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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP alarmed at soaring hunger as more flee displacement camps in eastern DRC

    Source: World Food Programme

    Photo: WFP/ Michael Castofas. In Bulengo camp, displaced families face a dire and uncertain future as M23 authorities instruct them to dismantle their makeshift shelters.

    Thousands reached with Nutrition assistance

    KINSHASA- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has partially resumed food assistance in parts of Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) delivering vital nutrition supplies for the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition in children aged 6 to 59 months as three weeks of fighting continues to worsen access to food for the most vulnerable.

    A recent WFP market assessment found the price of staple foods in eastern DRC has sky-rocketed – making it more difficult for families to put food on the table. The price of maize flour has risen by nearly 67 percent, while salt has shot up by about 43 percent, and oil increased by up to 45 percent. 

    With major access routes blocked, and Goma International airport a critical humanitarian hub closed, WFP’s priority is to resume operations fully as soon as it is safe to do so. 

    ‘’The longer we are unable to give food and emergency assistance to families affected by the conflict, the greater and more dire their needs are,” said Peter Musoko, WFP’s Country Director and Representative in DRC. “I do not want to see children and mothers sink deeper into hunger and severe malnutrition. We need the violence to stop so we can resume our humanitarian activities. The most vulnerable people in DRC cannot afford to be overlooked during this crisis.’ 

    The WFP-run UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) operations – which provides humanitarians with critical access and support for life-saving work across the country -. urgently requires USD 33.1 million to sustain operations in the country this year. Without additional contributions, air operations could be suspended by the end of March 2025.

    Here are the latest updates on WFP operations in the DRC:

    • Nutrition assistance: WFP delivered 57 metric tons of nutritional commodities to health centres within Goma to support malnutrition treatment reaching 11,000 malnourished children under five, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
    • In North Kivu, WFP has reached 9,000 out of a target of 83,000 people with emergency food assistance. Security must improve for WFP to reach tens of thousands more of the most vulnerable populations at risk.
    • WFP has resumed its support to the ongoing Mpox vaccination campaign in the health zones of Goma, Karisimbi, and Nyiragongo, providing hot meals to more than 100 Mpox patients.
    • WFP warehouses have been looted in Goma and Bukavu – 70 percent of food stocks were stolen in Goma, and all humanitarian supplies could not be recovered in Bukavu. A new warehouse has been set up in Goma to continue life-saving operations.
    • WFP’s UNHAS operations continue to provide humanitarian access to the eastern provinces. In recent weeks, the fleet was relocated to Kalemie in Tanganyika, establishing a new operational hub for eastern DRC.
    • In 2025, UNHAS has transported 2,464 passengers, including humanitarian workers relocated from Goma and Bukavu, and has delivered 23 metric tons of essential light cargo across the country. UNHAS operations are critical to facilitate and enable humanitarians to do vital work.
    • WFP urgently needs US $397 million to maintain country-wide operations in the country for the next six months until July 2025. 

    WFP’ plans to reach 7 million of the most vulnerable women, men, and children in DRC with lifesaving food and nutrition assistance in 2025, and is working with UN agencies, NGOs, and government partners to address immediate needs and prepare for a potential large-scale response once conditions allow.

    Download photos here

    Download video footage here

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    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media @WFPDRC on Instgram;WFP DRC on Facebook  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 20 February 2025 Departmental update Message by the Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at WHO – January/February 2025

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Safeguarding children and adolescents from deadly, yet preventable diseases, such as polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis, human papillomavirus and tetanus, among others, is the foundation of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) – saving an estimated 154 million lives and adding over 10 billion years of healthy life. Through strong partnerships and countries’ commitments vaccines have reached every corner of the world and became the single greatest contribution of any health intervention to ensuring babies not only see their first birthdays but continue leading healthy lives into adulthood.

    2025 marks a significant turning point for immunization efforts worldwide.

    Last year, we celebrated the remarkable progress made by the global immunization community since 1974. Each year, new and under-utilized vaccines continue to be introduced in countries. In 2024, four new countries introduced HPV vaccines and 25 adopted the single-dose schedule. Additionally, Niger and Nigeria became the first countries to implement the Men5CV vaccine, a new and affordable meningococcal pentavalent conjugate vaccine, and more than 12 million doses of malaria vaccine reached 17 countries in Africa in 2024 – a pivotal moment in the fight to end malaria.

    The Big Catch-up Initiative, a major vaccine co-financing initiative in collaboration with Gavi and UNICEF, began reaching children left unvaccinated as a result the pandemic. By the end of 2024, an estimated 143 million vaccine doses had been delivered to 36 countries and 10.5 million catch-up doses had already been administered. This year, an additional 104 million doses will be delivered as part of the Big Catch-up, and a new WHO global monitoring dashboard is enabling real-time data tracking to continually strengthen countries strategies and our support to them. The midway point of the Immunization Agenda 2030 is upon us. As we look towards the next five years there are challenges ahead, but the goal is more relevant than ever.

    Five immunization priorities for 2025

    Equity: Reaching Zero-Dose Children

    Vaccine equity remains one of the most urgent global health challenges of our time. While immunization programs have made tremendous progress, millions of children worldwide remain unreached—many of whom are classified as zero-dose children, meaning they have not received a single vaccine. In 2023, 14.5 million children had received no vaccines at all, a sharp increase from 12.9 million in 2019. These children are disproportionately from marginalized communities, including those in conflict zones, remote areas, and urban slums. The gap in coverage not only fuels preventable disease outbreaks but also deepens existing inequalities in health outcomes. Closing this gap requires targeted strategies: improving supply chains, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and addressing socioeconomic barriers that prevent families from accessing vaccination services. Achieving true equity means ensuring that no child is left behind.

    Outbreaks: The Resurgence of Measles and System Strengthening

    Vaccine-Preventable Disease surveillance is another pillar of global health security. From yellow fever to measles to pneumonia, early detection ensures vaccines reach those who need them most. The alarming rise in measles cases is a stark reminder of result when immunization networks are weakened. Once considered on the path to elimination in many regions, measles is resurging due to gaps in vaccine coverage. This increase is a warning signal that vaccination systems are at risk—delayed campaigns, supply chain disruptions, and weakened trust in health services have created the basis for outbreaks. Strengthening immunization programmes is not just about responding to crises but about intense work to build resilient health systems so those crises are averted in the first place. This means enhancing surveillance, ensuring robust stockpiles of vaccines, training health workers, assuring data systems are in place to drive impact and intensifying essential immunization services. A failure to act decisively now could see other vaccine-preventable diseases following the same dangerous trend.

    Vaccine Confidence: Strengthening Trust Among Communities and Health Workers

    Confidence in vaccines is the backbone of successful immunization efforts. The past few years have exposed both the strengths and vulnerabilities of public trust in vaccines. Misinformation, historical mistrust, and political instability threaten to erode hard-won gains. At the same time, frontline health workers—the trusted faces of vaccination—must be supported with training and resources to confidently engage with communities. Trust must be built through transparency, education, and engagement. Governments, civil society, and the private sector must work together to counter misinformation and misrepresentation, amplify accurate information, and ensure that communities feel empowered, not coerced, in vaccine decision-making.

    New Vaccines: Innovation, Hope, and the Need for Strong Support

    Innovation in vaccines brings immense opportunity for tackling some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The introduction of new vaccines—whether for malaria, RSV, or the next pandemic threat—represents a turning point in public health.  New vaccines are only as impactful as the systems that deliver them. The success of these vaccines hinges not just on their development but on their effective introduction and sustained delivery. This is where our role supporting countries is critical: ensuring that regulatory approvals, financing mechanisms, health system readiness, and community acceptance are in place. Investing in the introduction of these vaccines with the same urgency as their research and development will be key to translating scientific breakthroughs into real-world protection.

    Funding and political challengers

    In January, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order indicating the United States’ intent to withdraw from WHO. We remain hopeful that the US will reconsider. For decades, the partnership between the US and WHO has been instrumental in achieving historic public health milestones—from the eradication of smallpox to advancing global immunization efforts that have saved millions of lives in the US and around the world. This collaboration has protected Americans at home and abroad through disease surveillance, accelerating scientific progress, and ensuring that life-saving health interventions reach those who need them most, and shutting down outbreaks when they emerge, to limit their impact.

    Global health security is a shared responsibility. Infectious diseases do not respect borders, and the challenges we face—whether responding to outbreaks, developing new vaccines, or ensuring equitable access to healthcare—require international cooperation.

    WHO remains committed to its mission and will continue working with partners to strengthen global health systems. Strong leadership and sustained funding are critical to ensuring immunization programmes remain resilient. However, the political landscape for vaccines is increasingly unpredictable, putting decades of progress at risk.

    Moving Forward Together: A Moment for Global Health Cooperation

    Two upcoming meetings will be pivotal in providing critical guidance for future immunization policies and strategies.

    The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) will meet 10-13 March 2025, to advance global immunization policies and priorities. Key discussions will focus on IA2030 progress, pneumococcus vaccine schedules, varicella-zoster vaccination, new vaccine introductions, NITAG strengthening, and global polio eradication policy decisions and mpox updates. The Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum (March 25-27, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will convene experts from around the world to advance vaccine innovations, sustainable R&D investments, Artificial Intelligence applications to vaccine development, climate-related challenges to immunization, and equitable access to vaccines. Key discussions will highlight Latin American advancements, maternal and new TB vaccines, vaccine role to reduce antimicrobial resistance, and clinical trial innovations for immunization.

    In closing, I want to thank Member States, partners, and all those in the global health community for the resilient commitment and focus on immunization, driven always by high quality evidence, science and impact. Now is the time to remain committed and sharpen our focus so that immunization for all is a reality.

    The world has the tools, knowledge, and capacity to protect future generations through vaccines. Political will and global solidarity are more valuable than ever to make that happen.

    In the words of Dr. Albert Sabin, “A scientist who is also a human being cannot rest while knowledge which might be used to reduce suffering rests on the shelf.” Let’s ensure that decades of progress are not left behind, but are built upon. It is in our hands. It is Humanly Possible.

     —-

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Intermap Closes on $12 Million in Financing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

    DENVER, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intermap Technologies Corporation (TSX: IMP) (“Intermap” or the “Company”), a global leader in 3D geospatial products and intelligence solutions, today announced the closing of its previously announced “bought deal” LIFE offering and concurrent private placement (together, the “Offerings”). The Company entered into an underwriting and agency agreement with Beacon Securities Limited (“Beacon” or the “Underwriter”) whereby the Company issued a total of (i) 2,957,000 Class “A” common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”) at a price of C$2.25 per Common Share (the “Offering Price”) for aggregate gross proceeds of C$6,653,250 (the “LIFE Offering”), including the full exercise of the Underwriter’s option, pursuant to the “listed issuer financing exemption” under Part 5A.2 of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (“NI 45-106”); and (ii) 2,047,225 Common Shares at the Offering Price for aggregate gross proceeds of C$4,606,256.25 (the “Concurrent Private Placement”), pursuant to other prospectus exemptions under NI 45-106.

    The Company intends to use the aggregate net proceeds of the Offerings for working capital and execution of government contracts. With increased capital, Intermap plans to accelerate its programs and augment its services.

    In connection with the Offerings, the Company paid to Beacon cash commissions equal to C$675,570.37 and an advisory fee of C$13,500. The Company also issued Beacon 177,420 non-transferrable compensation options in respect of the LIFE Offering (the “LIFE Offering Options”) and 122,834 non-transferrable compensation options in respect of the Concurrent Private Placement (the “Private Placement Options”, and together with the LIFE Offering Options, the “Compensation Options”). Each Compensation Option entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share from the Company, at US$1.56850 in respect of the LIFE Offering Options and US$1.67306 in respect of the Private Placement Options, on or before February 20, 2027.

    The Common Shares sold pursuant to the LIFE Offering will not be subject to a hold period in Canada. The Common Shares sold pursuant to the Concurrent Private Placement are subject to the statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

    The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the 1933 Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

    Intermap Reader Advisory 
    Certain information provided in this news release, including reference to the availability of proceeds from the Offerings and the intended use of proceeds in the Offerings in connection therewith, constitutes forward-looking statements. The words “will”, “intends”, “expected to”, “subject to” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap’s forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, the nature of government contracts, including changing political circumstances in the relevant jurisdictions, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.

    About Intermap Technologies
    Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, focusing on the creation and analysis of 3D terrain data to produce high-resolution thematic models. Through scientific analysis of geospatial information and patented sensors and processing technology, the Company provisions diverse, complementary, multi-source datasets to enable customers to seamlessly integrate geospatial intelligence into their workflows. Intermap’s 3D elevation data and software analytic capabilities enable global geospatial analysis through artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing customers with critical information to understand their terrain environment. By leveraging its proprietary archive of the world’s largest collection of multi-sensor global elevation data, the Company’s collection and processing capabilities provide multi-source 3D datasets and analytics at mission speed, enabling governments and companies to build and integrate geospatial foundation data with actionable insights. Applications for Intermap’s products and solutions include defense, aviation and UAV flight planning, flood and wildfire insurance, disaster mitigation, base mapping, environmental and renewable energy planning, telecommunications, engineering, critical infrastructure monitoring, hydrology, land management, oil and gas and transportation. 

    For more information, please visit www.intermap.com or contact:
    Jennifer Bakken
    Executive Vice President and CFO
    CFO@intermap.com
    +1 (303) 708-0955

    Sean Peasgood
    Investor Relations
    Sean@SophicCapital.com
    +1 (647) 260-9266

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy to Present Keynote Speech and Announced as the Diamond Sponsor of the SMR Canada Summit 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Canada Summit 2025 will be held in Strathcona County, Alberta on March 4-5, 2025

    New York, N.Y., Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced that it is the Diamond Sponsor of the upcoming SMR Canada Summit 2025, to be held in Strathcona County, Alberta on March 4-5, 2025. Chief Executive Officer and Head of Reactor Development James Walker will lead a keynote presentation titled “Finding Opportunities in the Resurgent Nuclear Energy Industry” on Tuesday, March 4th, at 9:30am.

    SMR Canada Summit serves as a vital platform for educating and informing local entrepreneurs, government officials, and the broader community about the potential of Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia as pioneering sites for nuclear development in Western Canada. The Summit features in-depth discussions on a variety of critical topics, including site development, safety protocols, transportation logistics, cutting-edge technology, community engagement strategies, economic impacts, and workforce development, bringing together all the relevant stakeholders including technology suppliers, EPC’s, governments, regulators, utilities, First Nations, NGO’s and end users.

    By bringing together diverse stakeholders from across Canada, the event not only provides valuable insights but also fosters a well-informed and engaged community prepared to participate in and support the responsible growth of nuclear energy in the region.

    “The Canadian government has shown considerable support for advanced nuclear technologies as the country strives to achieve 100% net-zero carbon electricity by 2050,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy. “This summit reflects the nation’s commitment to fostering innovation and the eventual deployment of small modular and micro reactor energy systems. We’re pleased to play a role in driving these efforts forward with our high technology readiness level KRONOS MMR™ reactor energy system and the continuation of proactive discussions with the Canadian National Laboratory and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.”

    The recently acquired KRONOS MMR™ energy system was the first small modular reactor to enter the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) formal licensing review. Following the close of this acquisition, NANO Nuclear has focused on reestablishing and advancing discussions with the CNSC to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and to move the energy system into the next phase of review.

    Figure 1 – NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. Announced as the Diamond Sponsor of the SMR Canada Summit 2025, to be held in Strathcona County, Alberta on March 4-5, 2025.

    “This summit will play a pivotal role in fostering a robust nuclear energy industry nationwide and I’m thrilled to engage with Canada’s leading professionals,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Reactor Development of NANO Nuclear Energy. “NANO Nuclear aims to establish itself as the premiere small modular and micro reactor innovator in Canada. Our acquisition of KRONOS MMR™ energy system positions us to take an active role in the country’s expanding energy sector, paving the way for high-level discussions with Canadian regulators and laboratories integral to meeting Canada’s ambitious clean-energy goals. I look forward to delivering a keynote address to some of the most knowledgeable and dedicated experts in Canada’s nuclear sector and collaborating with them to establish the nation as a leader in advanced energy technologies.”

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors. NANO Nuclear is also developing patented stationary KRONOS MMR™ Energy System and space focused, portable LOKI MMR™.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

    For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

    For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:

    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:

    NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN
    NANO Nuclear Energy YOUTUBE
    NANO Nuclear Energy X PLATFORM

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release contain or may contain “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”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. These and other 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 significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, 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: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. 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, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. 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: LPL Financial Launches Comprehensive Alternative Investment Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LPL Financial LLC (Nasdaq:LPLA), a leader in the wealth management industry, announces the launch of LPL Alts Connect, a full-service platform designed to streamline the way financial advisors and their clients access and manage alternative investments.

    LPL Alts Connect is a centralized, digitized system that streamlines the purchasing process and provides tools such as prequalification, e-signature capabilities and the ability to send sales kits directly to clients. The platform complements an expanding product set that includes an array of prominent funds giving advisors more optionality to build diversified, non-correlated portfolios.

    Powered by SUBSCRIBE, the solution allows advisors in independent practices and institutions like banks and credit unions to better meet the increasingly complex planning needs of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth investors.

    “With the launch of our new alternative investment platform, advisors have access to a shelf of tailored, institution-caliber opportunities that are aligned to the needs of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients and designed to set advisors apart from the competition,” said Cheri Belski, Executive Vice President and Head of Investment Management Solutions for LPL. “As the expectations of investors continue to evolve, this platform will arm advisors with more sophisticated ways to serve their clients.”

    Key features of LPL Alts Connect include:

    • Digitization: E-Signature capability for streamlined transactions.
    • Transparency: Real-time order status updates on a user-friendly dashboard.
    • Centralization: A single platform for all alternative investment purchases.
    • Accessibility: Comprehensive fund information available at a click, with no permission required.
    • Prequalification: One-time setup for prequalification, eliminating the need to repeat the process for each sales kit request.
    • Direct Communication: Sales kits can be deployed directly to a client’s email.
    • Compliance Review: LPL Compliance reviews all documents before client signatures, ensuring regulatory adherence while reducing the number of times an order will need to be revised post client-signature.
    • Efficiency: Shorter turnaround times, with an average of under 14 days compared to 40 days previously.

    These features are complemented by educational resources for both advisors and investors to help navigate the landscape of alternative investments.

    In conjunction with this launch LPL has enhanced its middle office services through a relationship with SS&C. SS&C ALTSERVE™ improves custodial and reporting services, offering faster turnaround times for transitioning alternative investments between firms. LPL has also formed a dedicated team to support and educate advisors on these new services, rounding out their support in the alternative investment space.

    As part of LPL’s commitment to providing a comprehensive alternatives menu, LPL is expanding its long-standing relationship with iCapital to offer a suite of alternative investment products to LPL’s network of advisors and affiliated firms. This collaboration welcomes a tailored selection of iCapital’s funds to LPL’s curated menu alongside their market-leading diligence.

    About LPL Financial

    LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: LPLA) is among the fastest growing wealth management firms in the U.S. As a leader in the financial advisor-mediated marketplace, LPL supports nearly 29,000 financial advisors and the wealth management practices of approximately 1,200 financial institutions, servicing and custodying approximately $1.7 trillion in brokerage and advisory assets on behalf of approximately 6 million Americans. The firm provides a wide range of advisor affiliation models, investment solutions, fintech tools and practice management services, ensuring that advisors and institutions have the flexibility to choose the business model, services, and technology resources they need to run thriving businesses. For further information about LPL, please visit www.lpl.com.

    Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial LLC (“LPL Financial”), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC.

    Throughout this communication, the terms “financial advisors” and “advisors” are used to refer to registered representatives and/or investment advisor representatives affiliated with LPL Financial.

    We routinely disclose information that may be important to shareholders in the “Investor Relations” or “Press Releases” section of our website.

    Media Contact: 
    Media.relations@LPLFinancial.com 
    (402) 740-2047 

    Tracking #: 698805

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Quantum Computing Solutions Big Influence on Commercial & Military Drone Applications Drastically Improving Operations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Recent reports on the quantum computing market all seem to project substantial growth for years to come and will enter into a multitude of uses… including drones. A recent International Conference of Intelligent Computing & Optimization Conference paper, titled “Enhancing Privacy and Security for UAV and IoT Enabled Drones an Intelligent Integration of Blockchain, AI, and Quantum Computing” had this to say, in part: “Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones have seen an upsurge in their usage in various industries due to the advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT). Nevertheless, the extensive use of these technologies has given rise to concerns over privacy, data integrity, and security. This research presents a pioneering approach to tackle these challenges by amalgamating Blockchain technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing. By virtue of its decentralized and immutable nature, blockchain can safeguard data integrity for UAVs and drones. A blockchain-based system can store all drone data transfers on distributed ledgers, thus enhancing transparency and reducing the risk of malicious tampering. The use of AI can significantly benefit drone operations and decision-making. AI systems empower drones to dynamically reroute themselves, predict potential security hazards, and adapt to new situations. Furthermore, AI’s real-time data processing can enhance anomaly detection and response times. Quantum computing, although still in its nascent stages, furnishes unparalleled processing capability. Drone data encryption is almost unfeasible to decrypt using conventional computing methods, as per quantum-enhanced security protocols that can be devised owing to quantum physics.”   Active Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ: QUBT), IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), Quantum Corporation (NASDAQ: QMCO).

    The article continued: “Additionally, quantum computing can expedite complex route enhancements, thereby considerably augmenting drone output. The amalgamation of Blockchain, AI, and Quantum Computing has provided a comprehensive solution to the privacy and security apprehensions concerning UAVs and IoT-enabled drones. The forthcoming drone operations are expected to reap the benefits of the most promising features of these technologies, thereby elevating the benchmark for efficiency, openness, and safety. This study’s investigation provides insights into the advantages… of these integration mechanisms. An Abstract from yet another scholarly paper on ScienceDirect.com titled: “Futuristic view of the Internet of Quantum Drones: Review, challenges and research agenda”, said this: “The disruptive technology of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, is a trend with increasing applications and practical relevance in the current and future society. Despite the common interest in drones for commercial deliveries, the use of this disruptive technology can be examined in the contexts of other world strategic demands such as climate change issues and traffic management. As of very recently, some drone-related futuristic disruptive technologies, including quantum drones (QD), the Internet of Quantum Drones (IoQDs), and a constellation of quantum satellites (CQS), are expected to be a breakthrough technology in strategic areas of society.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Quantum Computing “Sky Traffic” Project Demonstrates High Accuracy in Initial Testing Leading to Expansion of Team and AI Drone Applications for Commercial and Defense – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces positive results from initial testing and an update on its Quantum Computing Sky Traffic project. An initial test using the Company’s AI algorithms and quantum computing to predict weather has resulted in a high level of accuracy for the parameters tested including actual temperatures verses predicted temperatures in the test which used 2016 data.

    Due in part to these encouraging results, ZenaTech is now growing its internal team over the next two months. As part of the ramp up, the Company is adding additional quantum, AI and hardware engineers, and optimization specialists and is engaged in recruiting staff from physics facilities at international universities, including researchers, instructors, and Ph.D. candidates.

    “The Sky Traffic project leverages AI and quantum computing to process vast data streams to improve the accuracy and speed of weather forecasting that can also apply to the innovation of many other commercial and defense applications utilizing drones. Our hiring strategy focuses on assembling a multidisciplinary team of quantum and AI specialists, and hardware and aerospace engineers to help us revolutionize autonomous drones. By combining quantum algorithms with advanced machine learning, we can optimize navigation, decision-making, and real-time data processing for next-generation aerial intelligence,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    ZenaTech launched the Sky Traffic project in November 2024, which will utilize its AI drones, quantum computing, and specialized quantum and AI teams to develop and test advanced applications for traffic management, weather forecasting, wildfire management and defense applications using large datasets, Amazon Web Services, and computing devices and platforms.

    AI Drones are used in weather forecasting to collect real-time atmospheric data from hard-to-reach areas, such as storm systems or remote regions, providing valuable input for weather models. Quantum computers can then analyze this vast and complex data much faster and more accurately, improving weather predictions and enhancing the ability to forecast extreme events like hurricanes, tornadoes, or wildfires.

    AI and quantum computing can work together to make defense drones smarter, faster, and more efficient using a single drone or a swarm of multiple drones. AI helps drones analyze data, recognize objects, and make decisions on their own, while quantum computing can process massive amounts of information much faster than regular computers. For example, a defense drone using AI can detect enemy movement, but adding quantum computing allows it to analyze complex battlefield data instantly and find the best flight path or strategy in real time. This combination improves reaction speed, mission accuracy, and overall drone performance, making them more effective for surveillance, reconnaissance, and security operations.

    Quantum computing is an emergent field of cutting-edge computer science harnessing the unique qualities of quantum mechanics to solve problems beyond the ability of even the most powerful classical computers of today, to process massively complicated mathematical problems and data at orders of magnitude faster speeds.

    The ZenaDrone 1000 is a multifunction autonomous drone, in a VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) quadcopter design with eight rotors; it is considered a medium-sized drone measuring 12X7 feet in size. It is designed for stable flight, maneuverability, heavy lift capabilities up to 40 kilos, incorporating innovative software technology, AI, sensors, and purpose-built attachments, along with compact and rugged hardware engineered for industrial and defense use for a variety of inspection, surveillance or tracking applications.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) and the Julich Supercomputing Centre (“JSC”) at Forschungszentrum Julich (“FZJ”) have recently announced that FZJ has purchased a D-Wave quantum computer, becoming the first high-performance computing (HPC) center in the world to own a D-Wave Advantage(TM) annealing quantum computing system.

    With the purchase of the world’s largest quantum computer and Europe’s first quantum computer with more than 5,000 qubits and 15-way connectivity, the Julich UNified Infrastructure for Quantum computing (JUNIQ), a public quantum computing user facility deployed by JSC, gains complete access to all aspects of the system. This will allow it to integrate the D-Wave system with Julich’s JUPITER exascale supercomputer in the future, potentially enabling breakthroughs in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum optimization. JSC’s system will be upgraded to D-Wave’s next-generation Advantage2 processor once available. The Advantage2 system is expected to deliver significant performance gains with doubled coherence, increased connectivity and a 40 percent boost to the energy scale for advanced problem solving.

    Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ: QUBT) recently announced it has received a fifth purchase order for its thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic chip foundry. The latest order comes from a research group based in Canada to support its research efforts on quantum photonics.

    As part of the order, QCi will provide the research group with custom test structures based on its TFLN photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip technology. These test structures will serve as a baseline for advanced designs, such as periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) components, which are essential for generating entangled photons and optical frequency conversion. Under this order agreement, the research group will also receive priority access and preferred rates for future multi-project wafer (MPW) runs offered by QCi.

    IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) and General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), a business unit of General Dynamics, recently announced a partnership to bring the power of quantum computing to government and defense sectors.

    IonQ and GDIT are partnering to combine GDIT’s deep technical and government agency mission expertise with IonQ’s pioneering quantum technology. Together, the companies will co-develop and market advanced quantum processing and networking applications to address high-impact use cases, including quantum AI extensions, resource optimization, and anomaly detection. This collaboration aims to deliver transformative capabilities for federal, and state governments, meeting critical challenges with cutting-edge solutions.

    Quantum Corporation (NASDAQ: QMCO) recently announced scalability enhancements to its Quantum Myriad® all-flash file system, making it the first solution to offer incremental, in-place system scaling with dynamic, automatic data leveling. These advancements deliver unmatched flexibility and adaptability in a modern, all-flash file system so customers can meet their evolving storage requirements in the era of AI.

    The new scalability features enable customers to start with as few as five partially populated NVMe Storage Server nodes, then expand in increments of one or more nodes at a time with the additional storage available in minutes, with no need for admin intervention, and no impact or interruption to user operation. Customers will be able to continue adding nodes as their needs grow, increasing capacity while maintaining linear performance with automatic data leveling across all nodes as new Storage Server nodes are added.

    About FN Media Group:

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

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

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

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    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Dave Completes Transition to Simplified Fee Structure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dave Inc. (“Dave” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: DAVE), one of the nation’s leading neobanks, today announced the completion of changes to its optional “Tips” and instant transfer feature for using its ExtraCash service.

    The optional fee model, which allowed members to access credit for as little as $0 per transaction, has been replaced with a simplified 5% fee structure including a $5 minimum and $15 cap. There will also be no additional fees incurred to instantly transfer funds from ExtraCash to Dave Checking accounts. Early testing of the new structure indicates positive member feedback and suggests enhancements to lifetime value, resulting in the company moving forward with the full member migration within the previously disclosed early 2025 timeline.

    The transition supports Dave’s mission to make finances easier for its members, and level the financial playing field.

    About Dave

    Dave (Nasdaq: DAVE) is a leading U.S. neobank and fintech pioneer serving millions of everyday Americans. Dave uses disruptive technologies to provide best-in-class banking services at a fraction of the price of incumbents. Dave partners with Evolve Bank & Trust, a FDIC member. For more information about the company, visit: www.dave.com. For investor information and updates, visit: investors.dave.com and follow @davebanking on X.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as “feels,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “remains,” “should,” “is to be,” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology and include, among other things, statements relating to the transition to a new fee structure for Dave’s ExtraCash product, including the results of early testing of the new fee structure, and any other statements about future events. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein due to many factors, including, but not limited to: the ability of Dave to compete in its highly competitive industry; the ability of Dave to keep pace with the rapid technological developments in its industry and the larger financial services industry; the ability of Dave to manage risks associated with providing ExtraCash advances; the ability of Dave to retain its current Members, acquire new Members and sell additional functionality and services to its Members; the ability of Dave to protect intellectual property and trade secrets; the ability of Dave to maintain the integrity of its confidential information and information systems or comply with applicable privacy and data security requirements and regulations; the reliance by Dave on a single bank partner; the ability of Dave to maintain or secure current and future key banking relationships and other third-party service providers, including as contemplated by the previously announced letter of intent to form a strategic partnership with a potential bank sponsor; failures by third-party service providers; changes in applicable laws or regulations and extensive and evolving government regulations that impact operations and business; the ability to attract or maintain a qualified workforce; level of product service failures that could lead Dave Members to use competitors’ services; investigations, claims, disputes, enforcement actions, litigation and/or other regulatory or legal proceedings, including the DOJ’s lawsuit against Dave; the ability to maintain the listing of Dave Class A Common Stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market; the possibility that Dave may be adversely affected by other economic factors, including fluctuating interest rates, and business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in Dave’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 5, 2024 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the heading “Risk Factors,” filed with the SEC and other reports and documents Dave files from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Dave undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

    Investor Relations Contact

    Sean Mansouri, CFA
    Elevate IR
    DAVE@elevate-ir.com

    Media Contact

    Dan Ury
    press@dave.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A fiscal crisis is looming for many US cities

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John Rennie Short, Professor Emeritus of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Houston residents at a flooded park after the passage of Hurricane Beryl, July 8, 2024. Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images

    Five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. cities are still adjusting to a new normal, with more people working remotely and less economic activity in city centers. Other factors, such as underfunded pension plans for municipal employees, are pushing many city budgets into the red.

    Urban fiscal struggles are not new, but historically they have mainly affected U.S. cities that are small, poor or saddled with incompetent managers. Today, however, even large cities, including Chicago, Houston and San Francisco, are under serious financial stress.

    This is a looming nationwide threat, driven by factors that include climate change, declining downtown activity, loss of federal funds and large pension and retirement commitments.

    Spending cuts abound in many U.S. cities as inflation lingers and pandemic-era stimulus dries up.

    Why cities struggle

    Many U.S. cities have faced fiscal crises over the past century, for diverse reasons. Most commonly, stress occurs after an economic downturn or sharp fall in tax revenues.

    Florida municipalities began to default in 1926 after the collapse of a land boom. Municipal defaults were common across the nation in the 1930s during the Great Depression: As unemployment rose, relief burdens swelled and tax collections dwindled.

    In 1934 Congress amended the U.S. bankruptcy code to allow municipalities to file formally for bankruptcy. Subsequently, 27 states enacted laws that authorized cities to become debtors and seek bankruptcy protection.

    Declaring bankruptcy was not a cure-all. It allowed cities to refinance debt or stretch out payment schedules, but it also could lead to higher taxes and fees for residents, and lower pay and benefits for city employees. And it could stigmatize a city for many years afterward.

    In the 1960s and 1970s, many urban residents and businesses left cities for adjoining suburbs. Many cities, including New York, Cleveland and Philadelphia, found it difficult to repay debts as their tax bases shrank.

    The New York Daily News, Oct. 30, 1975, after U.S. President Gerald Ford ruled out providing federal aid to save the city from bankruptcy. Several months later, Ford signed legislation authorizing federal loans.
    Edward Stojakovic/Flickr, CC BY

    In the wake of the 2008-2009 housing market collapse, cities including Detroit, San Bernardino, California, and Stockton, California, filed for bankruptcy. Other cities faced similar difficulties but were located in states that did not allow municipalities to declare bankruptcy.

    Even large, affluent jurisdictions could go off the financial rails. For example, Orange County, California, went bankrupt in 2002 after its treasurer, Robert Citron, pursued a risky investment strategy of complex leveraging deals, losing some $1.65 billion in taxpayer funds.

    Today, cities face a convergence of rising costs and decreasing revenues in many places. As I see it, the urban fiscal crisis is now a pervasive national challenge.

    Climate-driven disasters

    Climate change and its attendant increase in major disasters are putting financial pressure on municipalities across the country.

    Events like wildfires and flooding have twofold effects on city finances. First, money has to be spent on rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as roads, water lines and public buildings. Second, after the disaster, cities may either act on their own or be required under state or federal law to make expensive investments in preparation for the next storm or wildfire.

    Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (center) discusses wildfire recovery in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Jan. 27, 2025. Cleaning up after the wildfires, which destroyed more than 16,000 structures, will include disposing of several million tons of toxic ash and debris.
    Drew A. Kelley/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images

    In Houston, for example, court rulings after multiple years of severe flooding are forcing the city to spend $100 million on street repairs and drainage by mid-2025. This requirement will expand the deficit in Houston’s annual budget to $330 million.

    In Massachusetts, towns on Cape Cod are spending millions of dollars to switch from septic systems to public sewer lines and upgrade wastewater treatment plants. Population growth has sharply increased water pollution on the Cape, and climate change is promoting blooms of toxic algae that feed on nutrients in wastewater.

    Increasing uncertainty about the total costs of mitigating and adapting to climate change will inevitably lead rating agencies to downgrade municipal credit ratings. This raises cities’ costs to borrow money for climate-related projects like protecting shorelines and improving wastewater treatment.

    Underfunded pensions

    Cities also spend a lot of money on employees, and many large cities are struggling to fund pensions and health benefits for their workforces. As municipal retirees live longer and require more health care, the costs are mounting.

    For example, Chicago currently faces a budget deficit of nearly $1 billion, which stems partly from underfunded retirement benefits for nearly 30,000 public employees. The city has $35 billion in unfunded pension liabilities and almost $2 billion in unfunded retiree health benefits. Chicago’s teachers are owed $14 billion in unfunded benefits.

    Policy studies have shown for years that politicians tend to underfund retirement and pension benefits for public employees. This approach offloads the real cost of providing police, fire protection and education onto future taxpayers.

    Struggling downtowns and less federal support

    Cities aren’t just facing rising costs – they’re also losing revenues. In many U.S. cities, retail and commercial office economies are declining. Developers have overbuilt commercial properties, creating an excess supply. More unleased properties will mean lower tax revenues.

    At the same time, pandemic-related federal aid that cushioned municipal finances from 2020 through 2024 is dwindling.

    State and local governments received $150 billion through the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and an additional $130 billion through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. Now, however, this federal largesse – which some cities used to fill mounting fiscal cracks – is at an end.

    In my view, President Donald Trump’s administration is highly unlikely to bail out urban areas – especially more liberal cities like Detroit, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Trump has portrayed large cities governed by Democrats in the darkest terms – for example, calling Baltimore a “rodent-infested mess” and Washington, D.C., a “dirty, crime-ridden death trap.” I expect that Trump’s animus against big cities, which was a staple of his 2024 campaign, could become a hallmark of his second term.

    Detroit officials respond to disparaging remarks about the city by Donald Trump during a campaign speech in Detroit, Oct. 10, 2024.

    Resistance to new taxes

    Cities can generate revenue from taxes on sales, businesses, property and utilities. However, increasing municipal taxes – particularly property taxes – can be very difficult.

    In 1978, California adopted Proposition 13 – a ballot measure that limited property tax increases to the rate of inflation or 2% per year, whichever is lower. This high-profile campaign created a widespread narrative that property taxes were out of control and made it very hard for local officials to support property tax increases.

    Thanks to caps like Prop 13, a persistent public view that taxes are too high and political resistance, property taxes have tended to lag behind inflation in many parts of the country.

    The crunch

    Taking these factors together, I see a fiscal crunch coming for U.S. cities. Small cities with low budgets are particularly vulnerable. But so are larger, more affluent cities, such as San Francisco with its collapsing downtown office market, or Houston, New York and Miami, which face growing costs from climate change.

    Workers in North Miami Beach, Fla., distribute sandbags to residents to help prevent flooding as Hurricane Milton approaches the state on Oct. 8, 2024.
    AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

    One city manager who runs an affluent municipality in the Pacific Northwest told me that in these difficult circumstances, politicians need to be more frank and open with their constituents and explain convincingly and compellingly how and why taxpayer money is being spent.

    Efforts to balance city budgets are opportunities to build consensus with the public about what municipalities can do, and at what cost. The coming months will show whether politicians and city residents are ready for these hard conversations.

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

    – ref. A fiscal crisis is looming for many US cities – https://theconversation.com/a-fiscal-crisis-is-looming-for-many-us-cities-249436

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump order boosts school choice, but there’s little evidence vouchers lead to smarter students or better educational outcomes

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Charles J. Russo, Joseph Panzer Chair in Education and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton

    Surveys suggest growing support for school choice, such as in Ohio, even as voters reject such policies in referendums. AP Photo/Samantha Hendrickson

    The school choice movement received a major boost on Jan. 29, 2025, when President Donald Trump issued an executive order supporting families who want to use public money to send their children to private schools.

    The far-reaching order aims to redirect federal funds to voucher-type programs. Vouchers typically afford parents the freedom to select nonpublic schools, including faith-based ones, using all or a portion of the public funds set aside to educate their children.

    But research shows that as a consequence, this typically drains funding from already cash-strapped public schools.

    We are professors who focus on education law, with special interests in educational equity and school choice programs. While proponents of school choice claim it leads to academic gains, we don’t see much evidence to support this view – but we do see the negative impact they sometimes have on public schools.

    The rise of school choice

    The vast majority of children in the U.S. attend traditional public schools. Their share, however, has steadily declined from 87% in 2011 to about 83% in 2021, at least in part due to the growth of school choice programs such as vouchers.

    Modern voucher programs expanded significantly during the late 1980s and early 1990s as states, cities and local school boards experimented with ways to allow parents to use public funds to send their kids to nonpublic schools, especially ones that are religiously affiliated.

    While some programs were struck down for violating the separation of church and state, others were upheld. Vouchers received a big shot in the arm in 2002, when the Supreme Court ruled in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris that the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause permitted states to include faith-based schools in their voucher programs in Cleveland.

    Following Zelman, vouchers became a more realistic political option. Even so, access to school choice programs varied greatly by state and was not as dramatic as supporters may have wished. Because the Constitution is silent on education, states largely control school voucher programs.

    Currently, 13 states and Washington, D.C., offer one or several school choice programs targeting different types of students. Total U.S. enrollment in such programs surpassed 1 million for the first time in 2024, double what it was in 2020, according to EdChoice, which advocates for school-choice policies.

    Voters, however, have taken a dim view of voucher programs. By one count, they’ve turned down referendums on vouchers 17 times, according to the National Coalition for Public Education, a group that opposes the policy.

    Most recently, three states rejected school choice programs in the November 2024 elections. Kentucky voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to enshrine school choice into commonwealth law, while Nebraska voters chose to repeal its voucher program. Colorado also rejected a “right” to school choice, but more narrowly.

    In 2025, Tennessee became the 13th state to pass some sort of school choice program, despite opposition from public school supporters.
    AP Photo/George Walker IV

    Trump’s order

    At its heart, Trump’s executive order would offer discretionary grants and issue guidance to states over using federal funds within this K-12 scholarship program. It also directs the Department of Interior and Department of Defense to make vouchers available to Native American and military families.

    In addition, the order directs the Department of Education to provide guidance on how states can better support school choice – though it’s unclear exactly what that will mean. It’s a task that will be left for Linda McMahon, Trump’s nominee for secretary of Education, once she is confirmed.

    Trump promoted school choice in his first term as well but failed to win enough congressional support to include it in the federal budget.

    Research suggests few academic gains from vouchers

    The push to give parents more choice over where to send their children is based on the assumption that doing so will provide them with a better education.

    In the order, Trump specifically cites disappointing data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showing that 70% of eighth graders are below proficient in reading, while 72% are below proficient in mathematics.

    Voucher advocates point to research that school choice boosts test scores and improves educational attainment.

    But other data don’t always back up the notion that school choice policies meaningfully improve student outcomes. A 2023 review of the past decade of research on the topic by the Brookings Institution found that the introduction of a voucherlike program actually led to lower academic achievement – similar to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    A 2017 review by a Stanford economist Martin Carnoy published by the Economic Policy Institute similarly found little evidence vouchers improve school outcomes. While there were some modest gains in graduation rates, they were outweighed by the risks to funding public school systems.

    Indeed, vouchers have been shown to reduce funding to public schools, especially in rural areas, and hurt public education in other ways, such as by making it harder for schools to afford qualified teachers.

    Critics of voucher programs also fear that nonpublic schools may discriminate
    against some students    , such as those who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. There are some reports of this already happening in Wisconsin. Unlike legislation governing traditional public schools, state laws regulating voucher programs often do not include comprehensive anti-discrimination provisions.

    School reform

    Criticisms of voucher programs aside, many parents who support them do so based on the hope that their children will have more affordable, high-quality educational options. This was especially true in Zelman, in which the Supreme Court upheld the rights of parents to remove their kids from Cleveland’s struggling public schools.

    There is little doubt in our minds that in some cases school choice affords some parents in low-performing districts additional options for their children’s education.

    But in general, the evidence shows that is the exception to vouchers, not the rule. Evidence also suggests most children – whether they’re using vouchers to attend nonpublic schools or remain in the public school system – may not always benefit from school choice programs. And when it takes money out of underfunded public school systems, school choice can make things worse for a lot more children than it benefits.

    While the poor reading and math scores cited in Trump’s executive order suggest that change is needed to help keep America’s school and students competitive, this order may not achieve that goal.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Trump order boosts school choice, but there’s little evidence vouchers lead to smarter students or better educational outcomes – https://theconversation.com/trump-order-boosts-school-choice-but-theres-little-evidence-vouchers-lead-to-smarter-students-or-better-educational-outcomes-249138

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Student Finance England mailing list 2025 to 2026

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Students from England can sign up to our mailing list to be told when full-time undergraduate applications open.

    Mailing list for 2025 to 2026

    Student Finance England (SFE) students can sign up to our mailing list to find out when full-time undergraduate applications open!

    It’s important for new and continuing SFE students to stay up to date so they can apply early for student finance for 2025 to 2026.

    They can find the sign up page through our social media posts and on our campaign page.

    Students, parents and university and college staff can also sign up to the mailing list to find out when applications open.

    Part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students

    Postgraduate applications will be available at the end of April. Part-time applications will be available from May.

    S##ocial media

    Follow us for regular updates throughout our campaign!

    Student Finance England

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SFEngland/

    X – https://x.com/SF_England

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/studentfinance_england/

    YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/SFEFILM

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Devon and Cornwall farmers called on to prevent run-off incidents

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Reports of rain washing loose soil off farm fields nearly doubles compared to same period last year.

    Soil run-off incidents nearly doubled in Devon and Cornwall last month

    The Environment Agency is calling on farmers in Devon and Cornwall to prevent loose soil washing off farm fields into rivers, roads and homes. 

    January saw 25 incidents of heavy rain carrying loose soil running from fields – nearly double the number of incidents reported the same time last year – with officers making 14 visits to farms to investigate and a further 11 visits planned. 

    Laura Bentley, a land management project officer with the Environment Agency, said:  

    The windows of dry weather in autumn can be so short that large farms don’t have time to get around all their land when soil conditions are right, to establish crop cover ahead of the winter rains.  

    Employing reduced tillage – minimal disturbance of the soil – and drilling seed into compacted earth no longer works in Devon and Cornwall in this changed climate. Winter cereals and cover crops aren’t taking, and bare, compacted soil is exposed to the elements and prone to run-off.

    Farmers are losing crops, top soil, organic matter and nutrients to run-off incidents plus the costs of recultivating and resowing fields, time, fuel, seed and fertiliser.  

    What can be done to prevent soil run-off pollution?

    Farmers can better prepare for winter weather by: 

    • digging a hole with a spade and looking to see if there is compaction, how deep it goes then remove it with the correct cultivation kit

    • having access to a range of cultivation equipment, capable of working the soils at different depths

    • risk assessing their land using the agency’s ALERT system – prioritising the highest risk areas for cultivation and drilling

    • having a Plan B if cover crops and winter cereals don’t establish

    • installing measures to prevent run-off from reaching property and watercourses

    Run-off can result in action being taken if it breaches the Farming Rules for Water and Environmental Permitting Regulations. The Environment Agency will give advice and guidance, but it will issue formal warnings and take enforcement action where needed. 

    Residents who see discoloured water running off farm fields which could threaten roads, rivers and properties can report it to the Environment Agency’s 24/7 incident hotline – 0800 807060. 

    Background

    ALERT 

    The free Environment Agency mapping tool ALERT stands for The Agricultural Land & Environment Risk and Opportunity Tool and is publicly available on the Farming Advice Service website to help all land managers.

    It will help assess a field’s risk for causing pollution or surface water flooding and takes slope, LiDAR data – which shows where water will flow in extreme weather events, and soil type into account to indicate the inherent risk of a field. ALERT helps inform land managers’ decision making and avoid planting high-risk crops in unsuitable fields or mitigating them.  

    Farming regulations involving water now in single booklet 

    To support farmers with compliance, the EA has launched a brand-new printed booklet, with all guidance on water-related agriculture regulations. 

    A summary of all the water-based regulatory guidance is now in one place. To receive your free copy, email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk or call the NCCC on 03708 506 506.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: FMQs: Greens call for White House apology for Vance lies

    Source: Scottish Greens

    20 Feb 2025 Health

    Abortion rights are healthcare and must be defended.

    More in Health

    The First Minister has been urged to back calls for a White House apology for the lies and misinformation peddled by Vice President JD Vance about safe access zones in Scotland.

    Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay introduced the bill that secured 200 metre wide safe access zones, or buffer zones, around abortion service providers to stop the intimidating anti-choice protests that were taking place across Scotland.

    In a speech last week, VP Vance claimed that people in Scotland were told that private prayer in their own homes would be against the law within a safe access zone and that people were encouraged to report anyone they thought guilty of “thought crime.” This has never been true.

    Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater condemned Vance’s comments and the planned anti-choice protests outside hospitals.

    In her first question to the First Minister, Ms Slater said:

    “This week, US Vice President JD Vance has spread misinformation about laws made in this Scottish Parliament.  

    “His claims about my colleague Gillian Mackay’s Safe Access Zones Act are grossly misleading.

    “Emboldened by Mr Vance’s comments, anti-choice groups have already started to target patients outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow, with more actions planned in coming weeks.

    “Last summer, members of this Parliament agreed overwhelmingly that everyone should be able to access abortion services free from harassment.

    “What is the First Minister doing to correct false claims and provide clarity to the public on what the buffer zones mean for them, and how will he protect safe access to healthcare in Scotland?”

    Following the First Minister’s response, in which he emphasised his support for safe access zones, Ms Slater urged the First Minister to back representations to the White House to correct the record.

    In her second question, Ms Slater said:

    “The White House manufactures mistruths, tech billionaires profit from them and bad faith actors spread them: disinformation is playing an increasingly dangerous role in our communities and in global politics.

    “Promoting lies and misinformation, at home and abroad, can have serious consequences for all our communities. Friendly countries do not tell lies about each other.

    “Does the First Minister agree that political leaders everywhere must stand up to disinformation – and will he ask Keir Starmer to demand an urgent apology from the White House when the Prime Minister meets Trump next week?”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A fiscal crisis is looming for many US cities

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Rennie Short, Professor Emeritus of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Houston residents at a flooded park after the passage of Hurricane Beryl, July 8, 2024. Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images

    Five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. cities are still adjusting to a new normal, with more people working remotely and less economic activity in city centers. Other factors, such as underfunded pension plans for municipal employees, are pushing many city budgets into the red.

    Urban fiscal struggles are not new, but historically they have mainly affected U.S. cities that are small, poor or saddled with incompetent managers. Today, however, even large cities, including Chicago, Houston and San Francisco, are under serious financial stress.

    This is a looming nationwide threat, driven by factors that include climate change, declining downtown activity, loss of federal funds and large pension and retirement commitments.

    Spending cuts abound in many U.S. cities as inflation lingers and pandemic-era stimulus dries up.

    Why cities struggle

    Many U.S. cities have faced fiscal crises over the past century, for diverse reasons. Most commonly, stress occurs after an economic downturn or sharp fall in tax revenues.

    Florida municipalities began to default in 1926 after the collapse of a land boom. Municipal defaults were common across the nation in the 1930s during the Great Depression: As unemployment rose, relief burdens swelled and tax collections dwindled.

    In 1934 Congress amended the U.S. bankruptcy code to allow municipalities to file formally for bankruptcy. Subsequently, 27 states enacted laws that authorized cities to become debtors and seek bankruptcy protection.

    Declaring bankruptcy was not a cure-all. It allowed cities to refinance debt or stretch out payment schedules, but it also could lead to higher taxes and fees for residents, and lower pay and benefits for city employees. And it could stigmatize a city for many years afterward.

    In the 1960s and 1970s, many urban residents and businesses left cities for adjoining suburbs. Many cities, including New York, Cleveland and Philadelphia, found it difficult to repay debts as their tax bases shrank.

    The New York Daily News, Oct. 30, 1975, after U.S. President Gerald Ford ruled out providing federal aid to save the city from bankruptcy. Several months later, Ford signed legislation authorizing federal loans.
    Edward Stojakovic/Flickr, CC BY

    In the wake of the 2008-2009 housing market collapse, cities including Detroit, San Bernardino, California, and Stockton, California, filed for bankruptcy. Other cities faced similar difficulties but were located in states that did not allow municipalities to declare bankruptcy.

    Even large, affluent jurisdictions could go off the financial rails. For example, Orange County, California, went bankrupt in 2002 after its treasurer, Robert Citron, pursued a risky investment strategy of complex leveraging deals, losing some $1.65 billion in taxpayer funds.

    Today, cities face a convergence of rising costs and decreasing revenues in many places. As I see it, the urban fiscal crisis is now a pervasive national challenge.

    Climate-driven disasters

    Climate change and its attendant increase in major disasters are putting financial pressure on municipalities across the country.

    Events like wildfires and flooding have twofold effects on city finances. First, money has to be spent on rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as roads, water lines and public buildings. Second, after the disaster, cities may either act on their own or be required under state or federal law to make expensive investments in preparation for the next storm or wildfire.

    Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (center) discusses wildfire recovery in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Jan. 27, 2025. Cleaning up after the wildfires, which destroyed more than 16,000 structures, will include disposing of several million tons of toxic ash and debris.
    Drew A. Kelley/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images

    In Houston, for example, court rulings after multiple years of severe flooding are forcing the city to spend $100 million on street repairs and drainage by mid-2025. This requirement will expand the deficit in Houston’s annual budget to $330 million.

    In Massachusetts, towns on Cape Cod are spending millions of dollars to switch from septic systems to public sewer lines and upgrade wastewater treatment plants. Population growth has sharply increased water pollution on the Cape, and climate change is promoting blooms of toxic algae that feed on nutrients in wastewater.

    Increasing uncertainty about the total costs of mitigating and adapting to climate change will inevitably lead rating agencies to downgrade municipal credit ratings. This raises cities’ costs to borrow money for climate-related projects like protecting shorelines and improving wastewater treatment.

    Underfunded pensions

    Cities also spend a lot of money on employees, and many large cities are struggling to fund pensions and health benefits for their workforces. As municipal retirees live longer and require more health care, the costs are mounting.

    For example, Chicago currently faces a budget deficit of nearly $1 billion, which stems partly from underfunded retirement benefits for nearly 30,000 public employees. The city has $35 billion in unfunded pension liabilities and almost $2 billion in unfunded retiree health benefits. Chicago’s teachers are owed $14 billion in unfunded benefits.

    Policy studies have shown for years that politicians tend to underfund retirement and pension benefits for public employees. This approach offloads the real cost of providing police, fire protection and education onto future taxpayers.

    Struggling downtowns and less federal support

    Cities aren’t just facing rising costs – they’re also losing revenues. In many U.S. cities, retail and commercial office economies are declining. Developers have overbuilt commercial properties, creating an excess supply. More unleased properties will mean lower tax revenues.

    At the same time, pandemic-related federal aid that cushioned municipal finances from 2020 through 2024 is dwindling.

    State and local governments received $150 billion through the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and an additional $130 billion through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. Now, however, this federal largesse – which some cities used to fill mounting fiscal cracks – is at an end.

    In my view, President Donald Trump’s administration is highly unlikely to bail out urban areas – especially more liberal cities like Detroit, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Trump has portrayed large cities governed by Democrats in the darkest terms – for example, calling Baltimore a “rodent-infested mess” and Washington, D.C., a “dirty, crime-ridden death trap.” I expect that Trump’s animus against big cities, which was a staple of his 2024 campaign, could become a hallmark of his second term.

    Detroit officials respond to disparaging remarks about the city by Donald Trump during a campaign speech in Detroit, Oct. 10, 2024.

    Resistance to new taxes

    Cities can generate revenue from taxes on sales, businesses, property and utilities. However, increasing municipal taxes – particularly property taxes – can be very difficult.

    In 1978, California adopted Proposition 13 – a ballot measure that limited property tax increases to the rate of inflation or 2% per year, whichever is lower. This high-profile campaign created a widespread narrative that property taxes were out of control and made it very hard for local officials to support property tax increases.

    Thanks to caps like Prop 13, a persistent public view that taxes are too high and political resistance, property taxes have tended to lag behind inflation in many parts of the country.

    The crunch

    Taking these factors together, I see a fiscal crunch coming for U.S. cities. Small cities with low budgets are particularly vulnerable. But so are larger, more affluent cities, such as San Francisco with its collapsing downtown office market, or Houston, New York and Miami, which face growing costs from climate change.

    Workers in North Miami Beach, Fla., distribute sandbags to residents to help prevent flooding as Hurricane Milton approaches the state on Oct. 8, 2024.
    AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

    One city manager who runs an affluent municipality in the Pacific Northwest told me that in these difficult circumstances, politicians need to be more frank and open with their constituents and explain convincingly and compellingly how and why taxpayer money is being spent.

    Efforts to balance city budgets are opportunities to build consensus with the public about what municipalities can do, and at what cost. The coming months will show whether politicians and city residents are ready for these hard conversations.

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

    – ref. A fiscal crisis is looming for many US cities – https://theconversation.com/a-fiscal-crisis-is-looming-for-many-us-cities-249436

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Investing in Diversity | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Inclusive business strategies and economic policy targeting workforces, suppliers and companies’ broader ecosystems have in recent years emerged as increasingly mission-critical for business performance in all parts of the globe.

    In an era when innovation, adaptability and resilience are paramount, how are new champions of inclusive leadership reshaping the future of economic growth and competitiveness across the world?

    This session is part of the World Economic Forum’s Future of DEI workstream.

    Speakers: Luana Génot, Ebru Özdemir, Katy Talikowska, Jochen Wegner, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland

    The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.

    This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
    X ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #Davos2025 #WorldEconomicForum #wef25

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYm6PGUi9OU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Debating Migration and Demography | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    While some estimate that migration could help generate over $20 trillion a year in economic output by 2050, others worry about the financial and systemic pressure it can put governments and local communities.

    In this town hall, leaders debate the effects of migration at a local, national and global level.

    Speakers: Miguel Medina, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, Amy Pope, Sasha Vakulina

    The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.

    This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
    X ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #Davos2025 #WorldEconomicForum #wef25

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yayHWUHR-b4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Restoring Scotland’s natural environment

    Source: Scottish Government

    New targets to enhance nature and protect biodiversity.

    Legislative proposals to help restore nature and protect biodiversity in Scotland have been introduced to Parliament.

    The Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, which will now be considered by MSPs, would place a duty on Ministers to set legally-binding nature restoration targets and will modernise how national parks and deer are managed.

    The legislation is a key part of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity and complements the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and related delivery plans. 

    Experts have warned that a decline in biodiversity will make the climate crisis worse while a changing climate will increase the rate of biodiversity loss. The Bill proposes actions to tackle the twin crises of climate change and nature loss with measures to protect biodiversity and reduce harmful carbon emissions.

    It will build on the high ambitions set out in the Biodiversity Strategy and Delivery Plan, which includes over 100 actions to tackle the nature crisis.

    If passed by Parliament in due course, the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill would:

    • place a duty on Scottish Ministers to set legally-binding targets for nature restoration
    • create a power to allow for future amendments to Environmental Impact Assessment legislation and the 1994 Habitats Regulations, to ensure that they remain fit for purpose over time and to flexibly adapt to future requirements, while ensuring that the legislative frameworks continue to effectively underpin environmental protection and assessment processes in Scotland.
    • modernise the aims of National Parks and powers of National Park Authorities
    • reform the way in which deer are managed through the implementation of many of the recommendations made by the Deer Working Group, through repealing the licensing of venison dealing, and by amending NatureScot’s powers of intervention.

    Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon said:

    “We all depend on nature – to provide our food, help prevent flooding, tackle the climate crisis and contribute to our wellbeing. But right now around 11% of species in Scotland are under threat and if we do not take urgent action, nature in Scotland will continue to decline and some important species might be lost forever.

    “Our proposals in this Bill can contribute to the Scottish Government’s priority of tackling the climate emergency. The twin crises of climate change and nature loss are interdependent and need to be tackled together.

    “Improving our biodiversity is one of the best chances we have to adapt to climate change and ensure we can continue to enjoy nature’s benefits, on which we all depend. However, government cannot do this alone – we must work in partnership with, and use the expertise of, land managers, farmers and crofters.

    “We are determined to promote biodiversity, to adapt to climate change, and to ensure we can continue to enjoy the benefits of Scotland’s wonderful nature – and this Bill will help achieve that.”

    NatureScot Chair Colin Galbraith said:

    “We welcome the introduction of the Natural Environment Bill, and we strongly support the inclusion of statutory targets to protect and restore Scotland’s nature. These are an essential part of achieving the vision set out in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy for the recovery of nature; helping to restore vital habitats and safeguard threatened species. They will also help us build resilience against the impacts of climate change while striving towards becoming a nature-positive and net-zero nation.

    “In particular, the proposed changes for deer legislation will help improve efforts to restore priority areas such as native woodlands and peatlands by reducing the impacts of deer grazing and trampling.”

    Background

    Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website

    Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Polytechnic University opened a board of Endowment Fund benefactors

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On the Polytechnic’s birthday, the traditional meeting of ambassadors and patrons was held with special solemnity. Its culmination was the opening of the board of benefactors of the SPbPU Endowment Fund.

    Before this, a festive award ceremony was held in the foyer of the Technopolis Polytech research building to honor the most active graduates and employees of the university, who contribute to its successful development and strengthening of its position among higher educational institutions of the city and the country.

    Opening the meeting, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov congratulated the guests on the birthday of the Polytechnic University and thanked them for their loyalty and love for their alma mater.

    “I am glad that today those who provide the university with significant financial, administrative, and informational assistance have gathered here again,” said Maxim Aleksandrovich. “This is a good initiative to annually recognize the contribution of benefactors and graduates to the development of the university and the implementation of its initiatives. The endowment fund is the calling card of a modern world-class university. As of the end of 2024, we have collected more than 110 million rubles. They are under the trust management of the management company, and the income we receive is directed to the development of the Polytechnic University. Endowments for institutes are being actively created. We really hope for the support of our graduates in forming the fund and are grateful for the assistance that has already been provided.”

    In 2024, when Polytechnic celebrated not only its anniversary, but also the anniversary of the university’s founder, an outstanding Russian statesman, financier and diplomat Sergei Yulievich Witte, a commemorative medal in his name was established at the university. It will be awarded to multiple benefactors of the SPbPU Endowment Fund for Development.

    The first medals for long-term fruitful cooperation and significant contribution to the Endowment Fund were received by Bank Saint Petersburg and VTB Bank.

    For assistance in developing the University Endowment Fund, the following were awarded the Witte Medal and the University’s gratitude: Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg LLC, Streamer NPO, and Arman Group.

    The following were personally awarded for their contribution to the development of the SPbPU Endowment Fund: Mikhail Silnikov, General Director and General Designer of NPO Spetsmaterialy; Vera Konsetova, General Director of AFK-AUDIT; Sergei Kopytov, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Petersburg Social Commercial Bank; Mikhail Grekov, Vice-Rector for Work with Branches of the Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State University of Railway Engineering; and Oleg Koval.

    The university staff also made a significant contribution to the development of the Endowment Fund: Vice-Rector for Economics and Finance of the Polytechnic University Alexander Rechinsky; Advisor to the Rector’s Office Vladimir Glukhov; Director of the Physics and Mechanical Institute Nikolay Ivanov; Director of the Higher School of Industrial Management Olga Kalinina; Director of the Higher School of Engineering and Economics Dmitry Rodionov; Director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” Sergey Salkutsan; Leading Specialist of the SPbPU History Museum Alexander Kobyshev.

    For contribution to the implementation cooperation agreements between the university and the State Hermitage Museum and active participation in the activities of the Polytechnic Ambassadors Community in 2024, the following were awarded the university’s gratitude: Deputy Director General of the State Hermitage Museum Alexey Bogdanov and the head of the ventilation, air conditioning, control and measuring instruments and automation systems sector of the Operations Department of the Staraya Derevnya Restoration and Storage Center of the State Hermitage Museum Kirill Tambovtsev.

    Also, for promoting the development of the community of ambassadors and the SPbPU Endowment Fund in 2024, awards were received by the head of the production preparation bureau of the chief technologist’s department of JSC Kronstadt Marine Plant Dmitry Gomonov and the head of the process automation department of the Information Systems Department of BorisHof Holding LLC, Ruslan Talipov.

    In 2024, in memory of Sergei Yulyevich Witte, the Academic Council decided to restore the Witte scholarships from the income from the management of the Polytechnic Endowment Fund. In accordance with historical tradition, the scholarships will be awarded to four students who have passed the next session with excellent marks and successfully passed the competitive selection. The scholarship will be 10,000 rubles, it will be paid for five months, and then, based on the results of the next session, the commission will determine new winners.

    The first Witte scholarship recipients were Yaroslav Kiyashko (Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity), Konstantin Fedorov (Institute of Energy), Anna Danilova (Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade) and Natalia Poluektova (Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade). At the ceremony, they were presented with scholarship certificates, memorable gifts from the university, and the girls were also given flowers.

    After the ceremony, the guests were invited to the opening of the board of benefactors of the SPbPU Endowment Fund. It is located next to the model of the Polytechnic University campus. The board reflects information about all major donors of the Endowment Fund since the year of its foundation.

    “Our fund has existed since 2012, and it was created for eternity. Therefore, if we participate in its work, it means that we are in touch with eternity,” said Yuri Levchenko, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Endowment Fund, Senior Vice President of VTB Bank. “Our fund, of course, is still small, compared to, say, Harvard University, but every year it grows thanks to your efforts, for which we are very grateful. And I encourage everyone to actively participate in this work, involve friends and acquaintances. We hope that our graduates will become successful businessmen, government officials, creative people, and will never forget the institute, and our fund will grow.”

    Vice-Rector Maxim Pasholikov explained that the plaque is removable, and if there are more donors, then by the university’s next birthday their names and the names of their companies will also appear in this place of honor.

    Photo archive

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: City of Columbus Selects Voltus as its Exclusive Demand Response Provider

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO and COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Voltus, Inc. (Voltus), the leading virtual power plant (VPP) operator and distributed energy resource (DER) platform, today announced its selection as the exclusive Curtailment Service Provider for loads operated by the City of Columbus and retail customers of the City of Columbus Division of Power. This partnership unlocks new revenue streams for the City’s municipal facilities and retail electric customers, while supporting the reliability of the local electric grid for residents.

    The selection comes after a rigorous evaluation process that highlighted Voltus’s key differentiators, including:

    • Industry-leading technology platform providing customers with real-time energy consumption, performance, and earnings data;
    • Strong local presence and experienced project team with extensive knowledge of the PJM market;
    • Program structure without out-of-pocket penalties for underperformance; and
    • Ability to stack multiple revenue streams

    “Since the record-breaking PJM capacity prices were released earlier this year, the Voltus team has been engaging customers across the mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley area to equip them with the guidance and resources they need to reduce the potential impact to their businesses,” said Voltus’s Vice President of Sales, Sam Scuilli. “With unique services like AI Adjuster, we’re empowering PJM customers to participate in multiple demand response programs in a manner that optimizes their revenue potential and minimizes the risk of underperformance.”

    For more information about participating in the City of Columbus demand response program, please reach out to info@voltus.co.

    About Voltus
    Voltus is a leading DER technology platform and virtual power plant operator connecting distributed energy resources to electricity markets, delivering less expensive, more reliable, and more sustainable electricity. Our commercial and industrial customers and DER partners generate cash by allowing Voltus to maximize the value of their flexible load, distributed generation, energy storage, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle resources in these markets. To learn more, visit www.voltus.co.

    Media Contact
    Mona Khaldi
    press@voltus.co

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sprott Launches Active Gold & Silver Miners ETF

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sprott Inc. (“Sprott”) (NYSE/TSX: SII) today announced the launch of the Sprott Active Gold & Silver Miners ETF (Nasdaq: GBUG) (the “Fund” or “GBUG”), an actively managed ETF that aims to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in shares of gold- and silver-focused companies that are engaged in exploring, developing and mining; or royalty and streaming companies engaged in the financing of gold and silver assets. GBUG’s investment strategy is value-oriented and contrarian.

    “Gold and silver mining stocks have historically been correlated to bullion, but in recent years, they’ve lagged the price of the physical metals,” said John Hathaway, CFA, Managing Partner, Sprott and Senior Portfolio Manager, Sprott Asset Management USA, Inc. “Gold and silver mining stocks could offer significant catch-up potential.”

    GBUG is Sprott’s first active ETF, which offers the opportunity to invest in miners with the potential advantage of active stock picking from a global leader with over four decades of specialized expertise in precious metals and mining investments. “Given the operational complexities of mining, investors may benefit from an active ETF strategy focused on long-term business fundamentals and growth potential,” said Whitney George, Chief Executive Officer of Sprott. “The Fund’s investment team is experienced. The team has more than 100 years of collective experience in metals and mining, and it conducts more than 200 management meetings annually, along with periodic site visits to mining operations around the globe.”

    GBUG combines the expertise of active management with the flexibility of an ETF, which includes daily transparency, liquidity and potential tax efficiency. GBUG is one of four Sprott Precious Metals ETFs:

    Sprott Active Gold & Silver Miners ETF Nasdaq: GBUG An actively managed ETF that aims to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in shares of gold- and silver-focused companies that are engaged in exploring, developing and mining; or royalty and streaming companies engaged in the financing of gold and silver assets. The investment strategy of the Fund is value-oriented and contrarian.
    Sprott Gold Miners ETF NYSE Arca: SGDM Seeks investment results that correspond (before fees and expenses) generally to the performance of its underlying index, the Solactive Gold Miners Custom Factors Index (Index Ticker: SOLGMCFT). The Index aims to track the performance of larger-sized gold companies whose stocks are listed on Canadian and major U.S. exchanges.
    Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF NYSE Arca: SGDJ Seeks investment results that correspond (before fees and expenses) generally to the performance of its underlying index, the Solactive Junior Gold Miners Custom Factors Index (Ticker: SOLJGMFT). The Index aims to track the performance of small-capitalization gold companies whose stocks are listed on regulated exchanges.
    Sprott Silver Miners & Physical Silver ETF Nasdaq: SLVR Seeks investment results that correspond (before fees and expenses) generally to the performance of its underlying index, Nasdaq Sprott Silver Miners™ Index (NSLVR™), by investing at least 80% of its total assets in securities of NSLVR. The Nasdaq Sprott Silver Miners Index is designed to track the performance of a selection of securities in the silver industry, including silver producers, developers and explorers, and physical silver.

    * Based on Morningstar’s universe of Precious Metals Sector Equity ETFs as of 2/19/2025.

    About Sprott Inc.

    Sprott is a global asset manager focused on precious metals and critical materials investments. We are specialists. We believe our in-depth knowledge, experience and relationships separate us from the generalists. Our investment strategies include Exchange Listed Products, Managed Equities and Private Strategies. Sprott has offices in Toronto, New York, Connecticut and California, and the company’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol (SII). For more information, please visit www.sprott.com.

    Contact:
    Glen Williams
    Managing Partner
    Investor and Institutional Client Relations
    Direct: (416) 943-43945
    gwilliams@sprott.com

    Dan Gagnier
    Gagnier Communications
    Direct: (646) 569-5897
    sprott@gagnierfc.com

    Important Disclosures

    An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of each fund carefully before investing. To obtain a fund’s Prospectus, which contains this and other information, contact your financial professional, call 1.888.622.1813 or visit SprottETFs.com. Read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

    Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are considered to have continuous liquidity because they allow for an individual to trade throughout the day, which may indicate higher transaction costs and result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account.

    The funds are non-diversified and can invest a greater portion of assets in securities of individual issuers, particularly those in the natural resources and/or precious metals industry, which may experience greater price volatility. Relative to other sectors, natural resources and precious metals investments have higher headline risk and are more sensitive to changes in economic data, political or regulatory events, and underlying commodity price fluctuations. Risks related to extraction, storage and liquidity should also be considered.

    Shares are not individually redeemable. Investors buy and sell shares of the funds on a secondary market. Only market makers or “authorized participants” may trade directly with the fund, typically in blocks of 10,000 shares.

    The Sprott Active Gold & Silver Miners and Sprott Silver Miners & Physical Silver ETFs are new and have limited operating history.

    Sprott Asset Management USA, Inc. is the Investment Adviser to the Sprott Active Gold & Silver Miners ETF. ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the Distributor for the Sprott ETFs and is a registered broker-dealer and FINRA Member.

    ALPS Distributors, Inc. is not affiliated with Sprott Asset Management USA, Inc.

    © 2025 Sprott Inc. All rights reserved.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Atos successfully deploys new, innovative sport technologies during the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival Bakuriani 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

                                                                    News

    Atos successfully deploys new, innovative sport technologies during the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival Bakuriani 2025

    New, integrated technologies contributed to the event success and are now field-proven, ready to be deployed at a larger scale.

    Bakuriani, Georgia, and Paris, France, February 20, 2025 – Atos, a global leader in digital transformation and the Technology Partner of the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) Bakuriani 2025, today announces that its innovative IT services contributed to the success of the event from February 9 to 16, 2025. Atos delivered a comprehensive suite of digital services that enhanced fan experience, optimized event operations, and brought the Festival closer to audiences across Europe.

    Atos provided traditional Timing and Results services, ensuring accuracy and efficiency across all sports. It also powered the official event website and mobile application, a real-time results information system, and an interactive database allowing fans and stakeholders to effortlessly access key statistics and insights. Atos enabled the live streaming production and distribution of all competitions, enabling rights-holding broadcasters and media partners to seamlessly share the action with audiences worldwide.

    The Winter European Youth Olympic Festival was also the opportunity for Atos and the organizing committee to showcase innovative technologies which deepened the experience, immersion and engagement of stakeholders.

    • Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered Media Center for press and stakeholders

    During the event, Atos provided for the first time exclusive, automated and AI-powered media clips and highlights to official stakeholders, including Olympic Committees, federations, and accredited media outlets across Europe. Through a password-protected content management system, users could submit natural language requests for read-to-use video clips about an athlete, a sport, a result or a game situation, users received a corresponding ready-to-use video clip. The Atos AI-powered Media Center then automatically recovered, edited and customized footage for each type of user. This breakthrough technology is expected to incredibly speed up video dissemination for major events worldwide.

    • On- and Off-site immersion

    In collaboration with the Organizing Committee, an innovative solution has been developed to keep onsite attendees and online users informed about live events. The system combines real-time results with video highlights, providing a complete overview of ongoing competitions on a single screen. News feeds were also broadcast on giant screens at event venues, ensuring an immersive experience for all spectators.

    • An AI-powered chatbot

    The AI-powered chatbot designed to answer fan inquiries about Georgia, the Festival, and historical results, has proven its efficiency by providing instant, reliable information throughout the event.

    • SportEurope integrated, unified platform

    Atos developed SportEurope for the European Olympic Committees (EOC), an online fan ecosystem that integrates the event’s web presence, social media domains and marketing automation systems, ensuring continuous engagement with sports enthusiasts across Europe. Through strategic content creation in collaboration with athletes, European National Olympic Committees and European sports federations, SportEurope fosters a vibrant community around the Games.

    Atos developed the Winter Crystal gaming experience, a mobile game that places players in digitized environments of Georgian landmarks and EYOF venues. This interactive adventure involves solving games and completing challenges to explore the spirit of the Games while competing for the prestigious Winter Crystal award.

    “We are delighted that our technologies were instrumental in the success of the European Youth Olympic Festival” said Nacho Moros, Head of Atos Major Events. “This inspiring event was also the perfect venue to introduce new and innovative solutions and continue to set new benchmarks in digital transformation for major sporting events. We are confident these field-proven technologies will soon be deployed in world-class events”.

    “Atos provided a high level of professional service and made a significant contribution to the success of the Bakuriani 2025 Olympic Festival”, said Zurab Tuskia, Head of IT & Accreditation, EYOF Bakuriani 2025 OC. “We would like to thank Atos for their professional support, which was demonstrated through the prompt resolution of any issues that arose throughout our time together, as well as for the strong and friendly relationship that was formed between the IT department and the Atos team during the Olympic Festival.”         

    Key figures:

    • 8 sports operated, 5 venues in 3 host cities (Bakuriani, Batumi and Tbilisi).
    • Atos staff: 56 on site plus 10 on remote support
    • over 30 days on site operations.
    • over 150 laptops, 70 mobile phones, and Sport Specific devices.
    • 3.334 accreditations
    • over 200 live streaming hours.

    Digital achievements:

    • over 1 million Instagram views, 60,000 TikTok views, 60,000+ visits to sporteurope.org
    • AI-generated articles ranked among the Top 7 most viewed pages.
    • 2,000 active users on the app.
    • over 200 active users for the Winter Crystal mobile game.
    • over 100 users accessing the Gaudi multimedia repository & over 550 downloads. Notable users include over 40 European National Olympic Committees, Local Organizing Committees and Sport Federations.
    • 30% of Sport Europe users are opening the Email Marketing emails.

    Atos has been serving its partners and customers through a dedicated in-house sports and major events division (“Major Events”) for over 30 years, giving it an unmatched experience and the flexibility to serve its customers regardless of their exposure, size and scale. From global events to local competitions, Atos consistently strives to deliver technology excellence to its entire customer base. 

    Atos has been involved with the Olympic Movement since 1992 and the Paralympic Movement since 2002 and is the Official Digital Technology Partner of the European Olympic Committees, including the European Games 2027, as well as the official Digital partner for Special Olympics International. In addition, the company is also the Official Information Technology Partner of UEFA National Team Football. Most recently, Atos has been instrumental in delivering successful leading-edge IT services for iconic events such as UEFA EURO 2024™ in Germany and the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. 

    To learn more about Atos solutions for sporting events and major events, visit Atos major events. 

    ***

    About European Youth Olympics Festival Bakuriani 2025

    The EOC is an international non-governmental not-for-profit organization whose objective is to propagate the fundamental principles of Olympism at European level. Held under the patronage of the IOC, and the pride of the European Olympic Committees with almost 35 years of tradition, the EYOF is the first top European multi-sport event aimed at young athletes aged 14 to 18. There is a winter and a summer edition, which take place in two-year cycles, in odd-numbered years.

    The event is rich with Olympic traditions: from the burning flame to athletes’ and officials’ oaths. It is at the EYOF that many of Europe’s aspiring sports stars take their first steps on the international stage. And while some may look to the EYOF as a stepping-stone to Olympic greatness, all who participate take home friendships and experiences to last a lifetime.

    About Atos

    Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 82,000 employees and annual revenue of c. € 10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 69 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

    The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

    Press contact
    Laurent Massicot | laurent.massicot@atos.net | +33 (0)7 69 48 01 80

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: OSS Announces $6 Million in Combined Platform Contract Renewals for Two Existing U.S. Department of Defense Programs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Renewals include a $4 million contract for radar processing on the P-8A Poseidon Aircraft and a $2 million contract to upgrade sonar sensor processing for the Virginia Class Submarine

    Orders reflect OSS’ leadership in providing PCIe technologies and flash storage solutions for demanding, ruggedized, and high-performance compute applications that are needed for the modern battlefield

    ESCONDIDO, Calif., Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS or the Company) (Nasdaq: OSS), a leader in rugged Enterprise Class compute for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and sensor processing at the edge, today announced two contract renewals under longstanding U.S. Department of Defense platform programs. Renewals include an approximate $4 million contract to support data recording for radar sensor processing on the P-8A Poseidon Reconnaissance Aircraft, including a 5-year support contract and an approximate $2 million contract to upgrade sonar sensor processing for the Virginia Class Submarine. OSS expects design and production elements to occur in the second half of 2025.

    “We are pleased to announce two program renewals, highlighting our recurring incumbent platform positions and the proven hardware and software capabilities we have created for demanding military applications. These longstanding programs face periodic technology upgrade cycles, and receiving contract renewals is a testament to the continual value we provide in delivering high-performance edge computing solutions. These platform positions are critical components of our long-term strategic plan, and based on our current pipeline, we hope to announce additional platform opportunities in the coming quarters,” stated OSS President and CEO, Mike Knowles.

    P-8A Poseidon Aircraft Renewal and Tech Refresh
    The approximate $4 million in awards include a follow-on production order, a tech refresh contract to expand the scope of the OSS software provided as part of the current $36 million, 5-year sole-source supplier agreement, and a 5-year extension for support. This agreement involves equipping the Navy’s P-8A reconnaissance aircraft and ground base stations with high-capacity flash storage systems, spare flash storage canisters, and support services.

    Designed and manufactured by OSS, these full military-spec storage systems feature hot-swappable canisters of high-capacity NVMe flash storage that may be easily removed and securely transported to ground stations upon the aircraft’s return to base. Controlled by the Company’s exclusive Ion Accelerator™ storage software, these flash storage arrays store high volumes of real-time data collected from the aircraft’s advanced airborne sensors comprised of multifunction radar and associated tracking systems.

    Virginia Class Submarine Renewal
    The approximate $2 million project is a renewal of a sole-source supplier agreement that OSS has been operating under since 2010. The agreement, through a major defense contractor, involves equipping the U.S. Navy’s Virginia Class submarine with PCIe infrastructure that supports sonar sensor processing capabilities. OSS won a contract to upgrade the PCIe accelerator systems with newer PCIe technology that will support the program for at least another 10 years. Prototypes for the upgraded accelerators will be delivered in early 2025, with production systems later in 2025.

    About One Stop Systems
    One Stop Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSS) is a leader in AI enabled solutions for the demanding ‘edge’. OSS designs and manufactures Enterprise Class compute and storage products that enable rugged AI, sensor fusion and autonomous capabilities without compromise. These hardware and software platforms bring the latest data center performance to harsh and challenging applications, whether they are on land, sea or in the air.

    OSS products include ruggedized servers, compute accelerators, flash storage arrays, and storage acceleration software. These specialized compact products are used across multiple industries and applications, including autonomous trucking and farming, as well as aircraft, drones, ships and vehicles within the defense industry.

    OSS solutions address the entire AI workflow, from high-speed data acquisition to deep learning, training and large-scale inference, and have delivered many industry firsts for industrial OEM and government customers.

    As the fastest growing segment of the multi-billion-dollar edge computing market, AI enabled solutions require-and OSS delivers-the highest level of performance in the most challenging environments without compromise.

    OSS products are available directly or through global distributors. For more information, go to www.onestopsystems.com. You can also follow OSS on X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    One Stop Systems cautions you that statements in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the Company’s current beliefs and expectations. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by One Stop Systems or its partners that any of our plans or expectations will be achieved, including but not limited to the potential and/or the results of program renewals with defense contractors and the U.S. Department of Defense, any actual revenue derived from the agreements, the future adoption of technologies or applications, and the expansion of the Company’s offerings and/or relationship with different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risk and uncertainties inherent in our business, including risks described in our prior press releases and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading “Risk Factors” in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

    Media Contacts:
    Robert Kalebaugh
    One Stop Systems, Inc.
    Tel (858) 518-6154
    Email contact

    Investor Relations:
    Andrew Berger
    Managing Director
    SM Berger & Company, Inc.
    Tel (216) 464-6400
    Email contact

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Greystone Housing Impact Investors Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 and Annual 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On February 20, 2025, Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP (NYSE: GHI) (the “Partnership”) announced financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024.

    Financial Highlights

    The Partnership reported the following results as of and for the three months ended December 31, 2024:

    • Net income of $0.39 per Beneficial Unit Certificate (“BUC”), basic and diluted
    • Cash Available for Distribution (“CAD”) of $0.18 per BUC
    • Total assets of $1.58 billion
    • Total Mortgage Revenue Bond (“MRB”) and Governmental Issuer Loan (“GIL”) investments of $1.25 billion

    The difference between reported net income per BUC and CAD per BUC is primarily due to the treatment of unrealized gains on the Partnership’s interest rate derivative positions. Unrealized gains of approximately $7.0 million are included in net income for the three months ended December 31, 2024. Unrealized gains are a result of the impact of increased market interest rates on the calculated fair value of the Partnership’s interest rate derivative positions. Unrealized gains and losses do not affect our cash earnings and are added back to net income when calculating the Partnership’s CAD. The Partnership received net cash from its interest rate derivative positions totaling approximately $1.3 million during the fourth quarter.

    The Partnership reported the following results for the year ended December 31, 2024:

    • Net income of $0.76 per BUC, basic and diluted
    • CAD of $0.95 per BUC

    In December 2024, the Partnership announced that the Board of Managers of Greystone AF Manager LLC declared a regular quarterly distribution to the Partnership’s BUC holders of $0.37 per BUC. The distribution was paid on January 31, 2025, to BUC holders of record as of the close of trading on December 31, 2024.

    Management Remarks

    “2024 was a challenging year from a number of different perspectives,” said Kenneth C. Rogozinski, the Partnership’s Chief Executive Officer. “The conditions in the multifamily markets, both higher interest rates and operating expenses, presented challenges to our joint venture equity investments. Interest rate volatility also impacted the efficiency of some of our securitization transactions. However, we are encouraged by the opportunities that we are starting to see in 2025. The dedicated pool of capital that we have from the new BlackRock construction lending joint venture is a powerful new tool for us to serve our affordable housing developer relationship base.”

    Recent Investment and Financing Activity

    The Partnership reported the following updates for the fourth quarter of 2024:

    • Advanced funds on MRB and taxable MRB investments totaling $36.8 million.
    • Advanced funds on GIL, taxable GIL and property loan investments totaling $32.0 million.
    • Advanced funds to joint venture equity investments totaling $11.2 million.
    • Received proceeds from the sale of an MRB totaling $11.5 million.
    • Entered into the 2024 PFA Securitization Transaction representing fixed rate, matched term, non-recourse and non-mark to market debt financing totaling $75.4 million.

    In January 2025, the Partnership received proceeds from the sale of Vantage at Tomball located in Tomball, Texas, totaling $14.2 million, inclusive of the Partnership’s initial investment commitment made in August 2020. The Partnership estimates it will not recognize any gain, loss, or CAD upon sale.

    Investment Portfolio Updates

    The Partnership announced the following updates regarding its investment portfolio:

    • All MRB and GIL investments are current on contractual principal and interest payments and the Partnership has received no requests for forbearance of contractual principal and interest payments from borrowers as of December 31, 2024.
    • The Partnership continues to execute its hedging strategy, primarily through interest rate swaps, to reduce the impact of changing market interest rates. The Partnership received net payments under its interest rate swap portfolio of approximately $1.3 million and $6.5 million during the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively. From January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024, the Partnership received net swap payments totaling $12.3 million or approximately $0.53 per BUC.
    • Six joint venture equity investment properties have completed construction, with three properties having previously achieved 90% occupancy. Four of the Partnership’s joint venture equity investments are currently under construction or in development, with none having experienced material supply chain disruptions for either construction materials or labor to date.

    Earnings Webcast & Conference Call

    The Partnership will host a conference call for investors on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Partnership’s Fourth Quarter and full-year 2024 results.

    For those interested in participating in the question-and-answer session, participants may dial-in toll free at (877) 407-8813. International participants may dial-in at +1 (201) 689-8521. No pin or code number is needed.

    The call is also being webcast live in listen-only mode. The webcast can be accessed via the Partnership’s website under “Events & Presentations” or via the following link:
    https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=T0wdPGmd

    It is recommended that you join 15 minutes before the conference call begins (although you may register, dial-in or access the webcast at any time during the call).

    A recorded replay of the webcast will be made available on the Partnership’s Investor Relations website at http://www.ghiinvestors.com.

    About Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP

    Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP was formed in 1998 under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act for the primary purpose of acquiring, holding, selling and otherwise dealing with a portfolio of mortgage revenue bonds which have been issued to provide construction and/or permanent financing for affordable multifamily, seniors and student housing properties. The Partnership is pursuing a business strategy of acquiring additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments on a leveraged basis. The Partnership expects and believes the interest earned on these mortgage revenue bonds is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The Partnership seeks to achieve its investment growth strategy by investing in additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments as permitted by its Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, dated December 5, 2022 (the “Partnership Agreement”), taking advantage of attractive financing structures available in the securities market, and entering into interest rate risk management instruments. Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP press releases are available at www.ghiinvestors.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Certain statements in this press release are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of statements that include, but are not limited to, phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “future,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “estimates,” “potential,” “continue,” or other similar words or phrases. Similarly, statements that describe objectives, plans, or goals also are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Partnership. The Partnership cautions readers that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, implied, or projected by such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: defaults on the mortgage loans securing our mortgage revenue bonds and governmental issuer loans; the competitive environment in which the Partnership operates; risks associated with investing in multifamily, student, senior citizen residential properties and commercial properties; general economic, geopolitical, and financial conditions, including the current and future impact of changing interest rates, inflation, and international conflicts (including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war) on business operations, employment, and financial conditions; uncertain conditions within the domestic and international macroeconomic environment, including monetary and fiscal policy and conditions in the investment, credit, interest rate, and derivatives markets; adverse reactions in U.S. financial markets related to actions of foreign central banks or the economic performance of foreign economies, including in particular China, Japan, the European Union, and the United Kingdom; the general condition of the real estate markets in the regions in which the Partnership operates, which may be unfavorably impacted by pressures in the commercial real estate sector, incrementally higher unemployment rates, persistent elevated inflation levels, and other factors; changes in interest rates and credit spreads, as well as the success of any hedging strategies the Partnership may undertake in relation to such changes, and the effect such changes may have on the relative spreads between the yield on investments and cost of financing; the aggregate effect of elevated inflation levels over the past several years, spurred by multiple factors including expansionary monetary and fiscal policy, higher commodity prices, a tight labor market, and low residential vacancy rates, which may result in continued elevated interest rate levels and increased market volatility; the Partnership’s ability to access debt and equity capital to finance its assets; current maturities of the Partnership’s financing arrangements and the Partnership’s ability to renew or refinance such financing arrangements; local, regional, national and international economic and credit market conditions; recapture of previously issued Low Income Housing Tax Credits in accordance with Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code; geographic concentration of properties related to investments held by the Partnership; changes in the U.S. corporate tax code and other government regulations affecting the Partnership’s business; and the other risks detailed in the Partnership’s SEC filings (including but not limited to, the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K). Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements.

    If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or if any of the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements proves to be incorrect, the developments and future events concerning the Partnership set forth in this press release may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our expectations and beliefs to change. The Partnership assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, unless obligated to do so under the federal securities laws.

    GREYSTONE HOUSING IMPACT INVESTORS LP
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (UNAUDITED)
     
        For the Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		     For the Years Ended December 31,
        2024     2023     2024     2023    
    Revenues:                                
      Investment income $ 20,056,000     $ 20,010,343     $ 80,976,706     $ 82,266,198    
      Other interest income   2,199,643       1,034,638       9,509,307       17,756,044    
      Property revenues   –               –       4,567,506    
      Other income   330,381       60,702       785,386       310,916    
    Total revenues   22,586,024       25,184,617       91,271,399       104,900,664    
    Expenses:                                
      Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)   –       573,255       –       2,663,868    
      Provision for credit losses (Note 10)   (24,000 )     (466,000 )     (1,036,308 )     (2,347,000 )  
      Depreciation and amortization   5,967       313,626       23,867       1,537,448    
      Interest expense   15,840,620       16,849,384       60,032,007       69,066,763    
      Net result from derivative transactions (Note 15)   (8,239,844 )     7,168,413       (8,495,426 )     (7,371,584 )  
      General and administrative   4,787,849       4,889,014       19,652,622       20,399,489    
    Total expenses   12,370,592       29,327,692       70,176,762       83,948,984    
    Other income:                                
      Gain on sale of real estate assets   –       10,363,363       63,739       10,363,363    
      Gain on sale of mortgage revenue bond   1,207,673       –       2,220,254       –    
      Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated entities   60,858       –       117,844       22,725,398    
      Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities   (1,315,042 )     (17,879 )     (2,140,694 )     (17,879 )  
    Income before income taxes   10,168,921       6,202,409       21,355,780       54,022,562    
      Income tax expense (benefit)   36,398       (1,515 )     32,447       10,866    
    Net income   10,132,523       6,203,924       21,323,333       54,011,696    
      Redeemable Preferred Unit distributions and accretion   (741,477 )     (622,590 )     (2,991,671 )     (2,868,578 )  
    Net income available to Partners $ 9,391,046     $ 5,581,334     $ 18,331,662     $ 51,143,118    
                                       
    Net income available to Partners allocated to:                                
      General Partner $ 390,766     $ 75,252     $ 479,602     $ 3,589,447    
      Limited Partners – BUCs   8,937,983       5,472,230       17,587,205       47,209,260    
      Limited Partners – Restricted units   62,297       33,852       264,855       344,411    
        $ 9,391,046     $ 5,581,334     $ 18,331,662     $ 51,143,118    
    BUC holders’ interest in net income per BUC, basic and diluted $ 0.39     $ 0.24   ** $ 0.76   * $ 2.06   **
    Weighted average number of BUCs outstanding, basic   23,115,162       22,947,795   **   23,071,141   *   22,929,966   **
    Weighted average number of BUCs outstanding, diluted   23,115,162       22,947,795   **   23,071,141   *   22,929,966   **
       
    * The amounts indicated above have been adjusted to reflect the distribution completed on April 30, 2024 in the form of additional BUCs at a ratio of 0.00417 BUCs for each BUC outstanding as of March 28, 2024 on a retroactive basis.
       
    ** On July 31, 2023, the Partnership completed a distribution in the form of additional BUCs at a ratio of 0.00448 BUCs for each BUC outstanding as of June 30, 2023 (the “Second Quarter 2023 BUCs Distribution”). On October 31, 2023, the Partnership completed a distribution in the form of additional BUCs at a ratio of 0.00418 BUCs for each BUC outstanding as of September 29, 2023 (the “Third Quarter 2023 BUCs Distribution”). On January 31, 2024, the Partnership completed a distribution in the form of additional BUCs at a ratio of 0.00415 BUCs for each BUC outstanding as of December 29, 2023 (the “Fourth Quarter 2023 BUCs Distribution”, collectively with the Second Quarter 2023 BUCs Distribution and the Third Quarter BUCs Distribution the “2023 BUCs Distributions”). The amounts indicated above have been adjusted to reflect the 2023 BUCs Distributions on a retroactive basis.
       

    Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Measures – Cash Available for Distribution

    The Partnership believes that CAD provides relevant information about the Partnership’s operations and is necessary, along with net income, for understanding its operating results. To calculate CAD, the Partnership begins with net income as computed in accordance with GAAP and adjusts for non-cash expenses or income consisting of depreciation expense, amortization expense related to deferred financing costs, amortization of premiums and discounts, fair value adjustments to derivative instruments, provisions for credit and loan losses, impairments on MRBs, GILs, real estate assets and property loans, deferred income tax expense (benefit), and restricted unit compensation expense. The Partnership also adjusts net income for the Partnership’s share of (earnings) losses of investments in unconsolidated entities as such amounts are primarily depreciation expenses and development costs that are expected to be recovered upon an exit event. The Partnership also deducts Tier 2 income (see Note 23 to the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements) distributable to the General Partner as defined in the Partnership Agreement and distributions and accretion for the Preferred Units. Net income is the GAAP measure most comparable to CAD. There is no generally accepted methodology for computing CAD, and the Partnership’s computation of CAD may not be comparable to CAD reported by other companies. Although the Partnership considers CAD to be a useful measure of the Partnership’s operating performance, CAD is a non-GAAP measure that should not be considered as an alternative to net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, or any other measures of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP.

    The following table shows the calculation of CAD (and a reconciliation of the Partnership’s net income, as determined in accordance with GAAP, to CAD) for the three months and years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (all per BUC amounts are presented giving effect to the BUCs Distributions described in Note 23 of the consolidated financial statements on a retroactive basis for all periods presented):

        For the Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		     For the Years Ended December 31,
        2024     2023     2024     2023    
    Net income $ 10,132,523     $ 6,203,924     $ 21,323,333     $ 54,011,696    
    Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives, net   (6,978,561 )     9,994,292       (2,097,900 )     3,173,398    
    Depreciation and amortization expense   5,967       313,626       23,867       1,537,448    
    Provision for credit losses (1)   (24,000 )     (466,000 )     (867,000 )     (2,347,000 )  
    Reversal of gain on sale of real estate assets (2)   –       (10,363,363 )     –       (10,363,363 )  
    Amortization of deferred financing costs   466,105       710,271       1,653,805       2,461,713    
    Restricted unit compensation expense   436,052       473,127       1,891,633       2,013,736    
    Deferred income taxes   1,164       2,796       2,435       (362 )  
    Redeemable Preferred Unit distributions and accretion   (741,477 )     (622,590 )     (2,991,671 )     (2,868,578 )  
    Tier 2 income allocable to the General Partner (3)   (309,858 )     (19,439 )     (309,858 )     (3,248,148 )  
    Recovery of prior credit loss (4)   (17,156 )     (17,156 )     (69,000 )     (68,812 )  
    Bond premium, discount and acquisition fee amortization, net
       of cash received    		   (90,310 )     (42,900 )     1,247,066       (182,284 )  
    (Earnings) losses from investments in unconsolidated entities   1,315,042       17,879       2,140,694       17,879    
    Total CAD $ 4,195,491     $ 6,184,467     $ 21,947,404     $ 44,137,323    
                                       
    Weighted average number of BUCs outstanding, basic   23,115,162       22,947,795       23,071,141       22,929,966    
    Net income per BUC, basic $ 0.39     $ 0.24     $ 0.76     $ 2.06    
    Total CAD per BUC, basic $ 0.18     $ 0.27     $ 0.95     $ 1.92    
    Cash Distributions declared, per BUC $ 0.37     $ 0.367     $ 1.478     $ 1.46    
    BUCs Distributions declared, per BUC (5) $ –     $ 0.07     $ 0.07     $ 0.21    
       
    (1) The adjustments reflect the change in allowances for credit losses which requires the Partnership to update estimates of expected credit losses for its investment portfolio at each reporting date. In connection with the final settlement of the bankruptcy estate of the Provision Center 2014-1 MRB in July 2024, the Partnership recovered approximately $169,000 of its previously recognized allowance credit loss which is not included as an adjustment to net income in the calculation of CAD.
       
    (2) The gain on sale of real estate assets from the sale of the Suites on Paseo MF Property represented a recovery of prior depreciation expense that was not reflected in the Partnership’s previously reported CAD, so the gain on sale was deducted from net income in determining CAD for 2023.
       
    (3) As described in Note 23 to the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements, Net Interest Income representing contingent interest and Net Residual Proceeds representing contingent interest (Tier 2 income) will be distributed 75% to the limited partners and BUC holders, as a class, and 25% to the General Partner. This adjustment represents 25% of Tier 2 income due to the General Partner.
       
      For the year ended December 31, 2024, Tier 2 income allocable to the General Partner consisted of approximately $310,000 related to the gain on sale of the Arbors at Hickory Ridge MRB in November 2024.
       
      For the year ended December 31, 2023, Tier 2 income allocable to the General Partner consisted of approximately $3.8 million related to the gains on sale of Vantage at Stone Creek and Vantage at Coventry in January 2023 and approximately $813,000 related to the gain on sale of Vantage at Conroe in June 2023, offset by a $1.4 million Tier 2 loss allocable to the General Partner related to the Provision Center 2014-1 MRB realized in January 2023 upon receipt of the majority of expected bankruptcy liquidation proceeds.
       
    (4) The Partnership determined there was a recovery of previously recognized impairment recorded for the Live 929 Apartments Series 2022A MRB prior to January 1, 2023. The Partnership is accreting the recovery of prior credit loss for this MRB into investment income over the term of the MRB consistent with applicable guidance. The accretion of recovery of value is presented as a reduction to current CAD as the original provision for credit loss was an addback for CAD calculation purposes in the period recognized.
       
    (5) The Partnership declared a distribution payable in the form of additional BUCs equal to $0.07 per BUC for outstanding BUCs as of the record date of March 28, 2024.
       
      The Partnership declared three separate distributions during 2023 each payable in the form of additional BUCs equal to $0.07 per BUC for outstanding BUCs as of the record dates of June 30, September 29, and December 29, 2023.
       

    MEDIA CONTACT:
    Karen Marotta
    Greystone
    212-896-9149
    Karen.Marotta@greyco.com

    INVESTOR CONTACT:
    Andy Grier
    Investors Relations
    402-952-1235

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Our research on dark web forums reveals the growing threat of AI-generated child abuse images

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Simon Bailey, Chair, International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University

    Ventura/Shutterstock

    The UK aims to be the first country in the world to create new offences related to AI-generated sexual abuse. New laws will make it illegal to possess, create or distribute AI tools designed to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM), punishable by up to five years in prison. The laws will also make it illegal for anyone to possess so-called “paedophile manuals” which teach people how to use AI to sexually abuse children.

    In the last few decades, the threat against children from online abuse has multiplied at a concerning rate. According to the Internet Watch Foundation, which tracks down and removes abuse from the internet, there has been an 830% rise in online child sexual abuse imagery since 2014. The prevalence of AI image generation tools is fuelling this further.

    Last year, we at the International Policing and Protection Research Institute at Anglia Ruskin University published a report on the growing demand for AI-generated child sexual abuse material online.

    Researchers analysed chats that took place in dark web forums over the previous 12 months. We found evidence of growing interest in this technology, and of online offenders’ desire for others to learn more and create abuse images.

    Horrifyingly, forum members referred to those creating the AI-imagery as “artists”. This technology is creating a new world of opportunity for offenders to create and share the most depraved forms of child abuse content.

    Our analysis showed that members of these forums are using non-AI-generated images and videos already at their disposal to facilitate their learning and train the software they use to create the images. Many expressed their hopes and expectations that the technology would evolve, making it even easier for them to create this material.

    Dark web spaces are hidden and only accessible through specialised software. They provide offenders with anonymity and privacy, making it difficult for law enforcement to identify and prosecute them.

    The Internet Watch Foundation has documented concerning statistics about the rapid increase in the number of AI-generated images they encounter as part of their work. The volume remains relatively low in comparison to the scale of non-AI images that are being found, but the numbers are growing at an alarming rate.

    The charity reported in October 2023 that a total of 20,254 AI generated imaged were uploaded in a month to one dark web forum. Before this report was published, little was known about the threat.

    The harms of AI abuse

    The perception among offenders is that AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery is a victimless crime, because the images are not “real”. But it is far from harmless, firstly because it can be created from real photos of children, including images that are completely innocent.

    While there is a lot we don’t yet know about the impact of AI-generated abuse specifically, there is a wealth of research on the harms of online child sexual abuse, as well as how technology is used to perpetuate or worsen the impact of offline abuse. For example, victims may have continuing trauma due to the permanence of photos or videos, just knowing the images are out there. Offenders may also use images (real or fake) to intimidate or blackmail victims.

    These considerations are also part of ongoing discussions about deepfake pornography, the creation of which the government also plans to criminalise.



    Read more:
    Deepfake porn: why we need to make it a crime to create it, not just share it

    All of these issues can be exacerbated with AI technology. Additionally, there is also likely to be a traumatic impact on moderators and investigators having to view abuse images in the finest details to identify if they are “real” or “generated” images.

    What can the law do?

    UK law currently outlaws the taking, making, distribution and possession of an indecent image or a pseudo-photograph (a digitally-created photorealistic image) of a child.

    But there are currently no laws that make it an offence to possess the technology to create AI child sexual abuse images. The new laws should ensure that police officers will be able to target abusers who are using or considering using AI to generate this content, even if they are not currently in possession of images when investigated.

    New laws on AI tools should help investigators crack down on offenders even if they do not have images in their possession.
    Pla2na/Shutterstock

    We will always be behind offenders when it comes to technology, and law enforcement agencies around the world will soon be overwhelmed. They need laws designed to help them identify and prosecute those seeking to exploit children and young people online.

    It is welcome news that the government is committed to taking action, but it has to be fast. The longer the legislation takes to enact, the more children are at risk of being abused.

    Tackling the global threat will also take more than laws in one country. We need a whole-system response that starts when new technology is being designed. Many AI products and tools have been developed for entirely genuine, honest and non-harmful reasons, but they can easily be adapted and used by offenders looking to create harmful or illegal material.

    The law needs to understand and respond to this, so that technology cannot be used to facilitate abuse, and so that we can differentiate between those using tech to harm, and those using it for good.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Our research on dark web forums reveals the growing threat of AI-generated child abuse images – https://theconversation.com/our-research-on-dark-web-forums-reveals-the-growing-threat-of-ai-generated-child-abuse-images-249067

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Switching to electric vehicles will push the power grid to the brink

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Florimond Gueniat, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Birmingham City University

    AdamEdwards / shutterstock

    The UK’s pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 hinges on replacing millions of petrol and diesel vehicles with cleaner alternatives. But transitioning to electric transport isn’t just about manufacturing new cars, installing chargers and so on. It’s a gargantuan energy generation challenge that could push the power grid to its limits.

    In 2023, UK transport consumed about 46 million litres of petrol and diesel. If we convert that into electricity, it would be equivalent to 49.5 gigawatts (GW) of continuous power throughout a whole year. For perspective, this is about one-third more than the UK’s entire current electricity generation capacity.

    In other words, every single power station in the UK could be devoted entirely to powering electric vehicles and it still wouldn’t be enough. But one might say we didn’t consider the efficiency of electric vehicles. Petrol and diesel engines waste about three quarters of their energy as heat, with only a small portion used to propel the car. Electric vehicles meanwhile waste only about one quarter.

    Adjusting for this, the actual power needed if the UK went entirely electric drops to around 20 GW. It would still mean increasing today’s grid capacity by almost half (46%), corresponding to building 17 nuclear plants (1.2 GW each) or 5,800 skyscraper-sized wind turbines (3.5 MW each). Those wind farms would cost around £22 billion, while the nuclear plants would cost significantly more.

    At the moment, less than 1% of vehicles in the UK are electric, which explains why there are no specific power issues – yet. But if the country did have a fully carbon-free fleet of vehicles, the associated surge in demand would strain infrastructure and risk large blackouts. California’s grid, for example, already faces stress during electric vehicle charging peaks, prompting warnings and forcing the state to put “managed charging” policies in place.

    ‘A gargantuan energy challenge’.
    Supamotionstock.com / shutterstock

    Massive upgrade needed

    Most countries looking to switch to zero-carbon transport will need to massively upgrade their electricity grid and power plants. Renewable energy complicates matters as wind and solar can’t always meet demand spikes (you can burn more gas or coal when needed, but you can’t choose when the wind blows or the sun shines). Nuclear offers stable and massive output, but new plants can take decades to build and the public is often hostile.

    Certain “smart” solutions could help things even if the grid itself isn’t overhauled. Electric vehicle batteries could be linked to the grid for instance, and used to store and supply power. Overnight, millions of cars will soak up electricity before releasing it when demand spikes again in the morning. Price discounts would encourage people to charge their cars at night, when demand for electricity is at its lowest.

    This can help mitigate many of the issues related to wind and solar being intermittent. But it will cause batteries to deteriorate faster, and still won’t solve the problem of having to generate more electricity.

    Electricity stored overnight can be very useful in the morning when millions of lights and kettles are switched on.
    Smile Fight / shutterstock

    One underappreciated strategy is empowering households and businesses that generate their own electricity via solar panels, small wind turbines, or even micro-hydro systems. By 2035, with vigorous policies, these “prosumers” could supply up to 15% of the UK’s electricity, easing grid strain and reducing reliance on centralised funding. Such policies in Germany have lead its prosumer networks to already offset 10% of the national demand.

    Without such decentralised efforts, the financial burden of grid upgrades will fall entirely on taxpayers, at staggering costs. The alternative is a huge rise in price of electricity, felt by all, and a stalled transition.

    No time to delay

    Generating more power remains the core issue. Without urgent action, the transition to low-carbon transport could stall – or worse, overload the energy system. The governments of France, the UK and some other countries have recently begun to discuss increasing energy production, but the focus is on meeting AI-related demands rather than electricity for the next generation of vehicles.

    Critically, net-zero will only happen with strong transport and energy policies in place. Governments must increase grid capacity and incentivise small-scale renewable generation through tax breaks and specially-designed payments. The alternative – delaying and relying solely on public funds – is economically unviable and politically risky.

    Florimond Gueniat 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. Switching to electric vehicles will push the power grid to the brink – https://theconversation.com/switching-to-electric-vehicles-will-push-the-power-grid-to-the-brink-248814

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: The Philippines should stop gambling on the South China Sea issue

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese naval and air forces warned off a Philippine C-208 aircraft that intruded illegally into Chinese territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao Tuesday. Clearly, Manila has not ceased making waves in the South China Sea.

    As Manila resorts to various means to pursue its illegal territorial claims, it is undermining peace and stability in the region. The Philippine government should put an end to its irresponsible and dangerous gamble, which may lead to geopolitical confrontation and turn the South China Sea into a conflict flashpoint.

    The Philippines plans to allow more powers from outside the region to build a military presence on its land. It has also repeatedly involved non-regional countries in its so-called joint patrols of the South China Sea. These countries talk of rules, order and freedom of navigation, yet they take actions that infringe on China’s territorial sovereignty and threaten China’s national security.

    When the roar of foreign warships overwhelms the sound of fishing boats, the Philippines’ security gamble risks hollowing out the foundations of regional peace.

    “The Philippines has no major external security threats, but has turned itself into a country that undermines regional peace and stability through a militarization carnival,” said Ding Duo, director of the Research Center for International and Regional Issues at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

    Going back on its word, the Philippines has absurdly used the deployment of the U.S. Typhon mid-range missile system as a bargaining chip in discussions on the South China Sea issue. In July 2024, a Philippine Army spokesman told AFP that “it will be shipped out of the country in September or even earlier.”

    This is reminiscent of another case of Manila reneging on its promises. In 1999, Philippine military vessel BRP Sierra Madre was illegally “grounded” on Ren’ai Jiao, which is part of China’s Nansha Qundao. The Philippines repeatedly pledged that it would tow the vessel away, yet it is still there today.

    The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties. China’s Nansha Qundao and Huangyan Dao fall outside of Philippine territory.

    At the heart of the disputes in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines are the Philippines’ invasion and illegal occupation of certain islands and reefs that belong to China’s Nansha Qundao.

    When it comes to resolving these disputes in the South China Sea, the Philippines’ tactics — playing the victim and launching smear campaigns — will not work. Military provocations, even in collusion with other countries, will not work either. China will resolutely counter any provocations or infringements that threaten its territorial sovereignty or maritime rights and interests.

    Peace and stability in the South China Sea serve the common interests of countries in the region and around the world. China has always been committed to resolving disputes in the South China Sea through peaceful means, and to promoting regional cooperation and development.

    The Philippines should respect the facts of history, abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and consistently and truly honor its commitment to handling its differences with China properly through dialogue and consultation. Becoming a pawn of external forces is not a feasible tactic and could put a country in a more passive position. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In the Starlight: Portia Keyes Procures Mission-Critical Support

    Source: NASA

    One semester as a NASA Pathways intern was enough to inspire Portia Keyes to sign up for a Russian language class at college. After interning in the Johnson Space Center’s Office of Procurement, Keyes hoped to someday use her new language skills in support of the International Space Station Program.
    Now, 12 years later, Keyes is the deputy manager of the procurement office for the International Space Station and Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Programs. That means she is responsible for implementing and overseeing acquisition solutions that enable the purchasing of goods and services in support of both programs.

    It has also given her a chance to use some of what she learned from her Russian language course. One of Keyes’ favorite NASA projects involved negotiating a contract modification with Roscosmos to secure transportation of NASA astronauts to the International Space Station via Soyuz spacecraft following the space shuttle’s retirement. “This project stands out to me both for its impact on NASA’s missions and the way it transcended political and geographical boundaries,” Keyes said. Being a part of this effort reinforced the importance of collaboration on a global scale. “It demonstrated how shared goals and values can unite people across different nations, regardless of external circumstances,” she said. “The world is more connected than we often realize.”
    Keyes values collaboration on a smaller scale, as well, noting that her procurement role involves working with a wide variety of subject matter experts who are passionate about their respective fields. She acknowledged that procurement staff are sometimes seen as obstructing or slowing a mission rather than enabling it, although she has overcome this challenge through effective communication with stakeholders – striving to understand their perspectives and present mutually beneficial solutions.
    “My commitment is to advancing NASA’s missions through the responsible management of taxpayer dollars,” she said. “Collaborating closely with my technical counterparts, I have been able to secure mission-critical services and supplies, all while adhering to regulatory, schedule, and resource constraints.”

    Adaptability has also been important to Keyes’ success. “Whether it’s shifting priorities due to unforeseen challenges, navigating cultural differences within international teams, or adjusting to new acquisition regulations, being flexible and open to change has allowed me to not just survive in dynamic environments, but thrive,” she said.
    At the same time, Keyes strives to maintain balance in the workplace. “What I have learned about myself is that I can do anything, but not everything,” she said. “Maturing in my career has meant accepting that I have limited time, energy, and resources, so it is important to discern what truly matters and focus my efforts there.”

    Keyes’ hard work has been recognized with several awards throughout her career. She is proudest of earning the Office of Procurement Bubbee’s Coach Award, which is given to the team member most likely to serve as a mentor to colleagues. “Much of my professional and personal growth has stemmed from formal and informal mentors who supported me in navigating challenges, developing new skills, and creating environments for me to thrive,” she said. “I have a great appreciation for those mentors, and I strive to impact those around me similarly.”
    Keyes hopes to encourage the Artemis Generation to approach the future – and periods of uncertainty – with curiosity, resilience, and a responsibility to care for our planet and the universe. She looks forward to the continued expansion of access to space.
    “I hope to be around for the days where I can afford a reasonably priced, roundtrip ticket to the Moon,” she said. “Perhaps by then they will sell functional spacesuits in the local sporting goods stores.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Golden State will soon be home to the world’s most renowned athletic events

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 19, 2025

    What you need to know: Over the next three years, California will host the NBA All-Star Weekend, X Games, FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl LX & LXI, and the LA28 Olympics & Paralympics in select regions across the state.

    SACRAMENTO – As the Bay Area wraps up NBA All-Star 2025, which was projected to generate approximately $350M in economic impact, California will continue to shine on the global stage with a lineup of major athletic events. These events will collectively generate billions in economic activity and foster community engagement as visitors from around the world experience the region’s culture, attractions, and hospitality.

    “From Northern to Southern California, the state is preparing to shine on the world’s biggest stages, welcoming fans from around the globe to experience the energy and diversity of our great state. These events will drive billions into our economy, support local businesses, and create jobs while uniting communities in celebration.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    🏀 2025 Bay Area and 2026 Los Angeles NBA All-Star Games 

    • NBA All-Star is an annual mid-season showcase featuring the league’s top stars competing in events including the All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday Night which consists of the Skills Challenge, 3-Point and Slam Dunk, as well as the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and numerous community activations across the host city. NBA All-Star generates significant economic and cultural impact for the host market.
    • NBA All-Star 2025 in the San Francisco Bay Area was projected to generate approximately $350M in economic impact, supporting 3,000 jobs, and attracting 135,000 visitors. California will host back-to-back with NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles.

    🛹 2025, 2026, and 2027 X Games in Sacramento

    • The X Games are a televised sports festival that features competitive skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, and BMX. 
    • Over the next three summers, Sacramento’s Cal Expo will host the games with an estimated 35,000 attendees anticipated daily.

    🏈 2026 Super Bowl LX and 2027 Super Bowl LXI

    • The National Football League’s championship game will host Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California and Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
    • Super Bowl LX is projected to generate a total economic impact of approximately $500 million, with an estimated 90,000 visitors from outside the Bay Area to be expected.

    ⚽ 2026 FIFA World Cup 

    • The 2026 FIFA World Cup is an international soccer tournament that will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico and will mark the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams.
    • The total estimated economic impact for the Bay Area is approximately $555 million with an estimated 260,000 out-of-town visitors. Los Angeles is projected to see an economic impact of approximately $594 million with approximately 180,000 out-of-town visitors.

    🏅 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games

    • The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, set to take place in Los Angeles, will showcase global sporting talent on the biggest stage in sports.

    According to the LA28 Games, the sporting event will contribute towards equitable access to youth sports as LA28 invested $160 million in sports for youth across LA. 

    Continuing robust support for LA

    With California front and center for these world-class sporting events, the state is working diligently to prioritize a fast and safe recovery for people and businesses impacted by the LA fires. From the state’s private and philanthropic partnerships, to coordination with federal and local government, California continues to maximize the impact of ongoing rebuilding efforts. 

    For more information and resources, please visit https://www.ca.gov/LAfires/ 

    California’s booming tourism economy

    California has the largest market share of tourism in the nation. Travel spending in the state reached an all-time high of $150.4 billion in 2023, surpassing the record $144.9 billion spent in 2019 – spending that is 3.8% higher than 2019 and 5.6% higher than 2022.

    The new travel-spending record generated $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue by visitors in 2023, marking a 3% increase over 2019. Tourism created 64,900 new jobs in 2023, bringing total industry employment to 1,155,000.

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  • MIL-OSI: XBP Europe Selected for AGIRC-ARRCO’s Digital Transformation Framework

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PARIS, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. (“XBP Europe” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: XBP), a pan-European integrator of bills, payments, and related solutions and services seeking to enable the digital transformation of its clients, announced today that its French subsidiary has been selected as a supplier on a large-scale framework for sourcing data processing and payments services. The AGIRC-ARRCO framework is estimated to be in excess of a cumulative total of €25 million for all suppliers.

    AGIRC-ARRCO manages a compulsory supplementary pension scheme for private-sector employees in France. This is achieved via a confederation structure involving multiple member pension funds. The fund collects contributions from 27 million employees and 1.8 million companies, paying out €90 billion each year, making AGIRC-ARRCO a crucial service provider in the French pension system.

    AGIRC-ARRCO has selected XBP Europe France, along with three other suppliers, to support pension applications and administrative services relating to pension contributions. XBP Europe intends to compete for multiple projects within the framework, aiming to deploy its state-of-the-art IDP/TTY, workflow solutions, and Digital Mailroom platforms.

    “Our participation in the AGIRC-ARRCO framework reinforces XBP Europe’s position as a trusted partner for digital transformations. We are proud to support AGIRC-ARRCO and its members with our expertise in data digitisation and workflow automation, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and operational excellence,” said Vitalie Robu, President at XBP Europe.

    About XBP Europe

    XBP Europe is a pan-European integrator of bills, payments and related solutions and services seeking to enable digital transformation of its more than 2,000 clients. The Company’s name – ‘XBP’ – stands for ‘exchange for bills and payments’ and reflects the Company’s strategy to connect buyers and suppliers, across industries, including banking, healthcare, insurance, utilities and the public sector, to optimize clients’ bills and payments and related digitization processes. The Company provides business process management solutions with proprietary software suites and deep domain expertise, serving as a technology and services partner for its clients. Its cloud-based structure enables it to deploy its solutions across the European market, along with the Middle East and Africa. The physical footprint of XBP Europe spans 15 countries and 32 locations and a team of approximately 1,500 individuals. XBP Europe believes its business ultimately advances digital transformation, improves market wide liquidity by expediting payments, and encourages sustainable business practices. For more information, please visit: www.xbpeurope.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, including certain financial forecasts and projections. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements as to future results of operations and financial position, revenue and other metrics planned products and services, business strategy and plans, objectives of management for future operations of XBP Europe, market size and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends, are forward-looking statements. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including “may,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” “forecast” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon estimates, forecasts and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by XBP Europe and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain and many factors may cause the actual results to differ materially from current expectations which include, but are not limited to: (1) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against XBP Europe or others and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; (2) the inability to meet the continued listing standards of Nasdaq or another securities exchange; (3) the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations of XBP Europe and its subsidiaries; (4) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of XBP Europe and its subsidiaries to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (5) costs related to the business combination; (6) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (7) the possibility that XBP Europe or any of its subsidiaries may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; (8) risks related to XBP Europe’s potential inability to achieve or maintain profitability and generate cash; (9) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including any mutations or variants thereof, and its effect on business and financial conditions; (10) volatility in the markets caused by geopolitical and economic factors; (11) the ability of XBP Europe to retain existing clients; (12) the potential inability of XBP Europe to manage growth effectively; (13) the ability to recruit, train and retain qualified personnel, and (14) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed on April 1, 2024 and, our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our current reports on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. XBP Europe gives no assurance that either XBP Europe or any of its subsidiaries will achieve its expected results. XBP Europe undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law.

    For more XBP Europe news, commentary, and industry perspectives, visit: https://www.xbpeurope.com/
    And please follow us on social:
    X: https://X.com/XBPEurope
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xbp-europe/

    The information posted on XBP Europe’s website and/or via its social media accounts may be deemed material to investors. Accordingly, investors, media and others interested in XBP Europe should monitor XBP Europe’s website and its social media accounts in addition to XBP Europe’s press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts.

    Investor and/or Media Contacts:
    investors@xbpeurope.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China doubles down on boosting appeal to foreign investment

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

    A policy briefing on expanding high-standard opening up and ensuring foreign investment stability in 2025 is held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 20, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, Feb. 20 — Amid simmering global trade tensions and a surge in protectionism, China is ramping up efforts to expand high-standard opening up and reinforce its appeal to foreign investment, providing the much-needed certainty and opportunity to global businesses.

    From unveiling a comprehensive action plan to attract foreign investment to further easing market access restrictions for investment, China is leveraging its vast domestic market, dynamic innovation and long-term economic resilience to cement its status as a magnet for foreign investment.

    GREATER APPEAL

    “Foreign investment has been a witness and contributor to, as well as beneficiary of China’s reform and opening up,” Ling Ji, vice minister of commerce and deputy China international trade representative, said Thursday at a press conference.

    According to Ling, foreign-invested enterprises now contribute nearly 7 percent of China’s employment, one-seventh of tax revenue and about one-third of its imports and exports.

    Multinationals are optimistic about the long-term prospects of investing in China and have a strong willingness to expand their presence in the country, Zhu Bing, an official with the Ministry of Commerce, said at the press conference.

    Although the foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Chinese mainland remained subdued amid a global downturn, signs of improvement have started to emerge. FDI in the Chinese mainland in actual use totaled 97.59 billion yuan (about 13.61 billion U.S. dollars) in January, up 27.5 percent from the previous month.

    In terms of source countries, FDI from the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands and Japan surged 324.4 percent, 104.3 percent, 76.1 percent and 40.7 percent, respectively, last month.

    With vast business opportunities and dynamic innovation, the Chinese market has always been a top priority for multinationals, Zhu said, adding that China, as always, welcomes businesses from all countries to continue increasing investment in China and sharing its development opportunities.

    STRONGER SUPPORT

    Despite rising trade protectionism and geopolitical tensions, China has stayed committed to expanding high-standard opening up and fostering a business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized.

    Amid the country’s latest efforts to encourage foreign investment, a new action plan was unveiled Wednesday to stabilize foreign investment, with 20 specific measures in four aspects, including further expanding market access in various sectors and increasing efforts to promote investment.

    Among the measures, the plan will encourage foreign equity investment in China to attract more high-quality FDI in the country’s listed companies.

    The country will continue expanding its pilot programs to open up fields such as telecommunication and medical services in a timely manner. It will also lift restrictions on domestic loans for foreign-invested enterprises, allowing these firms to use domestic financing for equity investments, according to the plan.

    Since 2024, the country has introduced measures to expand opening up in sectors such as value-added telecommunications and healthcare, completely removed foreign investment access restrictions in manufacturing, and reduced nationwide foreign investment access restrictions from 31 to 29 items.

    Looking forward, Hua Zhong, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission, said the country would align with high-standard international economic and trade rules in areas including property rights protection, industrial subsidies, environmental standards and government procurement.

    The country is working on expanding the catalog of encouraged industries for foreign investment, and will release the 2025 edition as soon as possible, Hua said. He noted that the new catalog will include sectors such as advanced manufacturing, modern services, high-tech as well as energy saving and environmental protection.

    Zhu said China would further broaden market access by shortening the negative list for investment this year, a move set to benefit all market entities, including foreign companies.

    “With these newly-introduced foreign investment policies taking effect, the ‘magnetic appeal’ of the Chinese market to foreign investment will only grow stronger,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government posts notices of land resumption and acquisition for Second Phase Development of Yuen Long South New Development Area

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Government posts notices of land resumption and acquisition for Second Phase Development of Yuen Long South New Development Area
    Government posts notices of land resumption and acquisition for Second Phase Development of Yuen Long South New Development Area
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         The Lands Department (LandsD) today (February 20) posted resumption notices and acquisition notices in accordance with relevant ordinances to resume about 56 hectares of private land and acquire about 14.54 square metres of government land being occupied by two graves and four urns for the implementation of the Second Phase Development of the Yuen Long South New Development Area (YLS NDA).      Section 4 of the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124), section 4 of the Land Acquisition (Possessory Title) Ordinance (Chapter 130), section 14 of the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance (Chapter 370) and section 14 of Chapter 370 as applied by section 26 of the Water Pollution Control (Sewerage) Regulation (Chapter 358, Subsidiary Legislation AL) will be invoked.      The about 56 hectares of land to be resumed involves a total of 1 231 private lots. The land will revert to the Government three months from the date of the notices (i.e. May 21, 2025). The Government will release ex-gratia land compensation to the relevant land owners after the land reverts to the Government.      The abovementioned land reversion date is the date of reversion of the ownership of the land in the Government. It is not the departure deadline for the affected households and business undertakings. According to the information obtained earlier from the freezing survey, there are a total of about 200 households and about 80 business undertakings within the development boundary of the Second Phase Development of the YLS NDA. According to the project programme, they are scheduled to depart in batches from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026. The LandsD sent letters to the affected households and business undertakings in June 2023 informing them of the expected departure dates and the compensation and rehousing arrangements for their early preparation. The LandsD and its appointed Community Liaison Service Team will maintain communication with the affected households and business undertakings, and provide updated information in a timely manner. The LandsD will post notices in relevant areas about three months before the departure deadlines of the affected households and business undertakings.      The Government is handling the compensation and rehousing matters of the affected land owners, households and business undertakings at full steam, and will endeavour to arrange rehousing for or release compensation to all eligible persons before the works commence.      The YLS NDA is a southern extension of Yuen Long New Town. According to the revised Recommended Outline Development Plan released in 2020, the YLS NDA will provide about 32 900 housing units accommodating a new population of about 98 700. About 13 700 employment opportunities will also be created.

     
    Ends/Thursday, February 20, 2025Issued at HKT 19:37

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –