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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Professor Examines the Health Risks of Life on the Road

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    They’re on our highways and our state roads.

    We see them at rest stops and service plazas.

    They move our economy. Literally.

    They’re tractor-trailer trucks, and they’re a vital part of the U.S. economy, hauling 70% of consumer and industrial goods and logging about 200 billion miles annually in the United States.

    Trucks, and the men and women who drive them, play an indispensable role in U.S. society.

    But truck driving is a high-stress, high-risk profession.

    Long-haul truck drivers work irregular hours under protracted and repeated stretches of continuous effort that can be exacerbated by road construction, traffic conditions, and changes in weather. For most, finding safe and suitable parking while on the road is a constant challenge.

    Many drivers deal with elevated stress levels and fatigue, and they have limited opportunities for physical activity and limited access to fresh, healthy foods.

    And moreover, life on the road is extremely isolating and lonely, with drivers often spending days or weeks away from home at a time, while coping with the constant pressure to log as many miles as they can, in order to earn as much money as possible, in an industry that has experienced significant consolidation in recent years.

    The impact of those occupational conditions – especially the risks that long-haul truck drivers face of developing multiple adverse health conditions due to the conditions they face on-the-job – recently caught the attention of Merrill Singer, a professor emeritus in the Department of Anthropology at UConn.

    “I began to read the literature on long-haul truck drivers, and the multiplicity of diseases that their jobs put them at special risk for, and how the political economy of truck driving is organized and controlled has increased the pressure on truck drivers – over time, it’s made their life more stressful,” says Singer. “And I started to explore the concept of occupational syndemics and how it related to the kinds of jobs that put people at heightened vulnerability.”

    A medical anthropologist who researches and explores the relationships between culture, health, and disease, Singer developed the public health concept of syndemics, which refers to the clustering of diseases in certain populations and the biological interaction of multiple comorbid diseases in populations.

    “Syndemics involves two or more diseases interacting and some set of social conditions that interact with those diseases and make people vulnerable, which then makes these diseases more harmful,” Singer explains.

    In recent years, Singer has been examining how syndemics can be used to assess the ways that living and working conditions can promote disease clustering and further the adverse interactions of comorbid diseases and other health factors.

    He looked at other high-risk occupation populations – including gold and coal mineworkers in South Africa and commercial fishermen – before turning his syndemics lens to long-haul truck drivers. He published his syndemic analysis on the biosocial health of long-haul truck drivers in the February 2025 edition of the Journal of Transport & Health.

    In his analysis, Singer notes studies that found that long-haul truck drivers frequently experienced elevated cortisol levels and are often subject to problems with sleep, including inadequate sleep, insomnia, and disrupted sleep linked to obstructive sleep apnea. Reduced sleep duration has been linked to fatigue, drowsiness, job performance lapses, slowed reaction time, and impaired driving ability.

    Long-haul truck drivers are also more likely to be cigarette smokers, to engage in binge drinking, and to use other substances. They often struggle with mental health disorders or chronic stress.

    Because of their working conditions, they typically eat while driving or dine at truck stops and fast-food outlets, factors that limit their available food choices. The occupation is highly sedentary as well – few rest stops offer any sort of exercise equipment, and opportunities for physical activity while on the road are infrequent.

    More than half of long-haul truck drivers report living with one or more health problems, while 80% report at least one serious health condition, including obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and diabetes and metabolic disorders.

    Getting regular medical care to help treat these conditions is also a struggle, as there aren’t medical providers on the road and drivers always face pressure to cover more miles.

    “A grave consequence of syndemics of the road,” Singer writes in his paper, “is family disruption and divorce, high turnover rate (employer hopping), a national shortage of drivers, a high and untreated disease burden, shortened lifespan, heightened rates of suicide, increased medical costs, and injurious and deadly highway crashes.”

    The challenges faced by long-haul truck drivers only intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Workers in the transportation/logistics sector have one of the highest per-capita excess mortality rates due to the COVID-19 virus, Singer notes. He recommends multipronged and multilayered syndemic interventions to help address the structural factors that place economically crucial long-haul truck drivers in the U.S. at risk.

    “In the case of [long-haul truck drivers],” he wrote, “this would involve advocacy for public policy changes, as part of state and federal infrastructure planning, that address an array of health, social, environmental, and economic challenges…[c]oupled with this kind of advocacy, there is a need for  funding to support direct structured health interventions for drivers that simultaneously address multiple health issues in this population.”

    In the current public health climate, where officials are closely monitoring the spread of bird flu into other mammals – including humans – policymakers and industry officials would be especially wise to consider the syndemics of the road, Singer says.

    “Once an infectious agent transitions from whatever its original host was to mammals, it makes it much easier to make the next transition into other mammals, which it’s already started to do,” Singer says.

    “If bird flu begins to spread directly human-to-human, it’s interaction with all of what else is going around, and in people with other preexisting conditions – diabetes, cancer, tuberculosis, et cetera – has the potential for another massive pandemic.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Recovers Over $5 Million From Nonprofit for Failing to Serve New York City Residents with Developmental Disabilities

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured over $5 million from Community Options, Inc. and Community Options NY, Inc. (Community Options) for failing to properly provide services for people with developmental disabilities and knowingly submitting false claims to Medicaid for services. Community Options is a nonprofit that provides “day habilitation” services to adults with developmental disabilities in New York City, ensuring they have enriching and educational community-based activities. A joint investigation between the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (USAO-SDNY) revealed that Community Options failed to follow regulations and requirements designed to ensure the people it serves are receiving safe and adequate care. Under settlements with OAG and USAO-SDNY, Community Options will repay Medicaid over $5 million in reimbursements it received for day habilitation services that it failed to provide and document in compliance with state regulations.

    “New Yorkers with developmental disabilities rely on quality, community-based activities to lead fulfilling and independent lives,” said Attorney General James. “Community Options ignored the rules meant to ensure it was delivering the services it promised, depriving vulnerable New Yorkers of opportunities to participate in valuable programs that meet their needs. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this investigation that will ensure New Yorkers with developmental disabilities get the care and services they deserve.”

    Community Options’ services include the Day Habilitation Without Walls Program, where recipients can take part in activities, cultural events, and volunteer opportunities in their community. Medicaid and the New York Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) set requirements for day habilitation service providers to follow in order to receive Medicaid reimbursement. These requirements ensure organizations are providing an adequate number of services for enough time, are providing the correct types of services, and are documenting the services they provide.

    The OAG’s investigation found that Community Options violated the law by failing to meet these requirements for day habilitation services for which it billed New York’s Medicaid Program from January 1, 2017 to September 13, 2023. Community Options employees routinely failed to provide and document services in accordance with the OPWDD requirements. As a result, the adults with developmental disabilities that Community Options served did not receive the full benefits that the organization promised.

    The investigation also revealed that in January 2022, Community Options violated the law by failing to return overpayments it received from New York’s Medicaid program for services that it knew did not meet the state’s requirements. During a non-routine review, Community Options determined that it had failed to create and maintain monthly summary documents for dozens of day habilitation clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, affecting hundreds of claims for reimbursement. Despite a Community Options employee stating that these failures required Community Options to return payments for these claims, the senior Community Options employee overseeing day habilitation services instructed their subordinate to fraudulently create and back-date all of the missing monthly summary notes, in many instances up to a year after the services in question were purportedly provided.

    As a result of Attorney General James’ enforcement, Community Options will repay the over $5 million it improperly billed Medicaid, including paying approximately $2.8 million back to New York’s Medicaid program. The case against Community Options was initiated by a former employee, who will receive a portion of the settlement because the former employee filed a whistleblower lawsuit under the federal and New York False Claims Acts, which allow people to file civil actions under seal on behalf of the government and share in any recovery.

    The investigation and settlements were the result of a coordinated effort between OAG and USAO-SDNY. Attorney General James thanks USAO-SDNY for their partnership and assistance.

    For OAG’s MFCU, the investigation was conducted by Deputy Regional Chief Auditor Matthew Tandle, Auditor-Investigator Doni Corso, and Auditor-Investigator Che Cass, under the supervision of Chief Auditor Dejan Budimir, and Detective-Investigator Natalie Shifrin, under the supervision of Detective Supervisor Dominick DiGennaro. The settlement was handled by Special Assistant Attorney General Tiffany Castleman-Smith of the Civil Enforcement Division, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Diana Elkind. The Civil Enforcement Division is led by Chief Alee Scott. MFCU is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mahoney. MFCU is part of the Division for Criminal Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

    Reporting Medicaid Provider Fraud: MFCU defends the public by addressing Medicaid provider fraud and protecting nursing home residents from abuse and neglect. If an individual believes they have information about Medicaid provider fraud or about an incident of abuse or neglect of a nursing home resident, they can file a confidential complaint online or call the MFCU hotline at (800) 771-7755. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911.

    New York MFCU’s total funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 2025 is $70,502,916. Of that total, 75 percent, or $52,877,188, is funded from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $17,625,728 for FY 2025, is funded by New York State.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN – Escalation in South Sudan: Christian churches appeal for a peaceful solution

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Juba (Agenzia Fides) – The situation in South Sudan is escalating: Yesterday, March 26, Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest, further escalating the renewed clashes between him and President Salva Kiir (see Fides, 5/3/2025).According to his party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), Machar, his wife, and two bodyguards are being held at home on suspicion of involvement in the recent clashes between the army and the White Army militia in Nasir, Upper Nile State.On the day of Machar’s arrest, artillery fire had been fired in the area around the capital, Juba. The high tensions of recent days have prompted several embassies in Juba to ask their citizens to leave South Sudan (the US Embassy has reduced its staff to the bare minimum), while calls are multiplying for a peaceful solution to the crisis that threatens to plunge the country back into civil war.”This is not the time for senseless wars; instead, politicians must foster an atmosphere of unity and engage in peace dialogues to address the challenges faced by the public,” said the Bishop of Wau, Matthew Remijio Adam Gbitiku.The Council of Evangelical Churches of South Sudan (CEOFSS) is calling for ” an impartial investigation into the root causes of these conflicts. If anyone is found guilty should be taken to court for justice.”The CEOFSS also expresses “concern about the presence of foreign forces in South Sudan and encourage the resolution of security concerns through diplomatic engagement, ensuring that national sovereignty and stability are upheld.” In addition to the political disputes between the two “strongmen” who have been competing for power since the country’s independence (2011), South Sudan is torn by communal and tribal conflicts that contribute to the country’s insecurity. In this context, the CEOFSS points out that “intercommunal violence remains a pressing problem, including cattle thefts in the states of Warrap and Jonglei, and clashes between farmers and herders in parts of Equatoria.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 27/3/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/PHILIPPINES – In a nation divided over Duterte’s judicial affair, the Church preaches and works for unity

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Manila (Agenzia Fides) – In a country torn apart by the trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte, indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity committed during the “war on drugs” he waged (see Fides 11/03/2025), the Catholic Church in the Philippines is trying to restore national unity, while society – which is preparing, among other things, for the midterm elections next May – appears increasingly divided into pro-Duterte and anti-Duterte groups.One of the first measures adopted by Catholic communities is prayer: in a period considered extremely critical, the Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal José Advincula, invites the faithful to “overcome differences and be open to a constant conversion towards truth, justice and peace.” For this reason, the Cardinal issued a public appeal for an “oratio imperata,” a “compulsory prayer” for the nation, to be recited daily during Mass in all parishes of the archdiocese starting on the third Sunday of Lent.For the Catholic community, this time – which coincides with Lent -should be an opportunity for conversion: The imprisonment of former President Rodrigo Duterte in The Hague could be a “special grace,” “a spiritual opportunity,” according to Msgr. Patricio Buzon, Bishop of Bacolod, who urged Rodrigo Duterte’s supporters to “change their perspective.” The time in prison is like a spiritual retreat, said Bishop Buzon, adding: “After all, Duterte is his son. God wants him to be saved, because ‘God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that he turns from his ways and lives’ (Ez 18:23).” The bishop stigmatized “the blind fanaticism that is tearing us apart as a people”: “It is time to put our love for our country above any political loyalty,” he said.Among the countermeasures devised by Duterte’s supporters is the so-called “No Remittances Week”: As a form of protest, large groups of Filipinos abroad -more than 10 million people -plan, especially in Europe, to block remittances, the economic contributions sent home that are a vital support to the national economy. This measure would negatively impact thousands of Filipino families. Bishop Ruperto Santos of Antipolo said: “Freezing remittances, even if only temporarily, could devastate the lives of these families and leave them vulnerable, as they will struggle to make ends meet,” and there are fears of a “domino effect” on businesses and communities that depend on this flow of money. “As a bishop, I call for unity and dialogue. Let us seek peaceful and constructive ways to address problems without harming our families and our nation” in order to “promote healing and support the common good.” Archbishop Monsignor Jose Cabantan of Cagayan de Oro on the island of Mindanao – the region where Duterte had the most supporters – rejected claims that a daily Mass was being celebrated in the cathedral “for the return of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the Philippines.” The Eucharist, like all Masses, was “not dedicated to any particular person, group, or political cause,” he wrote. The archbishop emphasized the Church’s commitment to neutrality and to ensuring that “places of worship remain spaces of faith, reflection, and unity,” and urged the faithful to work for “peace, unity, and justice.”Meanwhile, the office of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated that it would not cooperate with the International Criminal Court regarding the charges of crimes against humanity filed against former President Rodrigo Duterte, “since the Philippines does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC.” The government rejected claims that the transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC was due to a dispute between Marcos and Duterte, stressing that “there is nothing personal about the arrest.” Other politicians emphasized that “beyond political advantages, the country’s sovereignty and the interest in true justice for every Filipino must remain a priority”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 27/3/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI: Drone Manufacturers Racing to Introduce Latest Technology as Global Aerial Survey Services Market Projected to Reach $790 Billion By 2031

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Many investors have been watching the drone industry consistently growing over the past years and are expecting the same expansions to continue. The popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for aerial imagery is quickly expanding this market. A report from Verified Market Research said that the Aerial Survey Services Market size, which was valued at USD 22.67 Billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 791.21 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 55.90% during the forecast period 2024-2031. The report added: “The rising use of drone services for industry-specific solutions, improved regulatory framework, and increased demand for qualitative data in various industries are projected to boost the expansion of the Drone Aerial Survey Services Market. Aerial imaging is being more widely used in defense applications. Natural calamities are becoming more common. Aerial camera systems have been improving steadily. Drone technology has attracted venture capital investment. During the forecast period, the enterprise segment of the Aerial Survey Services Market is expected to grow at the fastest rate. All industries benefit from enterprise solutions because they provide end-to-end services. The enterprise solution segment is being driven by the rising demand for analytical services and software solutions in the Aerial Survey Services Market.” Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), KULR Technology Group, Inc. (NYSE American: KULR).

    Verified Market Research continued: “A rise in demand from a variety of industries is fueling the growth of the Drone Aerial Survey Services Market. Aerial photography is used in agriculture to track effective changes in yield production, crop health management, and soil improvement. Aerial imaging services are needed by the defense sector to protect border areas and prepare map structures. Aerial imaging services are also being used more widely in research and exploration, archaeological surveys, mining, oil and gas, and resource management. The Drone Aerial Survey Services Market is still in its early stages of development, and the expansion of application areas is expected to accelerate market growth over the forecast period. During the coronavirus pandemic, aerial imaging helped the construction industry. The benefits of aerial imaging for contracted surveying, onsite inspections, and design planning applications have been augmented by the construction, roofing, and solar industries.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Signs LOI to Acquire Eighth Land Survey Company Advancing Drone as a Service in a $2.5 Billion US Drone Survey Market by 2033 – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that it has signed an LOI (Letter of Intent) to acquire an eighth land survey engineering company which marks the second LOI located in Arizona. Upon completion, these locations will serve as a launchpad to further Southwest regional development and contribute to the Company’s national DaaS business model intended to bring the speed and precision of ZenaDrone’s AI drone solutions in a convenient subscription or pay-per-use model for businesses and government users.

    “Arizona is strategic to our US operations as the base of our subsidiary ZenaDrone where our second drone manufacturing facility will be. Our vision with Drone as a Service is to capture part of the drone survey market that is growing by double-digits and is expected to reach USD $2.5 billion by 2033. We plan to build our national presence offering ZenaDrone products and services for land surveys and many other applications,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    According to Fact.MR, the global drone surveying market is poised for substantial growth and is expected to be worth over USD $8 billion globally by 2033 of which North America is expected to represent 35%. This market is expanding at a CAGR of over 19%, driven by increasing demand from industries such as construction, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Within the drone surveying market, land surveys represent 53%, with significant adoption in real estate, urban planning, environmental applications and infrastructure projects.

    Drones as a Service or DaaS works similarly to Software as a Service (SaaS), but instead of providing software over the internet, this business model offers drone technology solutions and services on a subscription or pay-per-use basis. With DaaS, businesses and government customers can conveniently access drones for tasks such as surveying, inspections, security, law enforcement, or precision agriculture solutions without having to buy, operate or maintain the drones themselves.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS model offers customers including government agencies, builders and real estate developers, construction firms and farmers reduced upfront costs as there is no need to purchase expensive drones, and convenience as the company manages maintenance and operation. DaaS also offers scalability to companies to use more often or less often based on their needs and enables access to advanced drone technology and applications without the need for specialized training or equipment.

    Accurate land surveys are essential for the planning, design, and execution of roads, bridges, and building projects for cities, commercial, and residential projects, and are required for legal purposes. Remotely piloted drones with an array of sensors and cameras, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and GPS systems for capturing high-resolution pictures and data are revolutionizing the land survey industry gathering aerial data across expansive terrains in a matter of hours instead of weeks or months using more traditional photogrammetry methods.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    In Additional ZENA News: ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Developing Indoor Drone Swarm Application for Inventory Management and Security with Auto Parts Manufacturer Customer – ZenaTech, Inc. this week also announced its subsidiary ZenaDrone is developing a drone swarm application using multiple indoor IQ Nano drones for inventory management and security applications. ZenaDrone is conducting this development with its auto parts manufacturer customer where it is currently engaged in a paid trial.

    A drone swarm is a coordinated group of autonomous drones that communicate and work together using AI and real-time data sharing, to perform tasks collaboratively without direct human control. Drone swarms can enhance efficiency, accuracy, automation and performance compared to a single drone.

    “We are pioneering the development of autonomous drone swarm technology, revolutionizing indoor inventory management and warehouse security by providing real-time, more accurate stock tracking and surveillance with reduced manual processes. We believe this technology will enable warehouses to operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and enhance safety and security while setting a new industry standard for AI drones,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.zenatech.com/newsroom/

    Other recent developments in the drone industry include:

    Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, recently announced that financial results for the 2024 Stub Period (as of December 31, 2024 and the eight months then ended) will be reported on Monday, March 31, 2025 at the market close.

    Company management will host an earnings conference call at 4:30p.m. ET on Monday, March 31, 2025 to review financial results and provide an update on corporate developments. Following management’s formal remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session.

    Interested parties can listen to the conference call by dialing 1-844-413-3977 (within the U.S.) or 1-412-317-1803 (international). Callers should dial in approximately ten minutes prior to the start time and ask to be connected to the Red Cat conference call. Participants can also pre-register for the call using the following link: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10198203/fecb0dc7ae

    AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) recently reported financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended January 25, 2025. “We faced a number of short-term challenges in the third quarter, including the unprecedented high winds and fires in Southern California, which impacted our ability to meet our goals,” said Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Nevertheless, we made significant progress towards executing our long-term growth strategy and building resiliency for the future.

    “This quarter, we booked record Switchblade and Jump-20 orders, which helped expand our backlog to a record $764 million. We also announced our new Utah manufacturing facility, which will more than double our Switchblade capacity and provide resiliency against regional weather events. Finally, we made significant progress towards completing our BlueHalo acquisition, which we now expect to close in the second quarter of calendar year 2025. While this has been a transition year pivoting away from Ukraine demand, we still expect a strong fiscal year 2025 including record fourth quarter revenue.”

    KULR Technology Group, Inc. (NYSE American: KULR) recently announced will hold a conference call on Thursday, March 27th at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024. The financial results will be issued in a press release prior to the call.

    KULR management will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer period. Interested parties can submit relevant questions prior to the call to Stuart Smith at SmallCapVoice.Com, Inc. via email: ssmith@smallcapvoice.com by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, March 21st, 2025. Mr. Smith will compile a list of questions and submit them to the Company prior to the conference call. The questions that will get addressed will be based on the relevance to the shareholder base, and the appropriateness of the questions in light of public disclosure rules.

    AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS) recently announced the appointment of Steve Mathias as Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development and Erik de Badts as Global Head of MicaSense Sales. AgEagle CEO Bill Irby commented, “As we execute a multi-faceted strategic growth plan focused on expanding our global footprint, the addition of both Steve and Erik’s impressive pedigrees will drive innovation, foster collaboration, and ensure that we remain agile in an evolving UAS marketplace. Steve brings multi-decade expertise in military and commercial aviation, both crewed and uncrewed, while Erik is a true subject matter expert in multi-spectral sensing. We are confident their leadership will help strengthen key partner relationships, unlock new opportunities, and accelerate revenue growth.”

    Steve Mathias is an aerospace business executive with over 30 years of senior leadership experience in both the military and aerospace industry. Prior to joining AgEagle, he served as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Growth at GKN Aerospace Defense, a leading global technology company specializing in advanced aerostructures and engine systems. Before his role at GKN Aerospace, Mr. Mathias was Vice President of Global Sales and Strategy at Bell Helicopter, where he led all domestic and international vertical lift defense sales, including both crewed and uncrewed systems. His background as a U.S. Army Officer includes significant special operations and conventional aviation experience with both manned and unmanned systems. In his final Army assignment, Steve served as the Deputy Chief of Staff G-8 for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, overseeing the requirements and Program Objective Memorandum (POM) processes for over 200 Army and Special Operations air and land programs.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CURRENC Empowers Coin Cove with AI-Powered Electronic Banking Services Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CURRENC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CURR) (“CURRENC” or the “Company”), a fintech pioneer empowering financial institutions worldwide with artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, today announced that it has secured a landmark contract with Coin Cove, an institution providing electronic banking services, to provide Coin Cove with comprehensive, AI-powered electronic banking solutions through CURRENC’s SEAMLESS AI Lab, including a cutting-edge trading platform, trading and operating apps, customer inquiry and marketing centers, SEAMLESS AI Call Centre technology, training, compliance and risk management tools, website design and MasterCard issuance.

    CURRENC has crafted a comprehensive spot and futures trading environment for Coin Cove, supporting over 150 digital assets and 600 trading pairs alongside multi-asset collateral and settlement. The platform also offers large-volume trading with locked-in rates to eliminate slippage, customizable wallet solutions integrating with various blockchain ecosystems, and seamless 24/7 operations through plug-and-play APIs. Over 15 fiat currencies are supported, providing flexibility for traders worldwide.

    CURRENC will also provide Coin Cove with an AI call center and compliance solutions designed to address common electronic banking challenges such as customer onboarding or “KYC,” real-time customer support, transaction inquiries, price volatility, liquidity management, and fraud detection. Unlike traditional electronic banking platforms, which often rely on unmoderated public forums and chat groups for customer support, Coin Cove’s platform will integrate SEAMLESS AI Call Centre Agents to offer 24/7 personalized support, an industry first that will greatly elevate users’ electronic banking experience. Moreover, Coin Cove will leverage CURRENC’s real-time market insight and risk management modules to streamline operations, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, monitor workflows, maintain KPIs at optimal levels, and improve overall trading efficiency.

    Notably, CURRENC’s collaboration with Coin Cove marks the debut of SEAMLESS AI Lab’s “AI Staff for Hire.” Coin Cove will deploy CURRENC’s pre-built, customizable AI Agents to perform staff training across customer service, operations, compliance, finance, and IT; assist human personnel, and deliver comprehensive reporting, monitoring and performance scoring.

    Recently, CURRENC and Coin Cove held a meeting with the Omani Ministry of Labour to explore the business development potential of deploying CURRENC’s AI Agents to support over 320,000 SMEs in Oman, as well as selected government departments of the Omani Government.

    Looking ahead, CURRENC expects to sign similar agreements with other electronic banking worldwide, empowering them with real-time, AI-driven capabilities and comprehensive platform solutions that address the 24/7 demands of users while ensuring compliance and reliability. CURRENC will also strive to cross-sell its digital remittance services and global airtime transfer services to these new clients so as to create the maximum business synergy.

    “We’re thrilled to see our SEAMLESS AI Lab shaping the future of electronic banking,” said Alex Kong, Founder and Executive Chairman of CURRENC. “Our groundbreaking AI-powered solutions will provide Coin Cove with smarter, faster, and more secure electronic banking transactions as well as real-time market analytics, optimized liquidity and enhanced risk management, setting new benchmarks for operational excellence and security in the global electronic banking market. We will continue pushing the boundaries of AI application as we expand our footprint in the electronic banking industry and beyond, advancing CURRENC’s mission to redefine financial services in the digital age.”

    Hon. Rakesh Rajagopal, Founder and CEO of Coin Cove, commented, “We’re pleased to collaborate with CURRENC to accelerate digitalization in the financial sector. As the first recipient of Oman’s electronic banking license granted under the regulatory oversight of the Central Bank of Oman, Coin Cove is committed to driving digital transformation in the Sultanate and providing a trusted platform for electronic banking. With CURRENC’s support and advanced AI technology, we are set to deliver an exceptionally efficient and secure trading environment, positioning Coin Cove at the forefront of innovation in the evolving market.”

    About CURRENC Group Inc.
    CURRENC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CURR) is a fintech pioneer dedicated to transforming global financial services through artificial intelligence (AI). The Company empowers financial institutions worldwide with comprehensive AI solutions, including SEAMLESS AI Call Centre and other AI-powered Agents designed to reduce costs, increase efficiency and boost customer satisfaction for banks, insurance, telecommunications companies, government agencies and other financial institutions. The Company’s digital remittance platform also enables e-wallets, remittance companies, and corporations to provide real-time, 24/7 global payment services, advancing financial access across underserved communities.

    About Coin Cove
    Coin Cove is an Omani-registered and licensed entity, operating under the regulatory oversight of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO). As a trusted provider of compliant electronic banking services, Coin Cove integrates advanced AI technologies to deliver secure, efficient, and user-friendly trading solutions. The company enables approved individuals and institutions to seamlessly open accounts, complete rigorous Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) onboarding processes, and manage their funds.

    By offering a fully regulated and secure gateway for electronic banking, Coin Cove bridges the gap between traditional finance and the digital economy. Its commitment to compliance, innovation, and customer-centric services underscores its mission to empower users to navigate the global electronic banking market with confidence and trust.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties, or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    Investor & Media Contact
    CURRENC Group Investor Relations
    Email: investors@currencgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CURRENC’s SEAMLESS AI Lab Unveils “AI Staff for Hire” Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CURRENC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CURR) (“CURRENC” or the “Company”), a fintech pioneer empowering financial institutions worldwide with artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, today announced the launch of “AI Staff for Hire,” an AI solution developed by the Company’s SEAMLESS AI Lab, offering pre-built, AI-powered Agents tailored to specific business scenarios. With AI-driven automation poised to reshape industries globally, this innovative product positions CURRENC at the forefront of a rapidly expanding market for AI-powered workforce solutions.

    Designed to meet the needs of enterprises across the finance industry, “AI Staff for Hire” automates critical functions such as customer support, debt collection, KYC, compliance, and HR management, empowering businesses to expand their operations without expanding their workforce. Platform users can select from a range of specialized AI Agents for specific tasks, including Internal Trainers, General Managers, KYC Officers, and Customer-Facing Sales Representatives. This flexibility, combined with cost-effective pricing models, allows businesses to scale operations, streamline workflows, and enhance service quality, while also benefiting from 24/7, multi-lingual support to improve global competitiveness.

    Equipped with advanced material digestion, system integration, and key information extraction functionalities, “AI Staff for Hire” Agents provide real-time insights into customer interactions, boosting engagement and enabling more effective lead generation and marketing strategies. They can also improve data accuracy, generate detailed reports, and monitor for critical issues, offering businesses proactive relationship management tools. Internally, CURRENC’s AI Agents can be customized to train staff in customer service, operations, compliance, finance, and IT, and deliver comprehensive reporting, performance scoring and improvement suggestions.

    “‘AI Staff for Hire’ represents a major step forward in CURRENC’s mission to transform global financial services with AI,” said Alex Kong, Founder and Executive Chairman of CURRENC. “Our innovative, cost-effective AI Agents integrate seamlessly into business environments worldwide, enabling enterprises of all sizes and budgets to quickly and efficiently scale their operations while adapting to the demands of the digital economy. Building on the success of our SEAMLESS AI Call Centre Solutions, “AI Staff for Hire” will expand the boundaries of AI application across banking, insurance, human resources, and other sectors. As the market for AI-powered solutions grows, CURRENC remains committed to propelling AI development that will redefine the future of the global financial industry.”

    “AI Staff for Hire” is a key element in CURRENC’s comprehensive AI offering. Other key functions of our AI offering include app development, AI call centre capabilities, AI HR modules, and trading platforms specifically designed for smaller or newly established financial institutions such as eWallets, and banks. With CURRENC’s AI-powered tools, these organizations, often operating in regions with limited technological support, can rapidly launch sophisticated financial services without incurring heavy capex. As its AI offerings gain traction, CURRENC anticipates onboarding new clients in markets such as Oman, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, India, and South America, bridging the digital divide and empowering local fintech ecosystems. Moreover, as CURRENC recruits new clients, there is a great opportunity for cross selling CURRENC’s digital remittance services and global airtime transfer services to the new clients, which could generate significant business synergy between the AI offerings and CURRENC’s existing businesses.

    The future of work is rapidly shifting toward AI Agents and digital clones. McKinsey analysts predict that AI-driven staff could handle up to 70% of white-collar tasks by 2030. Entrepreneurs and small enterprises may evolve into “One-Person Unicorn Companies,” leveraging AI staff to manage entire operations. As the AI-powered agents market is estimated to exceed $4.71 billion in value by 2030, according to MarketsandMarkets, businesses adopting AI workforce solutions today will gain critical competitive advantages.

    About CURRENC Group Inc.
    CURRENC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CURR) is a fintech pioneer dedicated to transforming global financial services through artificial intelligence (AI). The Company empowers financial institutions worldwide with comprehensive AI solutions, including SEAMLESS AI Call Centre and other AI-powered Agents designed to reduce costs, increase efficiency and boost customer satisfaction for banks, insurance, telecommunications companies, government agencies and other financial institutions. The Company’s digital remittance platform also enables e-wallets, remittance companies, and corporations to provide real-time, 24/7 global payment services, advancing financial access across underserved communities.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties, or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    Investor & Media Contact
    CURRENC Group Investor Relations
    Email: investors@currencgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LIS Technologies Inc. Receives a Non-possessing Facility Clearance from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Paving a Path for Access to Classified Matter

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Oak Ridge, Tennessee, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LIS Technologies Inc. (“LIST” or “the Company”), a proprietary developer of advanced laser technology and the only USA-origin and patented laser uranium enrichment company, today announced that it has received a non-possessing Facility Clearance from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This allows the Company to apply for security clearances for its key employees. The CRISLA technology is a sensitive nuclear technology, and the Company is confident that the DOE will eventually designate the technology as classified restricted data, allowing a path for access to Classified Matter.

    Figure 1 – LIS Technologies Inc. Receives a Non-possessing Facility Clearance from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Paving a Path for Access to Classified Matter. This allows the Company to apply for security clearances for its key employees.

    “LIS Technologies is positioning itself to become a leader in the production of nuclear fuel for civilian nuclear reactors as well as advanced reactors such as SMRs and microreactors” said Jay Yu, Executive Chairman and President of LIS Technologies Inc. “Obtaining security clearances for key personnel is a major step towards this goal and will enable the Company to accelerate the deployment of our technology.”

    “The CRISLA technology shows immense potential, and I believe it is only a matter of time before the DOE Office of Classification requires the technology to be protected,” said Christo Liebenberg, CEO of LIS Technologies Inc. “Our proactive approach in obtaining a Facility Clearance and Q-clearances for key personnel will help to position us favorably once the technology becomes Classified. Several design aspects of the CRISLA technology are already being protected as CUI within the Company.”

    LIS Technologies is building on the growing momentum within the United States nuclear energy industry, having been selected in December 2024 as one of six companies to participate in the Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Enrichment Acquisition Program. This initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion overall, with contracts lasting for up to 10 years. Optimized for both Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), it overcomes the limitations of traditional pulsed 16µm CO2 lasers, featuring a streamlined design due to its lower absorption and shorter wavelength at 5.3µm. Demonstrated in the 1980s and 90s, this technology is protected by a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Variations of the technology, as well as further development of the baseline technology, is treated by the Company as “Trade Secret” and as such is protected.

    About LIS Technologies Inc.

    LIS Technologies Inc. (LIST) is a USA based, proprietary developer of a patented advanced laser technology, making use of infrared lasers to selectively excite the molecules of desired isotopes to separate them from other isotopes. The Laser Isotope Separation Technology (L.I.S.T) has a huge range of applications, including being the only USA-origin (and patented) laser uranium enrichment company, and several major advantages over traditional methods such as gas diffusion, centrifuges, and prior art laser enrichment. The LIST proprietary laser-based process is more energy-efficient and has the potential to be deployed with highly competitive capital and operational costs. L.I.S.T is optimized for LEU (Low Enriched Uranium) for existing civilian nuclear power plants, High-Assay LEU (HALEU) for the next generation of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Microreactors, the production of stable isotopes for medical and scientific research, and applications in quantum computing manufacturing for semiconductor technologies. The Company employs a world class nuclear technical team working alongside leading nuclear entrepreneurs and industry professionals, possessing strong relationships with government and private nuclear industries.

    In Dec 2024, LIS Technologies Inc. was selected as one of six domestic companies to participate in the Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Enrichment Acquisition Program. This initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion overall, with contracts lasting for up to 10 years. Each awardee is slated to receive a minimum contract of $2 million.

    For more information please visit: LaserIsTech.com

    For further information, please contact:
    Email: info@laseristech.com
    Telephone: 800-388-5492
    Follow us on X Platform
    Follow us on LinkedIn

    Forward Looking Statements

    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For LIS Technologies Inc., particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following which are, and will be, exacerbated by any worsening of global business and economic environment: (i) risks related to the development of new or advanced technology, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, development of competitive technology, loss of key individuals and uncertainty of success of patent filing, (ii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations and (iii) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to commercially deploy a competitive laser enrichment technology, (iv) risks related to the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in this and our other filings with the SEC. Only after successful completion of our Phase 2 Pilot Plant demonstration will LIS Technologies be able to make realistic economic predictions for a Commercial Facility. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Reaction to Antidemocratic Trump Order to Prevent Americans from Voting 

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and a member of the Rules Committee, released the following reaction to President Trump’s Executive Order, signed this week seeking to deny the right to vote to eligible citizens. The order would require the Election Assistance Commission to change its federal voter registration form to require proof of citizenship through a passport or birth certificate, restrict mail-in voting, and allow Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” to infiltrate our election systems:
    “Make no mistake: this is a flagrant, unconstitutional attack on voting rights, designed by the Trump White House and their political enablers to stop Americans from participating in our democracy. Requiring documents that millions of people lack access to—including working voters, voters of color, seniors, young voters, rural voters—is voter suppression, plain and simple,” said Senator Welch. “Donald Trump is shamelessly robbing millions of Americans of their right to vote and allowing Elon Musk to infiltrate our federal elections. It is yet another abuse of executive power by Donald Trump, and we will stand up and fight for the right to vote.” 
    Half of American adults—around 146 million Americans—do not have a valid passport. In Vermont, fewer than half of citizens have a valid passport. Married women and men who have changed their last name could be stopped from using a birth certificate as their proof of citizenship. More than 28 million people hold a license that doesn’t have their current address with their current name. An estimated 21.3 million people—or around 1 in 10 citizens—do not have ready access to their passport, birth certificate, or proof of citizenship. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: an ‘arms race’ of promises as prime minister set to call election

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Oops. Anthony Albanese’s own department pre-empted its boss on Thursday. Some unfortunate official, pressing the wrong button, posted on X that the government was in “caretaker” mode, although the prime minister had not yet called the election.

    There was a grovelling apology from the department, saying it was trying to find out why the error occurred.

    No matter. The department was only a day early. Albanese goes to government house on Friday for an election on May 3.

    Indeed, most players and observers had expected, before cyclone Alfred, that the campaign, with its “caretaker” period, would be well under way by now.

    Instead, we’ve had this budget week that’s seen an auction of handouts.

    First, the budget announced the tax cuts, which are more than a year away, and will be delivered in two stages, They are, to use Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ description, “modest”.

    Then came Peter Duttlon’s counter hit – a halving of the excise on petrol and diesel, briefed out ahead of his budget reply. The benefit would come more quickly – but would only last a year. This is a recycled, extended version of the Morrison government’s 2022 excise cut. Labor supported the 2022 move, but rejects Dutton’s proposal.

    The budget we nearly didn’t have gave Chalmers the stage to strut his stuff. Budget weeks traditionally belong to treasurers who, among other things, do a walkabout through the ranks of the journalists who are “locked up” and ploughing through the embargoed budget documents. So some old hands were surprised when the PM appeared with a senior staffer to do his own walkabout. Precedents didn’t come to mind.

    Labor sought to wedge the Coalition by pushing through legislation to enshrine the tax cuts. The Coalition voted against them in parliament, then declared if elected, it would repeal them. Dutton has confirmed he won’t be announcing any policy for tax cuts closer to the election.

    For the Liberals, to be seen opposing an income tax cut is unusual and risky. It’s made for campaign slogans. “The only thing they don’t want to cut is people’s taxes,” Albanese declared. “Labor is the party of lower taxes.” Both sides will be watching their polling carefully in coming days to see whether this stand rebounds against the Liberals.

    The opposition believes its excise reduction will hit the mark, especially in the seats it is most targeting – those in the outer suburbs where people drive a lot.

    But Kos Samaras, from the Redbridge political consultancy, predicts people will see this “arms race” of hand outs as providing just band-aids, with the measures likely to cancel each other out.

    Apart from the excise measure the other big initiative in Dutton’s reply was his plan for a gas reservation scheme.

    This is designed to fill what has been an apparent big hole in the opposition’s energy policy. It has its ambitious (many would say unrealistic) nuclear plan for the long term. But if it is arguing it would be able to bring down energy bills any time soon, it needs a here-and-now policy to do so.

    Its answer is to turn to gas. That requires ensuring a reliable and adequate supply for the local market, to drive down the price.

    “Gas sold on the domestic market will be de-coupled from overseas markets to protect Australia from international price shocks,” Dutton said in his Thursday speech. “And this will drive down new wholesale domestic gas prices from over $14 per gigajoule to under 10 per gigajoule.”

    Dutton told the ABC after his address that the price fall could be achieved by the end of this calendar year.

    That estimate sounds like a hostage to fortune. Precision can be dangerous when it comes to energy promises. Who can forget that number Labor put out so confidently before the last election – a $275 fall in household power bills?

    Critics will find all sorts of issues with Dutton’s east coast reservation scheme, including that it would be heavily interventionist and there’s no guarantee it would work. Labor says Dutton is reheating one of its old plans, and that the government has the gas situation under control anyway.

    The opposition says its plan is in line with warnings on gas supply released by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Thursday.

    The potential effectiveness of Dutton’s gas plan will be highly contested. What is not in dispute is that the partisan divide over the energy transition will be one of the central issues of the campaign.

    This week the prime minister has had a spring in his step. The polls have improved somewhat, and the “vibe” seems to be with him. Responding to a challenge from a couple of podcasters, he playfully put the phrase, “delulu with no solulu” into a speech to describe his opponents. Never mind that middle-aged politicians sound slightly absurd when they try to be hip. Albanese is a confidence player and at the moment his confidence is up.

    The tactical games aren’t just around the tax cuts. Calling the election first thing Friday carpet bombs Dutton’s budget reply.

    And once the election is called, parliament will be prorogued and that will scrap the Friday sitting of estimates committees, denying the opposition an opportunity to quiz officials about the budget and other matters. (On Thursday, the “caretaker” fiasco became public during an estimates hearing, surprising officials from the PM’s department who happened to be appearing at the time.)

    For his part, Dutton understands the odds against him.

    Political scientist Rodney Tiffen, in an analysis of federal campaigns from 1972 to 2022, found no example where an opposition had started the campaign roughly equal in the polls and won, and three where it had lost (1980, 1987, and 2004). “All winning oppositions started the campaign already ahead,” Tiffen writes in a chapter in The Art of Opposition.

    In his budget reply, Dutton delivered one revealing line: “This election is as much about leadership as it’s about policy”.

    Dutton casts himself as the leader who would make the tough decisions. “I will lead with conviction – not walk both sides of the street,” he said.

    “I will be a strong leader and a steady hand – just as John Howard was.”

    Dutton might see Howard as his role model, but it will be a big leap of faith for many voters to see the opposition as a contemporary Howard.

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

    – ref. Grattan on Friday: an ‘arms race’ of promises as prime minister set to call election – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-an-arms-race-of-promises-as-prime-minister-set-to-call-election-251257

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Former Brazilian president Bolsonaro will stand trial over alleged coup attempt

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Felipe Tirado, PhD Candidate in Law, King’s College London

    Bazil’s Supreme Court has unanimously accepted a complaint against former president Jair Bolsonaro and seven allies for attempting a coup d’état.

    Bolsonaro governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, but lost his attempt at re-election to current president Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva.

    The decision is unprecedented. For the first time in the country’s history, a former president and high-ranking military officers are defendants alleged of crimes linked to a coup d’état.

    Besides Bolsonaro, there are other five members of the military accused of being at the heart of a plot. These are General Braga Netto, who was Bolsonaro’s minister and vice-presidential candidate; General Heleno, who was minister of the office of institutional security; General Nogueira, who was minister of defence; Admiral Garnier, former commander of the navy; and Lieutenant-Colonel Mauro Cid, Bolsonaro’s former main aid, who had become a whistleblower.

    The other two defendants are Anderson Torres, former minister of justice, and federal congressman Alexandre Ramagem, former director of the Brazilian intelligence agency.

    The indictment

    In February, the general prosecutor had indicted these individuals for the crimes of attempting to abolish the democratic state of law, coup d’état, qualified damage and damage to listed heritage, and armed criminal organisation. The sentences could exceed 30 years in prison.

    In all, 34 people were indicted. The next complaints to be examined by the court concern the “military nucleus”, responsible for tactical actions. Then, the court will judge complaints regarding the nucleus responsible for organising the actions. Finally, it will analyse claims concerning those accused of coordinating the disinformation initiatives.

    The only element that doesn’t have a trial date concerns the spread of disinformation outside Brazil.

    The judgement on the complaint

    All members of the panel voted to accept the charges. The rapporteur, Justice Alexandre de Moraes, stated that the judiciary “will not be intimidated by digital militias, whether national or foreign, because Brazil is a sovereign country”.

    Justice Moraes argued that the organisation sought to undermine the democratic rule of law, acting until January 2023. He also indicated that Bolsonaro led this structure, using disinformation about the elections to instigate the coup attempt.

    Other justices pointed out that the defences did not deny the coup attempt, but focused on maintaining their clients’ innocence. All justices repudiated acts that undermine the democratic rule of law and Brazilian institutions.

    Next steps

    Now that the complaint has been accepted, the panel will set the dates for the hearings and testimonies of the witnesses and the defendants. Then it will analyse the evidence produced throughout the process.

    After these phases, the panel will summon the defendants and the prosecution for their closing arguments. It is then that the panel will decide on a possible conviction. If the defendants are convicted, they will begin serving their sentences only after the appeals are over.

    The process is expected to develop over the next few months. Because of the 2026 elections, there is some expectation that the process will be finalised this year.

    Another Brazilian example

    The decision can be seen as yet another example that Brazil is setting for the world. Many believe the country can yet be a model for secure and efficient elections. Judicial initiatives to combat disinformation have become a reference to other countries.

    State institutions have already responded to the insurrection of 8 January 2023. This unprecedented decision that made a former president and high-ranking officers defendants for an attempted coup d’état reinforce the central role of the justice system in the defence of democracy.

    Felipe Tirado receives funding from the Centre for Doctoral Studies – King’s College London.

    – ref. Former Brazilian president Bolsonaro will stand trial over alleged coup attempt – https://theconversation.com/former-brazilian-president-bolsonaro-will-stand-trial-over-alleged-coup-attempt-253198

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Guinea-Bissau’s political crisis: a nation on the brink of authoritarianism

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Carlos Eduardo Machado Sangreman Proença, enseignant-chercheur, Universidade de Aveiro (Portugal)

    Guinea-Bissau faces a deep political crisis. For several years, the small west African nation has endured growing tensions between political institutions and there’s now a strong climate of uncertainty.

    Guinea-Bissau’s general elections had been scheduled for November 2024, but President Umaro Sissoco Embaló postponed them citing political instability, logistical challenges and disputes over presidential term limits. He has since announced 30 November 2025 as the new date for elections.

    Embaló has been president of Guinea Bissau since 27 February 2020. The opposition and the Supreme Court argue that his presidency should have ended on 27 February 2025. Embaló however insists his mandate should end on 4 September 2025. The dispute over Embaló’s five-year term stems from different interpretations of his inauguration date. He argues his official term began later, in November 2020 – when legal challenges to his election were resolved.

    The opposition now regard Embaló as an illegitimate president. Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) representatives were also recently threatened with expulsion from the country when they came to assess the political situation.

    These developments highlight an unprecedented crisis. They raise concerns about Guinea-Bissau’s democratic future, given the political uncertainty.

    I’m an expert on Guinea-Bissau’s politics and have carried out research on the state of the country’s democracy. In this article, I examine the country’s current political crisis.

    Weakening institutions

    Nearly 50 years after independence, Guinea-Bissau is a fragile state, struggling to meet its people’s needs. Weak institutions, a self-serving political and economic elite, and a lack of basic public services have fuelled instability.

    The army, led by veterans, has staged three coups, and the country’s 1998-1999 civil war caused significant destruction.

    Despite this, civil society remains vibrant. It fills gaps left by the state. It plays a vital role in education, human rights, women’s rights, and environmental protection. It also supports vulnerable groups, including child beggars (talibés).

    Since taking office, Embaló has been weakening democratic institutions and consolidating power.

    His recent dissolution of parliament in December 2023, without scheduling timely elections, violated constitutional norms. He also directly appoints and dismisses governments, while the Supreme Court lacks the quorum needed to function. As a result, the legislative, executive and judicial branches all fall under the president’s direct control.

    The parliament’s permanent commission, made up of elected members, is the only institution still operating within constitutional limits. However, the president’s dissolution of parliament has blocked legislative sessions.

    This broader trend of power consolidation started with João Mário Vaz, who led the country between 23 June 2014 and 27 February 2020. Guinea Bissau has, for the past decade, been slipping into authoritarianism under different leaders.

    Growing authoritarianism

    Since Embaló won the 2019 presidential election, political, economic and social instability has persisted. This has severely affected human rights in the country.

    One of the major drivers of the current crisis was Embaló’s dissolution of the National Assembly in 2023.

    The assembly was being controlled by the opposition. This followed 2023 legislative elections in which a coalition led by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) won. Its leader, Domingos Simões Pereira, became speaker of parliament. A government appointed by the winning coalition was then sworn in.

    In December 2023, a brief clash between two paramilitary groups – the national guard and the presidential battalion – became a pretext to dissolve the National Assembly. The president then appointed a prime minister and formed a government himself.

    Losing external support

    Embaló has taken every step to stay in power. He will eventually hold a presidential election but, I believe, only when the opposition is too weak to unite behind a candidate. He is also distancing himself from Ecowas, which urges elections within constitutional deadlines.

    Embaló is, however, not alone in his efforts for control. His 2020 provisional inauguration in a hotel in the capital in 2020 was attended by politicians and business figures. He continues to receive backing, as shown by ongoing consultations and public statements from political and civil actors.

    Still, his domestic support appears to be shrinking. He may consolidate his authoritarian rule as long as the military stays in its barracks and elections are delayed.

    Guinea-Bissau faces two possible paths. It could transition into a liberal democracy if presidential and legislative elections restore functioning institutions. Alternatively, it could slip into dictatorship marked by unchecked presidential power, repression of opposition, and lawlessness, including armed groups and drug trafficking.

    In a region already struggling with Islamist insurgencies and instability, Guinea-Bissau’s trajectory matters. The international community, particularly in Africa, must not ignore this crisis. Pressure on Embaló to allow a democratic transition is crucial for the country’s stability.

    Carlos Eduardo Machado Sangreman Proença is a permanent member and director of a university research centre in Lisbon. He has been receiving funds from the Portuguese government for several years for research projects in Guinea-Bissau.

    – ref. Guinea-Bissau’s political crisis: a nation on the brink of authoritarianism – https://theconversation.com/guinea-bissaus-political-crisis-a-nation-on-the-brink-of-authoritarianism-252317

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Statement: In memory of Christina McKelvie MSP

    Source: Scottish Greens

    27 Mar 2025

    A statement on the passing of Christina McKelvie from Scottish Green Co-Leader Patrick Harvie.

    Patrick Harvie said:

    “This Parliament has lost one of our very best today. And I want to offer my deepest sympathy to all those who knew and loved Christina.

    “Today is a moment of pain and sadness. But Christina’s life and her extraordinary spirit deserve to be celebrated.

    “In her first speech, she said she would “rather be a citizen of a nation that looks to persuade and co-operate than bully and cajole”

    “She was talking about Scotland as a nation, but I think those words also captured the kind of person she was, and the kind of politician she was.

    “Lots of people in politics start out with those kinds of values and ideals, but Christina was someone who absolutely held fast to them. Compassion and kindness were at her core.

    “As Christina’s partner, and our colleague, Keith Brown said today: she “lit up every room she was in” – that was certainly true of this room, our national Parliament. She brightened it in every sense.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sentence increase for violent robber caught wearing victim’s jacket

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Sentence increase for violent robber caught wearing victim’s jacket

    A violent robber who was caught wearing a jacket he had stolen has had his suspended sentence quashed and been sent to jail after the Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP intervened.

    The Court of Appeal increased the sentence of 27-year-old Zakaria Mohamed from 21 months’ imprisonment suspended for 24 months to four years and nine months’ imprisonment.

    This was the result of an intervention by the Solicitor General who referred the case under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

    The court heard that the victim was on his way home after a night out in Leicester and was grabbed and dragged into a car in the early hours of 24 May last year. The victim was threatened with a kitchen knife and slapped as the group demanded his possessions.

    The victim was forced to hand over his belongings which included a smartphone, ear pods, a tablet, trainers, tracksuit and designer bag, and his jacket worth around £1,300.

    He was then told to get out of the vehicle before it sped off.

    Following the robbery, police caught Mohamed outside a nightclub handling and inspecting the stolen items. He was also wearing the victim’s jacket.

    In a victim impact statement after the incident, the victim said the robbery had led to him moving to another city and he continues to feel vulnerable every time he goes out.

    The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    This violent robbery was horrific and the substantial sentence increase following my intervention should serve as a stark warning that crime and lawlessness will not be tolerated.

    Mohamed pleaded guilty to robbery, driving without a licence and driving without insurance on 3 October 2024 at Leicester Crown Court. He was sentenced at the same court to 21 months’ imprisonment suspended for 24 months on 19 December 2024.

    The sentence was increased to a total of four years and nine months’ imprisonment at the Court of Appeal on 25 February 2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Charity Commission welcomes appointment of Mark Simms as interim Chair

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government Non-Ministerial Departments

    News story

    Charity Commission welcomes appointment of Mark Simms as interim Chair

    The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has appointed the serving Board member of the Commission as the organisation’s interim Chair.

    Mark Simms OBE

    Mark Simms, OBE, will lead the Commission from 25 April 2025 on an interim basis while DCMS continues its search for a permanent Chair. Mark joined the Charity Commission as a Board Member in March 2023 and was awarded an OBE in 2024 for services to social enterprise.

    In response, Orlando Fraser KC, said:

    I very much welcome the news of Mark Simms’s appointment as interim Chair to succeed me. I have known Mark personally a long time, both at the Rugby Portobello Trust and most recently from his role here as a Member of the Commission, and I could not think of a better person for the job.

    Mark Simms, OBE said:

    It will be an honour to step into this role at such a crucial time for the sector. Charities are at the heart of our communities, and I am committed to ensuring the Commission remains fair, balanced, and effective in its work.

    As a charity leader myself, I understand the challenges charities face and the importance of regulation that strengthens, rather than stifles, their impact and continues to uphold the trust that charities need to thrive.

    Charity Commission chair Orlando Fraser announced he would “hand on the baton” after almost seven and a half years at its APM in November.

    Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy thanked him for his service to the Charity Commission as Chair and board member, and for “his work towards a fairer, balanced and independent Charity Commission.”

    Interim Chair appointed to the Charity Commission for England and Wales – GOV.UK

    ENDS

    Notes to editors

    1. All appointments to the Commission’s board are made by DCMS on a fixed term basis, in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    2. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: ICYMI: UAW Praises President Trump’s Auto Tariffs

    Source: The White House

    Today, President Donald J. Trump imposed a 25% tariff on foreign automobiles imported into the United States — a continuation of President Trump’s Made in America renaissance.

    The move was immediately hailed by the United Auto Workers — one of the country’s largest labor unions — as a “victory for autoworkers.”

    “We applaud the Trump administration for stepping up to end the free trade disaster that has devastated working class communities for decades. Ending the race to the bottom in the auto industry starts with fixing our broken trade deals, and the Trump administration has made history with today’s actions. … The UAW and the working class in general couldn’t care less about party politics; working people expect leaders to work together to deliver results. The UAW has been clear: we will work with any politician, regardless of party, who is willing to reverse decades of working-class people going backwards in the most profitable times in our nation’s history. These tariffs are a major step in the right direction for autoworkers and blue-collar communities across the country, and it is now on the automakers, from the Big Three to Volkswagen and beyond, to bring back good union jobs to the U.S.”

    Read the UAW’s full statement here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: BIO-key Trims 2024 Net Loss 49% to $4.3M, Reflecting Higher Gross Margin and Lower Operating Costs, Offsetting 11% Revenue Decrease Due to Business Transition; Hosts Investor Call Today at 10am ET

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOLMDEL, N.J., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BIO-key® International, Inc. (Nasdaq: BKYI), an innovative provider of workforce and customer Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions featuring passwordless, phoneless and token-less Identity-Bound Biometric (IBB) authentication, announced results for its fourth quarter (Q4’24) and year ended December 31, 2024 (2024). BIO-key’s 2023 results, which were restated and filed with the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K, are reflected in this release for comparison purposes. BIO-key will host an investor call today, Thursday, March 27th at 10:00am ET (details below).

    BIO-key CEO, Mike DePasquale commented, “From a strategic standpoint, we substantially strengthened our business in 2024, growing our high-margin software license fee revenue by 20% while exiting our low margin services relationship with Swivel Secure to focus on BIO-key solutions such as PortalGuard IAM and our Identity-Bound Biometrics. This transition away from Swivel Secure licensed solutions resulted in an 11% decline in 2024 revenue, but enabled us to substantially improve overall profitability despite lower revenue.

    “We also reduced operating expenses by 6% in 2024 and reduced cash used in operations by 23% to $2.91M in 2024 from $3.79M in 2023. With this transition behind us, we are in a much stronger position to grow and convert top-line revenue into bottom-line contribution.”

    Recent Highlights

    Mr. DePasquale, continued, “Moving forward, we are seeing very encouraging order demand for our solutions in national defense, financial services and education applications and particular strength in EMEA countries. We are seeing growing interest in our unique capabilities in passwordless, phoneless and tokenless authentication solutions which are best positioned to meet the most pressing security and usability challenges. Our biometric solutions are gaining solid traction in international markets across government, financial services and civil defense applications.

    “For example, in Q4’24 we secured a $910K contract with a long-time financial services client to implement our biometric identification technology across its branches. The customer has already enrolled fingerprint biometrics for over 25M end-users and is now upgrading to BIO-key’s “fingerprint-only,” one-to-many identification system. Our solution is expected to trim approximately 30 seconds from each customer interaction, resulting in both an improved customer experience and substantial long-term savings.

    “Our longstanding relationship with one of the world’s most esteemed defense ministries saw expanded deployment of our biometric solutions in 2024, a trend we expect to continue in 2025 and beyond. We currently provide authentication and digital security services for over 80,000 ministry personnel and believe that deployment could double or triple in coming years. To date, the ministry has generated $3.3M in total hardware and license revenue, and we are now working under a new long term procurement agreement initiated in Q3 2024.

    “This past January, we forged a partnership with the National Bank of Egypt, which is integrating BIO-key’s PortalGuard IAM platform and an industry-leading Identity Governance solution. This project, led by our partner, Raya Information Technology, leverages PortalGuard’s advanced IAM, MFA, and SSO capabilities to secure the digital identities of the bank’s 30,000 employees, and we believe there is potential down the road for this solution to be utilized with its customers.

    “BIO-key has also built an established and growing presence in education across over 100 institutions serving over 4M end users. In January, three additional colleges and universities migrated to PortalGuard IDaaS and the Wyoming Department of Education deployed PortalGuard IDaaS, adding a total of over 50,000 IDaaS end users. Building on this momentum, after an extensive RFP and review process, we executed a strategic partnership and Joint Purchase Agreement (JPA) with California’s Education Technology Joint Powers Authority (Ed Tech JPA). The agreement makes PortalGuard an approved IAM solution for the alliance’s 195 K-12 schools and districts, collectively serving over 2.6M students, uniquely positioning our offerings to comply solve Ed Tech JPA member IAM requirements, including compliance with emerging restrictions on the use of personal mobile devices in schools.

    “In an effort to seed future market opportunities, in December we announced a strategic collaboration with Fiber Food Systems to explore IAM use cases across the food industry. As part of this agreement, we also acquired shares of Boumarang, Inc. from Fiber in exchange for BIO-key stock. Boumarang is a pioneering force in sustainable, AI-driven, hydrogen-powered, long-range drone technology, a developing market with a clear need for a state-of-the-art IAM solutions. The equity exchange strengthened our balance sheet and paved the way to a strategic collaboration with Guinn Partners to integrate our biometric technology with Guinn’s expertise in IoT and autonomous systems, targeting applications across aerospace, defense, healthcare, logistics and smart cities. These initiatives will take time to develop, but we believe that each of them has the potential to create attractive new commercial opportunities for BIO-key.

    “We are off to a strong start in 2025 and believe we are well positioned to deliver improved top- and bottom-line performance. However, given the timing of large customer orders, our financial performance has the potential to fluctuate significantly on a quarter-to-quarter basis. Given increasing interest in our biometric solutions, growing adoption of passwordless, phoneless and tokenless IAM solutions, and the transition we executed in 2024 to a focus on higher-margin BIO-key solutions, we are very optimistic regarding our prospects this year. We remain focused on reducing costs to lower our breakeven level as we continue to explore new markets and strategic partnerships that could advance our path to sustained profitability and positive operating cash flow.”

    Financial Results
    Please note that the audit our FY2024 financial statements has not been completed by our independent registered public accounting firm as of the date of this press release and are therefore subject to change.

    2024 revenues decreased approximately 11% to $6.9M from $7.8M in 2023, largely due to BIO-key’s exit from a Swivel Secure Limited (SSL) distribution agreement and transition to selling BIO-key branded solutions in the EMEA region. The impact of this strategic decision contributed to more high-margin software license fee revenue and a reduction in services revenue from third-party products which carry a much lower gross margin. As a result, 2024 license fee revenue increased 20% to $5.2M in 2024 vs. $4.3M in 2023; service fees declined 50% to $1.1M in 2024 from $2.2 million in 2023; and hardware revenue declined 47% to $0.6M in 2024 from $1.2M in 2023.

    In Q4’24 license fee revenue increased 77% to $1.0M; services revenue decreased 28% to $0.3M and hardware revenue declined 88% to $0.1M, also reflecting the impacts of the strategic transition from SSL products and services toward BIO-key solutions.

    Gross profit grew to $5.6M in 2024 from $1.4M in 2023, due to a $3.6M hardware reserve taken in 2023 and the impact of growth in higher-margin license sales and a reduction in lower-margin services and hardware revenue. Exiting the SSL agreement contributed to lower costs to support deployments, including software license fees included in sales of Swivel Secure offerings vs. BIO-key’s internally developed software solutions. This resulted in gross profit increasing to $1.2M in Q4’24 vs. negative $95,496 in Q4’23, which included a $1.1M hardware reserve. Both Q4’24 and 2024 gross profit benefited from the sale of $213,005 of fully reserved hardware inventory.

    BIO-key reduced its operating expenses by $606,409 to $9.7M in 2024 from $10.3M in 2023, due to a reduction of SG&A costs by $722,563, partially offset by a $116,154 increase in research, development and engineering expense to support new product development. Proactive cost reductions included lower headquarters expenses, sales personnel costs, and marketing show expenses, partially offset by an increase in professional services, principally related to financing activities. BIO-key’s Q4’24 operating expenses were flat year-over-year at $2.6M.

    Reflecting greater gross profit and lower operating expenses, BIO-key’s 2024 net loss improved to $4.3M, or ($2.10) per share, from a net loss of $8.7M, or ($15.21) per share, in 2023. Similarly, BIO-key’s Q4’24 net loss improved to $1.6M, or ($0.53) per share, vs. $2.4M, or ($3.99) per share, in Q4’23. 2023 Results included hardware reserves of $3.6M and $1.086M in 2023 and Q4’23, respectively. 2024 results included a positive hardware reserve adjustment of $213,005 in Q4 for the sale of hardware that was previously reserved.

    Balance Sheet
    As of December 31, 2024, BIO-key had $1.9M of current assets, including $438,000 of cash and cash equivalents, $0.8M of net accounts receivable and due from factor, and $378,000 of inventory. This compares to current assets of $2.6M at December 31, 2023, including approximately $511,000 of cash and cash equivalents, $1.3M of net accounts receivable and due from factor, and $446,000 of inventory.

    Conference Call Details

    Date / Time: Thursday, March 27th at 10 a.m. ET
    Call Dial In #: 1-877-418-5460 U.S. or 1-412-717-9594 Int’l
    Live Webcast / Replay: Webcast & Replay Link – Available for 3 months.
    Audio Replay: 1-877-344-7529 U.S. or 1-412-317-0088 Int’l; code 6114035
       

    About BIO-key International, Inc. (www.BIO-key.com)

    BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication and cybersecurity with biometric-centric, multi-factor identity and access management (IAM) software securing access for over forty million users. BIO-key allows customers to choose the right authentication factors for diverse use cases, including phoneless, tokenless, and passwordless biometric options. Its hosted or on-premise PortalGuard IAM solution provides cost-effective, easy-to-deploy, convenient, and secure access to computers, information, applications, and high-value transactions.

    BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement
    All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). The words “estimate,” “project,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the “safe-harbor” provisions of the Act. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included within or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, our history of losses and limited revenue; our ability to raise additional capital to satisfy working capital needs; our ability to continue as a going concern; our ability to protect our intellectual property; changes in business conditions; changes in our sales strategy and product development plans; changes in the marketplace; continued services of our executive management team; security breaches; competition in the biometric technology industry; market acceptance of biometric products generally and our products under development; our ability to convert sales opportunities to customer contracts; our ability to expand into Asia and other foreign markets; our ability to migrate Swivel Secure customers to BIO-key and Portal Guard offerings; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; delays in the development of products, the commercial, reputational and regulatory risks to our business that may arise as a consequence of the restatement of our financial statements, including any consequences of non-compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission and Nasdaq periodic reporting requirements; our temporary loss of the use of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to register securities in the future;, any disruption to our business that may occur on a longer-term basis should we be unable to continue to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, and statements of assumption underlying any of the foregoing as well as other factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Engage with BIO-key

    Investor Contacts

    William Jones, David Collins
    Catalyst IR
    BKYI@catalyst-ir.com or 212-924-9800

     
    BIO-key International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
    (Unaudited)
     
      Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
      December 31,     December 31,  
      2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Revenues                              
    Services $ 344,444     $ 478,005     $ 1,108,506     $ 2,218,885  
    License fees   1,023,701       577,669       5,189,370       4,342,010  
    Hardware   94,133       769,427       631,695       1,194,010  
    Total revenues   1,462,278       1,825,101       6,929,571       7,754,905  
    Costs and other expenses                              
    Cost of services   73,317       221,940       396,274       861,936  
    Cost of license fees   146,122       152,000       589,505       1,174,919  
    Cost of hardware   255,927       460,157       516,611       700,231  
    Cost of hardware – reserve   (213,005 )     1,086,500       (213,005 )     3,586,500  
    Total costs and other expenses   262,361       1,920,597       1,289,385       6,323,586  
    Gross profit   1,199,917       (95,496 )     5,640,186       1,431,319  
                                   
    Operating Expenses                              
    Selling, general and administrative   1,815,155       2,040,438       7,140,147       7,862,710  
    Research, development and engineering   812,072       587,900       2,511,080       2,394,926  
    Total Operating Expenses   2,627,227       2,628,338       9,651,227       10,257,636  
    Operating loss   (1,427,310 )     (2,723,834 )     (4,011,041 )     (8,826,317 )
    Other income (expense)                              
    Interest income   57       5,589       110       11,533  
    Gain from sale of asset           20,000               20,000  
    Loss on foreign currency transactions   (13,004 )     (24,000 )     (13,004 )     (39,000 )
    Loan fee amortization   (60,000 )     –       (124,000 )     –  
    Change in fair value of convertible note   –       131,497       –       396,203  
    Interest expense   (66,932 )     (58,890 )     (175,755 )     (218,270 )
    Total other income (expense), net   (139,879 )     74,196       (312,649 )     170,466  
                                   
    Loss before provision for income tax   (1,567,189 )     (2,649,638 )     (4,323,690 )     (8,655,851 )
                                   
    Provision for (income tax) tax benefit   –       276,825       –       134,014  
                                   
    Net loss $ (1,567,189 )   $ (2,372,813 )   $ (4,323,690 )   $ (8,521,837 )
                                   
    Comprehensive loss:                              
    Net loss $ (1,567,189 )   $ (2,372,813 )   $ (4,323,690 )   $ (8,521,837 )
    Other comprehensive income (loss) – Foreign currency translation adjustment   (25,409 )     138,029       26,469       265,423  
    Comprehensive loss $ (1,592,598 )   $ (2,234,784 )   $ (4,297,221 )   $ (8,256,414 )
                                   
    Basic and Diluted Loss per Common Share* $ (0.53 )   $ (3.99 )   $ (2.10 )   $ (15.21 )
                                   
    Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding*                              
    Basic and diluted   3,032,240       560,278       2,059,884       560,278  
     
    *Periods reflect impact of BIO-key’s 1-for-18 reverse stock split effective December 21, 2023.
     
    Please note that the audit our FY2024 financial statements has not been completed by our independent registered public accounting firm as of the date of this press release and are therefore subject to change. 
     
    BIO-key International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
     
        December 31,  
        2024     2023  
    ASSETS                
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 437,604     $ 511,400  
    Accounts receivable, net     718,229       1,201,526  
    Due from factor     74,170       99,320  
    Inventory, net of reserve     378,307       445,740  
    Prepaid expenses and other     278,648       364,171  
    Total current assets     1,886,958       2,622,157  
    Equipment and leasehold improvements, net     140,198       220,177  
    Capitalized contract costs, net     409,426       229,806  
    Deposits and other assets     7,976       –  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets     73,372       36,905  
    Other assets     5,000,000       –  
    Intangible assets, net     1,097,630       1,407,990  
    Total non-current assets     6,728,602       1,894,878  
    TOTAL ASSETS   $ 8,615,560     $ 4,517,035  
                     
    LIABILITIES                
    Accounts payable   $ 818,187     $ 1,316,014  
    Accrued liabilities     1,278,732       1,305,848  
    Note payable     1,525,977       –  
    Government loan – BBVA Bank, current portion     132,731       138,730  
    Deferred revenue – current     773,267       414,968  
    Operating lease liabilities, current portion     24,642       37,829  
    Total current liabilities     4,553,536       3,213,389  
    Deferred revenue, net of current portion     196,237       28,296  
    Deferred tax liability     22,998       22,998  
    Government loan – BBVA Bank, net of current portion     44,762       188,787  
    Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion     48,994       –  
    Total non-current liabilities     312,991       240,081  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES     4,866,527       3,453,470  
                     
    Commitments                
                     
    STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
    Common stock — authorized, 170,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding; 3,715,483 and 1,032,777 of $.0001 par value at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively     372       103  
    Additional paid-in capital     133,030,271       126,047,851  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     49,290       22,821  
    Accumulated deficit     (129,330,900 )     (125,007,210 )
    TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     3,749,033       1,063,565  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   $ 8,615,560     $ 4,517,035  
     
    All BIO-key shares issued and outstanding for all periods reflect BIO-key’s 1-for-18 reverse stock split, which was effective December 21, 2023.
     
    Please note that the audit our FY2024 financial statements has not been completed by our independent registered public accounting firm as of the date of this press release and are therefore subject to change. 
     
    BIO-key International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
     
        Years ended December 31,  
        2024     2023  
                     
    CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                
    Net loss   $ (4,323,690 )   $ (8,521,837 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used for operating activities:                
    Depreciation     93,026       75,136  
    Amortization of intangible assets and write-off     304,983       354,558  
    Interest payable on Note     164,589       –  
    Loss on foreign currency     13,004       39,000  
    Reserve for inventory     (213,005 )     3,586,500  
    Allowance for doubtful account     (372,532 )     750,000  
    Amortization of debt discount     124,000       –  
    Amortization of capitalized contract costs     175,900       171,291  
    Share based and warrant compensation for employees and consultants     225,245       226,725  
    Stock based fees to directors     18,006       39,007  
    Bad debt expense     100,000       100,000  
    Change in fair value of convertible note     –       (396,203 )
    Deferred income tax benefit     –       (134,014 )
    Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets     79,521       –  
    Change in operating assets and liabilities:                
    Accounts receivable     855,829       (428,742 )
    Due from factor     25,150       (49,820 )
    Capitalized contract costs     (355,520 )     (118,028 )
    Deposits     (7,976 )     –  
    Right of use asset     (115,988 )     160,449  
    Inventory     280,438       402,129  
    Prepaid expenses and other     85,523       (21,465 )
    Accounts payable     (502,987 )     57,725  
    Income tax payable     –       (121,764 )
    Accrued liabilities     (27,116 )     275,561  
    Deferred revenue     526,240       (71,288 )
    Operating lease liabilities     (66,712 )     (168,376 )
    Net cash used for operating activities     (2,914,072 )     (3,793,456 )
    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                
    Capital expenditures     (13,047 )     (1,000 )
    Net cash used for investing activities     (13,047 )     (1,000 )
    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                
    Proceeds from public offerings             4,296,260  
    Repayment of convertible notes             (2,200,000 )
    Proceeds from the exercise of warrants     1,908,099       320  
    Costs incurred for issuance of common stock     (172,350 )     (561,367 )
    Proceeds from issuance of note payable     2,000,000       –  
    Repayment of note payable     (762,611 )     –  
    Repayment of government loan     (150,024 )     (119,251 )
    Proceeds from Employee Stock Purchase Plan     3,740       17,478  
    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities     2,826,854       1,433,440  
    Effect of exchange rate changes     26,469       236,894  
    NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS     (73,796 )     (2,124,122 )
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR     511,400       2,635,522  
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR   $ 437,604     $ 511,400  
     
    All BIO-key shares issued and outstanding for all periods reflect BIO-key’s 1-for-18 reverse stock split, which was effective December 21, 2023.
     
    Please note that the audit our FY2024 financial statements has not been completed by our independent registered public accounting firm as of the date of this press release and are therefore subject to change. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Element and Arval Celebrate 30 Year Alliance with Release of New Insights Focused on the Future of Fleet and Mobility 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Fleet and mobility stakeholders continue their fleet electrification strategies, with 85 per cent of them now shifting their focus to charging solutions and strategies.
    • 91 per cent of companies anticipate their fleet will either remain stable or grow in the next three years. 
    • Nearly half of the companies recognize that mobility policies and solutions are important levers for talent acquisition and employee retention.

    TORONTO, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Element Fleet Management Corp. (TSX:EFN) (“Element” or the “Company”), the largest publicly traded, pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world, together with global alliance partner, Arval, a major player in vehicle leasing and specialist in mobility solutions, are marking the 30th anniversary of the Element-Arval Global Alliance (“EAGA” or the “Alliance”) with new insights published in the 2025 Fleet and Mobility Barometer.

    “Our global alliance uniquely offers our fleet and mobility customers the expertise and relationship management needed to deploy strategies across 55 different countries, ensuring solutions meet local needs and maintain very high quality standards,” says Bart Beckers, Chief Commercial Officer of Arval. “The Element-Arval Global Alliance purpose is to support and assist our international clients to successfully build and run their global fleet strategy.“

    For 30 years the EAGA has been a global leader within fleet and mobility management. To expand its presence in additional geographies, notably in Asia, the Alliance welcomed Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service (SMAS) in 2023 and now counts eight members. With presence in 55 countries and the Alliance Members managing 4.5 million vehicles, the Alliance delivers comprehensive expertise and resources to empower their international clients across the globe, helping them to manage their fleets at a strategic, tactical, and operational level.

    “We greatly value the extensive relationship we’ve built with Arval and are proud that our global Alliance remains the longest standing across fleet and mobility,” says David Madrigal, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. “The insights captured within the annual Fleet and Mobility Barometer we’ve produced together represent one of the many ways we leverage our partnership, shared expertise, and extensive global presence to deliver comprehensive, scalable, and tailored solutions to meet our clients’ needs across the globe.”

    The Fleet and Mobility Barometer (the “Barometer”) is an industry-leading annual publication of the Arval Mobility Observatory and Element-Arval Global Alliance, offering a robust and detailed look into evolving industry trends, and providing country-specific insights, deep-dive policy considerations, as well as industry-leading benchmarking. This year’s report addresses three main areas of fleet and mobility transformation: environmental sustainability, cost efficiency, and employee satisfaction.

    Key insights from the Barometer include:

    1. Companies are overwhelmingly prioritizing environmental sustainability through fleet electrification, with 85 per cent of the companies interviewed having a charging policy or planning to have one in the future. The report also highlights the varying rates of electrification between passenger cars and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs), with Europe leading the trend.
    2. Cost efficiency is being observed through innovative methods such as full-service leasing. Despite persistent economic and geopolitical challenges, 91 per cent of companies anticipate their fleet will either remain stable or grow in the next three years.
    3. Employee satisfaction is now at the centre of mobility and fleet transformation, with 45 per cent of companies mentioning human resource needs as the main reason for developing employee mobility policies and solutions. The report emphasizes the key role of telematics and connected vehicle technologies for promoting responsible driving, improving driver behavior, and reducing accidents.

    Initiated by the Arval Mobility Observatory nearly 20 years ago, Element joined the global Barometer in 2023 to expand benchmarking capabilities to include trends across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. This year’s benchmarking survey involves more than 8,000 interviews with corporate fleet decision-makers across 28 countries and provides a forward-looking perspective on the next three years. 

    To read more about the Element-Arval Global Alliance and the 2025 Fleet and Mobility Barometer, visit Global Fleet Management Solutions | Element-Arval Global Alliance – Element Arval.

    About Element Fleet Management
    Element Fleet Management (TSX: EFN) is the largest publicly traded pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world. As a Purpose-driven company, we provide a full range of sustainable and intelligent mobility solutions to optimize and enhance fleet performance for our clients across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Our services address every aspect of our clients’ fleet requirements, from vehicle acquisition, maintenance, route optimization, risk management, and remarketing, to advising on decarbonization efforts, integration of electric vehicles and managing the complexity of gradual fleet electrification. Clients benefit from Element’s expertise as one of the largest fleet solutions providers in its markets, offering economies of scale and insight used to reduce operating costs and enhance efficiency and performance. At Element, we maximize our clients’ fleet so they can focus on growing their business. For more information, please visit: www.elementfleet.com

    About Arval:
    Arval is a major actor in full-service vehicle leasing and a specialist in mobility solutions founded in 1989. Arval is fully owned by BNP Paribas and positioned within the Group’s Commercial, Personal Banking & Services division. Arval was leasing nearly 1.8 million vehicles as of the end of 2024. Every day, nearly 8,600 Arval employees in 29 countries offer flexible solutions to make journeys seamless and sustainable for its customers, ranging from large international corporate groups to smaller companies and private customers.

    Arval is a founding member of the Element-Arval Global Alliance. The fleets of all the Alliance members represent more than 4.5 million vehicles in 55 countries.

    Arval has been rewarded with the highest level of the EcoVadis medal, the platinum level, placing its CSR strategy in the Top 1% of the companies assessed.
    www.arval.com

    About BNP Paribas:
    Leader in banking and financial services in Europe, BNP Paribas operates in 64 countries and has nearly 178,000 employees, including more than 144,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group’s commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Türkiye, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group’s performance and stability.
    https://group.bnpparibas/en/

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information regarding Element, its business and the fleet industry, which are based upon Element’s current expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. In some cases, words such as “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “may”, “could”, “predict”, “project”, “model”, “forecast”, “will”, “potential”, “target, “by”, “proposed” and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur are intended to identify forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information in this news release may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to, among other things, the Company’s expectations regarding new product offerings, including the benefits of the products, client demand and profitability, the Company’s ability to execute on its product plans, and the Company’s expectations regarding the risk and insurance industries. By their nature, these statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific, which give rise to the possibility that our predictions, forecasts, projections, expectations or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that our assumptions may not be correct. External factors outside of Element’s reasonable control may impact our ability to achieve our goals and expectations, including industry dynamics, legislation and regulatory actions, the failure of third parties to comply with their obligations to us and our affiliates or associates, client decisions and preferences. These and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements and may require Element to adjust its initiatives and activities. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date hereof and are presented for the purpose of assisting our stakeholders and others in understanding our objectives and strategic priorities and may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law. In addition, a discussion of some of the material risks affecting Element and its business appears under the heading “Risk Management & Risk Factors” in Element’s Management Discussion and Analysis for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2023 and the three and nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, and under the heading “Risk Factors” in Element’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as Element’s other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which have been filed on SEDAR+ and can be accessed on Element’s profile on www.sedarplus.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fa484c54-9cb4-4c81-835c-d59ab8841d95

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Media release: Coalition misfires in east coast gas market fix – Australian Energy Producers

    Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association

    Headline: Media release: Coalition misfires in east coast gas market fix – Australian Energy Producers

    The Coalition’s plan to force an oversupply of gas into the east coast market in an attempt to artificially reduce prices is yet another damaging market intervention that will drive away investment and exacerbate the supply challenges in the longer term.  

    Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said industry agreed that addressing projected gas supply shortfalls on the east coast of Australia and ensuring reliable and affordable gas for Australian households and businesses was a national priority.  

    “Industry welcomes the Coalition’s commitment to fast-track new gas supply and streamline approvals, but the benefits of these reforms risk being undermined by deliberately oversupplying the market,” Ms McCulloch said.  

    “AEMO’s latest Gas Statement of Opportunities highlights that the east coast market will face gas supply shortfalls from 2028. There is an urgent need to develop new supply, particularly in the southern states, but the projected shortfalls are a fraction of what the Coalition is aiming to force into the market.”  

    “This glut of gas will deter investment in new supply and undermine our trading relationships.” 

    Ms McCulloch said the plan also ignored the reality that the pipelines from Queensland to Victoria already operate at capacity during peak periods, and even if it could be physically moved south there is currently nowhere to store it.  

    “Industry stands willing to engage constructively with government on considered policies that deliver more gas for Australians and attract continued investment in new gas projects to ensure Australians have reliable and affordable gas to 2050 and beyond,” she said. 

    “We urge all parties to work with industry on sustainable solutions that provide certainty and stability for investment in the new gas exploration and development that is needed for Australia’s long-term energy security.”     

    Ms McCulloch said industry was not looking for handouts but needed policy certainty and a return to normal market conditions to support continued investment in gas supply.  

    “Australia needs long-term solutions that do not further distort the gas market,” she said. 

    Media Contact:  0434 631 511

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier meets guests from Bangladesh, Russia

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

    BOAO, Hainan, March 27 — Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday met separately with Bangladeshi interim government’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, who are in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, for the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025.

    During his meeting with Yunus, Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and Bangladesh are good neighbors, good friends and good partners, and the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations this year.

    Ding said China is willing to work together with Bangladesh to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation, and foster closer cultural and people-to-people exchanges to deepen and consolidate the China-Bangladesh comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

    Yunus said that Bangladesh firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to continuously strengthen bilateral relations with China and deepen cooperation in various fields within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

    When meeting with Overchuk, Ding said that since the beginning of this year, the two heads of state have had two rounds of communication, setting the direction for the development of China-Russia relations.

    Ding noted that both sides should follow the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, continuously deepen strategic coordination and practical cooperation, and provide strong certainty to global peace and stability.

    Overchuk said that Russia is willing to work together with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and push the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to new heights.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gross Domestic Product, 4th Quarter and Year 2024 (Third Estimate), GDP by Industry, and Corporate Profits

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 (October, November, and December), according to the third estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.1 percent.

    The increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected increases in consumer spending and government spending that were partly offset by a decrease in investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased.

    Real GDP was revised up 0.1 percentage point from the second estimate, primarily reflecting a downward revision to imports. For more information, refer to the “Technical Notes” below.

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

    From an industry perspective, the increase in real GDP reflected an increase of 2.3 percent in real value added for private goods-producing industries, an increase of 2.4 percent for private services-producing industries, and an increase of 2.7 percent for government.

    Real gross output increased 1.7 percent in the fourth quarter, reflecting an increase of 0.3 percent for private goods-producing industries, an increase of 2.0 percent for private services-producing industries, and an increase of 3.1 percent for government.

    The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter, revised down 0.1 percentage point from the previous estimate. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased 2.4 percent, the same as previously estimated. Excluding food and energy prices, the PCE price index increased 2.6 percent, revised down 0.1 percentage point from the previous estimate.

    Real gross domestic income (GDI) increased 4.5 percent in the fourth quarter compared with an increase of 1.4 percent in the third quarter.

    Profits from current production (corporate profits with inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments) increased $204.7 billion in the fourth quarter, in contrast to a decrease of $15.0 billion in the third quarter.

    Real GDP and Related Measures
    (Percent change from Q3 to Q4)
      Advance Estimate Second Estimate Third Estimate
    Real GDP 2.3 2.3 2.4
    Current-dollar GDP 4.5 4.8 4.8
    Real GDI … … 4.5
    Average of Real GDP and Real GDI … … 3.5
    Gross domestic purchases price index 2.2 2.3 2.2
    PCE price index 2.3 2.4 2.4
    PCE price index excluding food and energy 2.5 2.7 2.6

    GDP and Related Measures for 2024

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

    From an industry perspective in 2024, private goods-producing industries increased 3.4 percent, private services-producing industries increased 2.8 percent, and government increased 1.9 percent.

    The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 2.4 percent in 2024, the same as previously estimated. The PCE price index increased 2.5 percent and the PCE price index excluding food and energy prices increased 2.8 percent, both the same as previously estimated.

    Real gross domestic income (GDI) increased 3.0 percent in 2024, compared with an increase of 1.7 percent in 2023.

    Profits from current production (corporate profits with inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments) increased $281.3 billion in 2024, compared with an increase of $229.8 billion in 2023.

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

    Next release: April 30, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
    Gross Domestic Product (Advance Estimate)
    1st Quarter 2025

    Technical Notes

    Sources of revisions to real GDP in the third estimate

    Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.4 percent (0.6 percent at a quarterly rate1), an upward revision of 0.1 percentage point from the previous estimate, primarily reflecting a downward revision to imports that was partly offset by a downward revision to consumer spending.

    • For imports, the revision was led by services (notably, charges for the use of intellectual property as well as financial services), primarily reflecting updated data from BEA’s International Transactions Accounts.
    • The downward revision to consumer spending reflected a downward revision to services that was partly offset by an upward revision to goods.
      • Within services, the downward revision was led by final consumption expenditures of nonprofit institutions (led by nonprofit hospitals), based primarily on new and revised data from the Census Bureau Quarterly Services Survey.
      • Within goods, the upward revision was led by other nondurable goods and motor vehicles and parts, based on revised Census Bureau Monthly Retail Trade Survey data.

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

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Launches Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force

    Source: US State of California

    Task Force Invites Public Input Targeting Red Tape that Hinders Free Market Competition

    Today, the Justice Department launches an Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force to advocate for the elimination of anticompetitive state and federal laws and regulations that undermine free market competition and harm consumers, workers, and businesses. The Antitrust Division has a long history of advocacy against laws and regulations that create unnecessary barriers to competition.  The Task Force will surge resources to these efforts and invite public comments to support the Administration’s mission to unwind laws and regulations that hinder business dynamism and make markets less competitive.    

    “Realizing President Trump’s economic Golden Age will require unwinding burdensome regulations that stifle free market competition. This Antitrust Division will stand against harmful barriers to competition whether imposed by public regulators or private monopolists,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We look forward to working with the public and with other federal agencies to identify and eliminate anticompetitive laws and regulations.”

    On Jan. 31, President Trump signed Executive Order 14192 declaring “the policy of the executive branch” to be that federal agencies should “alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens placed on the American people.” Consistent with this policy, on Feb. 19, President Trump signed Executive Order 14219 directing agencies to “initiate a process to review all regulations” and identify regulations that, among other things, “impose undue burdens on small businesses and impede private enterprise and entrepreneurship.” Consistent with longstanding practice, the Antitrust Division will support federal agencies’ deregulatory initiatives by sharing its market expertise on regulations that pose the greatest barriers to economic growth.

    Regulatory capture is a well-studied phenomenon in which agencies become “captured” by special interests and big businesses, rather than serving the interests of the American people. But when regulations serve the few and impose undue burdens on small businesses, private enterprise, and entrepreneurs, they also harm competition and ultimately hurt American consumers, workers, and businesses. For example, regulations can increase compliance costs, preventing businesses from competing on a level playing field with powerful corporations. Regulations can also discourage or even intentionally prohibit small businesses and new products from entering markets and lowering prices for American families. In contrast, eliminating unnecessary anticompetitive regulations makes it easier for businesses to compete. More competition empowers the American people — not government regulators — to drive economic progress and innovation. When every American has a fair opportunity to enjoy the benefits of competitive free markets, every American has an opportunity to realize the American dream.

    By identifying and working with state and federal agencies to revise or eliminate these laws and regulations, the Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force will contribute to making the American dream a reality. As a first step, the Antitrust Division will initiate a public inquiry to identify unnecessary laws and regulations that raise the highest barriers to competition. In particular, the Division will seek information from the public about laws and regulations that make it more difficult for businesses to compete effectively, especially in markets that have the greatest impact on American households, including:

    • Housing: Americans spend more than one-third of their monthly income on housing, and the cost of owning or renting a home continues to rise. Laws and regulations in housing markets can contribute to these problems by making it more difficult for companies to build and ordinary Americans to rent or buy.
    • Transportation: Laws and regulations in areas like airlines, rail, and ocean shipping can grant antitrust immunities, outright monopolies, or safe harbors for conduct that undermines competition. As a result, Americans pay more for travel, fuel, and a variety of other products.
    • Food and Agriculture: By the end of the Biden-Harris Administration, grocery prices were 27% higher than at the end of the first Trump Administration. Eliminating unnecessary anticompetitive regulations will help farmers, growers, and ranchers increase the amount of food they produce and unlock lower prices for American consumers.
    • Healthcare: Laws and regulations in healthcare markets too often discourage doctors and hospitals from providing low-cost, high-quality healthcare and instead encourage overbilling and consolidation. These kinds of unnecessary anticompetitive regulations put affordable healthcare out of reach for millions of American families.
    • Energy: Reliable and affordable energy is essential to modern American life — whether in homes, businesses, manufacturing plants, schools, hospitals, sporting events, or data centers. Laws and regulations can undermine reliability and affordability by protecting incumbent electricity providers from competition or disruptive innovation.

    The public will have 60 days to submit comments at Regulations.gov, no later than May 26. Once submitted, comments will be posted to Regulations.gov. All market participants are invited to provide comments in response to this inquiry, including consumers, consumer advocates, small businesses, employers, trade groups, industry analysts, and other entities that are impacted by anticompetitive state or federal laws and regulations.

    In addition to reviewing responses from the public, the Task Force will bring together attorneys, economists, and other staff from across the Division, together with interagency partners, to identify state and federal laws and regulations that unnecessarily harm competition. The Antitrust Division will then take appropriate action, including helping agencies revise or eliminate these regulations.

    The Task Force will also consider other ways to advocate for the removal of anticompetitive laws and regulations. The Division routinely files amicus briefs and statements of interests in private litigation, and it will continue to do so to promote competition and oppose anticompetitive laws and regulations. The Division also provides comments on proposed legislation in the states on the request of state legislators. These efforts will continue with an eye toward protecting competition and interstate commerce in light of dormant Commerce Clause principles.

    The Justice Department has a long history of serving as the Executive Branch’s chief competition advocate by working with agencies to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulations. In 2018, the Justice Department released a report on how regulations can harm competition. Following this report, the Justice Department submitted dozens of comments to federal agencies supporting efforts to eliminate unnecessary regulations and increase competition. For example, the Justice Department, in consultation with the Federal Trade Commission, submitted a comment opposing  regulations that would have protected incumbent electricity transmission companies from much-needed competition in energy markets across the country. The Justice Department filed comments aimed at making it easier for individuals and small businesses to navigate the federal government bureaucracy. The Justice Department also provided technical assistance and trainings to federal agencies to help them analyze how new and existing regulations might affect competition, or whether competition may be a better alternative to regulation altogether.

    The Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force will continue these efforts, supporting ongoing efforts across the Trump Administration to unleash competition by eliminating unnecessary, burdensome, and wasteful government regulations. For more information on the Task Force, including contact information, see the Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force page on the Division’s website.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: AnticompetitiveRegulations@usdoj.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Launches Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Task Force Invites Public Input Targeting Red Tape that Hinders Free Market Competition

    Today, the Justice Department launches an Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force to advocate for the elimination of anticompetitive state and federal laws and regulations that undermine free market competition and harm consumers, workers, and businesses. The Antitrust Division has a long history of advocacy against laws and regulations that create unnecessary barriers to competition.  The Task Force will surge resources to these efforts and invite public comments to support the Administration’s mission to unwind laws and regulations that hinder business dynamism and make markets less competitive.    

    “Realizing President Trump’s economic Golden Age will require unwinding burdensome regulations that stifle free market competition. This Antitrust Division will stand against harmful barriers to competition whether imposed by public regulators or private monopolists,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We look forward to working with the public and with other federal agencies to identify and eliminate anticompetitive laws and regulations.”

    On Jan. 31, President Trump signed Executive Order 14192 declaring “the policy of the executive branch” to be that federal agencies should “alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens placed on the American people.” Consistent with this policy, on Feb. 19, President Trump signed Executive Order 14219 directing agencies to “initiate a process to review all regulations” and identify regulations that, among other things, “impose undue burdens on small businesses and impede private enterprise and entrepreneurship.” Consistent with longstanding practice, the Antitrust Division will support federal agencies’ deregulatory initiatives by sharing its market expertise on regulations that pose the greatest barriers to economic growth.

    Regulatory capture is a well-studied phenomenon in which agencies become “captured” by special interests and big businesses, rather than serving the interests of the American people. But when regulations serve the few and impose undue burdens on small businesses, private enterprise, and entrepreneurs, they also harm competition and ultimately hurt American consumers, workers, and businesses. For example, regulations can increase compliance costs, preventing businesses from competing on a level playing field with powerful corporations. Regulations can also discourage or even intentionally prohibit small businesses and new products from entering markets and lowering prices for American families. In contrast, eliminating unnecessary anticompetitive regulations makes it easier for businesses to compete. More competition empowers the American people — not government regulators — to drive economic progress and innovation. When every American has a fair opportunity to enjoy the benefits of competitive free markets, every American has an opportunity to realize the American dream.

    By identifying and working with state and federal agencies to revise or eliminate these laws and regulations, the Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force will contribute to making the American dream a reality. As a first step, the Antitrust Division will initiate a public inquiry to identify unnecessary laws and regulations that raise the highest barriers to competition. In particular, the Division will seek information from the public about laws and regulations that make it more difficult for businesses to compete effectively, especially in markets that have the greatest impact on American households, including:

    • Housing: Americans spend more than one-third of their monthly income on housing, and the cost of owning or renting a home continues to rise. Laws and regulations in housing markets can contribute to these problems by making it more difficult for companies to build and ordinary Americans to rent or buy.
    • Transportation: Laws and regulations in areas like airlines, rail, and ocean shipping can grant antitrust immunities, outright monopolies, or safe harbors for conduct that undermines competition. As a result, Americans pay more for travel, fuel, and a variety of other products.
    • Food and Agriculture: By the end of the Biden-Harris Administration, grocery prices were 27% higher than at the end of the first Trump Administration. Eliminating unnecessary anticompetitive regulations will help farmers, growers, and ranchers increase the amount of food they produce and unlock lower prices for American consumers.
    • Healthcare: Laws and regulations in healthcare markets too often discourage doctors and hospitals from providing low-cost, high-quality healthcare and instead encourage overbilling and consolidation. These kinds of unnecessary anticompetitive regulations put affordable healthcare out of reach for millions of American families.
    • Energy: Reliable and affordable energy is essential to modern American life — whether in homes, businesses, manufacturing plants, schools, hospitals, sporting events, or data centers. Laws and regulations can undermine reliability and affordability by protecting incumbent electricity providers from competition or disruptive innovation.

    The public will have 60 days to submit comments at Regulations.gov, no later than May 26. Once submitted, comments will be posted to Regulations.gov. All market participants are invited to provide comments in response to this inquiry, including consumers, consumer advocates, small businesses, employers, trade groups, industry analysts, and other entities that are impacted by anticompetitive state or federal laws and regulations.

    In addition to reviewing responses from the public, the Task Force will bring together attorneys, economists, and other staff from across the Division, together with interagency partners, to identify state and federal laws and regulations that unnecessarily harm competition. The Antitrust Division will then take appropriate action, including helping agencies revise or eliminate these regulations.

    The Task Force will also consider other ways to advocate for the removal of anticompetitive laws and regulations. The Division routinely files amicus briefs and statements of interests in private litigation, and it will continue to do so to promote competition and oppose anticompetitive laws and regulations. The Division also provides comments on proposed legislation in the states on the request of state legislators. These efforts will continue with an eye toward protecting competition and interstate commerce in light of dormant Commerce Clause principles.

    The Justice Department has a long history of serving as the Executive Branch’s chief competition advocate by working with agencies to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulations. In 2018, the Justice Department released a report on how regulations can harm competition. Following this report, the Justice Department submitted dozens of comments to federal agencies supporting efforts to eliminate unnecessary regulations and increase competition. For example, the Justice Department, in consultation with the Federal Trade Commission, submitted a comment opposing  regulations that would have protected incumbent electricity transmission companies from much-needed competition in energy markets across the country. The Justice Department filed comments aimed at making it easier for individuals and small businesses to navigate the federal government bureaucracy. The Justice Department also provided technical assistance and trainings to federal agencies to help them analyze how new and existing regulations might affect competition, or whether competition may be a better alternative to regulation altogether.

    The Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force will continue these efforts, supporting ongoing efforts across the Trump Administration to unleash competition by eliminating unnecessary, burdensome, and wasteful government regulations. For more information on the Task Force, including contact information, see the Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force page on the Division’s website.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: AnticompetitiveRegulations@usdoj.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local Planning Authority casework portal expands to include Section 78 casework

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Local Planning Authority casework portal expands to include Section 78 casework

    Five Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) now piloting expanded service with nationwide rollout planned from June 2025

    We have expanded our casework portal trial to include Section 78 cases, marking a significant milestone in our organisation’s digital transformation programme. 

    Successful pilot expansion 

    Following the successful implementation of the Householder Appeals Service (HAS) with five pilot LPAs, the casework portal is now being used to handle Section 78 appeals. This expansion represents the next phase in modernising and future-proofing our online appeal services. 

    Tom Warth, Head of Planning and Environmental Appeals Service at the Planning Inspectorate, said: 

    “The feedback and collaboration from our pilot LPAs has been invaluable in developing a system that truly meets user needs. This expansion to include Section 78 appeals demonstrates our commitment to creating a more efficient, accessible and user-friendly appeals process for all stakeholders.” 

    The five LPAs participating in the pilot are: 

    • London Borough of Barnet 
    • Royal Borough of Greenwich 
    • London Borough of Havering 
    • London Borough of Richmond upon Thames 
    • London Borough of Bromley 

    National rollout from June 2025 

    We are pleased to announce that following the pilot phase, the LPA casework portal will begin rolling out to all authorities across England from June 2025. The rollout will be conducted in tranches to ensure a smooth transition and appropriate support for each authority. 

    Benefits of the new appeals portal 

    The expanded digital service offers numerous benefits including: 

    • Streamlined submission and management of appeals 
    • Improved tracking and monitoring capabilities 
    • Enhanced communication between all parties 
    • Reduced paper-based processes 
    • More efficient handling of casework 

    Preparing for the transition 

    We encourage LPAs to begin considering how this transition might affect their internal processes. Comprehensive training materials, guidance and support will be provided throughout the implementation period. 

    Further information 

    LPAs can find preview videos of the dashboard functionality via our YouTube playlist, including: 

    • An overview of features and functionality 
    • Guidance on dashboard access and user management 
    • Step-by-step instructions for completing appeal questionnaires 

    To stay updated on developments, follow the Planning Inspectorate on LinkedIn or sign up for email alerts via our subscription form.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Interim Chair appointed to the Charity Commission for England and Wales

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government Non-Ministerial Departments

    News story

    Interim Chair appointed to the Charity Commission for England and Wales

    The Secretary of State has appointed Mark Simms OBE as Interim Chair of the Charity Commission. This interim appointment has been made while the process for finding the next Chair is completed.

    Mark Simms OBE

    Appointed for a six month term from 25 April 2025 or until a new Chair is appointed, whichever is sooner. 

    Mark Simms is the Chief Executive Officer of P3 Charity, a national organisation that supports some of the most vulnerable people across the UK. Under his leadership, P3 has grown significantly in its reach and impact, delivering innovative services in homelessness, mental health, criminal justice, and social inclusion.

    Mark has more than 25 years’ experience in the voluntary and public sectors, with a deep understanding of how to lead purpose-driven organisations through complex and changing environments. He is widely recognised for championing person-led approaches and for building high-performing teams that deliver real social impact. He has contributed to several national advisory boards focused on systems change, public service reform, and tackling inequality.

    Mark joined the Charity Commission as a Board Member in March 2023 and was awarded an OBE in 2024 for services to social enterprise.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    The Chair of the Charity Commission is remunerated £62,500 per annum. This interim appointment was made by the Secretary of State as an exceptional appointment without competition, following consultation with the Commissioner for Public Appointments, in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Mark Simms has not declared any significant political activity. 

    DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies, we encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Applications for the next substantive Chair of the Charity Commission for England and Wales will open soon, to receive a notification when applications open please create an account on the HM Government Public Appointments Website.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: an ‘arms race’ of promises as prime minister set to call election on Friday

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Oops. Anthony Albanese’s own department pre-empted its boss on Thursday. Some unfortunate official, pressing the wrong button, posted on X that the government was in “caretaker” mode, although the prime minister had not yet called the election.

    There was a grovelling apology from the department, saying it was trying to find out why the error occurred.

    No matter. The department was only a day early. Albanese goes to government house on Friday for an election on May 3.

    Indeed, most players and observers had expected, before cyclone Alfred, that the campaign, with its “caretaker” period, would be well under way by now.

    Instead, we’ve had this budget week that’s seen an auction of handouts.

    First, the budget announced the tax cuts, which are more than a year away, and will be delivered in two stages, They are, to use Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ description, “modest”.

    Then came Peter Duttlon’s counter hit – a halving of the excise on petrol and diesel, briefed out ahead of his budget reply. The benefit would come more quickly – but would only last a year. This is a recycled, extended version of the Morrison government’s 2022 excise cut. Labor supported the 2022 move, but rejects Dutton’s proposal.

    The budget we nearly didn’t have gave Chalmers the stage to strut his stuff. Budget weeks traditionally belong to treasurers who, among other things, do a walkabout through the ranks of the journalists who are “locked up” and ploughing through the embargoed budget documents. So some old hands were surprised when the PM appeared with a senior staffer to do his own walkabout. Precedents didn’t come to mind.

    Labor sought to wedge the Coalition by pushing through legislation to enshrine the tax cuts. The Coalition voted against them in parliament, then declared if elected, it would repeal them. Dutton has confirmed he won’t be announcing any policy for tax cuts closer to the election.

    For the Liberals, to be seen opposing an income tax cut is unusual and risky. It’s made for campaign slogans. “The only thing they don’t want to cut is people’s taxes,” Albanese declared. “Labor is the party of lower taxes.” Both sides will be watching their polling carefully in coming days to see whether this stand rebounds against the Liberals.

    The opposition believes its excise reduction will hit the mark, especially in the seats it is most targeting – those in the outer suburbs where people drive a lot.

    But Kos Samaras, from the Redbridge political consultancy, predicts people will see this “arms race” of hand outs as providing just band-aids, with the measures likely to cancel each other out.

    Apart from the excise measure the other big initiative in Dutton’s reply was his plan for a gas reservation scheme.

    This is designed to fill what has been an apparent big hole in the opposition’s energy policy. It has its ambitious (many would say unrealistic) nuclear plan for the long term. But if it is arguing it would be able to bring down energy bills any time soon, it needs a here-and-now policy to do so.

    Its answer is to turn to gas. That requires ensuring a reliable and adequate supply for the local market, to drive down the price.

    “Gas sold on the domestic market will be de-coupled from overseas markets to protect Australia from international price shocks,” Dutton said in his Thursday speech. “And this will drive down new wholesale domestic gas prices from over $14 per gigajoule to under 10 per gigajoule.”

    Dutton told the ABC after his address that the price fall could be achieved by the end of this calendar year.

    That estimate sounds like a hostage to fortune. Precision can be dangerous when it comes to energy promises. Who can forget that number Labor put out so confidently before the last election – a $275 fall in household power bills?

    Critics will find all sorts of issues with Dutton’s east coast reservation scheme, including that it would be heavily interventionist and there’s no guarantee it would work. Labor says Dutton is reheating one of its old plans, and that the government has the gas situation under control anyway.

    The opposition says its plan is in line with warnings on gas supply released by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Thursday.

    The potential effectiveness of Dutton’s gas plan will be highly contested. What is not in dispute is that the partisan divide over the energy transition will be one of the central issues of the campaign.

    This week the prime minister has had a spring in his step. The polls have improved somewhat, and the “vibe” seems to be with him. Responding to a challenge from a couple of podcasters, he playfully put the phrase, “delulu with no solulu” into a speech to describe his opponents. Never mind that middle-aged politicians sound slightly absurd when they try to be hip. Albanese is a confidence player and at the moment his confidence is up.

    The tactical games aren’t just around the tax cuts. Calling the election first thing Friday carpet bombs Dutton’s budget reply.

    And once the election is called, parliament will be prorogued and that will scrap the Friday sitting of estimates committees, denying the opposition an opportunity to quiz officials about the budget and other matters. (On Thursday, the “caretaker” fiasco became public during an estimates hearing, surprising officials from the PM’s department who happening to be appearing at the time.)

    For his part, Dutton understands the odds against him.

    Political scientist Rodney Tiffen, in an analysis of federal campaigns from 1972 to 2022, found no example where an opposition had started the campaign roughly equal in the polls and won, and three where it had lost (1980, 1987, and 2004). “All winning oppositions started the campaign already ahead,” Tiffen writes in a chapter in The Art of Opposition.

    In his budget reply, Dutton delivered one revealing line: “This election is as much about leadership as it’s about policy”.

    Dutton casts himself as the leader who would take the tough decisions. “I will lead with conviction – not walk both sides of the street,” he said.

    “I will be a strong leader and a steady hand – just as John Howard was.”

    Dutton might see Howard as his role model, but it will be a big leap of faith for many voters to see the opposition as a contemporary Howard.

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

    – ref. Grattan on Friday: an ‘arms race’ of promises as prime minister set to call election on Friday – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-an-arms-race-of-promises-as-prime-minister-set-to-call-election-on-friday-251257

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Crime and policing Bill: Government amendments for Committee

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Crime and policing Bill: Government amendments for Committee

    Correspondence relating to the Crime and Policing Bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons on 25 February 2025.

    Documents

    Letter from Minister Johnson to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 26 March 2025

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    Letter from Minister Johnson to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 26 March 2025

    PDF, 200 KB, 2 pages

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    Details

    Ministerial correspondence relating to the Crime and Policing Bill.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council shortlisted for prominent national local government awards including Local Authority of the Year Lancaster City Council is proud to have been shortlisted in four different categories at this year’s MJ Awards, including the prestigious Local Authority of the Year category.

    Source: City of Lancaster

    Lancaster City Council is proud to have been shortlisted in four different categories at this year’s MJ Awards, including the prestigious Local Authority of the Year category.

    Lancaster City Council has been shortlisted for Local Authority of the Year at the MJ Awards

    The recognition follows the council’s positive Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge in 2024, which praised the ‘Let’s do it’ culture and clear vision for the district.

    The MJ awards are held annually and recognise success in local government and outstanding work and commitment to local communities.

    The categories the city council has been shortlisted for in are:

    • Local Authority of the Year

    This category highlights success not just in one local authority department or project but right across the organisation. Successes celebrated in the entry include delivery of new recycling initiatives, support for Council Housing tenants, digital transformation initiatives, and leading the fight to tackle climate change.

    • Leadership in Responding to the Climate Emergency

    This recognises the city council’s work in delivering the Climate Emergency Local Plan Review, which focused on how new developments can be made better for nature while also making sure that homes and residents are better protected from flooding, lower fuel bills, and better access to sustainable travel. 

    Described as being “at the forefront of integrating net zero into local planning policy” the review has received national attention and featured on Channel 4’s The Great Climate Fight with Grand Design’s presenter Kevin McCloud.

    • Rising Star

    Susanna Dart (Principal Climate Policy Officer) has been instrumental in shaping the council’s response to the climate crisis, contributing significantly to policy development and community engagement. She has been shortlisted in the Rising Star category for her pivotal role in influencing climate resilience across the district and advocating the co-benefits that can ensue from taking a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change.

    • Digital Transformation

    The entry for this category featured a number of components that the council has focused on over the last 12 months to improve its digital services. It includes the installation of new digital screens across the district to provide visitor information, introduction of a new online portal to manage relationships with customers, and development of the 3D Mill Race App in conjunction with Lancaster University, underpinned by a new Digital Strategy which was co-created with key partners.

    Mark Davies, chief executive of Lancaster City Council, said: “Lancaster City Council is committed to delivering high quality services to its communities and being at the forefront of taking action to tackle our changing climate. All this has been achieved during particularly difficult financial times and by the council making the most of its resources while gaining outside funding to supplement its own investment.

    “Being shortlisted for these prestigious awards is testament to the hard work, innovative thinking and ingenuity that takes place every single day.

    “It’s particularly pleasing to be shortlisted for Council of the Year as this is recognises the work that takes place right across the authority and is something in which every single Elected Member and member of staff can take pride. Congratulations to all the teams representing the council and good luck in the final judging.”

    Judging in each of the categories will take place this spring with the results being announced in June.

    Last updated: 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canadians are anxious as they ponder how to vote this election. Which leader can ease their fears?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Lori Turnbull, Professor of Political Science in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University, Dalhousie University

    This federal election is being described as the most consequential in modern Canadian history. The country is in a tariff and trade war with its closest ally, the United States, and President Donald Trump is threatening Canada’s sovereignty.

    No wonder Canadians are feeling anxious and fearful. And in times of crisis, people tend to look extra hard for leaders they can trust.

    Liberal Leader Mark Carney, a rookie in politics but an internationally respected economist, is enjoying a wave of momentum. Due to his stints as governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008-09 financial crash and the Bank of England during Brexit, he’s well-qualified to manage economic roller-coasters. Can his impressive CV help calm the fears of Canadians?

    Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, on the other hand, has been connecting with supporters by giving voice to their worries about the economy, jobs, crime and the housing crisis. He’s made people feel heard, but he’s also been accused of building his brand appeal by stoking — rather than soothing — Canadians’ fears about the future.

    Carney’s track record as a fixer could give him the edge now that the election campaign is in full swing and Canada’s fears are being amplified.

    Liberals wildly unpopular

    Before Justin Trudeau announced his plans to leave politics, the next federal election was shaping up to be a showdown between Trudeau and Poilievre, two career politicians with likeability problems and a palpable mutual resentment.

    Each of them often used fear as a tool to warn Canadians about the dangers of electing the other. The mood in the country was sour.

    In July 2024, an Abacus Data poll indicated only 23 per cent of Canadians felt the country was headed in the right direction. The affordability crisis was weighing on people, as 45 per cent of respondents reported having a hard time keeping up with daily expenses due to rising prices.

    The long-standing consensus around the benefits of immigration was crumbling due to the lack of suitable housing for everyone.



    Read more:
    Canada at a crossroads: Understanding the shifting sands of immigration attitudes

    A third of Canadians also self-identified as “political orphans” who felt that none of the political parties truly represented them.

    Most of the public was blaming the Liberals for the broad mismanagement of various important complex policy files, and the Conservatives were the largest beneficiaries of voter frustration. They looked like they had the next election in the bag.

    Dramatically altered landscape

    It’s now March 2025 and the political playing field looks wildly different. Though the aforementioned issues remain salient, Trudeau has resigned and Carney has erased the lead in public support that Poilievre and the Conservatives held not long ago.

    Most polls suggest the parties are in a dead heat while others have Carney pulling ahead. In the hope of winning enough votes to form a majority government — in Carney’s own words, he’s asked the public for a “strong, positive mandate” — he is running on a platform aimed at the political centre to offer a home to those political orphans.

    Carney’s pitching tax cuts, pipeline projects, reduced trade barriers between the provinces and balanced operational spending while running deficits for investments that would grow the economy. He’s done away with the unpopular consumer carbon tax.

    Given that Carney is pulling the Liberals back to the centre, and that there is actually overlap between the Conservatives and the Liberals — both spent the first full day of the campaign promising income tax cuts — it seems the real choice in this election is about leadership rather than dramatically different policy platforms.

    It’s no surprise that Carney’s unique professional experience elevates his bid to be prime minister in the current political climate. So far, he’s been a calm presence amid a volatile and developing storm. Despite Conservative efforts to try to diminish him, his credentials speak for themselves.

    This helps him to build trust among voters. At any other time, his snippiness with the media when asked about his financial holdings might cost him some political capital, but in the current moment, he will likely be given a pass.



    Read more:
    Can Mark Carney truly connect with Canadian voters? Canada will now find out

    Poilievre no longer has Trudeau for a target

    As British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan once explained, politics is about “events, dear boy, events.”

    Much to the certain chagrin of Conservatives, the polls suggest this moment was custom-made for Carney.

    Trump’s attacks and threats against Canadian sovereignty tee up Carney’s pitches for Canada’s economic independence perfectly. His campaign material basically writes itself, and his economic gravitas makes him a solid messenger.

    Carney is both reassuring Canadians in this moment of anxiety as well as tapping into Canadian pride, in his own words and through celebrity proxies like comedian Mike Myers who are helping him reach audiences who tuned out Trudeau a long time ago.

    Mike Myers appears with Mark Carney in this ad on Carney’s YouTube channel.

    This is not to count out Poilievre. With the Conservative base firmly behind him, he could be poised to form a government or keep Carney to a minority.

    But the question on the ballot is no longer about Trudeau — it’s about who Canadians trust to lead them through a disruptive and unpredictable time.

    Poilievre has been working tirelessly for years to position himself as the person for the job.

    But the peculiar circumstances of the moment — and the fear and anxiety that Canadians are having trouble shaking amid Trump’s continuing threats — might drive many voters towards the non-politician whose track record as a fixer gives people the reassurance they are looking for.

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

    – ref. Canadians are anxious as they ponder how to vote this election. Which leader can ease their fears? – https://theconversation.com/canadians-are-anxious-as-they-ponder-how-to-vote-this-election-which-leader-can-ease-their-fears-252701

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ninja swords banned by summer as manifesto commitment delivered

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Ninja swords banned by summer as manifesto commitment delivered

    Final part of Ronan’s Law introduced in Parliament thanks to campaigning of Kanda family.

    Image: Getty Images

    In a further move to break the cycle of young people carrying knives and to better protect the public from knife-related crime, from 1 August, ninja swords will be banned. This will make it illegal to possess, manufacture, import or sell these deadly weapons.  

    The majority of ninja swords have a blade between 14 inches and 24 inches with one straight cutting edge with a tanto style point. From 1 August, anyone caught in possession of a ninja sword in private could face 6 months in prison, and this will later increase to 2 years under new measures in the Crime and Policing Bill. There is already a penalty of up to 4 years in prison for carrying any weapon in public.  

    Ahead of the ban coming into place, the government, in partnership with law enforcement and members of the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, will run its most ambitious surrender scheme yet. The scheme will run across the country, targeting young people most vulnerable to knife crime.  

    The surrender scheme will run from 1 to 31 July to allow any member of the public to hand in these weapons safely.  

    There will also be new safeguards to prevent exploitation of the scheme. For the first time, there will be a cut-off date and no weapons bought after today (27 March) will be eligible for compensation and we will have stronger value checks. There will also be further guidance released advising where a sword can be surrendered if the owner does not wish to visit a local police station or claim compensation. This will offer the greater use of knife surrender bins and their locations.

    The government is exploring every avenue to protect young people and break the behaviour of carrying knives as part of its Plan for Change. The mission to halve knife crime is a cross-Whitehall mission to:

    • restrict the availability of knives online
    • hold those responsible for selling knives irresponsibly to account
    • better support young people at an early stage who are vulnerable to a life of crime

    Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

    Knife crime is destroying young lives as too many teenagers are being drawn into violence and it is far too easy for them to get hold of dangerous weapons.

    Ronan Kanda was just 16 when he was ruthlessly killed by 2 boys only a year older than him. Today we are introducing the final part of Ronan’s law in his memory – banning the ninja swords that his killers should never have been able to use.

    We are acting with urgency to bring forward measures to prevent deadly weapons from getting into the wrong hands and will continue to do whatever is needed to prevent young people being killed on our streets as part of our mission to halve knife crime over the next decade. 

    Pooja Kanda said:

    Today marks a very important day for us as a family and our campaign. Since losing our beautiful boy Ronan, we have relentlessly campaigned for a ban on ninja swords – the lethal weapon which took his life. We believe ninja swords have no place in our society other than to seriously harm and kill.

    We are so grateful to our government for hearing us and for recognising how important and urgent it is to get these dangerous weapons off our streets. Each step towards tackling knife crime is a step towards getting justice for our boy Ronan.

    Patrick Green, CEO, Ben Kinsella Trust said:

    The Ben Kinsella Trust welcomes the government’s decision to ban ninja swords and implement Ronan’s Law. These weapons, with no practical purpose beyond violence, are simply instruments of war and have absolutely no place in our society or on our streets. The ease with which such dangerous items have been available has contributed to far too many tragedies. 

    The additional measures under Ronan’s Law, designed to hold those who sell these weapons to account, are critical in breaking the supply chain that fuels this violence. We commend the government for listening to victims’ families, and for taking decisive action.

    Sandra Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Word 4 Weapons said:

    Word 4 Weapons stands firmly behind the introduction of Ronan’s Law. Ronan’s tragic death at the hands of a ninja sword highlights the urgent need to tighten legislation around dangerous weapons, online and otherwise. This law is a crucial step toward reducing violence and protecting lives in our communities.

    The ninja ban forms part of Ronan’s Law, which aims to tackle the online sale of knives. Last month, the government announced a series of measures to tackle online sales, including a 2-step verification process for the sale of knives online and significant fines for executives who fail to remove knife crime content for their platform. It also announced tougher penalties for being caught with a knife in public and for selling a weapon to any person under 18.  

    Ronan’s Law will also require online retailers to report any bulk or suspicious-looking purchases of knives to the police. This will apply to all online sales of knives, including those who operate through online marketplaces. In the spring, the government will also consult on the introduction of a licensing scheme for retailers who wish to sell knives. 

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –