alike.

    The Twelve Articles were hugely successful, going through 25 printings in just two months. Since the vast majority of peasants were illiterate, this was an astounding number.

    For the lower classes, the Reformation promised to break up not just the spiritual monopoly held by the Catholic Church but the entrenched feudal system that kept them oppressed. Their desire for freedom was at the same time a denunciation of serfdom.

    The peasants were willing to take up arms to secure their freedom. In winter 1524-1525, the peasants were able to capture castles and monasteries without much bloodshed. But starting in the spring of 1525, the uprising became increasingly violent. On Easter Sunday, the peasants shockingly slaughtered two dozen knights in the city of Weinsberg, Germany. A torrent of bloodshed would follow.

    Luther’s rejection of the peasants

    Although Luther may have provided the initial inspiration for the peasants, he denounced their revolt in the harshest terms. In his treatise “Admonition to Peace,” Luther complained that the peasants had made “Christian liberty an utterly carnal thing,” which “would make all men equal … and that is impossible.”

    Responding to the revolt, Luther produced a tract entitled “Against the Murdering and Robbing Hordes of Peasants.” “Let everyone who can,” he infamously wrote, “smite, slay, and stab” the rebellious peasants. The rulers did just that.

    The nobility had been slow to react to the peasants’ initial incursions, but when they finally organized their own armies, the peasants didn’t stand a chance. On the battlefield, the nobles’ cavalry and superior artillery brutally cut down the rebels. Many who escaped the battlefield were hunted down and executed.

    The exact number of those killed are not known, but estimates place the number at around 100,000. As Roper notes, “this was slaughter on a vast scale.”

    Consequences for the Reformation

    English historian A. G. Dickens famously described the Reformation as an “urban event”, meaning that the movement’s important developments took place in cities. The German Peasants’ War shows the idea to be wrong.

    In its first years, the Reformation galvanized the hopes and dreams of Germans in both town and country. To peasants and townsfolk, it seemed to promise the chance for a complete reordering of an unjust society.

    Luther’s rejection of the peasants had important long-term consequences. His decision to side with the princes transformed the Reformation from a grassroots movement into an act of state. Everywhere the Protestant reformers went, they sought to work with the proper authorities. The close cooperation of Christian leaders and secular authorities would last for centuries.

    For their part, the European peasantry grew wary of the Christian leaders who seemed to have abandoned them. Social uprisings over the next centuries lost the religious character of the 1525 conflict and would climax in the decidedly secular French Revolution.

    Michael Bruening 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. 500 years ago, German peasants revolted – but their faith that the Protestant Reformation stood for freedom was dashed by Martin Luther and the nobility – https://theconversation.com/500-years-ago-german-peasants-revolted-but-their-faith-that-the-protestant-reformation-stood-for-freedom-was-dashed-by-martin-luther-and-the-nobility-246378

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Colorado is tackling air pollution in vulnerable neighborhoods by regulating 5 air toxics

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jenni Shearston, Assistant Professor of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder

    The Suncor Refinery in Commerce City, Colo., is a known air polluter. RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images

    The Globeville, Elyria-Swansea and Commerce City communities in metro Denver are choked by air pollution from nearby highways, an oil refinery and a Superfund site.

    While these neighborhoods have long suffered from air pollution, they’re not the only ones in Colorado.

    Now, Colorado is taking a major step to protect people from air pollutants that cause cancer or other major health problems, called “air toxics.” For the first time, the state is developing its own state-level air toxic health standards.

    In north Denver, the 80216 ZIP code has been named one of the most polluted in the country. Rocky Mountain PBS created a two-part documentary about the history of this area and the impact the pollution has on current residents.

    In January 2025 Colorado identified five air toxics as “priority” chemicals: benzene, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, hexavalent chromium compounds and hydrogen sulfide.

    The state is in the process of setting health-based standards that will limit the amount of each chemical allowed in the air. Importantly, the standards will be designed to protect people exposed to the chemicals long term, such as those living near emission sources. Exposure to even low amounts of some chemicals, such as benzene, may lead to cancer.

    As a researcher studying chemical exposure and health, I measure and evaluate the impact of air pollution on people’s well-being.

    Colorado’s new regulations will draw on expert knowledge and community input to protect people’s health.

    Communities know what needs regulation

    In your own community, is there a highway that runs near your house or a factory with a bad odor? Maybe a gas station right around the corner? You likely already know many of the places that release air pollution near you.

    When state or local regulators work with community members to find out what air pollution sources communities are worried about, the partnership can lead to a system that better serves the public and reduces injustice.

    For example, partnerships between community advocates, scientists and regulators in heavily polluted and marginalized neighborhoods in New York and Boston have had big benefits. These partnerships resulted in both better scientific knowledge about how air pollution is connected to asthma and the placement of air monitors in neighborhoods impacted the most.

    In Colorado, the process to choose the five priority air toxics included consulting with multiple stakeholders. A technical working group provided input on which five chemicals should be prioritized from the larger list of 477 toxic air contaminants.

    The working group includes academics, members of nongovernmental organizations such as the Environmental Defense Fund – local government and regulated industries, such as the American Petroleum Institute.

    Community members often know which air toxics they want regulated.
    Hyoung Chang/Denver Post via GettyImages

    There were also opportunities for community participation during public meetings.

    At public hearings, community groups like GreenLatinos argued that formaldehyde, instead of acrolein, should be one of the prioritized air toxics because it can cause cancer.

    Additionally, formaldehyde is emitted in some Colorado communities that are predominantly people of color, according to advocates for those communities. These communities are already disproportionately impacted by high rates of respiratory disease and cancer.

    Other members of the community also weighed in.

    “One of my patients is a 16-year-old boy who tried to get a summer job working outside, but had to quit because air pollution made his asthma so bad that he could barely breathe,” wrote Logan Harper, a Denver-area family physician and advocate for Healthy Air and Water Colorado.

    How is air quality protected?

    At the national level, the Clean Air Act requires that six common air pollutants, such as ozone and carbon monoxide, are kept below specific levels. The act also regulates 188 hazardous air pollutants.

    Individual states are free to develop their own regulations, and several, including California and Minnesota, already have. States can set standards that are more health-protective than those in place nationally.

    Four of the five chemicals prioritized by Colorado are regulated federally. The fifth chemical, hydrogen sulfide, is not included on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s hazardous air pollutant list, but Colorado has decided to regulate it as an air toxic.

    State-level regulation is important because states can focus on air toxics specific to their state to make sure that the communities most exposed to air pollution are protected. One way to do this is to place air pollution monitors in the communities experiencing the worst air pollution.

    For example, Colorado is placing six new air quality monitors in locations around the state to measure concentrations of the five priority air toxics. It will also use an existing monitor in Grand Junction to measure air toxics. Two of the new monitors, located in Commerce City and La Salle, began operating in January 2024. The remainder will start monitoring the air by July 2025.

    When Colorado chose the sites, it prioritized communities that are overly impacted by social and environmental hazards. To do this, officials used indexes like the Colorado EnviroScreen, which combines information about pollution, health and economic factors to identify communities that are overly burdened by hazards.

    The Commerce City monitor is located in Adams City, a neighborhood that has some of the worst pollution in the state. The site has air toxics emissions that are worse than 95% of communities in Colorado.

    Air toxics and health

    The five air toxics that Colorado selected all have negative impacts on health. Four are known to cause cancer.

    Benzene, perhaps the most well known because of its ability to cause blood cancer, is one. But it also has a number of other health impacts, including dampening the ability of the immune system and impacting the reproductive system by decreasing sperm count. Benzene is in combustion-powered vehicle exhaust and is emitted during oil and gas production and refinement.

    Ethylene oxide can cause cancer and irritates the nervous and respiratory systems. Symptoms of long-term exposure can include headaches, sore throat, shortness of breath and others. Ethylene oxide is used to sterilize medical equipment, and as of 2024, it was used by four facilities in Colorado.

    Formaldehyde is also a cancer-causing agent, and exposure is associated with asthma in children. This air toxic is used in the manufacture of a number of products like household cleaners and building materials. It is also emitted by oil and gas sources, including during fracking.

    Hexavalent chromium compounds can cause several types of cancer, as well as skin and lung diseases such as asthma and rhinitis. A major source of hexavalent chromium is coal-fired power plants, of which Colorado currently has six in operation, though these plants are scheduled to close in the next five years. Other sources of hexavalent chromium include chemical and other manufacturing.

    Finally, long-term exposure to hydrogen sulfide can cause low blood pressure, headaches and a range of other symptoms, and has been associated with neurological impacts such as psychological disorders. Some sources of hydrogen sulfide include oil refineries and wastewater treatment plants.

    Read more of our stories about Colorado.

    Jenni Shearston has received funding from the United States National Institutes of Health.

    – ref. Colorado is tackling air pollution in vulnerable neighborhoods by regulating 5 air toxics – https://theconversation.com/colorado-is-tackling-air-pollution-in-vulnerable-neighborhoods-by-regulating-5-air-toxics-248520

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Champion Safe Partners with NetWize to Enhance Technology, Streamline Operations and Drive Sales, Margin, and Profit Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PROVO, UT, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Champion Safe Company, a leading manufacturer of premium safes and wholly-owned subsidiary of American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB), America’s Patriotic Brand (americanrebel.com), has announced a strategic partnership with NetWize, a premier IT services provider, to modernize and optimize its technology infrastructure. This collaboration will improve efficiency, security, and overall business operations as Champion Safe continues its commitment to innovation and quality.

    “Champion Safe is dedicated to delivering the highest quality security solutions to our customers, and that extends to how we operate as a company,” said Tom Mihalek, CEO of Champion Safe. “By partnering with NetWize, we are investing in cutting-edge technology and streamlined operations that will allow us to better serve our customers, support our long-term growth, and increase sales throughput, overall margin and profitability.”

    NetWize will implement a comprehensive technology upgrade across Champion Safe’s operations, including enhanced cybersecurity measures, improved data management, and optimized IT infrastructure to support future expansion.

    “We are excited to work with Champion Safe, a company that shares our dedication to excellence,” said Jed Crossley, CEO of NetWize. “Our expertise in IT solutions will help Champion Safe increase operational efficiency, enhance security, and leverage technology to drive innovation in the safe industry.”

    The partnership underscores Champion Safe’s ongoing efforts to remain at the forefront of the safe manufacturing industry by integrating modern technological solutions into its business model.

    Customers can expect an even greater level of service, reliability, and innovation as a result of this collaboration.

    For more information about Champion Safe, visit championsafe.com.

    To learn more about NetWize, visit NetWize.com.

    About Champion Safe Company

    Champion Safe Company has been at the forefront of safe manufacturing for over 25 years, offering a range of high-quality safes designed for ultimate security and fire protection. With a commitment to craftsmanship and innovation, Champion Safes are trusted by homeowners, gun owners, and businesses across the nation.

    About NetWize

    Founded in 1998, NetWize is a reputable IT provider located in Utah, committed to empowering businesses with scalable technology solutions and expert IT services. We excel in managed IT services, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, and strategic IT consulting, all customized to address the unique needs of our clients. Our certified team is dedicated to boosting productivity and driving innovation, ensuring that your IT infrastructure performs at its best.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
    American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit americanrebel.com and americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit americanrebel.com/investor-relations.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of the NetWize partnership, actual effect of the partnership on sales, margin and profit growth, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within AREB’s filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Company Contacts:
    jon.minder@americanrebel.com
    thomas.mihalek@americanrebel.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Human Interest sets a new standard for customer experience in the retirement industry

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Industry disruptor Human Interest, the award-winning innovator of automated 401(k) plans1, is once again redefining the retirement industry by revolutionizing what it means to commit to and care for customers. Today, Human Interest announces its Customer Experience Guarantee for ALL customers, big and small. Human Interest is making a bold commitment to participants and administrators through a transparent pledge to deliver outstanding, fast, reliable service with accountability.

    In short, Human Interest is putting its money where its mouth is; if Human Interest doesn’t deliver, customers will get compensated.

    Why a customer-centric approach is key to fixing a broken industry

    For too long, 401(k) customers have experienced frustrating delays and subpar service. Recognizing the urgent need for greater accountability across the retirement savings industry, Human Interest took a hard look at service and support policies — including its own. Now, they’re going all-in on accountability and setting a new standard for transparency and customer service.

    “The ability to retire with peace of mind is a really big deal,” says Rakesh Mahajan, Chief Revenue Officer at Human Interest. “So why has it been an industry standard to leave people on hold, or worse, not even pick up their calls? At Human Interest, we know the stakes are high for both administrators and participants who trust us with their futures. That’s why we’re raising the bar for all customers.”

    A driving factor behind the Customer Experience Guarantee is Human Interest’s commitment to being there for people when their lives dictate a need for their funds, whether it’s as they reach retirement or before. Mahajan elaborates, “Whether our customers need early access to savings or just want to talk to someone on the phone about their plan, it’s often during a critical moment. They shouldn’t have to deal with unnecessary delays or inefficiencies. That’s why we’re guaranteeing exceptional service and challenging the rest of the industry to meet these higher standards.”

    This commitment is an essential and overdue evolution for the industry. According to PBS, more Americans are making hardship withdrawals from retirement accounts than ever before.2 Receiving a check from a 401(k) provider can take up to 15 business days — assuming a person can get in touch with their provider in a timely manner.

    Mahajan explains, “Times are tough, and calamities like hurricanes, fires, and other disasters are all too frequent. When Hurricane Milton hit Florida, many homeowners needed their retirement plans to cope with the destruction. As customers called us, we were able to process their requests and deposit funds into bank accounts within two days so they could start rebuilding their lives. Typical timeframes for legacy providers can take days — or even weeks — to process distributions via the faxing of paper forms and checks being delivered by mail, leaving people sitting and waiting for help. Everyone deserves better, so we’re doing something about it.”

    A first-of-its-kind service-level agreement standard

    The Customer Experience Guarantee, which goes into effect on March 1, 2025, includes specific, measurable service commitments, and we have plans to improve guarantees year-over-year. If at any time these standards aren’t met, Human Interest will provide administrators 50% off their next invoice. Participants will be eligible for a $25 gift card. The Customer Experience Guarantee highlights:

    For administrators3:

    • 100% of an administrator’s inquiry submitted through the Human Interest Support Center will receive a non-automated response within four business hours.
    • 100% of a plan’s contributions will be processed within five business days of running payroll.

    For plan participants4:

    • 100% of a participant’s distributions will be sent to their bank accounts within two business days.
    • 100% of a participant’s calls will be answered within five minutes during business hours.
    • 100% of a participant’s initial inquiries submitted through the Human Interest Support Center will receive a non-automated response within four business hours.

    Investment in automation and customer service excellence fuels commitment

    As part of distancing itself from legacy providers and blazing a more customer-centric trail, Human Interest has built a streamlined, technology-driven system appropriate for present-day life. With its modern approach, the company can seamlessly process payroll contributions, handle inquiries faster, and ultimately, provide participants with timely access to their funds.

    For example, 75% of all payroll contribution files are automatically pulled by Human Interest without any intervention from administrators, saving them up to 40 hours annually and reducing errors. In 2024 alone, Human Interest processed nearly one million contribution files, with 95% processed in three days or less, and nearly 200,000 distributions, with 75% of distributions completed in under 48 hours.5

    Today’s announcement comes just over a year after the company opened its Center of Excellence in Lindon, Utah, which houses nearly all of Human Interest’s 250+ employees focused on customer service. “Our investments in automation and customer experience have positioned us to deliver ‘enterprise-grade’ service for all customers, irrespective of their size,” explains Mahajan. “This is just the beginning of our commitment to continuously improving and exceeding customer expectations.”

    Inspiring change across the retirement industry

    Human Interest hopes that launching this guarantee of this kind will spark broader change in the retirement planning space. “We want to lead by example and encourage other providers to prioritize customer needs over outdated practices,” Mahajan says. “We’ve come a long way, and we’re putting ourselves out there because transparency matters. We’re going to keep improving. Others should, too.”

    Human Interest’s vision is to empower businesses and their employees to build a secure financial future with confidence. The company’s guarantee reflects its mission to make retirement planning more accessible to all.

    About Human Interest

    Human Interest Inc. is a full-service 401(k) and 403(b) provider that makes it easy and affordable for small and medium-sized businesses to help their employees save for retirement. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, Human Interest has helped employees at 31,000+ companies access retirement benefits and a path to financial independence. For more information, please visit humaninterest.com.

    Media Contact:
    Maura Lafferty
    Firebrand Communications for Human Interest
    humaninterest@firebrand.marketing

    1https://humaninterest.com/disclosures/
    2Why more Americans are making hardship withdrawals from retirement accounts. PBS. 4/5/2024. Accessed 1/28/2025.
    3 Discount applies to monthly administrative and per employee fees; maximum cumulative discount may not exceed $5,000 per calendar year; limit of 1 claim per month; must submit claim form. See terms and conditions.
    4 Participants are eligible for a maximum of four (4) successful claims per calendar year; limit of 1 claim per month; must submit claim form. See terms and conditions.
    5 Human Interest, Internal Calculation, 2025

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CrashPlan Crashes the Nets for Charity with ‘Hockey Helping Kids’

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Twin City hockey stars of every age and level to skate on NHL ice
    with NHL alumni, USA Olympians at Xcel Energy Center

    MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Minneapolis-based CrashPlan, a trusted provider of cyber-ready data resilience and governance, is getting ready to hit the ice for charity along with hockey players of every age and level on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at the Xcel Energy Center. CrashPlan’s support of the Hockey Helping Kids program unites its customers, partners, employees, and their families in support of children’s organizations and charities across the country. Through competitive hockey games, dinners, and fundraisers – often held alongside NHL events – the program raises vital funds and awareness for these important causes.

    Each event is made possible with the support of platinum sponsors like Microsoft Corp., Backblaze and ShopRite Supermarkets. The festivities kick off with a “JV” game, where customers and partners compete before the NHL matchup between the Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers. After the game, the excitement continues as CrashPlan employees and partners share the ice in the “varsity” match, adding to the spirited competition. This year’s varsity team opponents include Denis Maruk, a 15-year NHL veteran who still owns several Washington Capital scoring records, and members of the USA Women’s National Hockey team, including Olympic team medalists.

    Hockey Helping Kids shines a spotlight on the important missions of the children’s charities it supports. Charities that will benefit from this season’s play include the Hendrickson Foundation, a group dedicated to providing hockey opportunities to special needs children; and the Autism Society of Minnesota. The family-friendly event enables children and families from the charities to be fully involved in all aspects of the event.

    Supporting Quotes:

    Randy De Meno, VP, Business Development and Alliances, CrashPlan:
    “Hockey Helping Kids makes a real impact on children and families, while creating unforgettable experiences both on and off the ice. We are excited to collaborate with our platinum sponsors and NHL partners to raise even more funds for meaningful children’s causes in Minnesota and nationwide.”

    Nico Sumas, VP, Shop-Rite Supermarkets:
    “Shop-Rite is proud to collaborate with CrashPlan in supporting nonprofit initiatives and charities that benefit today’s youth. We commend the Hockey Helping Kids program and acknowledge its significant impact on dozens of nonprofit youth organizations over the years.”

    Christine Krsnik, Executive Board Member (daughter of founder Larry Hendrickson) Hendrickson Foundation:
    “The Hendrickson Foundations honored to be a recipient of CrashPlan and Hockey Helping Kids’ fundraising efforts. As a young organization dedicated to making hockey accessible for disabled children, adults, and veterans, we deeply appreciate CrashPlan’s generosity. Their support enables us to reach hundreds of children in need, fostering friendships, confidence, and strong values in a team environment where every player is encouraged to shine.”

    Kelly Ulrick, President, Autism Society of Minnesota:
    “The Autism Society of Greater Minnesota is deeply grateful to be chosen as a beneficiary of CrashPlan’s Hockey Helping Kids Program this year. It is truly inspiring to see a company dedicate its time, resources, and efforts to support our mission of assisting families navigating life with autism. We sincerely appreciate being included in this meaningful and impactful program.”

    Colleen Coyne, U.S. Olympic Gold Medal-winning Hockey player:
    “CrashPlan’s leadership has brilliantly merged their passion for ice hockey with their commitment to supporting children’s nonprofits, making giving back both enjoyable and impactful. Each event brings joy to participants while providing essential financial support to those in need. Being part of this initiative is an honor and a blast!”

    Denis Maruk, 15 year NHL veteran and former member of the Minnesota North Stars:
    “Hockey Helping Kids events are among my favorites each year because they are all about giving more kids a chance – whether that’s in their day-to-day lives, or whether we’re talking about the opportunity to skate in a real hockey arena on the same ice as Olympians and NHL alumni.”

    Duane Barnes, President, RapidScale:
    “We are thrilled to sponsor CrashPlan’s Hockey Helping Kids Program, uniting the Twin Cities community for a cause that truly matters,” said RapidScale President Duane Barnes. “At RapidScale and Cox Business, we believe in the power of giving back and making a positive impact. This event not only showcases the spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship but also highlights Microsoft’s commitment to supporting meaningful initiatives. We look forward to an exciting game and the opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause.”

    Brian Bellows, 10-year Minnesota NorthStar and Minnesota hockey legend:
    “Being back on the ice, especially for a cause like Hockey Helping Kids, brings back so many great memories. It’s fantastic to see how this event unites the hockey community, from seasoned veterans to the next generation of players. To be able to contribute to these wonderful children’s charities, and to see the joy it brings, that’s what it’s all about. It’s more than just a game; it’s about giving back and making a real difference.”

    About CrashPlan
    CrashPlan provides cyber-ready data resilience and governance in a single platform for organizations whose ideas power their revenue. With its comprehensive backup and recovery capabilities for data stored on servers, on endpoint devices, and in SaaS applications, CrashPlan’s solutions are trusted by entrepreneurs, professionals, and businesses of all sizes worldwide. From ransomware recovery and breaches to migrations and legal holds, CrashPlan’s suite of products ensures the safety and compliance of your data without disruption.

    CrashPlan Media Contact:
    Maura Lafferty
    Firebrand Communications
    crashplan@firebrand.marketing

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s claims of vast presidential powers run up against Article 2 of the Constitution and exceed previous presidents’ power grabs

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Claire B. Wofford, Associate Professor of Political Science, College of Charleston

    How much power does the president really have? fotojog-iStock/Getty Images Plus

    Those who wrote and wrangled over America’s Constitution might be troubled by the second presidency of Donald J. Trump.

    While almost all modern presidents flex their muscles in the initial stages of their administration, the first weeks of the second Trump presidency have seen a rapid-fire, often dizzying array of executive actions that have sparked heated, even virulent, disputes among politicians, the media and citizens about how much power the president of the United States should have.

    Historians differ about the framers’ precise intent regarding the executive branch. But the general consensus is twofold: First, domestic lawmaking power, including the critical “power of the purse,” would rest with Congress; second, the president would not be the equivalent of a king.

    Fresh off the coercion of King George III, the framers were in no mood to recreate the British system. They debated extensively about whether the executive branch should be led by more than one person. A single chief executive was eventually favored in part because other institutional checks, including the selection of the president by the American people and Congress’ ability to impeach, seemed sufficient. And, of course, Congress would retain lawmaking powers.

    Almost immediately, however, Congress began delegating some of that power to the presidency. As the nation grew and Congress found itself unable to manage the ensuing demands, it put more and more policymaking powers into the executive branch.

    Congress frequently passed vaguely worded statutes and left important details largely to the president about how to manage, for instance, immigration or the environment. President-as-policymaker and the development of an immense federal bureaucracy that is now in the crosshairs of Trump and Elon Musk was one unintended result.

    Whether the current American president has become a king, particularly after the sweeping grant of immunity in 2024 by the Supreme Court and the seeming acquiescence by Congress to Trump’s latest directives, remains up for debate.

    In 2019, Trump said, “And then I have an Article 2, where I have the right to do whatever I want as President.”

    I’m a constitutional law scholar, and I can comfortably respond: With all due respect, Mr. President, no. Article 2 does not grant the president unlimited power.

    Here’s what the Constitution does say – and doesn’t say – about the power of the president.

    An 1881 depiction of the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
    Alfred Kappes and Frederick Juengling, New York Public Library Digital Collections

    Exploiting imprecise language

    The Constitution divides power among the three branches of the federal government – executive, legislative and judicial.

    Article 1 specifies in great detail the structure and powers of Congress. In comparison, Article 2 is relatively short, outlining the powers of the executive branch, which now encompasses the president, his advisers and various departments and agencies.

    There is no extensive laundry list of enumerated powers for the executive branch. Instead, there is a smattering. The president is given the power to “grant reprieves and pardons,” to “receive ambassadors,” and, with the consent of the Senate, “make treaties” and “appoint” various federal officials. The president is also the “Commander in Chief.”

    Aside from the ability to veto legislation and “recommend” policies to Congress, the president was intended to serve primarily as an administrator of congressional statutes, not a policymaker.

    It is other, much less precise language in Article 2 that undergirds much of what Trump claims he can do – and what opponents say he cannot.

    Specifically, Section 1 states, “The Executive power shall be vested in a President,” and Section 3 requires the President to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

    On their face, these “vesting” and “take care” clauses seem relatively innocuous, reflecting the framers’ view that the President would implement rather than create the nation’s public policy. Congress would have that prerogative, with the president generally confined to ensuring those laws were carried out appropriately.

    Trump and his allies, however, have seized on these words as authorizing unlimited control over each of the 4 million employees of the executive branch and, through program changes and spending freezes, allowing him to exert significant policymaking power for the nation.

    The administration has now surpassed what even the strongest proponents of presidential power may have once argued. Trump adviser Stephen Miller has said, “All executive power is vested in the one man elected by the whole nation. No unelected bureaucrat has any ‘independent’ authority.”

    Yet the overriding goal of the framers at the Constitutional Convention was to avoid creating an American version of the British monarchy, with a single, unaccountable ruler in charge of national policymaking, free to implement his vision at will.

    In the view of Trump’s critics, this is precisely what has occurred.

    President Donald Trump signs an executive order on Feb. 14, 2025, at the White House.
    Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

    Going around Congress

    Trump is not the first president to use Article 2’s ambiguity to push the boundaries of executive authority.

    Particularly since the end of World War II and the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, presidents have seized upon the same phrases in the Constitution to put their particular political agendas into action.

    Barack Obama, for instance, famously touted his “phone and pen” as a way to make policy when Congress refused.

    The vehicle for most executive branch policymaking, including by Trump, has been the executive order. Executive orders are mentioned nowhere in the Constitution, but presidents have, since the very earliest days of the republic, issued these directives under their “executive” and “take care” power. Since the founding, there have been tens of thousands of executive orders, used by Democratic and Republican presidents alike.

    Often, executive orders are relatively minor. They form commissions, set holiday schedules or brand an agency with a new seal. Dozens are signed unnoticed during every administration.

    In other instances, they have sweeping and substantive effect.

    Among those, Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation freed Southern slaves, Franklin Roosevelt placed Japanese Americans in internment camps, Harry S. Truman integrated the military, and Joe Biden forgave student loans. Trump has attempted to redefine birthright citizenship – a move which, for now, has been stopped by federal courts.

    Because they have the force of law and remain in place until revoked by a subsequent president, executive orders have often faced legal challenges. Currently, there are more than 80 lawsuits challenging Trump’s executive orders for violating both federal law and the Constitution. Some orders, but not all, have been halted by lower courts.

    But if many presidents have believed that Article 2 of the Constitution gives them the power to make policy via executive order, the nation’s highest court hasn’t always agreed.

    Out of bounds?

    Requests to the high court to rule on Trump’s executive orders are a virtual certainty.

    Historically, the Supreme Court has struck down some executive orders as outside the scope of Article 2. As the court wrote in 1952, “In the framework of our Constitution, the President’s power to see that the laws are faithfully executed refutes the idea that he is to be a lawmaker.”

    Whether Trump’s various directives are within his Article 2 authority or violate both the letter and spirit of the Constitution awaits determination, most likely by the U.S. Supreme Court. Much of the genius of that document is its often ambiguous language, letting the government adapt to a changing nation.

    Yet that very ambiguity has allowed both sides of today’s political divide to claim that their version of executive power is faithful to the framers’ vision. As with the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movements, such a dispute could very well drive the U.S. to the breaking point.

    Congress or the American people may eventually decide that Trump has gone too far. The next presidential election is years away, but Congress still retains the power of impeachment. More realistically, they could rein him in via legislation, as they did with President Richard Nixon.

    For now, it is up to the judicial system to evaluate what the administration has done. Courts will need to use their constitutionally mandated authority to evaluate whether Trump has exceeded his.

    In 2022, I donated $20 to ActBlue.

    – ref. Trump’s claims of vast presidential powers run up against Article 2 of the Constitution and exceed previous presidents’ power grabs – https://theconversation.com/trumps-claims-of-vast-presidential-powers-run-up-against-article-2-of-the-constitution-and-exceed-previous-presidents-power-grabs-249662

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting prioritizes ‘real’ independence from the US − but what does that mean and is it achievable?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Garret Martin, Senior Professorial Lecturer, Co-Director Transatlantic Policy Center, American University School of International Service

    Germany’s presumptive new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, faces challenges both at home and overseas following his conservative alliance’s election victory on Feb. 23, 2025.

    A strong showing from the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) – which Merz, in line with other mainstream German parties, refuses to countenance as a coalition party as part of an unofficial “firewall” against extremism – will make forming a functioning government tricky.

    But in the moments after the election results, it was the future of the European Union and its relationship with America that was his immediate focus: “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA.”

    To understand why that is such a concern for Germany now and what “real independence” from Washington means, The Conversation U.S. turned to Garret Martin, an expert on U.S.-Europe relations at American University, for answers.

    What prompted Merz’s ‘real independence’ line?

    Presumably it was a response to a series of recent announcements and actions by the Trump administration that have shocked the German political establishment. This includes the sudden revelation that the U.S. would negotiate directly with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, but seemingly without the Europeans or Ukrainians involved. That development went down like a lead balloon in Berlin, especially considering Germany’s significant financial support of Kyiv since 2022.

    Moreover, the German establishment has also frowned at a series of recent declarations by members of the Trump administration. Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference, in which he harshly criticized Europe for allegedly undermining freedom of expression, provoked clear pushback from German leaders. Trump, for his part, hardly endeared himself to his German allies when he denounced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator.”

    And, of course, Elon Musk’s interference in the German elections – as well as his open support for the far-right Alternative for Germany – provoked a fierce response from Merz. The then-candidate promised that Musk would need to be prepared for legal consequences for his meddling.

    Elon Musk addresses, via videolink, the election campaign launch rally of the far-right Alternative for Germany on Jan. 25, 2025.
    Sean Gallup/Getty Images

    How would this ‘real independence’ be achieved?

    Defining what “real independence” means and being able to implement such a drastic change in transatlantic relations will be a tall order. If by “real independence” Merz means that Germany would no longer rely on the U.S. for its security, then that would require several major steps.

    Merz would first need to convince his likely coalition partners, the Social Democrats, that this is the right goal. After all, German governments are bound by very detailed coalition agreements. Second, Merz would need to significantly increase German defense spending. As it stands, Germany’s annual defense budget is slightly over US$90 billion, or 2% of its GDP. But a recent study by the economic think tank Bruegel suggests Berlin would need to increase its budget by $145 billion annually to defend Europe without the assistance of the U.S.

    But to achieve this, Merz will likely need to increase defense spending by such a level that it will contravene the country’s “debt brake.” This 2009 constitutional rule essentially caps the annual deficit that the government can take on. But overturning this mechanism would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the German Parliament. Merz’s Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union party won 28.6% of the vote – and even with the support of the country’s main center-left party, the Social Democrats, Merz will fall short of the parliamentary votes needed.

    Finally, “real independence” would also require convincing other European Union partners to join him down that path. Assuming that the Trump administration continues its current trajectory and further undermines NATO, the EU would have to step in to become a more prominent security actor for the continent. It might also require, as Merz hinted, that the United Kingdom and France be ready to share their nuclear weapons, since the U.S. may not be trusted anymore to defend NATO countries.

    All of these steps would cover “real independence” only in the security sphere and not touch other crucial policy areas, such as trade and energy. And that would be an equally tall order given the level of economic ties binding Germany to the U.S., as well as the looming threat of tariffs.

    What does this mean for German-US relations?

    Merz’s “real independence” statement would have been noteworthy coming from any German chancellor. But it is even more striking when one considers the fact that Merz is a committed transatlanticist who deeply admires the U.S. and counts Ronald Reagan as one of his role models.

    At 69, Merz came of age during the final years of the Cold War, when the U.S. played a key role in enabling German reunification. He worked for years for Atlantik-Brücke, a lobbying group pushing for closer transatlantic ties. And he has, by his own account, traveled more than 100 times to the U.S.

    Independence will not likely mean a complete divorce between the U.S. and Germany – the ties binding the two countries, whether economic, cultural or political, run too deep. However, we can expect that Berlin will not hesitate to take a more combative approach toward Washington when necessary, so to protect German and European interests. As Merz pointed out, it is clear that the Trump administration does “not care much about the fate of Europe.”

    What does this signal for Merz’s view of Germany’s position in the EU?

    Merz’s win will certainly lead to important shifts in Germany’s position in the EU, and could be a major boost for a union in need of leadership. His predecessor, Olaf Scholz, was hampered by a weak economy, divisions within his coalition and indecisive leadership in Europe. Moreover, poor relations with French President Emmanuel Macron also stalled the Franco-German partnership, normally a key engine of leadership in the EU.

    Merz certainly plans to take a very distinct approach toward the EU than his predecessor. His calls for “real independence” will certainly be very welcome in France, which has long called for Europe to be more responsible for its own security. As such, it opens up the possibility of far closer ties between Paris and Berlin than we saw in recent years. Moreover, Merz, with his more hawkish position toward Russia, could be counted on to provide greater support for Ukraine.

    Garret Martin receives funding from the European Union for the Transatlantic Policy Center, which he co-directs.

    – ref. Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting prioritizes ‘real’ independence from the US − but what does that mean and is it achievable? – https://theconversation.com/germanys-chancellor-in-waiting-prioritizes-real-independence-from-the-us-but-what-does-that-mean-and-is-it-achievable-250708

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Trump Takes Decisive Action to Deliver Relief to Kentucky

    Source: The White House

    President Donald J. Trump granted a Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Monday following severe storms and flooding.

    The President’s action will make federal funding available for individuals in impacted areas. The assistance can include grants for temporary housing and other programs to help individuals and businesses recover. Federal funding will also be made available to the Commonwealth, local governments, and certain nonprofit organizations.

    Acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton: “President Trump clearly understands that when Americans are in need, we all have to act together. Starting with his decisive action on February 16 that allowed us to activate search and rescue assets and other emergency efforts to save lives to his major declaration, I know the people of Kentucky value his leadership which will now open up the full suite of FEMA support to those impacted.”

    Kush Desai, Deputy White House Press Secretary: “In response to the tragic loss of life and destruction gripping Kentucky, President Trump has issued a Major Disaster Declaration to ensure that Kentucky gets the support it needs. In addition to our and the nation’s prayers, the Trump Administration is committed to marshaling every resource that Kentucky needs to save lives, rebuild communities, and emerge stronger in the face of tragedy.”

    Governor Andy Beshear said: “We are thankful to President Trump and his administration for approving this funding. This support will be a big help for our families and communities as they recover and rebuild from yet another terrible storm.”

    Congressman Hal Rogers said: “I’m grateful for President Trump’s expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Kentucky, which includes public assistance and individual assistance for ten counties.”

    President Trump’s approval of a Major Disaster Declaration on Monday follows the initial emergency declaration last week. Governor Beshear noted that President Trump has “responded to all of our requests — turned around the declaration of emergency about as quickly as I’ve ever seen.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bread Financial to Participate in the 2025 RBCCM Global Financial Institutions Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bread Financial® Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BFH), a tech-forward financial services company that provides simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions, today announced the company’s participation in the 2025 RBCCM Global Financial Institutions Conference on Tuesday, March 4.

    Bread Financial Chief Financial Officer Perry Beberman will participate in a fireside chat. The fireside chat will take place at 11:20 a.m. ET and will be broadcast live here.

    The fireside chat can also be accessed through Bread Financial’s investor relations website. A replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days following the event.

    About Bread Financial® 
    Bread Financial® (NYSE: BFH) is a tech-forward financial services company that provides simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions to millions of U.S. consumers. Our payment solutions, including Bread Financial general purpose credit cards and savings products, empower our customers and their passions for a better life. Additionally, we deliver growth for some of the most recognized brands in travel & entertainment, health & beauty, jewelry and specialty apparel through our private label and co-brand credit cards and pay-over-time products providing choice and value to our shared customers. 

    To learn more about Bread Financial, our global associates and our sustainability commitments, visit breadfinancial.com or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

    Contacts

    Brian Vereb — Investor Relations
    Brian.Vereb@breadfinancial.com

    Susan Haugen — Investor Relations
    Susan.Haugen@breadfinancial.com

    Rachel Stultz — Media
    Rachel.Stultz@breadfinancial.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: EverQuote to Present at the Raymond James Annual Institutional Investors Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EverQuote, Inc. (Nasdaq: EVER), a leading online insurance marketplace, today announced that management will present and host one-on-one investor meetings at the following investor conference:

    Raymond James Annual Institutional Investors Conference
    Date: Tuesday, March 4th, 2025
    Location: Orlando, FL
    Presentation: 4:35 p.m. ET

    Conference fireside chats will be available via live audio webcast and archived replay on EverQuote’s investor relations website at http://investors.everquote.com.

    About EverQuote

    EverQuote operates a leading online marketplace for insurance shopping, connecting consumers with insurance provider customers, which includes both carriers and agents. Our vision is to be the leading growth partner for property and casualty, or P&C, insurance providers. Our results-driven marketplace, powered by our proprietary data and technology platform, is improving the way insurance providers attract and connect with consumers shopping for insurance.

    For more information, visit https://investors.everquote.com and follow on LinkedIn.

    Investor Relations Contact

    Brinlea Johnson
    The Blueshirt Group
    (415) 489-2193

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Generative AI is most useful for the things we care about the least

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John P. Nelson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ethics and Societal Implications of Artificial Intelligence, Georgia Institute of Technology

    The creative process involves choices that lead artists to places they couldn’t have imagined. Eoneren/E+ via Getty Images

    Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Midjourney can produce text, images and videos far more quickly than any one person can accomplish by hand.

    But as someone who studies the societal impacts of AI, I’ve noticed an interesting trade-off: The technology can certainly save time, but it does so precisely to the extent that the user is willing to surrender control over the final product.

    For this reason, generative AI is probably most useful for things we care about the least.

    Ceding creative control

    Let’s use the example of AI image generators. You probably have a rough idea of how they work. Just type what you want – “a panda surfing,” “a piece of toast that is also a car” – and the generative tool draws it.

    But this glosses over the countless possible iterations of the desired image.

    Will the image appear as a watercolor painting or a pencil sketch? How lifelike will the panda be? How big is the wave? Is the toast-car parked or moving? Is there anyone inside of it?

    When the images are generated, these questions have been answered – but not by the user. Rather, the generative AI tool has “decided.”

    Of course, the user can be more specific: Imitate the style of Monet. Make the wave twice the height of the panda. Maybe the panda should look worried, since it isn’t used to surfing.

    You can also pop open an image editor and modify the output yourself, down to the individual pixel. But, of course, drafting detailed instructions and revising the image take time, effort and skill. Generative AI promises to lighten the load. But as every manager knows, exercising control is work.

    The devil is in the details

    In all art and expression, power lies in the details.

    In great paintings, not every brushstroke is planned – but each is carefully considered and accepted. And its overall effect on the viewer depends on all those considered brushstrokes together.

    Filmmakers shoot take after take of the same scene, each subtly or radically different. Only a small fraction of that footage makes it into the final cut – the fraction that the editors feel does the job best. Great artists use their judgment to ensure every detail helps to achieve the effect they want.

    Of course, there’s nothing new about putting someone else in charge of the details. People are used to delegating authority – even about matters of expression – to marketers, speechwriters, social media managers and the like.

    Generative AI makes a new sort of contractor available. It’s always on call, and in certain ways it is very technically competent.

    But compared with skilled humans, it has a limited ability to understand what you want. Moreover, it lacks intention, contemplation and the comprehensive mastery of detail that yield great expressive achievements – or even the comprehensive idiosyncrasy that spawns very unique ones.

    Ask ChatGPT for a film script, plus casting and shooting instructions. It will give you neither Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece “The Godfather” nor Tommy Wiseau’s bizarre “The Room.”

    You could, perhaps, approach a masterpiece, or a true oddity. But to do so, you’d have to exercise more and more time, more and more effort, and more and more control.

    An era of ‘cheap speech’

    What generative AI makes possible, above all, is low-effort, low-control expression.

    In the time I took to write and revise this article, I could have used ChatGPT to generate 200 grammatically correct, well-structured articles, and then I could have posted them online without even reading them. I wouldn’t have had to carefully parse each word and decide whether it really helped me make my point. I wouldn’t have even had to decide whether I agreed with any of the AI-generated write-ups.

    This is not a merely hypothetical example. Low-quality, AI-generated e-books of ambiguous provenance are already making their way into online vendors’ catalogs – and into the libraries those vendors serve.

    Similarly, using image generators, I could now flood the internet with superficially appealing images, dedicating only a fraction of a second to decide whether any of them express what I want them to express or achieve what I want them to achieve.

    But in doing so, I would not just be skipping over drudgery. Writing, drawing and painting are not just labor but processes of considering, reviewing and deciding exactly what I want to put out into the world. By skipping over those processes, I surrender that decision-making process to the AI tool.

    Some scholars argue that the internet has produced an era of “cheap speech.” People no longer have to invest a lot of resources – nor even face the judgment of their neighbors – to broadcast whatever they want to the world.

    With generative AI, expression is even cheaper. You don’t even have to make things yourself to put them out into the world. For the first time in human history, the ability to produce writing, art and expression has been decoupled from the necessity of actually paying attention to what you’re making or saying.

    Generative AI allows you to blow through the thousands of little decisions that go into a work of art.
    C.J. Burton/The Image Bank via Getty Images

    When intention and effort matter

    I suspect that great art, journalism and scholarship will still demand great attention and effort. Some of that effort may even include custom-developing AI tools tailored to an individual artist’s concerns.

    But unless people become much better at curation, great work will be increasingly difficult to locate amid the flood of low-effort content, which is also known as “AI slop.”

    It’s appropriate that generative AI becomes more useful the sloppier its users are willing to be – that is, the less they care about the details.

    I could end with some dire prognosis – that working artists and writers will be replaced with mediocre automation, that online discourse will get even stupider, that people will isolate themselves in personalized cocoons of AI-generated media.

    All these things are possible. But it’s probably more useful to offer a suggestion to you, the reader.

    When you need an image or a piece of writing, take a moment to decide: How important are the details? Would the process of making this yourself, or working with a collaborator or contractor, be useful? Would it yield a better output, or give me the chance to learn, or begin or strengthen a relationship, or help you reflect on something important to you?

    In short, is it worth putting in real care and effort? The answer will not always be yes. But it often will.

    Art, writing, films – these are not just products, but acts. They are things humans make, through a process of thousands of little decisions that encompass what we stand for and what we want to say.

    So when it comes to art, expression and argument, if you want it done right, it’s probably still best to do it yourself.

    John P. Nelson 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. Generative AI is most useful for the things we care about the least – https://theconversation.com/generative-ai-is-most-useful-for-the-things-we-care-about-the-least-249329

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: What is a pop-up SMS scam?

    Source: National Australia Bank

    Ever had a SMS message pop up on your phone screen then can’t find it in your messages? It may be a fake SMS pop-up scam, a new scam trend targeting Australians.

    What is a pop-up SMS scam and how do they work?

    Officially known as a ‘flash’ or ‘class 0 SMS’, a pop-up SMS scam is a text message that appears directly on a phone screen, even if locked.

    The phone can’t be used until the message is dismissed or saved.

    The message does not automatically save in a phone’s SMS inbox, making these scams harder to report and a powerful tool for criminals.

    What are criminals doing with these pop up SMSes?

    Pop-up SMSes are often used legitimately by governments overseas to share urgent messages, such as safety warnings for fires, floods or natural disasters.

    NAB Head of Security Culture and Advisory Laura Hartley said this style of pop-up SMS was now being hijacked by criminals to rip people off.

    “These transnational, organised criminals are the same groups linked to drug and arms trafficking,” she said.

    “The current bank impersonation scam trend is focused on trying to people to ‘call’ NAB and that’s what we see in these messages customers have had reported to us. A few years ago, text messages were much more focused on trying to get people to click a link.”

    How do you recognise a pop-up SMS scam?

    There are common underlying red flags that appear in pop-up SMSes from criminals.

    • Urgency to act about a problem like your NAB ID being used overseas or a suspicious transaction
    • A reference number in a text message
    • Being asked to handover account log ins, PIN codes or to make payments.
    Australians are being warned about a new scam trend involving fake pop-up SMSes that impersonates NAB and temporarily disables their phone.

    How can pop-up SMS scams be stopped?

    Ms Hartley, a criminologist, said it is vital Australians know how to recognise the red flags of these scams.

    “Once funds are sent it’s often very hard to recover money, despite our best efforts. Criminals quickly send it to overseas accounts or to cryptocurrency platforms knowing it makes it harder to retrieve,” Ms Hartley said.

    “You can turn off pop-up SMSes on some mobile phones. However, it’s best to exercise some caution here given these messages are fn used overseas for emergency warnings about natural disasters.”

    Other tips to protect yourself from pop-up SMS scams include:

    • Slow down and ask yourself, ‘Could this be a scam?’
    • Show the message to a trusted family member, friend or colleague for a second opinion
    • Visit the website of organisation being impersonated to see if they’ve warned about the scam

    What should I do if I receive a pop-up text message from ‘NAB’?

    Ms Hartley encouraged customers and the community to report pop-up SMS claiming to be from NAB to phish@nab.com.au.

    “You can also report it to your telco provider,” she said.

    Will NAB ever send customers a pop-up SMS message?

    NAB does not contact customers using pop-up SMS messages.

    “If you aren’t sure if it is legitimately NAB contacting you, call the bank using details you have found yourself via our website or on the back of your card,” Ms Hartley said.

    “Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve been scammed.”

    Customers, banking & finance

    SEE ALL TOPICS

    Media Enquiries

    For all media enquiries, please contact the NAB Media Line on 03 7035 5015

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Planned retirements of U.S. coal-fired electric-generating capacity to increase in 2025

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    February 25, 2025

    Electricity generators plan to retire 12.3 gigawatts (GW) of capacity in 2025, a 65% increase in retirements compared with 2024. Last year, 7.5 GW was retired from the U.S. power grid, the least generation retired since 2011, according to data reported to us in our latest inventory of electric generators. Coal generating capacity accounts for the largest share of planned capacity retirements (66%), followed by natural gas (21%).

    Coal. Electric generators report that they plan to retire 8.1 GW of coal-fired capacity in 2025, or 4.7% of the total U.S. coal fleet that was in operation at the end of 2024. Coal retirements decreased to 4.0 GW last year, less than the 9.8 GW of coal capacity retired in each of the last 10 years.

    The largest U.S. coal plant that generators plan to retire this year is the 1,800-megawatt (MW) Intermountain Power Project in Utah, where an 840-MW natural gas combined-cycle power block is expected to come online in July. J H Campbell (1,331 MW) in Michigan and Brandon Shores (1,273 MW) in Maryland are two other large coal plants expected to retire this year.

    Natural gas. This year, generators plan to retire 2.6 GW of U.S. natural gas capacity, representing 0.5% of the natural gas fleet in operation at the end of 2024. Almost all of the expected retirements are simple-cycle natural gas turbine power plants, which burn natural gas in a single turbine to produce electricity and are less efficient compared with combined-cycle natural gas plants.

    More than 62% of the natural gas retirements will come from V H Braunig Units 1, 2, and 3 (859 MW) in Texas and Eddystone Units 3 and 4 (760 MW) in Pennsylvania. Both plants are retiring old steam units installed between 1966 and 1974. Another 29% of the natural gas retirements will come from 16 simple-cycle combustion turbines totaling 754 MW at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Johnsonville station in Tennessee. These units, installed in 1975, will be replaced with 10 new, modern aeroderivative gas turbines, which will add 500 MW of natural gas capacity back to the Johnsonville station.

    Petroleum. Petroleum-fired power plants make up around 2.3% of generating capacity in the United States. This year, 1.6 GW of U.S. petroleum-fired capacity is scheduled to retire. More than half of the retiring capacity comes from the Herbert A Wagner power plant in Maryland, where Talen Energy plans to retire three of its oil-fired units totaling 828 MW. The next-largest retirement comes from the TVA’s Allen power plant in Tennessee, where TVA plans to shut down its 20-unit combustion turbine site totaling 427 MW.

    Principal contributor: Office of Energy Statistics staff

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Landscape Architecture Connecting Bridgeport’s Waterfront

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Bridgeport sits at the mouth of the Pequonnock River on Long Island Sound, providing it with the longest waterfront in the state.

    However, due to historical and ongoing under-resourcing, 70% of the waterfront is currently inaccessible. This has perpetuated racial and socioeconomic disparities that affect access to the ecosystem and public services in Connecticut.

    Researchers, students, and alumni from the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) are working to create and implement plans that would make waterfront areas accessible for Bridgeport residents. The faculty leads on this effort are Jill Desimini, director and associate professor of landscape architecture, and Sohyun Park, associate professor of landscape architecture.

    This work aims to make two key portions of Bridgeport’s waterfront accessible. The first is the area known as the “sliver by the river,” in downtown Bridgeport by the train station, and the second is along Yellow Mill Channel, on the east side of the city.

    “The impact on the community will be huge,” Park says. “In the past, they did not have access to the waterfront, and now we are opening the access points and revitalizing some vacant land and public spaces to be more resilient and socially functioning.”

    As part of their landscape architecture studio, undergraduate students were divided into groups to generate proposals for the areas which have served as the basis for actual work on these sites.

    “It was a really exciting project to get to be a part of,” Kayla Villareal ’25 (CAHNR) says. “Being able to see the evolution and implementation of past suggestions was extremely motivating and served as inspiration to the work produced by my cohort. The best part about the work we completed was seeing the impacts it could have in various communities in Connecticut, as well as other states in the future.”

    The goal is to not only create a continuous path of access to the waterfront, but to provide community services along the pathway as well. Some amenities included in the plan are kayak launches, benches, parks, and areas for fishing.

    The marshlands on the north side of the “sliver by the river” also have the potential to offer important ecosystem services such as improving water quality, erosion control, habitat, and flood abatement once restored.

    On the Yellow Mill side, the group has introduced native plants, pollinator gardens, parking, and increased accessibility to the existing waterfront park there. They have also proposed various site activation and place-making strategies, like art walk, painted asphalt, underpass gallery, pop-up skate park, educational signage, guerilla gardening, and more.

    “Their ultimate goal is to provide continuous access along the waterfront to the residents of Bridgeport, both to improve the ecological health of the waterfront and the human health of the residents,” Desimini says.

    Park says she hopes this work helps inspire community members to continue pushing to improve their neighborhoods.

    “You actually spur community engagement further if they see some color on the pavement,” Park says. “I hope the small things we do can have some snowball effect and engage more people in their neighborhood.”

    The nationally accredited landscape architecture program at UConn has a longstanding relationship with groups including Groundwork Bridgeport, Trust for Public Land, National Park Service, and the Connecticut chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, all of which have been partners for this effort.

    Within these organizations and beyond, many CAHNR alumni have been involved in the effort.

    “It’s an honor to be involved in such a transformative and beautiful project right in the city I grew up in,” says Ely-Anna Becerril ’21, landscape designer at William Kenny Associates, LLC. [My colleague] Tom Tavella and the students of the Landscape Architecture program provided the fantastic initial ideas and saw the potential for this space to be something special. I’m excited to help push this project forward to becoming a reality for the Bridgeport community to enjoy.”

    This project is funded by the City of Bridgeport and various grants from the National Park Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Long Island Sound Futures Fund, and the National Coastal Resiliency Fund.

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice

     

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Abia State Steals Spotlight at Inaugural Sports African Investment Summit (SAIS): Signs Agreement with Sport Nigeria Ltd to Manage Sports Special Economic Zone

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

    LAGOS, Nigeria, February 25, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The inaugural edition of the #SportsAfricaInvestmentSummit (#SAIS2025) delivered two power-packed days of dialogue, deal-making, and action-oriented discussions, setting the stage for accelerated investment in African sports.

    Sport Nigeria’s Vice Chairman, Yahaya Maikori (https://apo-opa.co/4gW9C9p), delivered the welcome address, setting the tone for a summit that brought together key stakeholders across sports, business, and governance. The CEO of Sport Nigeria LTD/GTE (https://apo-opa.co/4gW9C9p), Nkechi Obi (https://apo-opa.co/4gW9C9p), set the agenda for the summit. The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, delivered the keynote address, “Sports as a Catalyst for Africa Towards 2063”.

    The Summit had three plenary sessions, one fire-side chat and 18 breakout sessions with various engaging topics all focused on how Africa can create a market for sports goods and services, how the ideal products suitable for the market can be developed and how the market creation and product development activities can be funded.

    Two major highlights at the Summit were the signing of a technical and collaborative agreement between the Government of Abia State (https://apo-opa.co/4gW9C9p) and Sport Nigeria LTD/GTE (https://apo-opa.co/4gW9C9p) for the development of the Abia State Sports Special Economic Zone (#SSEZ), and the presentation of Spaces For Sport (#S4S), Sport Nigeria’s flagship community-based infrastructure project.

    Goodwill messages were delivered by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, XAVIER MURON (https://apo-opa.co/4gW9C9p), Country Manager of Agence Française de Développement (https://apo-opa.co/4gW9C9p), and Christophe Bazivamo, the High Commissioner of Rwanda to Nigeria. The Summit was closed by Lanre Buluro (https://apo-opa.co/4gW9C9p), Managing Director, Investment Banking of Chapel Hill Denham (https://apo-opa.co/4gW9C9p): who represented the CEO, Lanre Balogun (https://apo-opa.co/41z7uAg).

    The next edition will be held in Q1 2026. Please send your email addresses to sais@sportnigeria.ng to be added to our mailing list.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Donald J. Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Kentucky

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    ASHINGTON — FEMA announced today that federal disaster assistance is available to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides from Feb. 14, and continuing.
    The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Breathitt, Clay, Harlan, Knott, Lee, Letcher, Martin, Owsley, Perry and Pike counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
    Federal funding is also available to the Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance in Breathitt, Clay, Harlan, Knott, Lee, Letcher, Martin, Owsley, Perry and Pike counties.
    Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire Commonwealth.Jeremy Slinker has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas. Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of further damage assessments. 
    Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces stronger accountability measures, launches new tool measuring local progress in tackling homelessness

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 24, 2025

    Releases $920 million in additional homelessness funding  

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom today announced stronger accountability measures to hold local governments accountable if they fail to make progress in addressing homelessness. The Governor also unveiled a new online accountability tool to help the public track their community’s progress on housing, homelessness, and behavioral health, in addition to $920 million in new funding.

    SACRAMENTO — As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to address the national homelessness crisis, Governor Newsom today announced strong accountability measures for local jurisdictions to demonstrate results to continue receiving state homelessness funding. Governor Newsom is also launching a new online tool, accountability.ca.gov, which brings together thousands of locally reported data points to provide a clear picture of local communities’ work on California’s most pressing issues, including homelessness, housing, and behavioral health.

    “No one in our nation should be without a place to call home. As we continue to support our communities in addressing homelessness, we expect fast results, not excuses. While we are pleased by the progress many communities have made to address the homelessness crisis, there is more work to do.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Stronger accountability

    Today, Governor Newsom is announcing additional accountability measures for communities that receive state funding. The announcement comes alongside new Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funding to support local homelessness efforts, tied to performance benchmarks and the ability for the state to withhold funding allocations if local communities do not make progress. The funding also comes with flexibility for communities that need to modify their plans in the case of natural disasters, such as the recent Los Angeles area firestorms.

    More results

    Communities that receive awards through the newest round of HHAP funding must adhere to increased accountability, transparency, and compliance measures. These include an increased focus on resolving encampments, requirements that recipients have a compliant housing element to obtain future funding, and requirements that grantees obligate and expend past awards before receiving new funds. These strengthened measures will better ensure real, measurable results and will improve the tracking of data and outcomes. 

    As part of the proposed 2025-2026 budget, the Governor has called for even stronger accountability measures as a condition on any additional state funding, including requirements that grantees have and maintain a compliant housing element, prioritization for communities designated as “pro-housing,” and mechanisms to claw back funding from local governments that fail to demonstrate progress.

    Find out how your community is doing 

    Today’s announcement comes alongside the debut of a new online tool accountability.ca.gov, which brings together thousands of locally reported data points to provide an accurate picture of local communities’ work to address homelessness, create housing, and create behavioral health supports.  The new accountability tool will allow Californians to quickly and clearly assess the progress being made by their local governments on these pressing issues, and learn more about the process and funding provided to communities by the state.

    Funding for local governments 

    Today, the state is announcing awards of roughly $160 million and the availability of $760 million in new funding for communities — providing local communities with additional funding to:

    • Address encampments: The state is providing local governments with $118.7 million in Encampment Resolution Funding to support 14 projects that will move people out of encampments and into shelters and housing. Of this funding, Los Angeles is receiving three separate awards totaling $56.4 million to address three encampments near I-10, Hollywood Boulevard, and the LA River. 
    • Create new shelter and support: Additionally, the state is announcing the release of nearly $42 million of additional HHAP Round 5 funding for five regions as well as the availability of more than $760 million for HHAP Round 6. Key priorities for HHAP Round 6 include preserving, developing, and supporting permanent housing solutions; ensuring interim housing and outreach services have sustainable funding structures; aligning funding with strong regional partnerships that make notable progress on homelessness solutions; and ensuring meaningful engagement with tribal governments and people with lived experience of homelessness. 

    Reversing decades of inaction 

    As states throughout the nation continue to see ever-higher increases in homeless populations, California has dramatically slowed the growth in homelessness and reduced the number of veterans and youth experiencing homelessness — more than any other state.

    Homelessness continues to increase nationwide, increasing in 2024 by more than 18%, but California is bucking the national trend by holding the statewide increase to 3%. This is a lower rate than in 40 other states.

    California is also one of the few states that have dramatically blunted the increases in unsheltered homelessness, holding it to 0.45%. By comparison, in 2024, nationwide unsheltered homelessness grew by nearly 7%. Unsheltered homelessness growth in other large population states like Illinois, Florida, New York, and Texas surpassed California’s in terms of percentage and number.

    The Newsom Administration is making significant progress in reversing decades of inaction on homelessness. Between 2014 and 2019, unsheltered homelessness in California increased by approximately 37,000 people — more than double the increase seen during the Newsom Administration.

    Recent news

    Feb 23, 2025

    News Pilot program to help LA recover and rebuild together What you need to know: Governor Newsom will debut a first-in-the-nation deliberative democracy program to help community members directly influence and inform the ongoing Los Angeles firestorm rebuilding and…

    Feb 21, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Bhavana Prakash, of San Jose, has been appointed to the Physician Assistant Board. Prakash has been a Physician Assistant and Program Manager for the Adult Congenital Heart…

    Feb 20, 2025

    News Sacramento, California –Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Mayumi Kimura, of Temecula, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Woman Veterans at the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Kimura has been the Founder and Director…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: CECO Environmental Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Record Bookings in the Quarter of $219M Elevated Year-End Backlog to a Record $541M
    Reaffirms 2025 Full Year Outlook

    ADDISON, Texas, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CECO Environmental Corp. (Nasdaq: CECO) (“CECO”), a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company whose solutions protect people, the environment, and industrial equipment, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024.

    Highlights for the Quarter(1)

    • Orders of $218.9 million, up 71 percent
    • Backlog of $540.9 million, up 46 percent
    • Revenue of $158.6 million, up 3 percent
    • Gross profit of $56.7 million, up 7 percent; Gross margin of 35.8 percent, up 120 basis points
    • Net income of $4.9 million, up 26 percent; non-GAAP net income of $9.9 million, down 2 percent
    • GAAP EPS (diluted) of $0.13, up 18 percent; non-GAAP EPS (diluted) of $0.27, down 4 percent
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $19.0 million, down 2 percent
    • Free cash flow of ($4.4) million, down $16.6 million

    Highlights for the Year(1)

    • Orders of $667.3 million, up 14 percent
    • Revenue of $557.9 million, up 2 percent
    • Gross profit of $196.1 million, up 15 percent; Gross margin of 35.2 percent, up 380 basis points
    • Net income of $13.0 million, up 1 percent; non-GAAP net income of $26.7 million
    • GAAP EPS (diluted) of $0.36, down 3 percent; non-GAAP EPS (diluted) of $0.73, down 2 percent
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $62.8 million, up 9 percent
    • Free cash flow of $7.4 million, down 80 percent
    • Completed three acquisitions (EnviroCare International, WK Group and Verantis Environmental Solutions Group), advancing our Industrial Air market leadership

    (1)All comparisons are versus the comparable prior year period, unless otherwise stated.
    Reconciliations of GAAP (reported) to non-GAAP measures are in the attached financial tables.

    Todd Gleason, CECO’s Chief Executive Officer commented, “While we acknowledge mixed results in 2024 driven by customer project and market related order delays, we are energized by our fourth quarter record orders bookings of $219 million, which provides incredible momentum moving into 2025. The steady progress we continue to make on expanding margins and upgrading our portfolio through organic and inorganic investments will help us maximize the tremendous opportunities that exist in key growth markets we serve such as power generation, reshoring of industrial manufacturing, global infrastructure and data center expansion.”

    Fourth quarter operating income was $11.3 million, down $1.4 million or 11 percent when compared to $12.7 million in the fourth quarter 2023. On an adjusted basis, non-GAAP operating income was $15.6 million, down $0.7 million or 4 percent when compared to $16.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Net income was $4.9 million in the quarter, up $1.0 million or 26 percent when compared to $3.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP net income was $9.9 million, down $0.2 million or 2 percent when compared to $10.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA of $19.0 million, reflecting a margin of 12.0 percent, was down 2 percent compared to $19.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Free cash flow in the quarter was $(4.4) million, down $16.6 million compared to $12.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Full year operating income was $35.4 million, up $0.8 million in the year, compared to $34.6 million in 2023. On an adjusted basis, non-GAAP operating income was $49.4 million, up $1.3 million in the year, compared to $48.1 million in 2023. Net income was $13.0 million in the year, compared to $12.9 million in 2023. Non-GAAP net income was $26.7 million, compared to $26.6 million in 2023. Adjusted EBITDA of $62.8 million, reflecting a margin of 11.3 percent, was up 9 percent compared to $57.7 million in 2023, reflecting a margin of 10.6 percent. Free cash flow was $7.4 million, down $28.8 million compared to $36.2 million in 2023.

    “Over the past six months we have completed four strategic and accretive M&A transactions – including the Profire Energy acquisition in early January 2025. Each of our acquisitions adds important new growth markets, technologies and solutions, and service capabilities to further advance our niche, industrial leadership positions and improve our overall business mix while improving our margin profile. In addition, we upgraded our credit facility, which now includes a $400M Revolver, along with capacity for $150M in additional unsecured debt, and we expect to finalize the sale of our Fluid Handling Business in late Q1 2025. Our core businesses remain robust – evident by our record backlog – and we continue to add tremendous talent to our team and our experienced leadership bench,” added Gleason.

    2025 Full Year Guidance

    The Company maintains its previously announced full year 2025 outlook which includes expected Revenue of $700 to $750 million, up approximately 30 percent at the midpoint year over year, and Adjusted EBITDA of $90 to $100 million, up approximately 50 percent at the midpoint versus 2024. The Company expects 2025 free cash flow to be between 60 and 75 percent of Adjusted EBITDA, approximately 10 percentage points higher than standard cash flow guidance, given expected working capital timing. The full year guidance incorporates the net impact of completed acquisitions and the expected late-Q1 divestiture of the Fluid Handling business.

    “Our full year 2025 outlook reflects the strong visibility we have with our record backlog, strong bookings, 2024 related project push outs, and the impact from our acquisitions. So far in early 2025, we are experiencing a continuation of the strong power generation, data center, general industrial and natural gas infrastructure markets that drove our strong Q4 orders. Our early 2025 working capital performance – specifically receivables – is very strong as we have collected significant cash payments that pushed out of 2024 by just a few weeks. The integrations associated with our recent acquisitions are on-or-ahead of schedule, and we continue to open international sales and service centers to support our global footprint. We expect to deliver an outstanding 2025, affirmed by our full year guidance, as we progress our operating model supported by strong organic growth, coupled with steady margin expansion,” concluded Gleason.

    EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL
     

    A conference call is scheduled for today at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results. Please visit the Investor Relations portion of the website (https://investors.cecoenviro.com) to listen to the call via webcast. The conference call may also be accessed by visiting https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/wr6yr8ri.

    A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website for a period of one year. The replay may also be accessed by visiting https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/wr6yr8ri.

    ABOUT CECO ENVIRONMENTAL

    CECO Environmental is a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company, serving the broad landscape of industrial air, industrial water and energy transition markets globally providing innovative solutions and application expertise. CECO helps companies grow their business with safe, clean, and more efficient solutions that help protect people, the environment and industrial equipment. CECO solutions improve air and water quality, optimize emissions management, and increase energy efficiency for highly-engineered applications in power generation, midstream and downstream hydrocarbon processing and transport, electric vehicle production, polysilicon fabrication, semiconductor and electronics, battery production and recycling, specialty metals and steel production, beverage can, and water/wastewater treatment and a wide range of other industrial end markets. CECO is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “CECO.” Incorporated in 1966, CECO’s global headquarters is in Addison, Texas. For more information, please visit www.cecoenviro.com.

    Company Contact:
    Peter Johansson
    Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
    888-990-6670
    investor.relations@onececo.com

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Steven Hooser and Jean Marie Young
    Three Part Advisors, LLC
    214-872-2710
    investor.relations@onececo.com

     
    CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
     
      December 31,  
    (dollars in thousands, except share data) 2024     2023  
    ASSETS          
    Current assets:              
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 37,832       $ 54,779    
    Restricted cash   369         669    
    Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $8,863 and $6,460   159,572         112,733    
    Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts   69,889         66,574    
    Inventories, net   42,624         34,089    
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   16,859         11,769    
    Prepaid income taxes   3,826         824    
    Total current assets   330,971         281,437    
    Property, plant and equipment, net   33,810         26,237    
    Right-of-use assets from operating leases   25,102         16,256    
    Goodwill   269,747         211,326    
    Intangible assets – finite life, net   74,050         50,461    
    Intangible assets – indefinite life   9,466         9,570    
    Deferred income tax assets   966         304    
    Deferred charges and other assets   15,587         4,700    
    Total assets $ 759,699       $ 600,291    
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                  
    Current liabilities:                  
    Current portion of debt $ 1,650       $ 10,488    
    Accounts payable   109,671         87,691    
    Accrued expenses   47,528         44,301    
    Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts   81,501         56,899    
    Notes payable   1,700         2,500    
    Income taxes payable   2,612         1,227    
    Total current liabilities   244,662         203,106    
    Other liabilities   14,362         12,644    
    Debt, less current portion   217,230         126,795    
    Deferred income tax liabilities   11,322         8,838    
    Operating lease liabilities   20,230         11,417    
    Total liabilities   507,806         362,800    
    Commitments and contingencies (See Note 12)                  
    Shareholders’ equity:                  
    Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 10,000 shares authorized, none issued   —         —    
    Common stock, $.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 34,978,009 and
    34,835,293 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024 and 2023,
    respectively    		   349         348    
    Capital in excess of par value   255,211         254,956    
    Retained earnings (accumulated loss)   6,570         (6,387 )  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (14,441 )       (16,274 )  
    Total CECO shareholders’ equity   247,689         232,643    
        Noncontrolling interest   4,204         4,848    
    Total shareholders’ equity   251,893         237,491    
        Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 759,699       $ 600,291    
     
    CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (unaudited)
     
      Three months ended December 31,      Year ended December 31,   
    (in thousands, except share and per share data) 2024      2023      2024      2023   
    Net sales $ 158,566       $ 153,711       $ 557,933       $ 544,845    
    Cost of sales   101,865         100,526         361,786         373,829    
    Gross profit   56,701         53,185         196,147         171,016    
    Selling and administrative expenses   41,062         36,862         146,698         122,944    
    Amortization and earnout expenses   2,028         2,192         9,064         8,180    
    Acquisition and integration expenses   2,337         298         4,213         2,508    
    Executive transition expenses   —         48         —         1,465    
    Restructuring expenses   —         1,133         544         1,350    
    Asbestos litigation expenses   —         —         225         —    
    Income from operations   11,274         12,652         35,403         34,569    
    Other (expense) income, net   (2,103 )       1,042         (4,692 )       372    
    Interest expense   (3,705 )       (3,918 )       (13,020 )       (13,416 )  
    Income before income taxes   5,466         9,776         17,691         21,525    
    Income tax expense   606         5,447         3,270         7,024    
    Net income   4,860         4,329         14,421         14,501    
    Noncontrolling interest   18         (450 )       (1,464 )       (1,590 )  
    Net income attributable to CECO Environmental Corp. $ 4,878       $ 3,879       $ 12,957       $ 12,911    
    Income per share:                                      
    Basic $ 0.14       $ 0.11       $ 0.37       $ 0.37    
    Diluted $ 0.13       $ 0.11       $ 0.36       $ 0.37    
    Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                                      
    Basic   34,978,382         34,823,663         34,927,313         34,665,473    
    Diluted   36,559,198         35,687,092         36,381,910         35,334,090    
     
    CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
     
        Year ended December 31,    
    (dollars in thousands)   2024     2023    
    Cash flows from operating activities:              
    Net income   $ 14,421     $ 14,501    
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:              
    Depreciation and amortization     14,523       12,507    
    Unrealized foreign currency loss (gain)     2,664       (1,041 )  
    Fair value adjustments to earnout liabilities     134       296    
    Earnout payments     —       —    
    Loss on sale of property and equipment     191       110    
    Amortization of debt discount     498       427    
    Share-based compensation expense     7,514       4,533    
    Bad debt expense     295       1,593    
    Inventory reserve expense     1,056       1,099    
    Deferred income tax benefit     (3,606 )     (118 )  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:              
    Accounts receivable     (52,355 )     (26,851 )  
    Cost and estimated earnings of billings on uncompleted contracts     (4,149 )     5,040    
    Inventories     (9,814 )     (6,896 )  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     (8,347 )     1,196    
    Deferred charges and other assets     (12,736 )     (1,420 )  
    Accounts payable     36,181       13,852    
    Accrued expenses     7,119       8,340    
    Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts     24,923       21,575    
    Income taxes payable     1,425       (1,976 )  
    Other liabilities     4,891       (2,120 )  
    Net cash provided by operating activities     24,828       44,647    
    Cash flows from investing activities:              
    Acquisitions of property and equipment     (17,368 )     (8,384 )  
    Net proceeds from sale of assets     4       —    
    Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired     (87,948 )     (48,102 )  
    Net cash used in investing activities     (105,312 )     (56,486 )  
    Cash flows from financing activities:              
    Borrowings on revolving credit lines     309,300       106,600    
    Repayments on revolving credit lines     (112,400 )     (150,600 )  
    Borrowings of long-term debt     —       75,000    
    Repayments of long-term debt     (113,982 )     (4,985 )  
    Repayments of notes payable     —       —    
    Deferred financing fees paid     (1,924 )     (363 )  
    Deferred consideration paid for acquisitions     (2,050 )     (1,247 )  
    Payments on capital leases and sale-leaseback financing liability     (925 )     (907 )  
    Earnout payments     (2,831 )     (2,123 )  
    Equity awards surrendered by employees for tax liability, net of proceeds from employee stock purchase plan and exercise of stock options     (2,169 )     1,435    
    Distributions to non-controlling interest     (2,109 )     (1,666 )  
    Common stock repurchases     (5,000 )     —    
    Net cash provided by financing activities     65,910       21,144    
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents     (2,673 )     (442 )  
    Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash     (17,247 )     8,863    
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year     55,448       46,585    
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year   $ 38,201     $ 55,448    
    Cash paid during the period for:              
    Interest   $ 13,335     $ 12,098    
    Income taxes   $ 9,550     $ 9,916    
       
    CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
     
      Year Ended December 31,
    		  
    (dollars in millions) 2024     2023     2022
    		  
    Gross profit as reported in accordance with GAAP $ 196.1       $ 171.0       $ 128.2    
    Gross profit margin in accordance with GAAP   35.1 %       31.4 %       30.3 %  
    Legacy design repairs   —         —         2.0    
    Plant, property and equipment valuation adjustment   —         —         0.6    
    Non-GAAP gross profit $ 196.1       $ 171.0       $ 130.8    
    Non-GAAP gross profit margin   35.1 %       31.4 %       31.0 %  
     
      Three months ended December 31,     Year ended December 31,  
    (in millions, except share data) 2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Net income as reported in accordance with GAAP $ 4.9       $ 3.9       $ 13.0       $ 12.9    
    Amortization and earnout expenses   2.0         2.2         9.1         8.2    
    Acquisition and integration expenses   2.3         0.3         4.2         2.5    
    Executive transition expenses   (0.5 )       —         —         1.5    
    Restructuring expenses   1         1         0.5         1.3    
    Asbestos litigation expense   —         —         0.2         —    
    Foreign currency remeasurement   2.5         (1.0 )       4.3         (1.0 )  
    Tax benefit (expense) of adjustments   (1.8 )       3.6         (4.6 )       1.2    
    Non-GAAP net income $ 9.9       $ 10.1       $ 26.7       $ 26.6    
    Depreciation   1.8         1.7         5.8         5.1    
    Non-cash stock compensation   1.7         1.5         7.5         4.5    
    Other (income) expense   (0.4 )       (0.1 )       0.4         0.8    
    Interest expense   3.7         3.9         13.0         13.4    
    Income tax expense   2.3         1.8         7.9         5.7    
    Noncontrolling interest   —         0.5         1.5         1.6    
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 19.0       $ 19.4       $ 62.8       $ 57.7    
                                           
    Earnings per share:                                      
    Basic $ 0.14       $ 0.11       $ 0.37       $ 0.37    
    Diluted $ 0.13       $ 0.11       $ 0.36       $ 0.37    
                                           
    Adjusted earnings per share:                                      
    Basic $ 0.28       $ 0.29       $ 0.77       $ 0.77    
    Diluted $ 0.27       $ 0.28       $ 0.73       $ 0.75    
      Three months ended December 31,     Year ended December 31,  
    (in millions) 2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $ 1.8       $ 15.1       $ 24.8       $ 44.6    
    Acquisitions of property and equipment   (6.2 )       (2.9 )       (17.4 )       (8.4 )  
    Free cash flow $ (4.4 )     $ 12.2       $ 7.4       $ 36.2    
     
    NOTE REGARDING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
     

    CECO is providing certain non-GAAP historical financial measures as presented above as we believe that these figures are helpful in allowing individuals to better assess the ongoing nature of CECO’s core operations. A “non-GAAP financial measure” is a numerical measure of a company’s historical financial performance that excludes amounts that are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

    Non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP earnings per basic and diluted share, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, as we present them in the financial data included in this press release, have been adjusted to exclude the effects of amortization expenses for acquisition-related intangible assets, contingent retention and earnout expenses, restructuring expenses primarily relating to severance and legal expenses, acquisition and integration expenses which include retention, legal, accounting, banking, and other expenses, foreign currency remeasurement and other nonrecurring or infrequent items and the associated tax benefit of these items. Management believes that these items are not necessarily indicative of the Company’s ongoing operations and their exclusion provides individuals with additional information to better compare the Company’s results over multiple periods. Management utilizes this information to evaluate its ongoing financial performance. Our financial statements may continue to be affected by items similar to those excluded in the non-GAAP adjustments described above, and exclusion of these items from our non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as an inference that all such costs are unusual or infrequent.

    Non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP earnings per basic and diluted share, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, and should be considered supplemental to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the costs associated with the operations of our business as determined in accordance with GAAP. As a result, you should not consider these measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of CECO’s results as reported under GAAP. Additionally, CECO cautions investors that non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

    In accordance with the requirements of Regulation G issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP earnings per basic and diluted share, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow stated in the tables above are reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

    Non-GAAP measures presented on a forward-looking basis were not reconciled to the comparable GAAP financial measures because the reconciliation could not be performed without unreasonable efforts. The GAAP measures are not accessible on a forward-looking basis because we are currently unable to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty the type and extent of certain items that would be expected to impact GAAP measures for these periods but would not impact the non-GAAP measures. Such items may include amortization expenses for acquisition-related intangible assets, contingent retention and earnout expenses, restructuring expenses primarily relating to severance and legal expenses, acquisition and integration expenses which include retention, legal, accounting, banking, and other expenses, foreign currency remeasurement and other nonrecurring or infrequent items and the associated tax benefit of these items. The unavailable information could have a significant impact on our GAAP financial results.

    SAFE HARBOR
     

    Any statements contained in this Press Release, other than statements of historical fact, including statements about management’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended, and should be evaluated as such. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance. We use words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “will,” “plan,” “should” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Potential risks and uncertainties, among others, that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed under “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and may be included in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and include, but are not limited to: our ability to consummate the planned divestiture of our Fluid Handling business, the effect of recently announced acquisitions and planned divestiture of our Fluid Handling Business (together, the “transactions”) on business relationships, operating results, and business generally, disruption of current plans and operations and potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the transactions, diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations in connection with the integration of recent acquisitions, the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been or may in the future be instituted related to the Profire Energy, Inc. (“Profire Energy”) transaction or other transactions, the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and other charges related to the transactions, the achievement of the anticipated benefits of transactions, the ability of Profire Energy to achieve its earnings guidance, our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and realize the synergies from acquisitions, as well as a number of factors related to our business, including the sensitivity of our business to economic and financial market conditions generally and economic conditions in CECO’s service areas; dependence on fixed price contracts and the risks associated therewith, including actual costs exceeding estimates and method of accounting for revenue; the effect of growth on our infrastructure, resources, and existing sales; the ability to expand operations in both new and existing markets; the potential for contract delay or cancellation as a result of on-going or worsening supply chain challenges or other customer considerations; liabilities arising from faulty services or products that could result in significant professional or product liability, warranty, or other claims; changes in or developments with respect to any litigation or investigation; failure to meet timely completion or performance standards that could result in higher cost and reduced profits or, in some cases, losses on projects; the potential for fluctuations in prices for manufactured components and raw materials, including as a result of tariffs and surcharges, and rising energy costs; inflationary pressures relating to rising raw material costs and the cost of labor; the substantial amount of debt incurred in connection with our strategic transactions and our ability to repay or refinance it or incur additional debt in the future; the impact of federal, state or local government regulations; our ability to repurchase shares of our common stock and the amounts and timing of repurchases; our ability to successfully realize the expected benefits of our restructuring program; economic and political conditions generally; our ability to optimize our business portfolio by identifying acquisition targets, executing upon any strategic acquisitions or divestitures, integrating acquired businesses and realizing the synergies from strategic transactions; and the unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including cyber security threats, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities or public health crises, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. Many of these risks are beyond management’s ability to control or predict. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material aspects from those currently anticipated. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements as they speak only to our views as of the date the statement is made. Except as required under the federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we undertake no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: DEADLINES APPROACHING – DON’T MISS OUT ON AID!

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    If you were affected by the wildfires, there are a few deadlines you’ll want to keep in mind.

    If you haven’t registered for FEMA assistance yet, there’s still time! The deadline to apply is March 10th. FEMA grants can help repair your home, property, and even your vehicle. Rental assistance is also available for up to 18 months.

    If you need additional financial help, the Small Business Administration – or SBA, is offering low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, businesses, and non-profits. They’ve already approved more than one billion dollars in loans. Applications are open through March 10th.

    The American Red Cross is also offering assistance to wildfire survivors. Their application deadline is February 26th.

    And the Army Corps of Engineers is ready to clear ash and debris from your property. But first, they need your permission. That’s where your Right of Entry form comes in. Get that document submitted by March 31st at recovery.LACounty.gov. Don’t wait—take action today!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoDtsLzmA7M

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Environment Secretary Steve Reed – NFU Conference speech

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed – NFU Conference speech

    Speech by Environment Secretary Steve Reed at the NFU Conference

    Thank you very much Tom for inviting me to speak today.  

    I’ve been to the NFU Conference before of course – but this is my first time attending as the Secretary of State for Defra. I want to personally thank Tom for our work together since I took up this role last July.  

    You were the first visitor to my office after the election and you’ve been back more since then than anyone else since. That conversation between us is invaluable as we navigate the farming transition together. 

    And I’m grateful for your views Tom – even where we’ve disagreed.  

    You set that out in your speech and I was listening to it, plain speaking as you always do. And I know it’s reflected here today, and the protests in Westminster and around the country. But even if the conversation gets difficult – I will always show up to have it. Because I respect this union and I respect British farming.

    Now, I can’t give the answer I know many of you want on inheritance tax. But I want you to know that I understand the strength of feeling in the room and in the sector, we can see and example of that right in front of me right now. And I am sorry it’s a decision that we’ve had to take.   

    Like I said I am always going to turn up to have the conversation with you, there’s an opportunity to ask questions afterwards and it might be better to ask them in that way because I have an awful lot that I think will be of interest to other people who are here in the room today that might want to hear what I have to say about that.

    Now I’ve heard many farmers describing that decision as ‘the final straw’ – and the truth is those straws have been piling up for many years. Tom you were outlining many of them in your speech.

    This sector is facing high input costs, tight margins, and unfairness in the supply chain. You’ve struggled to get enough workers to pick your fruit and veg. Frankly, you’ve been sold out in past trade deals. Farmland is increasingly at risk from severe flooding and drought.  

    And this all comes as we face the biggest transition for farming in generations, moving away from the Basic Payment Scheme to more sustainable methods of farming. 

    The underlying problem in this sector is that farmers do not make enough money for the hard work and commitment that they put in.   

    I will consider my time as Secretary of State a failure if I do not improve profitability for farmers up and down this country. 

    Today I can announce I will set up a new farming profitability unit within the department to drive that goal. I want to outline what the Government is doing to tackle the deep-rooted problems holding the sector back. Because time and again, I hear farmers say that they do not make a fair profit for the food they produce. And it is only by overcoming these long-standing challenges that we can create the conditions for your farming businesses to succeed. Achieving this starts by treating farms as the businesses they are. That’s something, in my view, the previous government forgot.  

    Farmers have repeatedly told me they want to stand on their own two feet. They are proud people and rightly so. But it is paternalistic and patronising for government to treat farmers as if they are not operating in a marketplace in which they need to turn a decent profit. 

    I worked in business for 16 years, with responsibility every year for driving up profit and driving down cost. British farming has some of the hardest working, most creative people anywhere in the British workforce. But a sector that isn’t profitable doesn’t have a future. I know that from my own long experience in business.   

    My focus is on ensuring farming becomes more profitable – because that is the best way to make your businesses viable for the future. And that’s how we ensure the long-term food security this country needs.   

    This approach will underpin our 25 Year Farming Roadmap and our Food Strategy, where we will work in partnership with farmers to make farming and food production sustainable and profitable. We will work with farmers and stakeholders to build the roadmap together, covering every part of the sector, and the first workshops will start next week. 

    The roadmap stands on three principles. 

    First, a sector that has food production at its core. The role of farming will always be to produce the food that feeds our nation. The instability we see across the world shows us why it’s so important we help farmers to get this right.  

    Second, a sector where farm businesses are more resilient in withstanding the shocks that periodically disrupt farming – severe flooding, drought, animal disease. We will help farmers who want to diversify their income to put more money into their business so they can survive these more difficult times when they come.   

    Third, a sector that recognises restoring nature is not in competition with sustainable food production, but is essential to it. 

    It is only by pursuing all three of these principles – and recognising that farms are businesses that need to be profitable, that we can guarantee national food security and a thriving food production and farming sector.  

    Our New Deal for Farmers is supporting farmers to produce food sustainably and profitably.  

    It won’t all happen overnight, but we are already making changes. 

    Tom has repeatedly told me farmers need certainty about seasonal workers. I’ve listened Tom, and I’m pleased to announce that we’re extending the Seasonal Worker visas for five years. That on it’s own is not the long-term solution. We will reduce the number of seasonal workers coming to the UK in the future.  

    But I recognise your business needs stability over the coming years as we work at pace to embrace innovation, develop the agri-tech and invest in farming practices so you can reduce your reliance on seasonal workers as quickly as possible. 

    We are making the Supply Chain fairer, with new regulations for the pig sector coming in by the end of next month in March to make sure contracts clearly set out expectations and only allow changes if they’ve agreed by all parties. We are engaging with industry on similar proposals for eggs and fresh produce. 

    For the first time ever, we are measuring where the public sector buys food from so we can use the Government’s own purchasing power to back British produce wherever we can. I have worked with my colleague Pat McFadden in the Cabinet Office to create new requirements for government catering contracts to favour high-quality, high-welfare products that British producers are well placed to meet.  

    This means British farmers and producers can compete for a fairer share of the £5 billion pounds a year the public sector spends on food. That’s money straight into farmers’ bank accounts to boost turnover and boost profits.  

    Ours is an outward-facing trading nation. But I want to be clear, we will never lower our food standards in trade agreements. We will promote robust standards nationally and internationally and will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. British farming deserves a level playing field where you can compete and win and that is what you’ll get. We will use the full range of powers at our disposal to protect our most sensitive sectors. 

    Innovation and technology will help farmers produce more food more sustainably and more profitably. I’m delighted to announce the legislation to implement the Precision Breeding Act for plants in England has been laid in Parliament today. This offers huge potential to transform the plant breeding sector in England by enabling innovative products to be commercialised in years instead of in decades, and we are reinstating the Precision Breeding Industry Working Group so the whole food supply chain can work together to bring new food and feed products to market faster. 

    We are investing in the UK Agri-Technology sector with a further £110 million pounds in farming grants being announced today. In Spring we will launch new competitions under our Farming Innovation Programme for groundbreaking research that will help the sector transition towards net zero, and unlock opportunities from the Precision Breeding Act.  

    This is not just for the biggest farms. We will help farms of any size access technology that makes a real difference to the bottom-line over the years ahead. Like the chemical-free cleaning for integrated milking equipment by Oxi-Tech – funded through FIP, which boosts profits by lowering energy costs and chemical use. Our new ADOPT programme will fund farmer-led trials that bridge the gap between these new technologies and their use in the real world,  showing farmers that their investments in technology will deliver financial returns and boost profits. And once technologies and equipment hit the market, we are making them available through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund. Products like the electric weeder developed by Rootwave to reduce chemical use. We will launch another opportunity this Spring to bring more products to the farmgate. 

    Farms must be resilient to future challenges if they are to remain financially viable and strengthen food security. That includes severe flooding and droughts through to animal disease, and geopolitical tensions that increase demands on our land for energy generation. 

    I know new tech doesn’t bring the same benefits for every type of farm. We are investing to help farm businesses build resilience against animal diseases that can devastate livelihoods and threaten our entire economy. Like the Bluetongue Virus, Avian Flu, or the recent case of Foot and Mouth that we saw in Germany. 

    That’s why we’re investing £208 million pounds to set up a new National Biosecurity Centre, modernising the Animal and Plant Health Agency facilities at Weybridge, to protect farmers, food producers and exporters from disease outbreaks that can wipe out businesses in a moment. 

    We are helping keepers of cattle, sheep and pigs in England improve the health, welfare and productivity of their animals by expanding the fully funded farm visits offer. 

    Tom had raised with me, and he just did in his speech, the risk from illegal meat imports. More than 92,000 thousand kilograms of illegal meat products were seized at ports across the UK over the last year. They carry huge risk of diseases such as African Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth getting into the country. We can’t tolerate this.   

    I am working with the Home Office and Border Force on plans to seize the cars, vans, trucks and coaches used by criminal gangs to smuggle illegal meat into our country and crush them so they can’t be used again.   

    I’ve listened to your concerns about other forms of crime as well. Crime damages farm profitability as you are forced to wait for farm or construction machinery to be replaced, or clear rubbish that has been dumped in your gateways or on your land. The National Rural Crime Unit is already supporting forces to tackle rural crime around the country.   

    To strengthen our approach and protect your profits, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will lay the legislation this year to better protect agricultural equipment like all-terrain vehicles, by requiring immobilisers and forensic marking as standard.  

    At the Oxford Farming Conference earlier this year, I announced new ways to help farmers remain profitable and viable, even in a challenging harvest. We will consult on national planning reforms this Spring to make it quicker for farmers to build new buildings, barns and other infrastructure to boost food production.  And ensure permitted development rights work for farms to convert larger barns into a farm shop, holiday let, or a sports facility if that suits their business planning. We will get red tape out of the way so you can invest to become more profitable.   

    I’m working with Ed Miliband and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero so more farm businesses can connect their own electricity generation to the grid much faster, so you can sell surplus energy and diversify your income.   

    The third element of our vision is nature. Restoring nature is vital to food production, not in competition with it. It is healthy soils, abundant pollinators and clean water that are the foundations farm businesses that they rely on to produce high crop yields and turn over a profit. Without nature thriving, there can be no long-term food security. 

    I want to thank everyone – upland, tenant, grassland farmers and others – everyone who is involved in our farming schemes. Almost 50 thousand farm businesses are now in schemes and around half of farmed land in England is being managed to enhance nature while producing food. 

    I recognise the frustration when we had to pause the Capital Grants offer last year without proper warning because of unprecedented demand. I promised to update you as soon as I could. And I can confirm today that every application submitted for capital grants before the pause in November will be taken forward, and following this, we will reopen the ELM capital grants offer this summer. 

    I’m also pleased to announce that we’re investing £30 million pounds to increase payment rates in Higher Level Stewardship with immediate effect to bring them more closely in line with our other farming schemes. Something the NFU and others have long called for. You just called for it again, Tom. These farmers are the pioneers of nature-friendly farming, often based in upland areas. They deliver high-quality environmental outcomes; now, finally, they will get a fair price for their work.  

    There’s a lot to be done to make British farming profitable and viable for the long term. I know we can only get there if we build the future together.   

    We will work with Tom, the NFU and farmers around the country to support farmers to keep producing the food we love to eat. This requires a new approach that recognises farms are businesses, and businesses need to turn a fair profit.  

    I’ll play my part in creating the conditions for that to happen. I know you’ll play your part in building resilient businesses that will innovate and succeed. Together, we will overcome the challenges this sector faces and give British farming the bright future this country knows you deserve.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prime Minister’s Ukraine reception remarks: 24 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Prime Minister’s Ukraine reception remarks: 24 February 2025

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke at a 10 Downing Street reception marking three years since Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    It’s a privilege to welcome you all here to Downing Street this afternoon.

    This, of course, is not only my office and the centre of our government but it is also my home. So it is appropriate that I throw open the doors to my home to you and make you feel welcome in this building, which is where you should be.

    And particularly fitting that you are here in my home today as we recognise people who have been welcomed into homes across the country, and I know there are many of you here.

    I’ve just had the privilege and the opportunity to talk with a number of you who have been here some for some little time now and often with children. There are people here who have come, people here who have opened their doors and there are many others across the country.

    We are really proud of the people who have opened their doors, opened their hearts as well – because it’s not just a shelter, it’s opening hearts and making you feel welcome particularly in this time of conflict and uncertainty.

    And I said to the people I was talking to just now, I would love to be able to get you all together here again on a future occasion that isn’t an anniversary of an awful conflict because that is, of course, what it is today.

    Because in the face of that conflict, I do think the bond between our two countries has got stronger and stronger. I think it was a good strong bond anyway, but it has got much stronger and that’s happened across the kitchen tables up and down the nation, as well as the meeting tables.

    And of course, I have had the privilege of meeting President Zelenskyy very many times now, on a number of occasions in different places, including here in Downing Street and, of course, in Kyiv.

    I’ve actually been to Kyiv four times. I went twice before the conflict, because before I was a politician, I was the chief prosecutor and we were working with criminal justice colleagues in Kyiv. And so I have seen Kyiv in peace – a brilliant, fantastic city – and I’ve seen it twice, once as leader of the opposition and just a few weeks ago as Prime Minister, in this terrible conflict.

    When I was there just a few weeks ago, I was able to express our solidarity and support, and I was struck again by the resilience and strength of the Ukrainians, because that sense of civic duty, going and doing everyday work, and treating it as work for the nation was very, very strong.

    When I was there four weeks ago, I went to the burns unit at one of the hospitals and saw for myself some of those who have been on the frontline who were being treated in hospital with terrible burns from blasts, really life-changing injuries, and civilians as well who had been caught up in blasts.

    In one sense, it’s obvious when you’re in conflict you are going to see things like that but when you’re there and you see it right there, the human impact is huge.

    Because this isn’t just about discussions of defence and security in Europe, although it is that, it isn’t just about sovereignty and it is that, it is about the impact on human beings.

    When I was there I met children in a school in Kyiv, they were primary-school age so they were 8, 9, 10-years-old, living under the threat of bombardment all of the time. It’s what they are growing up with and I met some of them who had already lost their parents on the frontline at that tender age. That is really humbling, it really brought home to me the human impact of all of this.

    Politics is about the decisions you make but it is also about who you have in your mind’s eye when you make your decisions. And I think it is very important that we have you in our mind’s eye.

    When I was there with President Zelenskyy just a few weeks ago, we then went to have our discussion as two leaders and at that point a drone – a Russian drone – was up in the sky and had to be shot down right above the presidential palace, which for me was just a real reminder of what it is like to live in Kyiv and to have that threat every day now with the drones going up. It brought home to me the uncertainty and the fear – not just obviously for yourselves and the people living in the conflict, but all of their loved ones, and your family and extended family, and friends, and communities who are there and must be in your mind’s eye all of the time. And for your children and your country in the years to come.

    So, amongst my messages here this afternoon is you are not alone.

    We stand with you, and we have stood with you throughout this conflict and we will walk with you through this conflict, and we will continue to do so for as long as is necessary.

    I am proud that we opened our homes; I’m proud of our NHS workers in the hospital I went to Kyiv, who had gone out there with their skills to try and work with those working in the hospitals; the soldiers that are training Ukrainian troops.

    This is incredibly humbling work. I went to see it for myself down in Salisbury. Not only the professionalism of our troops who are doing the training but also the Ukrainian civilians, as they were, who had come to do the training. Through interpreters I talked to a number of them and they had been plumbers, they had been architects, working in local government, and here they were training to go to the frontline. And it was training that would normally take months being truncated into weeks. It was a real sense of what it is like to go through this awful conflict.

    Because we know that this fight is about Ukraine – it is about you, your communities – but it is also about us. This is bigger than Ukraine – it is, of course, about Ukrainian sovereignty but it not just Ukrainian sovereignty. It is about our way of life, our freedoms, about security and defence in Europe, and security and defence here in the United Kingdom, and the values that we hold dear. 

    That’s why last time I was there I signed a 100-year partnership with Ukraine which is to signal the ongoing relationship that we want to build over many, many decades to come. 

    It’s why we are sending £4.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine this year – that’s more than ever before. And working with our international partners to guarantee the security of Ukraine for generations to come.

    Because I strongly believe that whatever happens next, Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position. We must, we must, we must get peace through strength. 

    The temptation is always there to think that it is job done, or something is about to happen. We have got to make sure that we continue with our full support, whether that is capability, whether that is money, whether that’s training – all the other support that we can put in. And that’s my constant message in the discussions I am having with international leaders 

    We also need to be really clear as there are lots of discussions at the moment about negotiations: we can’t negotiate about Ukraine without Ukraine – you just can’t – and we must be absolutely clear about this.

    After everything you and your people, your country has been through, all the suffering and hardship – this is about the future of Ukraine and Ukraine must be at the table. It’s an absolute pre-condition.

    And we must work for a lasting peace. One of my biggest fears is that there is a ceasefire which is a temporary reprieve but simply gives Putin the space to come again and that would be the worst of outcomes.

    It must be a lasting peace for you, your children and your children’s children, so that you can live as you should be able to live, in a proud, safe and sovereign Ukraine; able to make sovereign decisions as a country about the alliance that Ukrainians want to make; the partnerships that Ukrainians want to make, and the way of life that Ukrainians want.

    So we will not falter in our support.

    We will not stop our efforts to end this war.

    And we will not rest until the people of Ukraine can live peacefully and safely in their own country.

    So thank you for being here; I do hope that I can have the privilege of seeing you here or elsewhere on an occasion where we are not celebrating another anniversary of this conflict but genuinely celebrating freedom and peace for Ukraine and for Europe.

    Thank you very much.

    Slava Ukraini.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Barnwell Industries, Inc. Informs Ned Sherwood of Defective and Insufficient Director Nomination Notice and Investigation of Circumstances that May Have Triggered Shareholder Rights Plan

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Actions Continue Ned Sherwood’s Long History of Disruption, Breaches of Settlement Agreements and Blatant Disregard for Established Bylaws and Shareholder Protections

    Board Forms Executive Committee to Protect Shareholder Interests

    Executive Committee Believes Sherwood’s Nomination of Himself, His Friends and His Affiliates Underscores Desire to Take Control of Barnwell at Shareholders’ Expense and Without Paying a Premium for Control

    HONOLULU, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Barnwell Industries, Inc. (NYSE American: BRN) (“Barnwell” or the “Company”) today announced that it has informed Ned Sherwood, a shareholder who recently submitted a control slate of five nominees comprising friends and affiliates, that his nomination notice is defective and insufficient. Sherwood’s nomination notice fails to include material information required by the Company’s bylaws, and in light of these material deficiencies and omissions required both by the bylaws and federal securities regulations, the Executive Committee of the Barnwell Board of Directors is strongly inclined to reject the nomination notice as defective and insufficient and to disqualify Sherwood’s nominees.

    In light of the inherent conflicts of interest of Sherwood’s candidates, one of who is a current Board member, the Board has formed an Executive Committee comprising independent Vice Chairman, Kenneth Grossman, independent director Joshua Horowitz and Executive Chairman, Alexander Kinzler, to protect the interests of all other shareholders.

    The Executive Committee has requested that a Special Committee consisting of independent directors Grossman and Horowitz investigate, among other things, the facts and circumstances of the relationship between Sherwood and his board nominee, Ben Pierson, who has privately purchased shares of Barnwell while also currently serving as the Chief Investment Officer of Sherwood’s family office, to determine whether a distribution under the Company’s Shareholder Rights Plan has been triggered.

    Sherwood is Nominating Himself, His Friends and His Business Associates to
    Steal Control of the Company

    Notwithstanding the obvious conflicts, the Board remains open to considering new candidates and intends to vet the individuals proposed by Sherwood through its usual governance process. However, the Executive Committee cautions shareholders that a preliminary review shows clearly that two of the four nominees other than Sherwood cannot be expected to exercise judgement independent of Sherwood, and three of Sherwood’s five nominees have no public company Board experience.

    • Ben Pierson has been employed by the Sherwood Family Office as its Chief Investment Officer since 2021.
    • Doug Woodrum has been a Director at Barnwell since 2020 as Sherwood’s designee having joined the Board following an earlier proxy contest and then through a prior settlement with the Company. Woodrum has been the mouthpiece for all of Sherwood’s misguided policy proposals, including the sale of assets at fire sale prices and various attempts at co-opting day-to-day control, which have only resulted in damaging management morale and creating distrust of Sherwood’s motives, as well as incurring significant costs for the Company to address these matters.
    • Woodrum has been reprimanded on multiple occasions for leaking confidential board matters to Sherwood. Woodrum has also attempted to end-run the Board of Directors by directly interfering with management. Sherwood has stated many times he would elevate Woodrum to CEO or CFO, but no member of management or director not affiliated with Sherwood has endorsed or supports Woodrum as qualified for either position.

    The Company further notes that Sherwood’s nomination of a control slate continues his long history of disrupting the Company’s governance processes and interfering with the Company’s operations, while creating significant expense to the Company. Sherwood’s nomination of himself, his friends and business associates, without any credible plan for the Company and without paying a premium to shareholders for control, flies directly in the face of shareholder interests.

    Sherwood and His Director Appointees Have Hid Investments and
    Acted to Intentionally Undermine Management and the Board

    • Sherwood made a significant investment in a Canadian Oil and Gas venture founded and operated by one of his former director designees, which investment was only belatedly and incompletely disclosed. The Executive Committee believes this arrangement was undertaken as a quid pro quo so that Sherwood’s nominee would execute on Sherwood’s self-serving agenda.
    • From 2021-2022, Sherwood and Woodrum offered a then-new member of the Board, Colin O’Farrell, the Company’s CEO position. Sherwood and Woodrum did so without consulting the Board and seemingly to co-opt O’Farrell’s independence. This conduct was in breach of a then-valid standstill agreement, resulted in a costly investigation, severely damaged the morale of the Canadian-based management team, and resulted in O’Farrell’s resignation from the Board only seven months after his appointment.
    • In April 2024, without prior Board discussion or direction, Sherwood and his director appointee Woodrum demanded that management immediately begin a search for a Calgary-based CFO and that Woodrum would help lead the search.
    • Sherwood continues to interfere with the Company’s executive leadership transition. Ten months ago, Craig Hopkins succeeded Kinzler as CEO of the Company with the support of Sherwood’s nominees and as part of an overall succession plan for the retirement of the Company’s prior senior management and expense reduction efforts. Both Kinzler and Russell Gifford, the Company’s longtime CFO, have expressed their desire to retire from day-to-day operations of the Company by the end of the fiscal year and have indicated their willingness to support CEO Craig Hopkins during the transition to the extent desired by him and the Board. Multiple directors supported by Sherwood, including former director Laurance Narbut, have expressed the belief that the decades of experience and knowledge held by Kinzler and Gifford will enable the Company to undertake a smooth transition and maintain its excellent track record of accounting and legal compliance.

    Despite Repeated Requests, Sherwood Has Failed to Propose a Different Plan or
    Business Strategy

    Sherwood has NO PLAN for Barnwell Other than to Take Over the Company
    Without Paying a Control Premium

    The Company has repeatedly asked Sherwood to specify what Company plans and policies he opposes or would change. The only response has been incessant demands “to shut down Hawaii,” which lacks any semblance of thoughtful consideration. It has no backing from a single budget, spreadsheet or alternative strategy that would adequately support the back-office functions of a publicly listed company. Barnwell can only conclude that Sherwood’s current nomination notice is merely an attempt to take full control of a company where he holds a 30% stake and no articulated plan to change any personnel, policies or business practices. Sherwood and his designees on the Board have been engaged in a steady stream of actions interfering with management and compromising Board confidentiality and function, all in pursuit of full control of the Company and often in violation of the standstill agreement that the Company and Sherwood entered into in 2023.

    Sherwood has accused the Company of excessive expenditures for lawyers and other professionals when the vast majority of these expenditures were necessitated by the abusive, improper and often illegal actions of Sherwood and his designees on the Board. Sherwood’s group recently served the Company with a books and records request, which will require significant legal expense to address, ironically asking for shareholder records when Sherwood’s own group has played fast and loose with their own Section 16 and Section 13 SEC reporting obligations.

    The Barnwell Executive Committee Comprises Majority Independent and
    Highly Experienced Directors Acting on Behalf of All Shareholders

    The current Board was expressly approved by Sherwood under a 2023 settlement whereby the Company and Sherwood each designated two directors and a fifth director, Joshua Horowitz, was selected as a compromise board member who was vetted by Sherwood and expressly endorsed by both parties to the settlement agreement.

    The current Board is overseeing the transition out of the Company’s water well drilling activities and is currently completing its final well project. The water well subsidiary recently sold one of its rigs for approximately $585,000 and will shut down its operations and sell its remaining assets in the near term. This is part of a larger plan to transition out of the Company’s Hawaii main office and move those executives to transitional roles, to streamline the Company’s accounting operations and further reduce general and administrative expenses in order to increase funds available for investment.

    The Company’s Twining oil & gas property in Alberta continues to be the engine for the Company’s future growth. We are pleased that our newest development well is online and producing as expected. There are approximately 50 additional wells that can be drilled, which would enable the Company to grow its revenues and results organically, as a major portion of the costs of the operations are fixed.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The information contained in this press release contains “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. A forward-looking statement is one which is based on current expectations of future events or conditions and does not relate to historical or current facts. These statements include various estimates, forecasts, projections of Barnwell’s future performance, statements of Barnwell’s plans and objectives, and other similar statements. Forward-looking statements include phrases such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “assumes,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “will be,” “should,” or similar expressions. Although Barnwell believes that its current expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure that the expectations contained in such forward-looking statements will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such statements. The risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause actual results to differ materially from Barnwell’s expectations are set forth in the “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and other sections of Barnwell’s annual report on Form 10-K for the last fiscal year and Barnwell’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, as they speak only as of the date of this press release, and Barnwell expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein.

    Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

    Barnwell Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) plans to file proxy materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”). Prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting, the Company will file a definitive proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) together with a WHITE proxy card. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMPANY WILL FILE WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders will be able to obtain, free of charge, copies of the Proxy Statement, any amendments or supplements thereto and any other documents (including the WHITE proxy card) when filed by the Company with the SEC in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) or at the Company’s website at https://ir.brninc.com/ or by contacting Alexander Kinzler, Secretary and General Counsel of the Company, by phone at (808) 531-8400, by email at akinzler@brninc.com or by mail at Barnwell Industries, Inc., 1100 Alakea Street, Suite 500, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.

    Certain Information Regarding Participants

    The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be “participants” (as defined in Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting. Additional information regarding the identity of these potential participants and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Proxy Statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting. Information relating to the foregoing can also be found in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2024. To the extent holdings of such participants in the Company’s securities have changed since the amounts described in the Proxy Statement, such changes have been reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 3 and Form 4 filed with the SEC: Form 3, filed by Craig Hopkins, with the filings of the Company on May 16, 2024; Form 4, filed by Craig Hopkins, with the filings of the Company on May 20, 2024, August 29, 2024, January 13, 2025 and January 17, 2025; Form 4, filed by Joshua Horowitz, with the filings of the Company on August 23, 2024 and October 28, 2024; Form 4, filed by Kenneth Grossman, with the filings of the Company on October 28, 2024; and Form 4, filed by Douglas Woodrum, with the filings of the Company on October 28, 2024. These filings can be found at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. More detailed and updated information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests (by security holdings or otherwise), will be set forth in the proxy statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

    CONTACT: Kenneth S. Grossman
      Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
      Email: kensgrossman@gmail.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New powers for police to tackle neighbourhood crime

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New powers for police to tackle neighbourhood crime

    In one of the biggest legislative updates to policing for decades, a package of new laws will tackle antisocial behaviour, shop theft and street crime.

    The Crime and Policing Bill, which is central to the government’s Plan for Change and Safer Streets mission, will be introduced in Parliament today and begins its journey to becoming law.

    It will also include measures to address the highest-harm crimes impacting society, such as knife crime, violence against women and girls, cybercrime, child sexual abuse, and terrorism.

    In new measures announced today, police will be given enhanced powers against theft of mobile phones – no longer needing a warrant to search properties where stolen items have been electronically geolocated.

    Under the new warrantless powers of entry, officers will be able to enter premises identified by electronic mapping if stolen items are believed to be there and it is not practicable to obtain a warrant from a court. This can be done through a ‘find my phone’ app, WiFi access points, Bluetooth, mobile network technology or tracking devices attached to any other possession or vehicle.

    It will support the police to act swiftly in the ‘golden hour’ of investigations, which is particularly crucial for investigations into theft, helping to provide swifter seizures of stolen property and providing a better service to victims.

    Sitting at the heart of the government’s Safer Streets mission and Plan for Change, the new bill will help tackle the crimes that matter most to communities but have been ignored for too long. The new laws will be backed up by the recruitment of 13,000 extra neighbourhood policing roles, with a named officer in every community. 

    On the introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

    This flagship Crime and Policing Bill is at the heart of our mission for safer streets and this government’s Plan for Change. 

    For too long communities have had to put up with rising town centre and street crime, and persistent antisocial behaviour, while neighbourhood police have been cut. And for years too little has been done to tackle the most serious violence of all including knife crime and violence against women and children. 

    That is why the new Crime and Policing Bill is about taking back our streets and town centres, restoring respect for law and order, and giving the police and local communities the support and tools they need to tackle local crime.

    On the new warrantless powers of entry, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

    For the last few years, our towns and cities have seen street theft shoot up, as organised gangs have been targeting mobile phones.

    But it is extremely frustrating for victims when they can see exactly where their stolen phone has gone but nothing is done.

    That is why we are determined to give the police the powers they need to move fast to crack down on these crimes that are blighting our communities.

    It places significant focus on protecting high streets. The effective immunity for shop theft of goods below £200 will be scrapped and retail workers will be better protected from assault. 

    There will also be increased powers to crack down on repeat antisocial behaviour offenders, with new Respect Orders banning those prolific offenders from our town centres.

    Police will be given the power to seize vehicles that cause havoc to communities, allowing them to deal with the scourge of off-road bikes in public parks and dangerous e-scooters on pavements.

    The bill will treat VAWG as the national emergency it truly is, ensuring tougher enforcement action against perpetrators and better protection for victims. It will strengthen Stalking Protection Orders, introduce a new criminal offence covering spiking and bar registered sex offenders from changing their name where they continue to pose a threat.

    Implementing a flagship recommendation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the bill will create a new duty to report child sexual abuse, backed up by criminal sanctions for those who seek to cover up abuse.

    To help rebuild confidence in police, chief constables will be enabled to remove officers who are unfit to serve by allowing them the right to appeal the result of misconduct boards to the Police Appeals Tribunal. 

    In the year ending September 2024, police recorded one million incidents of antisocial behaviour. In the same period, they recorded over 490,000 shop theft offences, an increase of 23 percent over the previous 12-month period. Instances of theft from a person increased by 22 percent, while there were also over 55,000 recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument.

    Other measures that have already been announced by the government, such as the presumption of anonymity for firearms officers facing criminal proceedings relating to the use of lethal force in the line of duty, will be introduced later in the parliamentary process. This also includes Ronan’s Law clamping down on the online sales of knives, announced last week.

    Clare Sumner, Chief Policy & Social Impact Officer at the Premier League said: 

    The Premier League welcomes the government’s commitment to making communities safer for all through the introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill. The Premier League and our clubs – together with our partners across the game – are committed to using the power of football to provide positive opportunities for young people.  

    Launched in 2006 with the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police, Premier League Kicks is one of our flagship programmes delivered by 93 professional football club charities across the country to support young people in high-need areas. The programme provides free, weekly football sessions in safe environments offering mentoring, personal development opportunities and positive pathways for young people.

    Asda Chief Commercial Officer (Non-food and Retail), Liz Evans, said:

    The Crime and Policing Bill is a major step forward, which builds on the measures that this government has already introduced to deliver the Safer Streets mission. Recent interventions, like the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will help us to directly tackle two significant challenges that we are facing as a business – incidences of assault and shoplifting are daily challenges across our estate, which have a devastating impact on colleagues and customers.

    More police working in our communities will have a positive impact as we continue to mitigate those challenges. That is why we warmly welcome this bill and recognise it as a key milestone in combatting retail crime and antisocial behaviour. As I have said before, Asda is ready to work in partnership with our new neighbourhood officers to help reduce crime and improve safety in the areas we serve.

    Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said: 

    We strongly welcome the introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill, which we hope will send a clear message that shop theft and assaults on retailers will be taken seriously by both the police and the justice system. 

    People running and working in shops deserve to be treated with respect, and we believe this bill takes important steps toward that goal.

    CEO of Neighbourhood Watch, John Hayward-Cripps,  said:

    Neighbourhood Watch is delighted that the government is continuing to show its commitment to neighbourhood policing. The focus on addressing and reducing the epidemic of antisocial behaviour, theft, and shoplifting that we all witness in our town centres and communities will play an important role in increasing feelings of confidence in the police, and feeling safer in our local communities. 

    The reduction in police funding over the last 15 years has been particularly felt in neighbourhood policing, resulting in low public confidence and crimes going unreported, due to the perception that the police do not have the resources to investigate. 

    The Crime and Policing Bill combined with the additional resources being introduced will enable the police to do the job they want to do, rather than only focusing on their biggest priorities, and signals the government’s commitment to improving our communities and making us all feel safer and more connected.

    Dawn Dines, the CEO of Stamp Out Spiking welcomes the introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill with its clear indications that government policy is addressing violent crime, antisocial behaviour, and spiking, as a matter of priority.

    Increasing public confidence and the sense that people will be safer on our streets, without the fear of being attacked, together with enhanced police visibility, will go a long way to create community cohesion and confidence in Home Office strategies.

    Dawn said:

    The key to combatting predators of these spiking crimes, to enhance public protection and to reduce antisocial behaviour, is proactive education. A collaborative approach is essential to satisfy the needs of different communities, environments and changing trends. It is paramount for service providers to have the confidence of receiving current, concise information from key stakeholders, who deal with victims and security, in the day and nighttime economy.

    Clearly the detection and prevention of crime is not only a matter for the police. It is the duty of us all, as caring, compassionate citizens, not tolerating a culture of violence where these acts can be committed.

    This bill will create a positive impact on encouraging victims – especially of spiking – to come forward, to report, clearly indicating that offending is not acceptable and will have severe consequences.

    The full scope of legislation at introduction includes:

    Tackling antisocial behaviour by:

    • giving the police and others stronger powers to tackle antisocial behaviour by introducing Respect Orders
    • removing the need for police to issue a warning before seizing vehicles, such as off-road bikes being used antisocially
    • strengthening the use of existing antisocial behaviour powers. The bill also gives ministers the power to issue statutory guidance to councils in England on the enforcement of fly-tipping

    Tougher action on knife crime, including:

    • creating a power to seize, retain and destroy bladed articles found on private property
    • increasing the maximum penalty for sale of dangerous weapons to under-18s
    • creating a new criminal offence of possessing a bladed article with the intent to cause harm

    Protecting retail workers by:

    • introducing a new offence of assaulting a retail worker, giving workers in shops up and down the country the protection they need
    • removing the legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft will be taken seriously

    Protecting vulnerable children and adults by:

    • introducing a new offence of child criminal exploitation, alongside a civil preventative order designed to stop the abhorrent exploitation of children by criminals
    • making cuckooing a specific offence, protecting the most vulnerable people whose homes are used by others to commit criminal activity
    • extending the current offence of exposure and creating a new child abduction offence  

    Tackling child sexual abuse, including implementing recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse by:

    • banning AI-models optimised to produce child sexual abuse material, and extend existing law criminalising ‘paedophile manuals’ to include material instructing how to use AI to generate child sexual abuse material
    • criminalising moderators and administrators of websites that host child sexual abuse material
    • granting Border Force officers the power to search the digital devices of individuals arriving in the UK for child sexual abuse material
    • introducing a new duty in England for adults working in relevant activities to report instances of child sexual abuse
    • introducing a new statutory aggravating factor covering grooming behaviour.

    Tackling violence against women and girls by: 

    • creating new offences criminalising the taking or recording of intimate images or videos without consent or a reasonable belief in consent
    • creating a new offence capturing spiking
    • empowering the police to release the identity online stalkers to victims, alongside strengthening the use of stalking protection orders whilst issuing guidance to agencies on combatting stalking

    New powers to tackle serious crime, including: 

    • banning the possession or distribution of electronic devices used in vehicle theft
    • strengthening the ability to apply corporate criminal liability to the makeup of modern corporations

    Strengthening the supervision of offenders in the community by:

    • reforming the ability of the police to manage registered sex offenders, including restricting their ability to change their name where there is a risk of sexual harm
    • giving probation officers the power to polygraph test more serious offenders who have committed sexual or terrorism-motivated crimes

    Introducing new public order and safety powers, including:  

    • banning the possession of fireworks, flares and other pyrotechnics at protests
    • criminalising the climbing of specified war memorials, making it clear that such disrespectful behaviour is unacceptable
    • banning the use of face coverings to conceal a person’s identity at protests designated by the police

    Tackling fraud and economic crime by:

    • prohibiting possession and supply of “SIM farms” with no legitimate purpose
    • reforming the confiscation powers used to strip convicted criminals of their proceeds of crime
    • introducing cost protections for law enforcement agencies to protect them from the risk of adverse costs when investigating kleptocrats and high-net worth individuals and corporations

    Giving police the powers they need, including: 

    • creating a new targeted power for the police to enter premises to search for and seize electronically tracked stolen goods, ranging from mobile phones to stolen vehicles and agricultural machinery
    • expanding the lawful purposes by which law enforcement agencies can access the DVLA driver licence records

    Tougher action on drugs, including: 

    • expanding police powers to drug test more suspects on arrest, helping direct more drug users into treatment and away from illegal drugs

    Enhancing public confidence in policing by: 

    • reforming the Independent Officer of Police Conduct’s (IOPC) investigative processes and giving chief officers of police the right to appeal the result of misconduct boards to the Police Appeals Tribunal
    • putting the IOPC’s victims’ right of review on a statutory footing.

    Update counter-terrorism powers by: 

    • implementing recommendations of the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, such as introducing youth diversion orders to divert young people away from terrorism-related activity

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rising energy bills: what you need to know

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    News story

    Rising energy bills: what you need to know

    A summary of why energy prices are rising and how clean power will protect households from unstable global fossil fuel markets.

    What is the price cap?  

    The price cap is the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge consumers on default tariffs for each unit of energy and standing charge.   

    The new price cap figure, quoted at £1,849 – represents the projected annual energy cost for a typical household, based on this maximum charge for each unit of energy and standing charges. This is 6.4% higher than the figure for the first 3 months of 2025.  

    In practice, this rise will mean an increase of around £9 per month for a typical household over the next 3 months. 

    People’s actual bills will still vary depending on their energy usage, region and payment type.   

    This projection is adjusted every 3 months. The next announcement will be in May 2025 for the July to September price cap level. The price cap level set in February 2025 will only apply to bills from 1 April to 30 June.   

    Why are energy bills rising?  

    International gas prices have risen, bringing British energy bills up with them.   

    That’s because the price we pay for energy in the UK is set by gas prices on the global market, over which we have no control. 

    As a result of recent events that have affected the market, which the whole of Europe is dealing with, wholesale gas prices covered by the period of this price cap are around 15% higher than they were in the period covered under the previous price cap. This is comparable to the rise in prices across Europe.  

    Around 80% of this increase to the price cap level between Q1 2025 and Q2 2025 is a consequence of the increase in the wholesale price of gas.  

    Why have international gas prices risen?  

    The UK’s gas network is interconnected with Europe and with the global market through liquefied natural gas imports, meaning that factors affecting European gas prices affect our prices too.   

    Across the Channel a perfect storm of factors drove a steep increase in the wholesale price of gas since the start of 2025.   

    The pipeline delivering Russian gas to European countries through Ukraine was switched off at the start of the year, a consequence of the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine.  

    How does the UK compare to other European countries?  

    Wholesale gas prices have risen consistently across Europe over the past few months.    

    However, Britain’s power system, inherited from the previous government, is more heavily reliant on gas than some other European countries, which is why the UK’s electricity prices are higher than those of some countries with less reliance on gas.   

    Norway, for example, gets much of its energy from hydropower, while France has historically invested more in nuclear power. As a result, these countries currently have lower electricity bills than the UK.    

    Other countries with lower bills, like Spain, have a warmer climate and lower heating requirements. Spain has also invested heavily in renewable energy sources, including solar and wind power.  

    Our plan for clean power by 2030 will reduce our reliance on gas, and moving to a system that that is primarily based on homegrown renewable power sources can bring down bills for households and businesses for good.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New chair appointed at the Office for Nuclear Regulation

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    New chair appointed at the Office for Nuclear Regulation

    The Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, has announced today that Dr Nicola Crauford will take up the role of chair of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) on 1 March 2025.

    • Dr Nicola Crauford has been appointed as the new Chair of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)
    • As part of her role, she will ensure ONR continues to regulate the nuclear industry efficiently and effectively on behalf of the public

    ONR is the UK’s independent nuclear regulator for the 36 nuclear sites in Great Britain, including the existing fleet of operating reactors, fuel cycle facilities and waste management and decommissioning sites. It also regulates the design and construction of new nuclear facilities including the supply chain as well as the transport of civil nuclear and radioactive materials.

    ONR also plays a crucial role in delivering the government’s energy security and growth missions 

    This is done principally through their approach to regulation, being open to innovation and new, efficient cost-effective ways of working, being ready to regulate new projects and providing trusted, timely, independent advice and guidance to Government.

    Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, said:

    I am pleased to confirm Dr Nicola Crauford as the next chair of the Office for Nuclear Regulation. She brings a wealth of experience to this challenging but rewarding role.

    I would also like to thank Dame Judith Hackitt for all she has done as interim chair and her valuable contribution to nuclear safety and security.

    Dr Nicola Crauford said:

    I am delighted to join ONR at a time when the nuclear sector embarks upon significant growth, diversification and change.

    As the UK’s independent nuclear regulator, ONR has a vital role in holding the industry to account on behalf of the public, but it also needs to continue to strive for the most effective ways of working and regulatory excellence in order to help the sector to succeed.

    Dr Crauford’s appointment comes as the government announces more nuclear power plants will be approved across England and Wales. 

    These reforms will clear a path for smaller, and easier to build, nuclear reactors – known as Small Modular Reactors – to be built for the first time ever in the UK. This will create thousands of new highly skilled jobs while delivering clean, secure and more affordable energy for working people.

    Additional Information

    • Dr Nicola Crauford takes up her five-year appointment as ONR Chair from 1 March 2025. The current Interim Chair, Dame Judith Hackitt stands down on 28 February 2025.
    • Dr Nicola Crauford has extensive governance and senior management experience in infrastructure and engineering. She has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and a doctorate in applied science from the University of Southampton and has worked in the oil and gas, energy and banking sectors.
    • Dr Crauford’s governance portfolio has spanned utilities (particularly electricity and water), ports and logistics, science research and development, environmental protection, fire and emergency management, housing/urban development and regulation.
    • More on the government’s plans for nuclear power: Government rips up rules to fire-up nuclear power – GOV.UK

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Presses for Answers on DOGE Cuts to Critical Housing Programs and Staff

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and 24 other Senators sounded the alarm on concerning reports that President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Task Force will make wide-ranging, harmful cuts hampering the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) ability to support vulnerable communities and combat the housing and homelessness crises.

    The DOGE Task Force plans reportedly include laying off 50 percent of its workforce, eliminating half of HUD’s field offices, and gutting critical programs that protect families and people with disabilities from discrimination, help address the housing and homelessness crises, and support communities recovering from disasters. HUD has three field offices in California, and these cuts are especially concerning as Southern California recovers from the devastating fires last month. HUD only recently rebuilt its workforce after a 20 percent drop between 2012 and 2019, and further cuts threaten disaster recovery efforts while delaying housing development.

    “HUD engages in critical work supporting communities in expanding their housing supply, providing rental assistance, and preventing homelessness—work that is urgently important for millions of Americans looking to purchase a home to build generational wealth or find an affordable place to rent,” wrote the Senators. “Axing these offices will handicap the Department’s ability to serve the American public and exacerbate the housing crisis we currently find ourselves in.”

    “DOGE’s actions thus far at other agencies have caused widespread chaos, hampered the ability of agencies to do their work, and provided potentially illegal data access to individuals with conflicts of interest,” continued the Senators. “There is no indication that DOGE’s work at HUD will be any less detrimental.”

    There are also reports that HUD is terminating the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, which was authorized by Congress to help repair and improve efficiency in homes for families, seniors, and people with disabilities. These funds have already been awarded and obligated to nonprofits and other housing providers to improve more than 30,000 homes all across the country — but now DOGE at HUD is trying to claw these funds back. In 2024, California received five green and resilient retrofit program grants.

    The Senators also expressed confusion and frustration at the lack of transparency surrounding the launch of a HUD DOGE Task Force identifying a purported $260 million in wasteful HUD contracts, and asked HUD Secretary Scott Turner to provide additional information and a precise accounting of the alleged wasteful spending identified by DOGE.

    The letter, led by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), was signed by Padilla as well as Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    Senator Padilla believes everyone deserves access to affordable and safe housing and recognizes the need to drastically increase the affordable housing stock to address the homelessness crisis facing California and the country, including to support disaster victims. In the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, Padilla introduced the bipartisan Disaster Housing Reform for American Families Act to expedite, expand, and improve temporary housing available to victims of disasters like wildfires and storms. Last year, he announced the reintroduction of his Housing for All Act, a comprehensive approach to invest in proven, locally-developed solutions to address the homelessness and affordable housing crises.

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Secretary Turner:

    We write regarding your recent announcement that you have launched a “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) Task Force at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and your statement indicating that DOGE has identified $260 million in wasteful contracts at HUD. We are also seeking additional information about alarming reports of HUD’s plans to cancel a program serving families, seniors, and people with disabilities and fire half of its workforce. To address these questions, we request information about DOGE’s involvement at HUD, and the impact it is having on HUD funding and staffing needed to implement its mission.

    HUD engages in critical work supporting communities in expanding their housing supply, providing rental assistance, and preventing homelessness—work that is urgently important for millions of Americans looking to purchase a home to build generational wealth or find an affordable place to rent.

    According to public reports, HUD plans to lay off 50 percent of its workforce. These cuts would eliminate half of HUD’s field offices serving local communities across the country and gut the offices of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), Policy Development and Research (PD&R), and Community Planning and Development (CPD), which protect families and people with disabilities from discrimination, address our homelessness crisis, and provide resources to communities to tackle our housing shortage and recover from disasters. Axing these offices will handicap the Department’s ability to serve the American public and exacerbate the housing crisis we currently find ourselves in.

    In addition to personnel cuts, you also announced that HUD and DOGE have identified $260 million in savings on wasteful contracts. If this represents legitimate waste, we are happy to work with you to wipe it out. But to date, there has been no transparency about DOGE’s involvement, or what exactly it is finding. We ask that you provide additional information on the allegedly wasteful spending identified by DOGE, and a clear accounting of how these funds have been misused. This is particularly important because, even before implementing any cuts, HUD’s DOGE Task Force is already interfering with the department’s future planning and funding which is critical to boosting our nation’s housing supply. Public reporting suggests that DOGE’s request for information on HUD’s contracts has put all “future funding grants […] effectively on pause.”

    Further, reports indicate HUD is now terminating the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, which was provided by Congress to help repair and improve efficiency in homes for families, seniors, and people with disabilities. These funds have already been awarded and obligated to nonprofits and other housing providers to improve more than 30,000 homes all across the country.

    But now, HUD is trying to claw these funds back, cancelling signed contracts and breaking its word to residents and owners. Not only is this bad faith, but it also cuts a program that will reduce operating costs and protect families and seniors from the effects of disasters. Without these funds or continued trust in HUD as a reliable partner, some properties in dire need of rehabilitation may opt out of the program and be permanently lost from our country’s already limited stock of affordable housing, in red and blue states alike.

    DOGE’s actions thus far at other agencies have caused widespread chaos, hampered the ability of agencies to do their work, and provided potentially illegal data access to individuals with conflicts of interest. There is no indication that DOGE’s work at HUD will be any less detrimental.

    During your testimony in front of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, you spoke about empowering HUD employees and serving HUD’s mission “to create strong and sustainable communities and support quality affordable homes — serving the most vulnerable of our nation.”

    It is not clear how laying off half its staff serves HUD’s mission, or whether the $260 million figure you referred to in your interview represents legitimate waste and abuse. As HUD Secretary, it is your job to ensure that the millions of Americans who rely on HUD can continue to do so without DOGE’s interference.

    As members of the Senate who have authorized and funded HUD’s programs and are responsible for its oversight, it is critical that we understand the scope of DOGE’s activities at HUD. We request that you answer the following questions by February 26, 2025:

    1. How many individuals are currently part of HUD’s DOGE Task Force? Please provide the names of all Task Force members and whether they are considered employees of HUD or any other federal agency.

    2. What are the specific components of the $260 million in contracts that you described in your February 11, 2025, interview on The Charlie Kirk Show? Please provide a list of all contracts that DOGE employees have identified as wasteful and the justification for cancellation.

    3. Do members of the DOGE Task Force have access to any non-public HUD information, including data systems, contracting systems, personnel records, or other legal records? Does this include proprietary Tribal enrollment data submitted for Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) funding?

    4. What steps have you taken to protect Americans’ data and ensure compliance with the Privacy Act?

    5. What are the objectives of the HUD DOGE Task Force and how long will the Task Force be in place?

    6. Has there been any pause or delay in disbursing or obligating HUD funds, including delays in signing grant agreements, since January 20, 2025? Please provide a detailed accounting of any pauses or delays.

    7. Has HUD cancelled – or does HUD intend to cancel – the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, including terminating or failing to enter into awards or contracts?

    8. Please explain in detail any plans to reduce HUD staffing below the level of staff employed at the agency on January 20, 2025, including:

    a. Current or planned changes in staffing by HUD Office and the reason for any change, including retirement, participation in a Deferred Resignation Program, or other actions;

    b. The number of staff that would be present in each HUD Office after planned changes; and

    c. Whether any programs or functions of HUD would be reduced or eliminated.

    9. Are there any programs, functions, or offices you plan to eliminate at HUD? If so, please provide a list of those programs, functions, or offices. If not, please detail how you intend to perform HUD’s critical functions and prevent mismanagement of funds with the proposed staff reductions.

    As DOGE’s work is already affecting HUD programs and personnel, it is critical that Congress, which funds and oversees HUD activities, understands the full scope of DOGE’s work within HUD immediately. Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –