Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR FARMING

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 7:04PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government has employed Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to address various challenges in the agricultural sector to aid farmers. Some of the initiatives are given below:

    1. ‘Kisan e-Mitra’, an AI-powered chatbot, has been developed to assist farmers with responses to the queries about the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This solution supports multiple languages and is evolving to assist with other government programs.
    2. National Pest Surveillance System, for tackling the loss of produce due to climate change, utilizes AI and Machine Learning to detect pest infestation in crop issues, enabling timely intervention for healthier crops.
    3. AI based analytics using field photographs for crop health assessment and crop health monitoring using Satellite, weather & soil moisture datasets for rice and wheat crop.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ******

     MG/KSR

    (Release ID: 2099766) Visitor Counter : 68

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: INSURANCE CLAIMS BY FARMERS

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

    INSURANCE CLAIMS BY FARMERS

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 7:00PM by PIB Delhi

    The farmer applications who have availed the claims of crop insurance under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) in Rajasthan from 2019 to 2024, district-wise is given in Annexure –1.

    The number of farmer applications under PMFBY and RWBCIS has grown by 35.12% and 27.50% year-on-year during 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively, and has reached an all-time high during 2023-24 since the inception of the scheme. The number of farmer applications under PMFBY and RWBCIS from 2019 to 2024 State-wise is given at

    Annexure-2.

    Government is committed to provide financial security to farmers against the crop loss due to adverse climatic conditions.   In order to secure the farmers against the crop yield losses due to natural risks/calamities, adverse weather conditions, pests & diseases etc. two major crop insurance schemes namely, PMFBY and RWBCIS are being implemented by the Government.   PMFBY provides comprehensive risk coverage from pre-sowing to post harvest losses against non-preventable natural risks whereas the RWBCIS provides indemnification for likely crop losses due to deviation in weather indices.   PMFBY is available to all farmers who insure their crops as per the provisions of the Scheme. However, the scheme is voluntary for farmers and State Governments.

    The actuarial/bidded premium rates are charged by implementing agencies. Extremely low premium rate across the country for the season is charged from the famers, which is maximum 2% of sum insured for Kharif crops, maximum 1.5% of sum insured for Rabi crops and maximum 5% of sum insured for commercial/horticultural crops.     Further, due to various interventions of Govt. of India, the premium rates under the scheme has reduced significantly due to which some States like Maharashtra, Odisha, Meghalaya, Puducherry and Jharkhand are paying farmers’ share of premium whereas the farmers are required to pay 1 rupee only. This is a step towards universalization of the scheme.  Remaining part of actuarial premium is shared by the Central and State Government on 50:50 basis except North Eastern States (from Kharif 2020) and Himalayan States (from Kharif 2023) where it is shared in the ratio of 90:10.

    Annexure -1

    District-wise details of farmer applications who have availed the claims of crop insurance in Rajasthan from 2019-20 to 2023-24

    District

    Farmer Applications to whom Claims paid under PMFBY/RWBCIS (No.)

    2019-20

    2020-21

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

    Ajmer

          48,010

       39,445

          76,561

      89,315

       1,03,912

    Alwar

          67,758

       15,747

       2,514

      37,585

        2,168

    Banswara

          35,285

          4,555

          13,139

      12,569

        9,356

    Baran

          41,628

       38,537

          59,655

      20,786

        9,395

    Barmer

       1,17,845

       1,43,193

       5,30,202

    1,52,481

       3,57,456

    Bharatpur

          43,607

          6,761

          15,133

      47,278

        4,203

    Bhilwara

          87,585

       1,03,159

       1,40,420

      95,872

       1,05,947

    Bikaner

       1,10,911

       2,11,203

       2,67,995

    1,01,439

      67,632

    Bundi

          59,231

       72,508

          70,729

      44,193

        9,587

    Chittaurgarh

       1,22,597

       56,774

       1,24,936

     

     

    Chittorgarh

     

     

     

    1,29,059

       1,38,887

    Churu

       2,57,302

        2,91,895

       2,64,576

    3,56,924

      38,244

    Dausa

          15,527

       12,532

         90

        7,836

        2,955

    Dhaulpur

       3,349

          66

          961

     

     

    Dholpur

     

     

     

        1,518

      254

    Dungarpur

          18,978

       14,536

          16,862

      25,021

        9,715

    Hanumangarh

       1,77,117

    2,31,777

       2,50,335

    2,18,984

      94,632

    Jaipur

          50,220

       50,166

          50,589

      76,582

       1,02,835

    Jaisalmer

          51,375

       65,289

          40,355

      31,220

      35,188

    Jalor

       1,08,491

       1,27,656

       3,37,612

     

     

    Jalore

     

     

     

    2,09,275

      72,150

    Jhalawar

    1,16,138

       1,35,414

       1,17,951

      88,815

      21,217

    Jhunjhunu

    1,24,499

       99,426

       1,86,095

    1,92,809

      76,186

    Jodhpur

    82,488

       81,992

       2,55,539

    1,51,266

       2,05,358

    Karauli

       5,830

          3,642

       6,652

        2,516

      137

    Kota

          54,449

       16,234

          59,719

      44,217

        5,734

    Nagaur

    91,844

       63,827

       1,51,289

    1,00,352

       1,06,183

    Pali

          47,864

       36,536

       1,26,373

      25,778

      76,189

    Pratapgarh

    38,186

       27,624

          25,578

      23,205

      22,994

    Rajsamand

    10,060

          6,526

       1,367

        6,131

        1,649

    Sawai Madhopur

    36,337

       16,183

          24,010

      35,526

      21,775

    Sikar

    85,866

       57,567

          74,066

    1,94,480

       1,30,719

    Sirohi

       5,133

          3,350

          25,001

        2,220

        8,082

    Sri Ganganagar

    86,501

       92,744

       1,01,704

      53,902

      53,188

    Tonk

    65,336

       57,600

    33,272

    1,10,177

        6,540

    Udaipur

    30,276

       29,439

    42,055

      38,748

    5,785

    Total

    22,97,623

    22,13,903

     34,93,335

    27,28,079

     19,06,252

    Annexure -2

    State-wise details of farmer applications insured under PMFBY/RWBCIS from 2019-20 to 2023-24

    State

    Numbers

    2019-20

    2020-21

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

    A & N Islands

       99

       339

      535

          173

    187

    Andhra Pradesh

    27,88,373

     

     

    1,25,63,699

      1,29,01,749

    Assam

    10,06,212

    16,60,076

    9,96,027

    4,89,983

       7,95,553

    Chhattisgarh

    40,17,118

    51,58,351

    58,38,755

        77,30,260

         81,24,956

    Goa

        886

       84

        64

          403

      234

    Gujarat

    24,80,726

     

     

     

     

    Haryana

        17,10,601

      16,50,558

      14,52,842

         14,46,631

      1,01,74,480

    Himachal Pradesh

       2,84,009

        2,40,727

       2,33,725

       2,67,643

       2,78,051

    Jammu & Kashmir

     

     

       90,834

       91,582

       2,45,630

    Jharkhand

       10,92,116

     

     

     

     

    Karnataka

       19,45,207

      15,87,801

       19,17,808

         26,84,781

         30,15,023

    Kerala

          58,135

       76,317

          98,510

       1,46,546

       1,74,141

    Madhya Pradesh

        83,97,265

      84,52,044

    92,64,216

      1,77,32,045

      1,77,95,819

    Maharashtra

        1,45,66,294

    1,24,06,368

     99,02,582

      1,07,33,909

      2,41,85,161

    Manipur

       3,256

       –  

       2,807

        4,066

        5,073

    Meghalaya

          607

        130

     

      337

      38,569

    Odisha

        48,79,301

      97,52,474

    81,73,856

    80,20,763

      1,40,97,157

    Puducherry

          12,014

       10,980

      35,818

      38,384

      42,224

    Rajasthan

        86,16,616

    1,07,59,591

    3,44,70,735

      3,90,96,690

      3,89,87,544

    Sikkim

         21

          85

       2,422

        5,025

        3,104

    Tamil Nadu

        38,93,787

      58,87,474

       59,11,015

         61,43,139

         54,55,753

    Telangana

        10,34,223

     

     

     

     

    Tripura

          36,382

        2,57,236

       3,35,514

       3,56,201

       3,73,362

    Uttar Pradesh

        46,97,567

      41,90,508

       40,68,679

         42,83,804

         60,25,293

    Uttarakhand

       2,12,675

        1,70,812

       1,82,762

       2,82,068

       2,26,809

    Total

    6,17,33,490

    6,22,61,955

    8,29,79,506

    11,21,18,132

     14,29,45,872

    This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ******

     MG/KSR

    (Release ID: 2099760)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SKILL DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES FOR FARMERS

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 6:58PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government has initiated and is implementing the following schemes aimed to provide farmers with latest skilling requirements.

    The Government is implementing Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) with the objective to impart short term skill training (7 days duration) to rural youths and farmers in agriculture and allied sectors for upgradation of their knowledge and skills and promote wage/self employment in rural areas. The component aims at providing short duration skill based training programs to rural youth and farmers on agri-based vocational areas for creating a pool of skilled manpower. Recently, the STRY programme has been subsumed under ATMA cafeteria.  

    The Government is implementing skill development programmes through Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in different States of the Country to serve as single window agricultural knowledge, resource and capacity development centres with mandate of technology assessment and demonstration for its use and capacity building. As part of its activities, the KVKs are imparting training to the farmers, farm women and rural youths on different aspects of agriculture and allied sectors (Crop Production, Horticulture, Soil Health and Fertility Management, Livestock Production and Management, Home Science/Women empowerment, Agril. Engineering, Plant Protection, Fisheries, Production of Input at site, Agro forestry etc.) for their capacity building.

    A Centrally Sponsored Scheme on ‘Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms’ popularly known as Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) is implemented across the country by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The scheme promotes decentralized farmer-friendly Extension system in the country with an objective to support State Government’s efforts to revitalize the extension system and making available the latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas to farmers, farm women and youth, through various interventions like Farmers Training, Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Melas etc.  Presently, the scheme is being implemented in 739 districts of 28 States & 5 UTs in the country.

    The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing ‘Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization’ (SMAM). For implementation of this scheme Four Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes (FMTTIs) located at Budni (Madhya Pradesh), Hissar (Haryana), Geraldine (Andhra Pradesh) and Biswanath Chariali (Assam) are engaged in the country for imparting skill development training courses to different categories of beneficiaries like farmers, technicians, under graduate engineers, entrepreneurs on selection, operation, repair and maintenance, energy conservation and management of agricultural equipments.

    Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), an umbrella scheme of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, is implemented for ensuring holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors. There is provision for allowing the states to choose their own agriculture and allied sector development activities including training programmes as per the district/state agriculture plan.

    The Government has launched National Skill Development Mission under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in July 2015, under which the DA&FW has been operationalizing skill training courses of minimum 200 hours duration for rural youth and farmers as per the approved Qualification Packs developed by Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) in the areas of agriculture and allied sectors. Recently, this programme has been subsumed under ATMA cafeteria. 

    The details of the number of farmers benefited/trained under the skill development schemes implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare during the last three years, year-wise is given as under:

    S.No.

    Schemes

    Number of Farmers Trained

    Total

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

    1.

    STRY

    10456

    11634

    20940

    43030

    2.

    KVK

    1691744

    1953220

    2156363

    5801327

    3.

    ATMA

    1359069

    1428446

    1207207

    3994722

    4.

    SMAM

    13261

    15440

    14971

    43672

    5.

    RKVY

    3799

    2951

    6750

    6.

    MSDE

    3470

    3715

    718

    7903

     

    Total

    3078000

    3416254

    3403150

    9897404

     

    The funds allotted/utilized under respective schemes in the districts of Tiruchirappalli and Pudukottai are given as under:

    District : Tiruchirappalli.

    (Rs. in Lakhs)

    S.No

    Schemes

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

     

     

    Funds alloted

    Funds utilized

    Funds alloted

    Funds utilized

    Funds alloted

    Funds utilized

    1.

    STRY

    0.42

    0.42

    0.42

    0.42

    1.26

    1.26

    2.

    ATMA

    51.5

    51.5

    24.9

    24.9

    21

    21

    3.

    TNSDC STRY

    0.88704

    0.88704

    0.68544

    0.68544

     

    Total

    52.80704

    52.80704

    26.00544

    26.00544

    22.26

    22.26

    Source: State Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu

     

    District : Pudukottai

    (Rs. in Lakhs)

    S.No

    Schemes

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

     

     

    Funds alloted

    Funds utilized

    Funds alloted

    Funds utilized

    Funds alloted

    Funds utilized

    1.

    STRY

    0.84

    0.84

    0.42

    0.42

    1.26

    1.26

    2.

    ATMA

    56.40

    56.40

    39.50

    39.50

    19.60

    19.60

    3.

    TNSDC STRY

    1.69

    1.65

    0.60

    0.58

     

    Total

    58.93

    58.89

    40.52

    40.50

    20.86

    20.86

    Source: State Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ******

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PROJECTS UNDER AGRICULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 6:55PM by PIB Delhi

    With an objective to address the existing gaps in post-harvest management infrastructure in the country, the flagship scheme of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) was launched in 2020-21 to strengthen the infrastructure in the country through creation of farm gate storage and logistics infrastructure to enable farmers to store and preserve their farm produce properly and sell them in the market at better price with reduced post-harvest losses and lesser number of intermediaries. Improved post-harvest management infrastructure like warehouses, Cold stores, sorting and grading units, ripening chambers etc will allow farmers to sell directly to a larger base of consumers and hence, increase value realization for the farmers. This will improve the overall income of farmers.  As on 26.01.2025, Rs. 56334 Crores have been sanctioned for 92393 projects under AIF, out of this total sanctioned amount, ₹41996 crores are covered under scheme benefits. These sanctioned projects have mobilized an investment of Rs.91856 crores in agriculture sector.

    In state of Andhra Pradesh, ₹2819 cr (Including Rs. 924 in principle sanctions for PACS by NABARD) have been sanctioned for 2686 projects under AIF. The total project cost for these sanctioned projects is ₹4124 crore. The district- wise details of projects identified and approved for providing support under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) in the State of Andhra Pradesh is given in Annexure.

    As per the MoU signed by The Department with the Banks and other lending institutions, Interest rate on AIF loans should not exceed the cap fixed at 9% per annum. Again, all loans under this financing facility will have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of ₹ 2 crore. This subvention will be available for a maximum period of 7 years. In case of loans beyond ₹ 2 crore, then interest subvention will be limited up to ₹ 2 crore.

    As on 26.01.2025, Rs. 56334 Crores have been sanctioned to applicants for 92393 projects under AIF which leaves an amount of Rs 43,666 crore remain to be sanctioned by the lending institutions by 2025-26.

    To achieve the ambitious target of ₹1 lakh crore within the deadline, a series of strategic initiatives have been undertaken. The Union Cabinet has approved the progressive expansion of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF). Key measures include allowing viable community farming assets for all eligible beneficiaries, including secondary processing projects integrated with primary processing in eligible activities, and converging AIF with PM-KUSUM Component-A. Additionally, NABSanrakshan is also included in scheme to extend credit guarantee support to FPOs. The recently concluded annual Bankers’ Conclave on 23.01.2025 at NABARD, Mumbai brought together top executives from banks and financial institutions to strengthen commitment and accelerate approvals. Additionally, multiple state-level conclaves are being planned over the coming months to engage regional stakeholders, address challenges, and enhance outreach. Regular interaction with AIF Nodal Officers of banks and state governments is being conducted to boost awareness, streamline processes, and promote the AIF initiative effectively. These efforts aim to create momentum, ensure timely sanctions, and drive funding toward the ₹1 lakh crore target.

    Annexure

     

    The district- wise details of projects identified and approved for providing support under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) in the State of Andhra Pradesh

     

     (Amount in Rs Crore)

    SN

    District

    Sanctioned No.

    Sanctioned Amt.

    1

    East Godavari

    258

    228

    2

    Guntur

    116

    195

    3

    Krishna

    199

    143

    4

    Palnadu

    101

    127

    5

    West Godavari

    284

    109

    6

    Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore

    111

    95

    7

    Eluru

    116

    94

    8

    Ananthapuramu

    114

    85

    9

    Nandyal

    160

    83

    10

    Kakinada

    101

    75

    11

    Vizianagaram

    186

    72

    12

    Srikakulam

    187

    72

    13

    Bapatla

    89

    71

    14

    Kurnool

    90

    66

    15

    Tirupati

    42

    58

    16

    Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema

    127

    55

    17

    Ntr

    48

    50

    18

    Prakasam

    69

    48

    19

    Chittoor

    31

    44

    20

    Y.S.R.

    58

    35

    21

    Parvathipuram Manyam

    64

    29

    22

    Sri Sathya Sai

    54

    23

    23

    Anakapalli

    42

    17

    24

    Visakhapatnam

    24

    15

    25

    Alluri Sitharama Raju

    9

    6

    26

    Annamayya

    6

    2

    Grand Total

    2686

    1895#

    *Information is based on the applications received on AIF portal.

    # Excluding the Rs. 924 Crore in principle sanctions for PACS by NABARD

    This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ******

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Potassium Derived from Molasses (PDM), a by-product of sugar industry has minimum 14.5% potash and can be used by farmers in field as an alternative to MOP (Muriate of Potash with 60% potash content) reducing the dependence on imported potash

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Potassium Derived from Molasses (PDM), a by-product of sugar industry has minimum 14.5% potash and can be used by farmers in field as an alternative to MOP (Muriate of Potash with 60% potash content) reducing the dependence on imported potash

    Institute of Pesticides Formulation and Technology works on supporting adoption of greener technologies and development of user & environment friendly new pesticide formulations

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 6:52PM by PIB Delhi

    Potassium Derived from Molasses (PDM) is a by-product of sugar industry. PDM has minimum 14.5% potash and can be used by farmers in field as an alternative to MOP (Muriate of Potash with 60% potash content). Thus, PDM can reduce the dependence on imported potash. PDM was notified under Fertilizer Control Order (1985) in 2009, and in order to incentivize the use of PDM, it was inducted under Nutrient Based Subsidy scheme since Rabi, 2022. During 2024-25, Rs. 345 per tonne of subsidy has been fixed for PDM.

    Potash and Glauconite(Potassic mineral) have been classified as Critical and Strategic Minerals under The Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment (MMDR) Act, 2023 by Ministry of Mines which aims to enhance domestic production and achieve self- sufficiency in critical minerals. MMDR Act, 1957 ensure that critical minerals are produced, processed, and recycled by catalyzing investments from governments and the private sector across the full value chain, emphasizing the importance of sustainable and responsible mineral management practices. The Central Government has also commenced the auction of mineral blocks for critical & strategic minerals as per provisions of MMDR Act, 1957. As on 10.12.2024, Ministry of Mines have successfully auctioned 5 mineral blocks of Glauconite(Potassic mineral).

    Chemical sector is broadly de-regulated and delicensed sector. The manufacturing, import, export, transportation etc. of Ammonium Nitrate are being regulated by Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) issues licenses for manufacture, storage, transportation, import and export of Ammonium Nitrate under these rules. The licenses for manufacturing of Ammonium Nitrate are issued based on Industrial Licenses issued by Department of Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT).

     In Budget 2024-25, Basic Custom Duty (BCD) on Ammonium Nitrate has been increased from 7.5% to 10% to support existing and new capacities in pipeline. Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Department of Commerce provides a level playing platform to the domestic industry against the adverse impact of the unfair trade practices viz. dumping, actionable subsidies, circumvention etc. from any exporting country by using effective Trade Remedial measures such as anti-dumping and safeguard measures. However, currently, there are no pending applications seeking  protection in terms of import barriers like anti-dumping duty or countervailing duty/anti-subsidy duty on Ammonium Nitrate.

    The Government has approved the Market Development Assistance (MDA) @ Rs. 1500/MT to promote organic fertilizers, i.e. manure produced at plants under GOBARdhan initiative covering different Biogas/CBG support schemes/programmes of stakeholder Ministries/Departments such as Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), ‘Waste to Energy’ programme of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) of Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), etc. with total outlay of Rs. 1451.84 crore (FY 2023-24 to 2025-26), which includes a corpus of Rs. 360 crore for research gap funding, etc.

    Further, Institute of Pesticides Formulation and Technology works on supporting adoption of greener technologies and development of user & environment friendly new pesticide formulations. UNIDO FARM (Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management) Project undertaken by HIL (India) Ltd. to detoxify the agriculture sector by eliminating the use of highly hazardous pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants. The project focuses on three types of bio-pesticides: Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki), Neem, and Trichoderma spp. Btk, a strain of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which is effective for controlling caterpillar pests, while Neem controls a wide range of insect pests. Trichoderma provides effective control against soil-borne fungal diseases and enhances plant growth.

    This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Smt Anupriya Patel in Rajya Sabha in written reply to a question today.

    *****

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Rural Education Statistics

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Education

    Rural Education Statistics

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 6:13PM by PIB Delhi

    Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024

     

    Introduction

     

    The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 is a nationwide rural household survey that reached 649,491 children in 17,997 villages across 605 rural districts in India. Further, ASER surveyors visited 15,728 government schools with primary sections. 8,504 were primary schools and 7,224 were schools which also had upper primary or higher grades.

     

    Key Findings for Pre-primary (age group 3-5 years)

     

    1. Enrollment in pre-primary institutions
    • Among children aged 3-5 years, enrollment in some type of pre-primary institution (Anganwadi centre, government pre-primary class, or private LKG/UKG) has improved steadily between 2018 and 2024.
    • Among 3-year-olds, enrollment in pre-primary institutions increased from 68.1% in 2018 to 77.4% in 2024. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana have achieved near-universal enrollment for this age group.
    • Among 4-year-olds, the all-India figure for enrollment in pre-primary institutions increased from 76% in 2018 to 83.3% in 2024. In 2024, enrollment rates in pre-primary for this age exceed 95% in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.
    • Among 5-year-olds, this figure also showed big increases, rising from 58.5% in 2018 to 71.4% in 2024. The states with enrollment exceeding 90% in pre-primary institutions for this age include Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Nagaland.

     

    1. Type of pre-primary institution
    • Anganwadi centres continue to be the biggest provider of services in pre-primary age group in India.
    • Approximately one-third of all 5-year-olds attend a private school or pre-school in 2024. This figure was 37.3% in 2018, fell to 30.8% in 2022, and returned to 37.5% in 2024.

     

    1. Age of entry to Standard (Std) I
    • The proportion of children who are “underage” (age 5 or below) is decreasing over time. In 2018, this figure was 25.6%, in 2022 it stood at 22.7%, and in 2024, nationally the percentage of underage children in Std I was at its lowest ever at 16.7%. On average, this proportion has either declined or remained stable across all states in India.

     

    Key Findings for Elementary (age group 6-14 years)

     

    1. Enrollment
    • Overall school enrollment rates among the 6-14 age group have exceeded 95% for close to 20 years. This proportion has stayed almost the same, from 98.4% in 2022 to 98.1% in 2024. Across all states, enrollment in this age group is above 95% in 2024.
    • In 2018, 65.5% of children in the 6-14 age group in India were enrolled in government schools. By 2024, the all-India figure increased to 66.8%.

     

    1. Reading
    • Std III: The percentage of Std III children able to read Std II level text was 20.9% in 2018. This figure increased to 23.4% in 2024. The improvement in government schools is higher than the corresponding recovery for private schools. Following a decline in Std III reading levels in government schools in most states in 2022, all states have shown a recovery in 2024. States with more than a 10-percentage point increase in this proportion between 2022 and 2024 in government schools include Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
    • Std V: Reading levels improved substantially among Std V children, especially for those who are enrolled in government schools. The proportion of Std V children in government schools who can read a Std II level text fell from 44.2% in 2018 to 38.5% in 2022 and then recovered to 44.8% in 2024. In 2024, Mizoram (64.9%) and Himachal Pradesh (64.8%) had the highest proportions of Std V children in government schools able to read Std II level text. States with over a 10-percentage point increase in this proportion in government schools include Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.
    • Std VIII: Reading levels increased among children enrolled in Std VIII in government schools, which fell from 69% in 2018 to 66.2% in 2022 but then rose to 67.5% in 2024. Government schools in states such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Sikkim show notable improvements.

     

    1. Arithmetic
    • Std III: The all-India figure for children in Std III who are able to do a numerical subtraction problem was 28.2%. This figure has increased to 33.7% in 2024. Among government school students, this figure went from 20.9% in 2018 to 27.6% in 2024. For private school students, this number showed a smaller improvement since 2022. Government schools across most states have shown gains since 2022, with over 15-percentage point increases recorded in states like Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh.
    • Std V: At the all-India level, the proportion of children in Std V who can do a numerical division problem has also improved. This figure was 27.9% in 2018 and then rose to 30.7% in 2024. This change is also driven mainly by government schools. States with the showing most improvement (more than 10-percentage points) in government schools include Punjab and Uttarakhand.
    • Std VIII: The performance of Std VIII students in basic arithmetic remains similar to earlier levels, going from 44.1% in 2018 to 45.8% in 2024.

     

    Key Findings for Older children (age group 15-16 years)

     

    1. Enrollment
    • The proportion of 15-16-year-old children who are not enrolled in school dropped sharply from 13.1% in 2018 to 7.9% in 2024 at the all-India level.

     

    1. Digital literacy
    • Access to smartphones is close to universal among the 14-16 age group. Almost 90% of both girls and boys report having a smartphone at home. More than 80% report knowing how to use a smartphone.
    • Of the children who could use a smartphone, 27% of 14-year-olds and 37.8% of 16-year-olds reported having their own phone.
    • 82.2% of all children in the 14-16 age group reported knowing how to use a smartphone. Of these, 57% reported using it for an educational activity in the preceding week while 76% said that they had used it for social media during the same period. While the use of a smartphone for educational activities was similar among girls and boys, girls were less likely than boys to report using social media (78.8% of boys as compared to 73.4% of girls). Kerala stands out in this respect, with over 80% children who reported that they used the smartphone for educational activity and over 90% using it for social media.
    • Among children who used social media, knowledge of basic ways to protect themselves online was relatively high. 62% knew how to block or report a profile, 55.2% knew how to make a profile private, and 57.7% knew how to change a password.

     

     

    Key Findings of School Observations

     

    1. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) activities
    • Over 80% of schools had received a directive from the government to implement Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) activities with Std I-II/III, both in the previous as well as in the current academic year. A similar proportion had at least one teacher who had received in-person training on FLN.
    • More than 75% schools had received Teaching Learning Material (TLM) and/or funds to make or purchase TLM for FLN activities.
    • More than 75% schools reported implementing a school readiness program for students prior to entering Std I, in both the previous and the current academic year.
    • More than 95% schools reported having distributed textbooks to all grades in the school, a substantial increase over 2022 levels.

     

    1. Student and teacher attendance
    • Student and teacher attendance in government primary schools show small but consistent improvements since 2018. Average student attendance increased from 72.4% in 2018 to 75.9% in 2024.
    • Average teacher attendance increased from 85.1% in 2018 to 87.5% in 2024. This trend is largely driven by changes in teacher and student attendance in Uttar Pradesh.

     

    1. Small schools and multigrade classrooms
    • The proportion of government primary schools with less than 60 students enrolled shows a sharp increase, rising from 44% in 2022 to 52.1% in 2024. More than 80% primary schools in these states are small schools: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, and Karnataka. Himachal Pradesh has the highest proportion of small Upper primary schools at 75%.
    • Two-thirds of Std I and Std II classrooms in primary schools were multigrade, with students from more than one grade sitting together.

     

    1. School facilities
    • Nationally, all Right to Education-related indicators included in ASER have shown small improvements between 2018 and 2024 levels. For example, the fraction of schools with useable girls’ toilets increased from 66.4% in 2018 to 72% in 2024.
    • The proportion of schools with drinking water available increased from 74.8% to 77.7%, and the proportion of schools with books other than textbooks being used by students increased from 36.9% to 51.3% over the same period.
    • Sports-related indicators remain at close to the levels observed in 2018. For example, in 2024, 66.2% schools have a playground, similar to 66.5% in 2018.

     

    References

    https://asercentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ASER_2024_Final-Report_25_1_24.pdf

    Rural Education Statistics

    *********

    Santosh Kumar | Sarla Meena | Rishita Aggarwal

    (Release ID: 2099725)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Uniform Code of Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices 2024 to prevent unethical marketing and ensuring responsible promotion of pharmaceutical products

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Uniform Code of Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices 2024 to prevent unethical marketing and ensuring responsible promotion of pharmaceutical products

    The code outlines guidelines regarding promotion of drugs among doctors; Pharmaceutical companies are accountable for the actions of their medical representatives and other employees

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 5:51PM by PIB Delhi

    With the aim of preventing unethical marketing and ensuring responsible promotion of pharmaceutical products by regulating interactions between doctors / registered medical practitioners (RMPs) and representatives of pharmaceutical companies, the Department of Pharmaceuticals, on 12.3.2024, has issued the Uniform Code of Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices 2024.

    The code outlines guidelines regarding promotion of drugs among doctors/RMPs. Pharmaceutical companies are accountable for the actions of their medical representatives and other employees. The code prohibits provision of gifts, monetary benefits and hospitality to doctors and their family members by pharmaceutical companies. It includes requirements for pharmaceutical companies to self-declare adherence to the code and disclose expenditures related to conferences, seminars and workshops organised for continuing medical education and continuing professional development. Companies may undergo independent, random or risk-based audits. The code establishes a two-layer complaint adjudication process, with appeals handled by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

    Penalties under the code include the following:

    • Reprimand to the pharmaceutical entity and publication of full details thereof;
    • Recovery of money or items given in violation of the code by the pharmaceutical entity from the persons concerned and notification of the action taken to the Ethics Committee under the code;
    • Issuance of a corrective statement in the media, if promotional material issued therein does not comply with the requirements specified in the code; and
    • Pharmaceutical companies may face action under existing laws by relevant government departments, based on violations detected during administration of the code.

    Further, the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 made under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 provides the code of conduct for doctors and professional association of doctors in their relationship with pharmaceutical and allied health sector industry.

    Clause 1.5 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 provides that every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is rational prescription and use of drug. Further, the Medical Council of India issued circulars dated 22.11.2012, 18.1.2013 and 21.4.2017 directing all registered medical practitioners to comply with the aforesaid provisions.

    The National Medical Commission Act, 2019 empowers the appropriate State Medical Councils or the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the National Medical Commission to take disciplinary action against a doctor for violation of the provisions of the aforesaid regulations. Further, States have been advised to ensure prescription of generic drugs and conduct regular prescription audits in public health facilities.

    This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Smt Anupriya Patel in Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question today.

    *****

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Transforming Agricultural Finance

    Source: Government of India

    Transforming Agricultural Finance

    Enhancing KCC limit to ₹5 lakh

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 5:33PM by PIB Delhi

    Agriculture and Allied Activities sector in India

    The ‘Agriculture and Allied Activities’ sector has long been the backbone of the Indian economy, playing a vital role in national income and employment. With nearly 46.1 per cent of the population engaged in agriculture and allied activities, ensuring financial security and accessible credit for farmers remains a top priority for the government. Recognizing this, the Union Budget 2025-26 introduces key measures to strengthen agricultural financing, particularly through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme.

    The KCC scheme has been instrumental in fulfilling farmer’s financial needs. With a significant increase in the loan limit under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh; this year’s budget underscores the government’s commitment to empowering farmers and boosting agricultural productivity.

    This article presents a comprehensive understanding of the KCC scheme and how it transforms agricultural credit accessibility in India.

    What is Kisan Credit Card Scheme

    Safeguarding and ensuring hassle-free credit availability at a cheaper rate to farmers has been the top priority of the government. Accordingly, the Kisan Credit Card Scheme (KCC) was introduced for farmers to provide farmers with easy access to affordable credit for their agricultural needs so as to meet short term /long term cultivation requirements, postharvest expenses, consumption requirement etc.

     

    How does KCC help Farmers?

    The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme is designed to provide farmers with adequate and timely credit to meet their diverse financial needs. It helps farmers access institutional credit easily, ensuring their financial stability and agricultural productivity. The scheme offers support for:

    • Cultivation and post-harvest activities: Ensuring funds are available for cultivation and post-harvest costs.
    • Marketing loans: Helping farmers bridge financial gaps until they sell their produce at competitive market rates.
    • Household consumption needs: Offering financial support to meet essential household expenses, preventing dependency on informal lending sources.
    • Working capital for farm assets: Assisting in the maintenance of essential farming equipment and infrastructure.
    • Investment credit for allied activities: Expanding financial access to animal husbandry, dairying, fisheries, and other agricultural extensions.

    Recognizing the importance of allied sectors, the KCC scheme was expanded in 2019 to include animal husbandry, dairying, and fisheries. Banks can provide collateral-free loans up to ₹1.60 lakh, ensuring financial security and fostering growth in these allied fields.

     

    Understanding Short Term Loans

    The Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) offers concessional Short-term Agri-loans to farmers for crop and allied activities, providing a 7% interest rate on loans up to ₹3.00 lakh, with an additional 3% subvention for timely repayment, reducing the effective rate to 4%. MISS also includes post-harvest loans against NWRs for small farmers with KCCs.

     

    Ensuring Transparency

    The Kisan Rin Portal (KRP) launched in September 2023 addresses key challenges in the MISS-KCC scheme. Previously, banks had to submit claims for Interest Subvention (IS) and Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI) manually to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and NABARD, leading to significant delays and inefficiencies. The Kisan Rin Portal digitizes this process, ensuring farmers and lending institutions benefit from quicker, seamless transactions, improving access to credit for agricultural needs.

    • Empowering Farmers with Seamless Access to Credit
    • Benefiting Financial Institutions: Banks and Cooperatives
    • Reaching the Grassroots: Training and Support

     

    By 31 December 2024, it had processed claims worth ₹108336.78 crore including Interest Subvention (IS) and PRI. About 5.9 crore farmers that are currently getting benefitted under the MISS-KCC scheme, have been mapped through KRP.

    Achievements of Agriculture sector

    • As of March 2024, the country has 7.75 crore operational KCC accounts with a loan outstanding of ₹9.81 lakh crore.
    • 1.24 lakh KCC and 44.40 lakh KCC were issued to fisheries and animal husbandry activities, respectively.
    • In the last 10 years, Rs 1.44 lakh Crore of Interest Subsidy has been released on Kisan Credit Card loans. It has risen nearly 2.4 times, from ₹6,000 Crore in 2014-15 to ₹14,252 crore in 2023-24.
    • Institutional credit flow to agriculture has risen nearly three times since 2014-15, rising from ₹ 8.5 lakh Crore to ₹ 25.48 lakh Crore in 2023-24. Short-term agriculture credit has more than doubled, increasing from ₹ 6.4 lakh Crore in 2014-15 to ₹ 15.07 lakh Crore in 2023-24.

     

     

    • The proportion of Small and Marginal Farmers accessing agriculture loans grew from 57% in 2014-15 to 76% in 2023-24.

     

    Conclusion

    The Kisan Credit Card scheme has been instrumental in transforming agricultural credit accessibility, ensuring that farmers receive timely and affordable financial assistance. By increasing financial support under the Union Budget 2025-26, the government is reinforcing its commitment to empowering farmers. These initiatives not only promote agricultural growth but also enhance rural livelihoods, paving the way for a resilient and self-sufficient farming community in India.

     

    References

    Annual Report 2023-24 https://www.agriwelfare.gov.in/en/Annual

    https://fasalrin.gov.in/

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098424#:~:text=The%20budget%20for%20Department%20of,government’s%20commitment%20to%20agricultural%20development.

    Economic Survey of India: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/economicsurvey/index.php

    https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2024/dec/doc20241219474501.pdf

    Transforming Agricultural Finance

    ***

    Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Madiha Iqbal

    (Release ID: 2099696) Visitor Counter : 25

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Budget 2025-26: Fuelling MSME Expansion

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 5:27PM by PIB Delhi

    Credit access, digitisation, and business-friendly reforms lead the way

     

    Introduction

    The Union Budget 2025-26 introduces a series of measures aimed at strengthening the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, recognising its role as one of the key engines in India’s journey of development, alongside agriculture, investment, and exports. To help businesses expand and improve efficiency, the investment and turnover limits for MSME classification have been raised. Access to credit is set to improve with an increase in the credit guarantee cover for micro and small enterprises, startups, and export-focused MSMEs. A new scheme will provide financial support to first-time entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds, while sector-specific initiatives will enhance productivity in areas such as footwear, leather, and toy manufacturing.

    As a vital contributor to India’s industrial landscape, the MSME sector plays a crucial role in manufacturing, exports, and employment. With 5.93 crore registered MSMEs employing more than 25 crore people, these enterprises generate a significant share of the country’s economic output. In 2023-24, MSME-related products accounted for 45.73% of India’s total exports, reinforcing their role in positioning the country as a global manufacturing hub. The new budgetary provisions aim to build on this strong foundation by fostering innovation, enhancing competitiveness, and ensuring better access to resources. Through these steps, the government seeks to equip MSMEs with the tools needed to expand their reach and strengthen their contribution to India’s economic growth.

    Key Measures for MSMEs in Union Budget 2025-26

    The Union Budget 2025-26 introduces a series of measures aimed at strengthening the MSME sector by enhancing credit access, supporting first-time entrepreneurs, and promoting labour-intensive industries.

    Revised Classification Criteria

    To help MSMEs scale operations and access better resources, the investment and turnover limits for classification have been increased by 2.5 times and 2 times, respectively. This is expected to improve efficiency, technological adoption, and employment generation.

    Enhanced Credit Availability

    • The credit guarantee cover for micro and small enterprises has been increased from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore, enabling additional credit of ₹1.5 lakh crore over five years.
    • Startups will see their guarantee cover double from ₹10 crore to ₹20 crore, with a reduced fee of 1% for loans in 27 priority sectors.
    • Exporter MSMEs will benefit from term loans up to ₹20 crore with enhanced guarantee cover.

    Credit Cards for Micro Enterprises

    • A new customised Credit Card scheme will provide ₹5 lakh in credit to micro enterprises registered on the Udyam portal, with 10 lakh cards set to be issued in the first year.

    Support for Startups and First-Time Entrepreneurs

    • A new Fund of Funds with ₹10,000 crore will be established to expand support for startups.
    • A scheme for 5 lakh first-time women, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs will provide term loans up to ₹2 crore over five years, incorporating lessons from the Stand-Up India scheme.

     

    Focus on Labour-Intensive Sectors

    • A Focus Product Scheme for the footwear and leather sector will support design, component manufacturing, and non-leather footwear production, expected to create 22 lakh jobs and generate a turnover of ₹4 lakh crore.
    • A new scheme for the toy sector will promote cluster development and skill-building, positioning India as a global toy manufacturing hub.
    • A National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management will be established in Bihar to boost food processing industries in the eastern region.

    Manufacturing and Clean Tech Initiatives

    • A National Manufacturing Mission will provide policy support and roadmaps f or small, medium, and large industries under the Make in India initiative.
    • Special emphasis will be given to clean tech manufacturing, fostering domestic production of solar PV cells, EV batteries, wind turbines, and high-voltage transmission equipment.

     

    Budgetary Outlay of Ministry of MSME

    (In Rs. Crore)

    Financial Year

    Budget Estimates

    Revised Estimates

    2019-20

    7,011.29

    7,011.29

    2020-21

    7,572.20

    5,664.22

    2021-22

    15,699.65

    15,699.65

    2022-23

    21,422.00

    23,628.73

    2023-24

    22,137.95

    22,138.01

    2024-25

    22,137.95

    17,306.70

    2025-26

    23,168.15

     

    Current Landscape of MSMEs in India

    The MSME sector continues to be a cornerstone of India’s economic growth, contributing significantly to employment, manufacturing, and exports. In recent years, the sector has displayed remarkable resilience, with its share in the country’s Gross Value Added (GVA) increasing from 27.3% in 2020-21 to 29.6% in 2021-22 and 30.1% in 2022-23, highlighting its growing role in national economic output.

    Exports from MSMEs have seen substantial growth, rising from ₹3.95 lakh crore in 2020-21 to ₹12.39 lakh crore in 2024-25. The number of exporting MSMEs has also surged, increasing from 52,849 in 2020-21 to 1,73,350 in 2024-25.

    Their contribution to India’s total exports has steadily grown, reaching 43.59% in 2022-23, 45.73% in 2023-24, and 45.79% in 2024-25 (up to May 2024). These trends underscore the sector’s increasing integration into global trade and its potential to drive India’s position as a manufacturing and export hub.

    Government Initiatives for MSMEs

    The Government of India has implemented a robust array of initiatives aimed at bolstering the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, recognizing its pivotal role in the economy. These efforts range from financial support and procurement policies to capacity building and market integration. Key initiatives include the Udyam Registration Portal, PM Vishwakarma scheme, PMEGP, SFURTI, and the Public Procurement Policy for MSEs, all aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, enhancing employment, and integrating informal sectors into the formal economy. These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to supporting MSMEs and driving inclusive economic growth nationwide.

    PM Vishwakarma

    The ‘PM Vishwakarma’ scheme, launched by the Government of India, aims to enhance the quality and reach of products and services by artisans and craftspeople, integrating them into domestic and global value chains. Announced in the 2023-24 Budget and launched on September 17, 2023, this scheme seeks to provide comprehensive support to Vishwakarmas, improving their socio-economic status and quality of life.

    PM Vishwakarma is fully funded by the Government of India with an initial outlay of Rs. 13,000 crores for 2023-24 to 2027-28.

    Since its launch, the PM Vishwakarma scheme has achieved significant milestones, with over 2.65 crore applications submitted and 27.13 lakh applications successfully registered. Registered applicants will undergo a 5-day ‘Basic Training’ program, and those opting for credit support will receive collateral-free credit. These accomplishments highlight the scheme’s early success in empowering artisans and craftspeople nationwide.

    Udyam Registration Portal

    Launched on July 1, 2020, the Udyam Registration Portal serves as a pivotal platform for facilitating the registration of enterprises across India. The portal encourages enterprises previously registered under the Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum and Entrepreneurship Memorandum-II to migrate to this new system. It offers a free, paperless, and self-declaration-based registration process, eliminating the need for document uploads, thus simplifying the formalization of businesses.

    In a significant step towards integrating informal micro-enterprises into the formal economy, the Government introduced the Udyam Assist Platform on November 11, 2023. This initiative aims to bring these micro-enterprises under the formal sector, enabling them to access benefits such as Priority Sector Lending, which is essential for their growth and sustainability.

    As of February 4, 2025, the Udyam Portal boasts an impressive total of 5,93,38,604 registered MSMEs, with the vast majority classified as micro-enterprises. Beyond their economic contributions, these MSMEs have generated substantial employment opportunities, providing jobs to over 25.18 crore individuals. This extensive employment generation underscores the sector’s crucial role in driving economic development and enhancing social stability by offering livelihoods to millions across the country.

    Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)

    Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) is a credit linked subsidy scheme for providing employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector. Under the Scheme, Margin Money (Subsidy) is provided to beneficiaries availing loan from banks for setting up new enterprises. The maximum project cost admissible for setting up of new project is Rs. 50 lakhs in manufacturing sector and Rs. 20 lakhs in Service Sector

    Subsidies under PMEGP vary by category:

    • Special Categories, including SC, ST, OBC, Minorities, Women, Ex-Servicemen, Transgenders, Differently-abled individuals, NER, Aspirational Districts, and Hill and Border areas, are eligible for a subsidy of 25% in urban areas and 35% in rural areas
    • General Category applicants are eligible for a subsidy of 15% in urban areas and 25% in rural areas.

    In a notable development, units in Aspirational Districts and Transgenders have been included in the Special Category. Additionally, geo-tagging of PMEGP units has been initiated to capture details of the products and services offered by these units and to create market linkages for them. Furthermore, prospective entrepreneurs receive free 2-day Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) training to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed.

    In 2023-24, the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) supported 89,118 enterprises, facilitating entrepreneurship across various sectors. The scheme disbursed ₹3,093.87 crore as margin money subsidy, enabling small businesses to scale operations and sustain growth. As a result, an estimated 7,12,944 employment opportunities were generated, reinforcing PMEGP’s role in strengthening self-employment and job creation nationwide.

    Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI)

    Launched in 2005-06, the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) aims to organize traditional artisans into collectives or clusters, facilitating product development, diversification, and value addition. The scheme promotes traditional sectors and seeks to sustainably increase the income of artisans. SFURTI was revamped in 2014-15 to further enhance its impact and reach.

    The primary objective of SFURTI is to organize artisans and traditional industries into clusters to improve competitiveness, create employment opportunities, and enhance the marketability of their products. By bringing artisans together, the scheme helps them leverage collective resources and skills, leading to better income prospects and sustained growth.

    Achievements:

    • Since 2014-15, SFURTI has approved the formation of 513 clusters and 376 clusters have successfully become functional.
    • A total grant of ₹1,336 crore has been extended to support these clusters.
    • Sustainable employment opportunities have been generated for around 2,20,800 artisans in 376 functional clusters (as on 12 Dec 2024).

     

    Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises

    The Ministry of MSME, Government of India, notified the Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in 2012. This policy mandates that 25% of annual procurement by Central Ministries, Departments, and Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) must be sourced from MSEs. Within this 25%, 4% is reserved for MSEs owned by Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST), and 3% is reserved for MSEs owned by women entrepreneurs. Additionally, 358 items are exclusively reserved for procurement from MSEs.

     

    (Year: 2023-24)

    Achievements:

    • In 2023-24, Central Ministries, Departments, and CPSEs procured a total of ₹74,717 crore worth of goods and services from MSEs, which constituted 43.71% of their total procurement.
    • This policy benefitted 2,58,413 MSEs, ensuring they had access to significant business opportunities and support through government procurement.

     

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, the Union Budget 2025-26 outlines a strategic approach to bolster the MSME sector in India, emphasizing increased credit access, entrepreneurial support, and sector-specific initiatives. The significant revisions in classification criteria, coupled with enhanced credit guarantees and customised financial products like credit cards for micro-enterprises, are poised to catalyze growth and innovation. The focus on sectors like footwear, leather, and toys not only aims to boost employment but also positions India as a competitive player in global markets. Furthermore, the government’s ongoing initiatives like Udyam Registration, PM Vishwakarma, PMEGP, SFURTI, and the Public Procurement Policy continue to demonstrate a committed effort towards integrating and empowering MSMEs. These measures, combined with the establishment of new institutions and missions for manufacturing and clean technology, reflect a holistic strategy to not only sustain but significantly amplify the role of MSMEs in driving economic growth, employment, and inclusive development in India.

    References:

    Budget 2025-26: Fuelling MSME Expansion

    ***

    Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Saurabh Kalia

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MENACE OF STRAY ANIMALS

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 5:20PM by PIB Delhi

    The issues related to stray animals like dogs and monkeys, and the incidents arising there from, and funds available with local bodies to prevent such incidents are under the domain of concerned State Governments. However, as per the data reported on Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (Integrated Health Information Platform) portal under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India by the states/UTs, the details for January 2024 to December 2024 of rural areas across the country is mentioned below-

    S.No.

    Type of biting animal

    Cases

    Deaths

    1

    Dog

    2195122

    37

    2

    Other animals including monkey

    504728

    11

     

    As per the data reported by States/UTs on Integrated Health Information Platform portal under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India for dog bite cases to the children less than 15 years of age is 519704 across the country, during Jan-Dec’2024.

    The issue of stray animals falls under the purview of State Governments concerned and therefore, local bodies are mandated to handle these incidents. However, the actions taken by the concerned Departments/ Ministries of Government of India to tackle such incidents are as follows :

    Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India:

    The Central Government has notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, to facilitate the management of the stray dog population. Animal Welfare Board of India also provides financial assistance to recognized animal welfare organizations for sheltering stray, injured, or sick animals in their facilities. Additionally, it supports the implementation of animal birth control programs in collaboration with local bodies. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) collaborates with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to develop comprehensive programs aimed at addressing safety concerns related to stray animals. These programs focus on preventive measures to ensure children’s safety. The AWBI has also issued several advisories and guidelines for the management of stray dogs.

    Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India:

    The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, issued an advisory on 25.07.2024 to all States and Union Territories regarding the implementation of recommendations made by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to prevent stray dog attacks on children.

    Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India:

    Under the Human Health component, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) since 12th Five-year plan in all States/UTs except for non-endemic areas (Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep) to prevent and control Rabies in the Country. Under the program following initiatives & preventive measures have been taken across the country by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for making rabies free India by 2030

    (i) The National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 (NAPRE) was developed and launched on September 28, 2021, by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, focusing on Human Health and Animal Health. The implementation of the Human Health component is undertaken by the ‘National Centre for Disease Control’ under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with dedicated budgetary support, while the implementation of the Animal Health component is to be undertaken by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.  As per Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023, mass dog vaccination and dog population management are being done by the animal husbandry department in collaboration with local body authorities.

    (ii)Under the “National Health Mission”, the states are being supported for implementing the ‘National Rabies Control Program’ through budgetary support by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for Capacity building of the healthcare staff, procurement of anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin, the printing of Information, education and communication (IEC) for rabies & dog bite prevention, for data entry support, review meetings, monitoring and surveillance, the establishment of Model Anti Rabies Clinics & Wound Washing facilities.

    • Training modules have been developed for medical officers and health workers. Over 1.19 lakh medical officers and paramedics trained in rabies prevention (from 2019-2023).
    • Anti-Rabies Vaccine & Anti-Rabies Serum provided free at government hospitals under National Health Mission’s National Free Drug Initiative.
    • To create the awareness to the public and healthcare professionals Dog bite protocols, Information, education and communication (IEC) materials, and training videos on the management of animal bite/dog bite cases for medical officers have been created and disseminated across the country.
    • Established 279 Model Anti-Rabies Clinics in the last three years in districts of the states for better treatment of dog bite victims.

    (iii) Strengthening of surveillance for Rabies:

    • Nine government diagnostic labs strengthened for rabies detection in states/UT
    • Human Rabies classified as a notifiable disease in 26 States/UTs following an advisory by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
    • Integration with Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (Integrated Health Information Platform) Portal for strengthened surveillance of animal/dog bites and rabies cases.

    (iv)  The Rabies-Free Cities initiative has commenced in a phased manner, targeting Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities for rabies prevention and action plan preparation initially for 15 cities of 6 states.

    (v) Joint Steering Committees formed at national, state, and district levels to monitor National Rabies Control Programme progress.

    (vi) A dedicated Rabies helpline (15400) (

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Statement by Raksha Mantri on India-China Border and Patrolling Restoration

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 5:17PM by PIB Delhi

    Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on February 04, 2025 issued a tweet regarding certain remarks made in Parliament by Shri Rahul Gandhi about the statement of the Chief of the Army Staff on the situation along the India-China border.

    Shri Rajnath Singh stated that the Army Chief’s observations pertained to the temporary disturbance of traditional patrolling patterns by both sides along the border. He further emphasised that these patrolling practices have now been restored to their traditional pattern following the recent disengagement efforts. These details were previously shared in Parliament.

    The Raksha Mantri also clarified that the words attributed to the Army Chief in the parliamentary debate were never stated by him at any time. He underscored the importance of accuracy and responsible discourse on matters concerning national security.

    Shri Rajnath Singh reiterated that with respect to territorial issues, it is well documented that 38,000 sq. km of Indian territory in Aksai Chin has been under Chinese control since the 1962 conflict. Furthermore, 5,180 sq. km of territory was ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963. These historical facts remain an integral part of India’s territorial discourse.

    ****** 

    VK/SR/KB

    (Release ID: 2099676) Visitor Counter : 17

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Initiatives for the Empowerment of Divyangjans

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 4:58PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, marked International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 with launch of 16 groundbreaking initiatives to empower Divyangjan across India. Through these initiatives, the Department aim to ensure equal opportunities, accessibility and empowerment for every Divyangjan. Widespread awareness has been done through print, electronic, digital and social media platforms to ensure that Divyangjan across India including those in remote or underserved areas are informed about these initiatives.

     

    List of Initiatives:

    1. Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan: An online platform for empanelment of accessibility auditors for built environments was introduced, reflecting the government’s commitment to creating inclusive infrastructure
    2. Sugamya Bharat Yatra: A unique initiative in partnership with the Association for Persons with Disabilities, where Divyangjan will assess the accessibility of public spaces using the AI-enabled ‘Yes to Access’ app.
    3. Pathways to Access – Part 3 Compendium: The third installment of the series highlights key government documents on employment, financial services and healthcare for persons with disabilities, empowering them with knowledge and access to resources.
    4. High-Power Spectacles: Developed by CSIR-CSIO, these glasses cater to individuals with low vision, offering superior optical clarity and improving quality of life.
    5. Divyasha E-Coffee Table Book: ALIMCO’s e-book, launched to commemorate its 50- year journey, showcases inspiring stories and achievements in providing assistive devices to Divyangjan.
    6. Kadam Knee Joint: An indigenous innovation developed by IIT Madras and SBMT, offering enhanced mobility and durability, launched as a major leap in assistive technology.
    7. Awareness Generation and Publicity Portal: A digital platform for seamless application under the Awareness Generation and Publicity Scheme was inaugurated to enhance transparency and efficiency.
    8. Accessible Storybooks: In collaboration with NIEPVD and NBT, 21 accessible books in Braille, audio and large print formats were launched to promote inclusive education.
    9. Standard Bharti Braille Code: A draft for standardized Braille scripts in 13 Indian languages was introduced for public consultation, ensuring consistency and compatibility with Unicode standards.
    10. Braille Books Portal: An online submission portal for creating Braille books was unveiled, fostering inclusive education.
    11. MoU with Infosys BPM: A significant partnership to enhance employment opportunities for Divyangjan through the PM DAKSH portal’s Divyangjan Rozgar Setu initiative.
    12. Employability Skills Book: Released in 11 Indian languages, this book bridges the gap between education and employment for Divyangjan, promoting economic independence.
    13. Infosys Springboard Skill Programme: Infosys Springboard in collaboration with Yunikee offered courses to help deaf learners across India to develop skills across various fields and acquire marketable abilities.
    14. Google Extension for Persons with Hearing Impairment: SignUp Media and Yunikee partnered to provide robust, reliable, accessible source of sign language communication in entertainment, information and educational media for the Deaf community in India in accessing entertainment and other video content.
    15. E-Sanidhya Portal: Tata Power Community Development Trust and NIEPID, Secunderabad developed Tata E-Sanidhya Neuro-Diversity Platform as a specialized online and offline (digital) service designed to assist individuals with neuro-diversity conditions, particularly those affected by autism.
    16. Computer-Based Indian Intelligence Test by NIEPID, Secunderabad: NIEPID has developed an indigenous Indian Test of Intelligence, with the key strengths in its cultural relevance and sensitivity. The data from 4,070 children across different parts of India ensures that the test represents the Indian population accurately.

     

    The chapter IX of the RPwD Act 2016 provides for registration of institutes like NGOs, etc. that are working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities. It further states that the appropriate Government may within the limits of their economic capacity and development, grant financial assistance to registered institutions to provide services and to implement the schemes and programmes across the country including rural & semi-urban areas, in pursuance of the provisions of the said Act. Most of the initiatives launched are in collaboration with private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations to create an inclusive environment for Persons with Disabilities in the country. Such initiatives include launch of better aids and appliances for use of Divyangjan, MoUs with private companies to enhance employment opportunities for divyangjan, sharing codes for enhancing accessibility and Accessible Learning Materials etc.

    These 16 initiatives have been launched to ensure equal opportunities, accessibility and empowerment for every Divyangjan and to create an inclusive environment for Persons with Disabilities in the country. Periodic review and regular follow-ups with the stakeholders are done by the Department for holistic improvement towards the empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. To address identified gaps, Department is focused on strict policy implementation and enforcement, alongside strengthening monitoring mechanisms.

    The Department launched National Disability Information Helpline Service (NDIHS) on Short Code-14456 in January 2024. The helpline provides round-the-clock telephonic assistance in English and Hindi through an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) and call attendant support during working hours. NDIHS provides information about aids and assistive devices, Unique Disability ID (UDID) services, educational and economic empowerment programmes for persons with disabilities (PwDs), benefits, and concessions under Government schemes etc. Around 65,000 persons have been assisted through the helpline so far.

    This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L. VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

    *****

    VM

    (Lok Sabha US Q426)

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dr Jitendra Singh briefed about the human rights concerns of the terrorism affected families of Jammu & Kashmir, notably and particularly the Kashmiri Pandits:

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Dr Jitendra Singh briefed about the human rights concerns of the terrorism affected families of Jammu & Kashmir, notably and particularly the Kashmiri Pandits:

    PM Modi’s commitment to the welfare of the people of J&K reflects in his over 35 visits to J&K in recent years:

    “Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, human rights governance has become a priority, with the Human Rights Commission playing an active and responsive role”, Says Dr. Jitendra Singh

    NHRC Member Priyank Kanungo calls on Jitendra Singh

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 4:54PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, and Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh was briefed today by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Member, Priyank Kanungo about the human rights concerns of the terrorism affected families of Jammu & Kashmir, notably and particularly the Kashmiri Pandits.

    Kanungo told the Minister that the National Human Rights Commission is very conscious of its responsibility to safeguard the human rights of every section of society, particularly those like the Kashmir Pandit community who suffered killings and hardship for three long decades, but were denied their due or justice by the earlier governments.

    National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Member, Priyank Kanungo calling on Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh at New Delhi.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the nationalist credentials of the Kashmiri Pandit community and said that their welfare and concern have always been at the core of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s priorities.

    Emphasizing the longstanding and tragic history of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated, “The plight of Kashmiri Pandits remains unique, as they were made refugees within their own country overnight.” He praised the Modi government’s commitment to the welfare of these families, citing the Prime Minister’s over 35 visits to J&K, which had played a significant role in implementing welfare initiatives, including the provision of separate accommodations for Pandit families and efforts to reintegrate them into the broader Kashmiri society.

    In addition to these welfare measures, Dr. Jitendra Singh also highlighted infrastructure developments in the region aimed at reducing physical and emotional distances. He pointed to expanded train networks and express corridors that have enhanced all-weather connectivity to ensure smoother travel and communication.

    The Minister expressed confidence in the government’s approach to improving the human rights situation in the region and assured that both the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) along with NHRC would collaborate effectively. He stated, “We will ensure an institutionalized mechanism to address citizens’ grievances, working in synergy with the NHRC to ensure that the citizens’ rights are safeguarded.”

    Dr. Jitendra Singh spoke of the role of human rights in governance, reiterating that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, human rights governance has become a priority, with the Human Rights Commission playing an active and responsive role. As a part of this, the DoPT seeks to integrate human rights values into its training programs for government officials.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh observed that sensitive officers, equipped with both emotional intelligence and intellectual capability, would be key to furthering the cause of human rights in India. These officers, once sensitized on human rights issues, could serve as patrons of human rights within their respective departments and communities, he added.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed delight and confidence in the appointment of Priyank Kanungo as a member of the National Human Rights Commission. He praised Kanungo for his commitment to the cause of the welfare and protection of human rights of citizens and recalled his earlier stint as Chairman of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

    In conclusion, Dr. Jitendra Singh wished that NHRC would continue to work together to ensure that the rights of every citizen are safeguarded.

    The National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) is a statutory body constituted on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Ordinance of 28 September 1993. The NHRC is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights, which is defined by the act as rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution of India.

     

     *****

    NKR/PSM

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Bharat Tex 2025 is a testament to India’s commitment to becoming a global textile powerhouse: Secretary, Textiles

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Bharat Tex 2025 is a testament to India’s commitment to becoming a global textile powerhouse: Secretary, Textiles

    Secretary, Textiles compliments Industry bodies for the largest ever Global Textile Show

    Bharat Tex is a perfect example of industry- government collaboration: Secretary, Textiles

    Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 4:52PM by PIB Delhi

    Launches App and website for Bharat Tex 2025

    Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2024, Bharat Tex 2025 aims to further elevate its stature by attracting over 5,000 exhibitors, 6,000 international buyers from over 120 countries, and more than 1,20,000 visitors. The event will feature comprehensive pavilions, showcasing the entire textile value chain under one roof

     

    Union Textiles Secretary, Mrs. Neelam Shami Rao applauded textile industry bodies for their proactive efforts in organizing Bharat Tex 2025. Describing it as the largest and most comprehensive textiles event ever, she commended the commitment of textile Export Promotion Councils and other industry bodies for their relentless efforts and dedication in bringing the entire value chain of textiles under the Bharat Tex umbrella. She underlined that Bharat Tex will reaffirm the attractiveness of India as a reliable, sustainable sourcing destination as well as an investment destination at scale for textiles. The entire event is a testament to India’s commitment to becoming a global textile powerhouse, she added.

    The Secretary was speaking on the occasion of the unveiling of the Bharat Tex 2025 app and website at Udyog Bhawan.

     

    Bharat Tex 2025, organized by 11 major textile industry bodies and supported by the Ministry of Textiles, promises to be a landmark event showcasing the diversity, scale, and capability of India’s textile sector. The event spread over an area of 2.2 million square feet is expected to attract over 5,000 exhibitors, 6,000 international buyers from 120 countries, and more than 1,20,000 visitors. Exhibitors will showcase a wide range of products, including apparel, dyes & chemicals, machinery & equipment, home furnishings, technical textiles, handlooms, and handicrafts.

    The event will also feature over 70 conference sessions, roundtables, and master classes, with discussions led by nearly 100 international speakers. Topics such as sustainability, investments, manufacturing 4.0, and future fashion trends will dominate the agenda.

    Besides a global sized trade fair and expo and an international textiles conference, the textile extravaganza will also offer a wide range of activities, seminars, CEO roundtables, and B2B and G2G meetings. It will also feature strategic investment announcements, product launches, and collaborations poised to reshape the global textile industry. Attendees can look forward to live demonstrations, cultural events, and fashion presentations, designer and brand exhibitions and sustainability workshops, and expert talks. Bharat Tex 2025 aims to serve as a unique and consolidated platform to showcase India’s full textile value chain, while highlighting its strengths in fashion, traditional crafts, and sustainability initiatives. The event is an industry led initiative and will be organized jointly by the 11 Textile related Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and other industry bodies. It is supported by the Ministry of Textiles.

    Bharat Tex is being run on an advanced technology platform offering a one source engagement to visitors, exhibitors and buyers. The Bharat Tex app, is a part of the overall technology platform designed to facilitate seamless engagement, networking, and information dissemination for this largest global textile event. Designed to enhance user convenience by offering exhibitor profiles, session details, and interactive maps, it is a comprehensive tool for buyers, exhibitors, and visitors to explore the vast scale and diversity of India’s textile ecosystem, connect with global stakeholders, and stay informed about key events during and after the expo.

    The app allows users to explore the latest developments and technological advancements in the entire textile value chain covering fibers, yarns, apparels & fashions, home textiles, handlooms, technical textiles, and intelligent manufacturing. With easy access to venue maps, session details, and more, the app eliminates the need for paper guides, offering an efficient and eco-friendly experience. Available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the Bharat Tex 2025 app is an essential tool for attendees aiming to navigate the event efficiently to maximize their opportunities. With the launch of the Bharat Tex 2025 exhibitors, buyers, and visitors will have access to an easy-to-use platform, to access event information, develop networks, and plan their participation efficiently.

    ****

    Dhanya Sanal K

    Director(M&C)

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI: GAMCO Investors, Inc. Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Quarter End AUM of $31.7 billion
    • Operating Margin of 32.3% for the Fourth Quarter and 31.0% for 2024
    • Fourth Quarter Earnings of $0.70 per Share versus $0.66 per Share in the Fourth Quarter of 2023
    • 2024 Earnings of $2.65 per Share versus $2.38 per Share for 2023
    • $182.8 million in Cash, Cash Equivalents, Seed Capital, and Investments and No Debt
    • Board Authorizes 100% Increase of the Regular Quarterly Dividend
    • Repurchased 1.3 million Shares, or 3% of Outstanding Shares, During the Fourth Quarter of 2024 and Increased Buyback Authorization to 1.5 Million Shares

    GREENWICH, Conn., Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GAMCO Investors, Inc. (“Gabelli”) (OTCQX: GAMI) today reported its operating results for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

    Financial Highlights

    (In thousands, except percentages and per share data)      
        Three Months Ended  
        December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
     
    U.S. GAAP          
    Revenue   $ 59,262     $ 57,313    
    Expenses     40,109       41,517    
    Operating income     19,153       15,796    
    Non-operating income     3,452       6,199    
    Net income     16,797       16,560    
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.70     $ 0.66    
    Operating margin     32.3 %     27.6 %  
               

    Giving Back to Society – $80 million since IPO

    Since our initial public offering in February 1999, our firm’s combined charitable donations total approximately $80 million, including $48 million through the shareholder designated charitable contribution program. Based on the program created by Warren Buffett at Berkshire Hathaway, our corporate charitable giving is unique in that the recipients of Gabelli’s charitable contributions are chosen directly by our shareholders, rather than by our corporate officers. Since its inception in 2013, Gabelli shareholders have designated charitable gifts to approximately 350 charitable organizations.

    On August 6, 2024, Gabelli’s board of directors authorized the creation of a private foundation, headquartered in Reno, Nevada, to continue our charitable giving program with an initial contribution of $5 million.

    Revenue

    (In thousands)   Three Months Ended    
        December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
       
    Investment advisory and incentive fees            
       Funds   $ 40,441   $ 37,748    
       Institutional and Private Wealth Management   15,057     13,712    
       SICAV     4 (a)   1,541 (a)  
          Total   $ 55,502   $ 53,001    
    Distribution fees and other income     3,760     4,312    
          Total revenue   $ 59,262   $ 57,313    
                 
    (a) Reflects change in reporting methodology. See AUM table.        

    The year over year increase in Funds revenues was primarily the result of higher average assets under management. The increase in Institutional and Private Wealth Management revenues was primarily the result of higher beginning of the quarter equity assets under management, which are generally used to calculate the revenues. The decrease in SICAV revenues reflects a change in the agreement for the merger arbitrage SICAV, an open-end fund available to non-U.S. shareholders, which became effective in December 2023. The change better aligns the financial arrangements with the services rendered by each party in managing the fund and did not have a material impact on the financial results. The decrease in distribution fees and other income was primarily the result of a decrease in equity mutual funds AUM that pay distribution fees.

    Expenses

    (In thousands)   Three Months Ended  
        December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
     
    Compensation   $ 26,593   $ 27,316  
    Management fee     2,512     2,444  
    Distribution costs     5,634     5,848  
    Other operating expenses   5,370     5,909  
       Total expenses   $ 40,109   $ 41,517  
               
    • The lower compensation expense in the fourth quarter of 2024 reflected $2.9 million of waived compensation partially offset by increased fixed compensation of $1.4 million and increased variable compensation of $0.8 million.
    • The $0.1 million increase in management fee is attributable to the higher pre-management fee income of $0.7 million; and,
    • Other operating expenses this quarter were lower versus the fourth quarter of 2023 reflecting the change in the agreement for the merger arbitrage SICAV beginning in December 2023.

    Operating Margin

    The operating margin, which represents the ratio of operating income to revenue, was 32.3% for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with 27.6% for the fourth quarter of 2023.  

    Non-Operating Income

    (In thousands)   Three Months Ended  
        December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
     
    Gain from investments, net   $ 644     $ 3,529    
    Interest and dividend income     3,090       2,951    
    Interest expense (a)     (282 )     (281 )  
       Total non-operating income   $ 3,452     $ 6,199    
               
    (a) Related to GAAP accounting of finance lease.      

    Non-operating income decreased $2.7 million for the quarter, reflecting the lower mark-to-market net gains on our investment portfolio for the quarter slightly offset by an increase in interest and dividend income.

    Other Financial Highlights

    The effective income tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 25.7% versus 24.7% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Cash, cash equivalents, and investments were $182.8 million with no debt at December 31, 2024.

    Assets Under Management

    (In millions)   As of  
        December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
     
                   
    Mutual Funds   $ 8,078   $ 8,440   $ 7,973  
    Closed-end Funds     7,344     7,459     7,097  
    Institutional & PWM (a) (b)     10,700     10,984     10,738  
    SICAV (c)     9     9     631  
    Total Equities     26,131     26,892     26,439  
                   
    100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund     5,552     5,268     4,615  
    Institutional & PWM Fixed Income     32     32     32  
    Total Treasuries & Fixed Income     5,584     5,300     4,647  
    Total Assets Under Management   $ 31,715   $ 32,192   $ 31,086  
                   
    (a) Includes $242, $278, and $370 of AUM subadvised for Teton Advisors, Inc. at December 31, 2024, September 30,  
    2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively.            
    (b) Includes $237, $212, and $227 of 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund AUM at December 31, 2024,  
    September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively.          
    (c) Includes $0, $0, and $620 of the SICAV AUM subadvised by Associated Capital Group, Inc. at December 31, 2024,  
    September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively.          
                   

    Assets under management on December 31, 2024 were $31.7 billion, a decrease of 1.6% from the $32.2 billion on September 30, 2024. The quarter’s decrease consisted of net market depreciation of $0.2 billion, net outflows of $0.2 billion, and distributions, net of reinvestments, of $0.1 billion.

    Mutual Funds

    Assets under management in Mutual Funds on December 31, 2024 were $8.1 billion, a decrease of 4.3% from the $8.4 billion at September 30, 2024. The quarterly change was attributed to:

    • Distributions, net of reinvestment, of $27 million;
    • Net outflows of $209 million; and
    • Net market depreciation of $126 million.

    Closed-end Funds

    Assets under management in Closed-end Funds on December 31, 2024 were $7.3 billion, a decrease of 1.5% from the $7.5 billion on September 30, 2024. The quarterly change was comprised of:

    • Distributions, net of reinvestment, of $129 million;
    • Net inflows of $169 million, including the issuance of $150 million preferred shares, the issuance of $62 million common shares less the redemption of $30 million of preferred shares, and the repurchase of $13 million of common stock ; and
    • Net market depreciation of $155 million.

    Institutional & PWM

    Assets under management in Institutional & PWM on December 31, 2024 were $10.7 billion, a decrease of 0.9% from the $10.8 billion on December 31, 2023. The quarterly change was due to:

    • Net outflows of $345 million; and
    • Net market appreciation of $61 million.

    SICAV

    Assets under management were $9 million in the GAMCO All Cap Value sleeve and the GAMCO Convertible Securities sleeve on December 31, 2024 versus $11 million in those sleeves at December 31, 2023.

    100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund

    Assets under management in our 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund (GABXX) on December 31, 2024 were $5.6 billion, up from $5.3 billion at September 30, 2024.

    The Gabelli Growth Fund – Up 35.8% For 2024

    The Growth team of Howard Ward, CFA, and John Belton, CFA, commented on The Gabelli Growth Fund’s 2024 performance:

    “The environment remained favorable for growth stocks in 2024, underpinned by a resilient economy and the start of a Federal Reserve interest rate cutting cycle. Earnings growth accelerated for many US companies, aided by healthy consumer spending trends, robust technology investments, and continued cost discipline. Artificial Intelligence (AI) remained a key stock market theme, as capital expenditure plans across the hyperscale cloud computing group reached astronomical levels, and given a host of new AI-centric business models which have started to take shape. To date, this technology appears to be making some of the strongest companies, stronger, and to that end we maintained positions in many of the largest AI beneficiaries including NVIDIA, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Meta Platforms. This group remains a cornerstone of our portfolio, and as of year-end more than half of the portfolio’s assets are invested across the Technology Sector as a whole. Outside of the Megacap Tech group, top performers to performance this year included Eli Lilly (boosted by continued success across an industry-leading incretin drug portfolio), ServiceNow (which is an early leader in AI software commercialization) and Intuitive Surgical.”

    The Gabelli Gold Fund – Up 15.2% For 2024

    Portfolio manager Caesar Bryan commented on The Gabelli Gold Fund’s 2024 performance:

    “Gold performed strongly for the second consecutive year largely driven by overseas central bank purchases. However, gold equities underperformed the gold price. Recently the rise in the gold price has not been fully reflected in the profit margins of gold mining companies. This has largely been due to cost pressures emanating from a variety of sources, exacerbated by covid. But we believe the market may be too pessimistic concerning both cost pressures which are diminishing and enhanced revenues from a higher gold price. Gold equities are inexpensive relative to their history and on an absolute basis. But a catalyst is needed to alter investor perception. This could be gold backed ETFs adding ounces reflecting a recovery in investor interest in the sector, a decline in other asset markets which may highlight gold as a portfolio diversifier, increased takeover activity or simply continued strength in the gold price. Some of our smaller gold producers such as Lundin Gold and Wesdome Gold Mines, had stellar returns. Among our larger producers Kinross and Agnico Eagle contributed significantly to performance. We continue to favor mid capitalization gold producers with good assets that trade at a big discount to some of the larger producers.”

    The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

    We utilize our own in-house team of over 40 industry equity analysts and portfolio managers to analyze the stocks in the fund, using our bottom-up research-intensive process and, more importantly, our accumulated and compounded knowledge of selected industry sectors. We use GAPIC – gather, array, project, interpret, and communicate data daily. We have consistently applied our Private Market Value with a Catalyst approach to help generate our long-term returns since the inception of the fund in 1991.

    ETFs

    In 2024, Gabelli Growth Innovators (NYSE: GGRW), managed by Howard Ward and John Belton, generated a 41.8% total return, the Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF (NYSE: GABF), led by Macrae Sykes, produced a 44.6% total return, and the Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSE: GCAD), managed by Lieutenant Colonel G. Anthony (Tony) Bancroft, USMCR returned 22.2%. The firm launched its first active ETF, the Gabelli Love Our Planet & People ETF (NYSE: LOPP) in January 2021 to extend the tax benefits of owning exchange traded funds to our investors. Since the initial launch, the Gabelli platform has steadily grown the differentiated suite of ETFs. We are pleased with the client adoption progress and excited about this growth area of the market and positioning of these unique funds supported by our investment team. To accelerate the growth of these funds, each of the funds (with the exception of GGRW) has fee and expense waivers on the first $25 million of assets, whereas LOPP has a fee and expense waiver for the first $100 million of assets under management.

    Assets Under Administration

    (In millions)   As of  
        December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
     
                   
    Teton-Keeley Funds (a)   $ 809   $ 883   $ 964  
    SICAV     408     431      
    Total Assets Under Administration $ 1,217   $ 1,314   $ 964  
                   
    (a) Includes $242, $278 and $370 of AUM subadvised for Teton Advisors, Inc. at  
         December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.  
                   

    AUA on December 31, 2024 were $1.2 billion, a slight decline from the $1.3 billion at September 30, 2024.

    Return to Shareholders

    During the fourth quarter of 2024, Gabelli returned to shareholders $86 million in the form of a special dividend of $2.00 per share totaling $50.5 million that was declared in the third quarter of 2024, the repurchase of 1,304,358 shares for $34.4 million at an average investment of $26.37 per share, and a regular quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share totaling $1.0 million. From January 1, 2025 to February 4, 2025, the Company has repurchased 12,971 shares at an average price of $23.95 per share for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $0.3 million. On February 4, 2025, the board of directors increased the buyback authorization to 1.5 million shares.

    On February 4, 2025, Gabelli’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share, an increase of 100%, which is payable on March 25, 2025 to class A and class B shareholders of record on March 11, 2025.

    Balance Sheet Information 

    As of December 31, 2024, cash, cash equivalents, and U.S Treasury Bills were $116.5 million and investments were $66.3 million, compared with cash, cash equivalents, and U.S. Treasury Bills of $160.8 million and investments of $44.1 million as of December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2024, stockholders’ equity was $136.6 million compared to $181.0 million as of December 31, 2023. The decline in stockholders’ equity resulted from the payment of $59.5 million in dividends, $49.3 million of stock buybacks, offset partially by $64.4 million in net income.

    Symposiums/Conferences

    • On November 4th and 5th, we hosted the 48th Annual Automotive Aftermarket Symposium at the Encore at Wynn in Las Vegas. The symposium featured presentations from senior management of leading automotive and trucking companies, with a lineup that enabled investors to understand everchanging dynamics within the automotive industry.
       
    • On November 15th, we hosted the 6th Annual Healthcare Symposium in connection with Columbia Business School.
       
    • On December 5th, we hosted the 2nd Section 852(b)(6) Conference.
       
    • In addition to the above, we hosted the following during 2024:
       
      • 34th Pump, Valve & Water Systems Symposium
      • 30th Aerospace & Defense Symposium
      • 18th Omaha Research Trip
      • 16th Media & Entertainment Symposium
      • 15th Specialty Chemicals Symposium
      • 10th Waste & Environmental Services Conference
      • 2nd PFAS Symposium

    We are hosting the following symposiums and conferences in 2025:

    About Gabelli

    Gabelli is best known for its research-driven value approach to equity investing (known as PMV with a CatalystTM). Gabelli conducts its investment advisory business principally through two subsidiaries: Gabelli Funds, LLC (24 open-end funds, 14 closed-end funds, 5 actively managed ETFs, and a SICAV) and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. (approximately 1,400 institutional and private wealth separate accounts). Gabelli serves a broad client base including institutions, intermediaries, offshore investors, private wealth, and direct retail investors. In recent years, Gabelli has successfully integrated new teams of RIAs by providing attractive compensation arrangements and extensive research capabilities. As we stated in the past, Gabelli continues to look for new acquisitions / lift-outs and will pay finder’s fees for successful opportunities.

    Gabelli offers a wide range of solutions for clients across Value and Growth Equity, Convertibles, actively managed ETFs, sector-focused strategies including Gold and Utilities, Merger Arbitrage, Fixed Income, and 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market.

    CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Our disclosure and analysis in this press release, which do not present historical information, contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements convey our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements because they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other words and terms of similar meaning. They also appear in any discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, future performance of our products, expenses, the outcome of any legal proceedings, and financial results. Although we believe that we are basing our expectations and beliefs on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of what we currently know about our business and operations, the economy, and other conditions, there can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from what we expect or believe. Therefore, you should proceed with caution in relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance.

    Forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors, some of which are listed below, that are difficult to predict and could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may cause our actual results to differ from our expectations include risks associated with the duration and scope of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic resulting in volatile market conditions, a decline in the securities markets that adversely affect our assets under management, negative performance of our products, the failure to perform as required under our investment management agreements, and a general downturn in the economy that negatively impacts our operations. We also direct your attention to the more specific discussions of these and other risks, uncertainties and other important factors contained in our Annual Report and other public filings. Other factors that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We do not undertake to update publicly any forward-looking statements if we subsequently learn that we are unlikely to achieve our expectations whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Gabelli Funds, LLC is a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is a wholly owned subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (OTCQX: GAMI).

    Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the fund before investing. The prospectus, which contains more complete information about this and other matters, should be read carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, please call 800 GABELLI or visit www.gabelli.com
    Fitch rating drivers include: credit quality, interest rate risk, liquid assets, maturity profiles, and the capabilities of the investment advisor

    Active Transparent Exchange-Traded Funds
    GABELLI FINANCIAL SERVICES OPPORTUNITIES: GABF

    IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

    • Shares of this ETF are bought and sold at market prices (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund.
    • Buying or selling ETF shares may require additional fees such as brokerage commissions, which will reduce returns.
    • These traditional risks may be even greater in challenging or uncertain market conditions.
    • Financial service companies operate in heavily regulated industries, which are subject to change. The underlying securities are subject to credit and interest rate sensitivity risk, which could affect earnings. Additionally, since financial services firms are correlated to GDP, a decline in the economic environment could impact profitability.

    Active Exchange-Traded Funds
    GABELI LOVE OUR PLANET & PEOPLE: LOPP
    GABELLI GROWTH INNOVATORS: GGRW
    GABELLI COMMERCIAL AEROSPACE & DEFENSE: GCAD

    IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
    These ETFs are different from traditional ETFs. Traditional ETFs tell the public what assets they hold each day. These ETFs do not. This may create additional risks for your investment. For example:
    • You may have to pay more money to trade the ETFs’ shares. These ETFs will provide less information to traders, who tend to charge more for trades when they have less information.
    • The price you pay to buy ETF shares on an exchange may not match the value of an ETF’s portfolio. The same is true when you sell shares. These price differences may be greater for these ETFs compared to other ETFs because they provide less information to traders.
    • These additional risks may be even greater in challenging or uncertain market conditions.
    • The differences between these ETFs and other ETFs may also have advantages. By keeping certain information about the ETFs undisclosed, these ETFs may face less risk that other traders can predict or copy its investment strategy. This may improve the ETFs’ performance. If other traders are able to copy or predict the ETFs’ investment strategies, however, this may hurt the ETFs’ performance. For additional information regarding the unique attributes and risks of these ETFs, see the ActiveShares prospectus/registration statement.

    You should consider the ETFs’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before you invest. The ETFs’ Prospectus is available from G.distributors, LLC, a registered broker-dealer and FINRA member firm, and contains this and other information about the ETFs, and should be read carefully before investing.

    GABF
    Financial services companies operate in heavily regulated industries, which are subject to change. The underlying securities are subject to credit and interest rate sensitivity risk, which could impact earnings. Additionally, since financial services firms are correlated to GDP, a decline in the economic environment could impact profitability.

    GGRW
    Securities of growth companies may be more volatile since such companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their business, and they may lack the dividends of value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market.

    GCAD
    Government aerospace regulation and spending policies can significantly affect the aerospace industry because many companies involved in the aerospace industry rely to a large extent on U.S. (and other) Government demand for their products and services.

    LOPP
    The application of the Adviser’s socially responsible criteria will affect the Fund’s exposure to certain issuers, industries, sectors, regions, and countries, and may impact the relative financial performance of the Fund.

    Money Market Fund
    Investment in the fund is neither guaranteed nor insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. The fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time. You could lose money by investing in the fund.

    Growth
    Securities of growth companies may be more volatile since such companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their business, and they may lack the dividends of value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market.

    As of December 31, 2024, GAMI and affiliates owned less than one percent of all stocks mentioned in the Growth Fund.

    Gold
    Investments related to gold and other precious metals and minerals are considered speculative and are affected by a variety of worldwide economic, financial, and political factors. Investing in foreign securities involves risks not ordinarily associated with investment in domestic issues. Funds concentrating in specific sectors may experience greater fluctuations in value than funds that are more diversified. Not FDIC Insured. Not Bank Guaranteed. May Lose Value.

    As of December 31, 2024, GAMI and affiliates owned less than one percent of all stocks mentioned in the Gold Fund.

    Small Cap
    Small capitalization stocks are subject to significant price fluctuations and business risks. The stocks of smaller companies may trade less frequently and experience more abrupt price movements than stocks of larger companies; therefore, investing in this sector involves special challenges.

    Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end.

    GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Subsidiaries              
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)        
    (in thousands, except per share data)              
        Three Months Ended  
        December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
     
    Revenue:              
      Investment advisory and incentive fees   $ 55,502     $ 53,829     $ 53,001    
      Distribution fees and other income     3,760       3,717       4,312    
         Total revenue     59,262       57,546       57,313    
    Expenses:              
      Compensation     26,593       22,566       27,316    
      Management fee     2,512       2,517       2,444    
      Distribution costs     5,634       6,033       5,848    
      Other operating expenses     5,370       4,801       5,909    
        Total expenses     40,109       35,917       41,517    
    Operating income     19,153       21,629       15,796    
    Non-operating income:              
      Gain from investments, net     644       3,370       3,529    
      Interest and dividend income     3,090       2,947       2,951    
      Interest expense     (282 )     (290 )     (281 )  
      Charitable giving contribution           (5,000 )        
        Total non-operating income     3,452       1,027       6,199    
    Income before provision for income taxes     22,605       22,656       21,995    
    Provision for income taxes     5,808       5,822       5,435    
    Net income   $ 16,797     $ 16,834     $ 16,560    
                   
    Earnings per share attributable to common            
    stockholders:              
      Basic   $ 0.70     $ 0.69     $ 0.66    
      Diluted   $ 0.70     $ 0.69     $ 0.66    
                   
    Weighted average shares outstanding:              
      Basic     23,971       24,263       25,038    
      Diluted     23,971       24,263       25,038    
                   
      Shares outstanding     22,930       24,235       24,906    
                   
    GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Subsidiaries          
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited)      
    (in thousands)          
           
        December 31,   December 31,  
        2024   2023  
    Assets          
      Cash and cash equivalents   $ 17,254   $ 61,801  
      Short-term investments in U.S. Treasury Bills     99,216     99,025  
      Investments in securities     36,855     19,998  
      Seed capital investments     29,452     24,044  
      Receivable from brokers     3,103     4,562  
      Other receivables     21,246     21,178  
      Deferred tax asset and income tax receivable     7,553     8,927  
      Other assets     9,509     9,896  
         Total assets   $ 224,188   $ 249,431  
               
    Liabilities and stockholders’ equity          
      Income taxes payable   $ 196   $ 17  
      Compensation payable     38,489     23,399  
      Accrued expenses and other liabilities     48,929     45,036  
        Total liabilities     87,614     68,452  
               
      Stockholders’ equity     136,574     180,979  
         Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 224,188   $ 249,431  
               
      Shares outstanding     22,930     24,906  
               
    GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Subsidiaries                    
    Assets Under Management                      
    By investment vehicle                      
    (in millions)                      
          Three Months Ended   % Changed From  
          December 31,   September 30,   December 31,   September 30,   December 31,  
           2024     2024     2023    2024    2023   
    Equities:                      
    Mutual Funds                      
    Beginning of period assets   $ 8,440     $ 8,035     $ 7,546            
      Inflows     211       175       153            
      Outflows     (420 )     (415 )     (451 )          
      Net inflows (outflows)     (209 )     (240 )     (298 )          
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     (126 )     652       744            
      Fund distributions, net of reinvestment     (27 )     (7 )     (19 )          
      Total increase (decrease)     (362 )     405       427            
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 8,078     $ 8,440     $ 7,973     -4.3 %   1.3 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     25.5 %     26.2 %     25.6 %          
    Average assets under management   $ 8,447     $ 8,177     $ 7,593     3.3 %   11.2 %  
                             
    Closed-end Funds                      
    Beginning of period assets   $ 7,459     $ 7,052     $ 6,727            
      Inflows     212       25       16            
      Outflows     (43 )     (32 )     (63 )          
      Net inflows (outflows)     169       (7 )     (47 )          
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     (155 )     540       544            
      Fund distributions, net of reinvestment     (129 )     (126 )     (127 )          
      Total increase (decrease)     (115 )     407       370            
    Assets under management, end of period     7,344     $ 7,459     $ 7,097     -1.5 %   3.5 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     23.2 %     23.2 %     22.8 %          
    Average assets under management   $ 7,610     $ 7,260     $ 6,785     4.8 %   12.2 %  
                             
    Institutional & PWM                      
    Beginning of period assets   $ 10,984     $ 10,436     $ 10,034            
      Inflows     62       87       63            
      Outflows     (407 )     (373 )     (371 )          
      Net inflows (outflows)     (345 )     (286 )     (308 )          
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     61       834       1,012            
      Total increase (decrease)     (284 )     548       704            
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 10,700     $ 10,984     $ 10,738     -2.6 %   -0.4 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     33.7 %     34.1 %     34.5 %          
    Average assets under management   $ 11,085     $ 10,905     $ 10,005     1.7 %   10.8 %  
                             
    SICAV                      
    Beginning of period assets   $ 9     $ 9     $ 622            
      Inflows                 82            
      Outflows                 (110 )          
      Net inflows (outflows)                 (28 )          
      Market appreciation (depreciation)                 37            
      Total increase (decrease)                 9            
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 9     $ 9     $ 631     0.0 %   -98.6 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     0.0 %     0.0 %     2.0 %          
    Average assets under management   $ 9     $ 9     $ 628     0.0 %   -98.6 %  
                             
    Total Equities                      
    Beginning of period assets   $ 26,892     $ 25,532     $ 24,929            
      Inflows     485       287       314            
      Outflows     (870 )     (820 )     (995 )          
      Net inflows (outflows)     (385 )     (533 )     (681 )          
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     (220 )     2,026       2,337            
      Fund distributions, net of reinvestment     (156 )     (133 )     (146 )          
      Reclassification to AUA                            
      Total increase (decrease)     (761 )     1,360       1,510            
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 26,131     $ 26,892     $ 26,439     -2.8 %   -1.2 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     82.4 %     83.5 %     85.1 %          
    Average assets under management   $ 27,151     $ 26,351     $ 25,011     3.0 %   8.6 %  
                             
                             
    GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Subsidiaries                    
    Assets Under Management                      
    By investment vehicle – continued                      
    (in millions)                      
          Three Months Ended   % Changed From  
          December 31,   September 30,   December 31,   September 30,   December 31,  
           2024     2024     2023    2024    2023   
    Fixed Income:                      
    100% U.S. Treasury fund                      
    Beginning of period assets   $ 5,268     $ 5,159     $ 4,217            
      Inflows     1,656       1,245       1,424            
      Outflows     (1,440 )     (1,205 )     (1,088 )          
      Net inflows (outflows)     216       40       336            
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     68       69       62            
      Total increase (decrease)     284       109       398            
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 5,552     $ 5,268     $ 4,615     5.4 %   20.3 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     17.5 %     16.4 %     14.8 %          
    Average assets under management   $ 5,415     $ 5,246     $ 4,418     3.2 %   22.6 %  
                             
    Institutional & PWM Fixed Income                      
    Beginning of period assets   $ 32     $ 32     $ 32            
      Inflows                            
      Outflows                            
      Net inflows (outflows)                            
      Market appreciation (depreciation)                            
      Total increase (decrease)                            
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 32     $ 32     $ 32     0.0 %   0.0 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     0.1 %     0.1 %     0.1 %          
    Average assets under management   $ 32     $ 32     $ 32     0.0 %   0.0 %  
                             
    Total Treasuries & Fixed Income                      
    Beginning of period assets   $ 5,300     $ 5,191     $ 4,249            
      Inflows     1,656       1,245       1,424            
      Outflows     (1,440 )     (1,205 )     (1,088 )          
      Net inflows (outflows)     216       40       336            
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     68       69       62            
      Total increase (decrease)     284       109       398            
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 5,584     $ 5,300     $ 4,647     5.4 %   20.2 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     17.6 %     16.5 %     14.9 %          
    Average assets under management   $ 5,447     $ 5,278     $ 4,450     3.2 %   22.4 %  
                             
    Total AUM                      
    Beginning of period assets   $ 32,192     $ 30,723     $ 29,178            
      Inflows     2,141       1,532       1,738            
      Outflows     (2,310 )     (2,025 )     (2,083 )          
      Net inflows (outflows)     (169 )     (493 )     (345 )          
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     (152 )     2,095       2,399            
      Fund distributions, net of reinvestment     (156 )     (133 )     (146 )          
      Reclassification to AUA                            
      Total increase (decrease)     (477 )     1,469       1,908            
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 31,715     $ 32,192     $ 31,086     -1.5 %   2.0 %  
    Average assets under management   $ 32,598     $ 31,629     $ 29,461     3.1 %   10.6 %  
                             
    GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Subsidiaries            
    Assets Under Management              
    By investment vehicle              
    (in millions)              
          Twelve Months Ended    
          December 31,   December 31,      
           2024     2023    % Change  
    Equities:              
    Mutual Funds              
    Beginning of period assets   $ 7,973     $ 8,140        
      Inflows     751       711        
      Outflows     (1,626 )     (1,616 )      
      Net inflows (outflows)     (875 )     (905 )      
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     1,023       772        
      Fund distributions, net of reinvestment     (43 )     (34 )      
      Total increase (decrease)     105       (167 )      
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 8,078     $ 7,973     1.3 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     25.5 %     25.6 %      
    Average assets under management   $ 8,173     $ 8,035     1.7 %  
                     
    Closed-end Funds              
    Beginning of period assets   $ 7,097     $ 7,046        
      Inflows     281       41        
      Outflows     (226 )     (130 )      
      Net inflows (outflows)     55       (89 )      
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     700       654        
      Fund distributions, net of reinvestment     (508 )     (514 )      
      Total increase (decrease)     247       51        
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 7,344     $ 7,097     3.5 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     23.2 %     22.8 %      
    Average assets under management   $ 7,274     $ 7,058     3.1 %  
                     
    Institutional & PWM              
    Beginning of period assets   $ 10,738     $ 10,714        
      Inflows     340       241        
      Outflows     (1,701 )     (1,739 )      
      Net inflows (outflows)     (1,361 )     (1,498 )      
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     1,323       1,522        
      Total increase (decrease)     (38 )     24        
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 10,700     $ 10,738     -0.4 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     33.7 %     34.5 %      
    Average assets under management   $ 10,891     $ 10,670     2.1 %  
                     
    SICAV              
    Beginning of period assets   $ 631     $ 867        
      Inflows           357        
      Outflows     (2 )     (624 )      
      Net inflows (outflows)     (2 )     (267 )      
      Market appreciation (depreciation)           31        
      Reclassification to AUA     (620 )            
      Total increase (decrease)     (622 )     (236 )      
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 9     $ 631     -98.6 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     0.0 %     2.0 %      
    Average assets under management   $ 9     $ 694     -98.7 %  
                     
    Total Equities              
    Beginning of period assets   $ 26,439     $ 26,767        
      Inflows     1,372       1,350        
      Outflows     (3,555 )     (4,109 )      
      Net inflows (outflows)     (2,183 )     (2,759 )      
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     3,046       2,979        
      Fund distributions, net of reinvestment     (551 )     (548 )      
      Reclassification to AUA     (620 )            
      Total increase (decrease)     (308 )     (328 )      
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 26,131     $ 26,439     -1.2 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     82.4 %     85.1 %      
    Average assets under management   $ 26,347     $ 26,457     -0.4 %  
                     
                     
    GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Subsidiaries            
    Assets Under Management              
    By investment vehicle – continued              
    (in millions)              
          Twelve Months Ended    
          December 31,   December 31,      
           2024     2023    % Change  
    Fixed Income:              
    100% U.S. Treasury fund              
    Beginning of period assets   $ 4,615     $ 2,462        
      Inflows     5,796       5,498        
      Outflows     (5,122 )     (3,536 )      
      Net inflows (outflows)     674       1,962        
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     263       191        
      Total increase (decrease)     937       2,153        
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 5,552     $ 4,615     20.3 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     17.5 %     14.8 %      
    Average assets under management   $ 5,140     $ 3,823     34.4 %  
                     
    Institutional & PWM Fixed Income              
    Beginning of period assets   $ 32     $ 32        
      Inflows                  
      Outflows                  
      Net inflows (outflows)                  
      Market appreciation (depreciation)                  
      Total increase (decrease)                  
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 32     $ 32     0.0 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     0.1 %     0.1 %      
    Average assets under management   $ 32     $ 32     0.0 %  
                     
    Total Treasuries & Fixed Income              
    Beginning of period assets   $ 4,647     $ 2,494        
      Inflows     5,796       5,498        
      Outflows     (5,122 )     (3,536 )      
      Net inflows (outflows)     674       1,962        
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     263       191        
      Total increase (decrease)     937       2,153        
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 5,584     $ 4,647     20.2 %  
    Percentage of total assets under management     17.6 %     14.9 %      
    Average assets under management   $ 5,172     $ 3,855     34.2 %  
                     
    Total AUM              
    Beginning of period assets   $ 31,086     $ 29,261        
      Inflows     7,168       6,848        
      Outflows     (8,677 )     (7,645 )      
      Net inflows (outflows)     (1,509 )     (797 )      
      Market appreciation (depreciation)     3,309       3,170        
      Fund distributions, net of reinvestment     (551 )     (548 )      
      Reclassification to AUA     (620 )            
      Total increase (decrease)     629       1,825        
    Assets under management, end of period   $ 31,715     $ 31,086     2.0 %  
    Average assets under management   $ 31,519     $ 30,312     4.0 %  
                     
    Contact: Kieran Caterina
      Chief Accounting Officer
      (914) 921-5149
       
      For further information please visit
      www.gabelli.com 

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67be43da-4ba8-4a8b-adfc-6568958b2c5f
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/184b5374-0f9b-4bf5-a782-689155142d7e

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Red Cat CEO Jeff Thompson to Present at TD Cowen’s 46th Annual Aerospace & Defense Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) (“Red Cat”) (“Red Cat”), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, today announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Thompson, will present at TD Cowen’s 46th Annual Aerospace & Defense Conference on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

    Thompson’s presentation is scheduled from 1:20 PM to 2:00 PM ET in Track 2 (Salon II, Conference Level) at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City in Arlington, VA. He will discuss Red Cat’s latest advancements in drone technology and the company’s strategic initiatives within the aerospace and defense sectors.

    TD Cowen’s 46th Annual Aerospace & Defense Conference, taking place February 11-13, 2025, brings together industry leaders for a series of presentations, fireside chats, and panel discussions. Moderated by members of the TD Cowen research team, the event will highlight key trends shaping the aerospace and defense industries.

    Investors and attendees interested in scheduling a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Thompson are encouraged to contact the Company through the investor relations section of the Red Cat website.

    About Red Cat Holdings, Inc.

    Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT) is a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations. Through two wholly owned subsidiaries, Teal Drones and FlightWave Aerospace, Red Cat has developed a Family of Systems. This includes the Black Widow™, a small unmanned ISR system that was awarded the U.S. Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Program of Record contract. The Family of Systems also includes TRICHON™, a fixed wing VTOL for extended endurance and range, and FANG™, the industry’s first line of NDAA compliant FPV drones optimized for military operations with precision strike capabilities. Learn more at www.redcat.red.

    About TD Securities

    As a leading corporate and investment bank, TD Securities offers a wide range of integrated capital markets products and services. Our corporate, government, and institutional clients choose us for our innovation, execution, and experience.

    With more than 7,100 professionals operating out of 34 cities across the globe, we help clients meet their needs today and prepare for tomorrow. Our services include underwriting and distributing new issues, providing trusted advice and industry-leading insight, extending access to global markets, and delivering integrated transaction banking solutions.

    TD Cowen is a division of TD Securities. As part of TD Securities’ broader suite of integrated capital markets products and services, our offering includes investment banking, research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, outsourced trading, and commission management services.

    We are growth-oriented, people-focused, and community-minded. As a team, we work to deliver value for our clients every day.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on Red Cat Holdings, Inc.’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2023. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Red Cat Holdings, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

    Contact:

    INVESTORS:
    E-mail: Investors@redcat.red

    NEWS MEDIA:
    Phone: (347) 880-2895
    Email: peter@indicatemedia.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Frontline police boosted

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police resources allocated to investigating youth crime, domestic and family violence, cybercrime and retail theft are being significantly boosted.

    More than 70 police officers are being redirected to a range of key frontline areas that will provide the most benefit to the community and enhance public safety and well-being.

    The majority of the resources – 51 positions – have become available following successful programs such as the introduction of Police Security Officers in custody management areas, the civilianisation of some roles and the rationalisation of some small police stations.

    Additional government funding has also delivered another 20 positions.

    As part of the major initiative Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens has revealed the formation of a new Youth and Street Gangs Task Force to enhance SAPOL’s response into youth crime in South Australia.

    The new task force will see the current Operation Meld and Operation Mandrake initiatives merged – with an additional 13 police officers added to its ranks.

    An additional nine officers will be allocated to investigate financial and cybercrime and eight added to the successful Operation Measure anti-shoplifting initiative.

    Regional communities will also benefit with 14 new positions assigned to volume crime teams and another 13 family and domestic violence investigation officers.

    SAPOLs growing reliance on airborne policing operations has also resulted in 14 permanently appointed tactical flight officers who will contribute significantly to community safety and provide vital support to frontline officers involved in a variety of taskings.

    Commissioner Stevens said while many of the positions will be filled immediately, others will be filled as resources become available.

    “We are focusing resources on frontline roles and doing what matters most in areas that will have the most impact, the most benefit in responding to public concerns over safety and emerging crime trends,’’ he said.

    “These include areas that both proactively investigate and respond to cybercrime incidents, youth crime, family violence, retail theft and our increasing reliance on airborne law enforcement operations.

    “With the growing imbalance between our resources and demand, we will continue to look for opportunities to rationalise services to deliver similar frontline services where they matter the most.’’

    The Youth and Street Gangs Task Force will continue the work of Operations Meld and Mandrake by responding to the evolving nature of youth street gangs by providing specialist investigative and intelligence skills.

    Besides responding to specific incidents, SAPOL is working to break the cycle of criminality and recruitment of young members through interagency collaboration and community engagement.

    “Youth crime is not just about the criminality, but the recruitment of younger members, so the task force provides an opportunity to break this cycle,” Commissioner Stevens said.

    “This permanent task force will disrupt and reduce the criminal activities of a target group of offenders, particularly focusing on crimes of violence that pose a significant risk to community safety.”

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Disbarred Queens Attorney Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Defrauding Clients

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Falsely Held Himself Out as a Trusted Attorney in the Korean-American Community

    Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, disbarred attorney Hyun W. Lee, also known as “Michael Lee,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen to 54 months in prison for wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud his real estate clients and their counterparties of funds held in his attorney escrow account.  As part of the sentence, Lee was ordered to pay the government $3.27 million in forfeiture and restitution to the victims in the amount of $3.29 million.  Lee pleaded guilty to wire fraud in December 2023.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.

    “The defendant was disbarred from the practice of law for reprehensible misconduct, but that severe penalty did not deter him from continuing to abuse the trust of clients, so it is my hope that he will get the message after serving a term of imprisonment for his crimes,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “It is particularly egregious that Lee committed these crimes by holding himself out as a trusted lawyer to clients within the Korean-American community in Queens, where many immigrants have little experience with the legal system and place an enormous amount of trust in the hands of individuals like the defendant who profess to represent their interests in legal proceedings.”

    Mr. Durham thanked the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this matter.

    Lee was an attorney licensed by the State of New York admitted to practice in 2003.  He maintained an office in Flushing, Queens, where he represented buyers and sellers in connection with the purchase and sale of real property.  On March 11, 2020, Lee was disbarred as a result of charges brought by the Grievance Committee that he had engaged in a pattern and practice of misappropriating client and third-party funds.  As a result, Lee was not permitted to accept funds from clients and third parties.

    Between February 2018 and May 2023, Lee induced clients and counterparties to entrust funds to him for the purchase of real estate based on misrepresentations that he would release the funds deposited into his escrow account.  Instead, Lee misappropriated these funds and used them for his own benefit, which included gambling at casinos and to pay expenses at a restaurant that he was a part-owner.  Lee misrepresented that he was an attorney authorized to represent clients in connection with the purchase and sale of real estate, and to receive and hold funds in his escrow account in connection with real estate transactions. 

    In furtherance of the scheme, Lee misled clients about the status of funds held in his escrow account by fabricating documents leading them to believe their funds were secure.  While documentation Lee showed to clients reflected a balance in Lee’s escrow account of nearly $3 million, in reality Lee had depleted the escrow account down to only approximately $25,000.  Lee failed to honor requests by clients and their counterparties to release funds from his escrow account, falsely claiming that he was in the process of working out an equitable distribution of funds that remained. In reality, Lee had already spent virtually all of the funds in the account.

    Victims who suffered losses as a result of the conduct of Lee, or other New York lawyers who engage in misconduct, may be eligible to receive compensation by filing a claim with the Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection, which may be reached by calling (800) 442-3863 or e-mailing info@nylawfund.org

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hiral D. Mehta is in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Special Agent Martin Sullivan.

    The Defendant:

    HYUN W. LEE (also known as “Michael Lee”)
    Age:  51  
    Closter, New Jersey

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-465 (PKC)

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: Emergency response beacons can cut drownings at the beach – but 72% of people haven’t heard of them

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Brander, Professor, UNSW Beach Safety Research Group, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney

    Rob Brander

    Do you know what an emergency response beacon or “ERB” is? Do you know what it does? Do you know which beaches have one? If you answered “nope!” to any of those questions, you’re not alone – and that’s a problem.

    In short, an emergency response beacon basically consists of a telephone and camera that sits on a pole on a beach. These can be triggered with a button press by anybody who sees someone in trouble in the water or on the sand.

    In New South Wales, where emergency response beacons are located on some beaches, pressing the button puts you in immediate contact with a 24/7 duty officer at the Surf Life Saving New South Wales state operations centre.

    This duty officer can then talk with the person, give instructions and dispatch the nearest suitable emergency resources to that location. The beacons are solar powered and 4G/5G enabled.

    But our new research, recently published in the journal Ocean & Coastal Management, found only 28% of surveyed beachgoers have heard of emergency response beacons – and only half of those actually knew what they were for.

    Our findings show a clear need to better communicate with and educate the public about the purpose and location of emergency response beacons. Otherwise, these potential lifesaving devices might not be as effective as authorities assume.

    Why NSW installed ERBs

    In 2023-24 there were 61 coastal drowning deaths in NSW, representing a 27% increase from the previous year and a 33% increase above the ten-year average.

    Most of these coastal drowning deaths occurred at beaches (56%) and along rocky coastal locations (25%).

    All of them occurred away from patrolled areas or outside of patrol hours.

    The traditional response to keeping people safe in unpatrolled coastal locations has been to install various signs warning visitors about potential hazards such as rip currents.

    However, previous studies have highlighted these signs don’t always work – many people look past them or don’t understand them.

    In 2018, the NSW state government committed A$16 million over four years to install emergency response beacons at identified drowning hotspots.

    At least 53 have now been installed along the NSW coast, including at both unpatrolled and patrolled beaches, with additional funding available to install more units from 2024 to 2028.

    All will eventually have rescue tubes attached (a rescue tube is a flotation device often used in lifesaving efforts).

    This all sounds great, but how effective have emergency response beacons actually been in reducing drowning?

    Our new research, conducted by the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group on public awareness and understanding of emergency response beacons, has shown there is significant work to do.

    What we did and what we found

    Our study involved surveying 301 people at beaches along the NSW coast, both beaches with and without emergency response beacons, and both unpatrolled and patrolled.

    Only 28% of the surveyed beachgoers had actually heard of emergency response beacons.

    Of those, only half (54%) actually knew what they were for and 50% were not aware if the beach they were visiting had one installed.

    Most people who were aware of the beacons (82%) lived within ten kilometres from the coast and had learned about them from direct experience visiting a beach with a beacon. In other words, they were locals.

    Given that between 2014 and 2024, 73% of coastal drowning deaths were associated with visitors who lived more than ten kilometres from the location where they drowned, this finding suggests that knowledge of emergency response beacons may not be getting through to the people who need it most.

    Our results also showed that, after being briefed about their purpose, most people (72%) surveyed thought that emergency response beacons were a great idea.

    At least 53 ERBs have now been installed along the NSW coast.
    Rob Brander

    Concerningly, though, people with lower swimming abilities said they’d feel safer and more likely to go in the water if they knew an emergency response beacon was there. This is definitely not the intended outcome at an unpatrolled beach, and suggests the presence of beacons may give some people an unjustified sense of safety and confidence.

    Collectively, our results suggest there is an urgent need for vastly improved communication to enhance public awareness and understanding of emergency response beacons to all types of visitors to beaches in NSW.

    People are using ERBs but more detail required

    Nevertheless, emergency response beacons are clearly being used. Earlier this summer, Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce said there had been more than “100 documented rescues and activations as a direct result of the ERBs being installed”. You can also find examples on social media of people using the beacons.

    Much like beach safety messaging in general, we need more evidence-based research to assist in the strategic placement of future emergency response beacons, including in other Australian states apart from NSW.

    The response times to emergency response beacon activations should also be examined in further detail; in areas with full mobile phone reception, it might be faster, easier and cheaper to alert emergency services by phoning 000.

    Ultimately, the best way to stay safe at a beach is to swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches.

    On unpatrolled beaches it really comes down to always thinking about beach safety, understanding and being aware of hazards like rip currents, knowing your own abilities and sticking to the mantra: “if in doubt, don’t go out”.

    If you want to learn more about emergency response beacons and their locations before venturing out to a beach in New South Wales, please visit the Surf Life Saving NSW website.

    Rob Brander receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC), the NSW State government, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) and Surfing NSW.

    ref. Emergency response beacons can cut drownings at the beach – but 72% of people haven’t heard of them – https://theconversation.com/emergency-response-beacons-can-cut-drownings-at-the-beach-but-72-of-people-havent-heard-of-them-248676

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Peter Dutton is promising to slash the public service. Voters won’t know how many jobs are lost until after the election

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Podger, Honorary Professor of Public Policy, Australian National University

    Oakland Images/Shutterstock

    Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has doubled down on his commitment to sack thousands of public servants if he’s elected prime minister.

    Dutton has again highlighted the “wasteful” 36,000 increase in public service jobs under Labor, which he says has made the Australian Public service “bloated and inefficient”.

    While there is considerable political hyperbole and Trumpian allusions in Dutton’s statements, there are areas where legitimate savings could be made by whoever wins the coming election. That includes a second-term Albanese government, which would need to find efficiencies to offset promised wage increases.

    Dutton’s commitment

    Dutton unrealistically mentioned A$24 billion in potential savings over four years by reversing the growth in the number of new public service jobs since the last election.

    Dutton’s claim of 36,000 extra bureaucrats under the Albanese government is broadly correct. The latest State of the Service Report shows the ongoing workforce increased from 133,976 in June 2021 to 170,186 in June last year. This was offset by a reduction of around 4,000 non-ongoing employees.

    Labor has reduced the use of consultants and contractors, though at best those savings only partially offset the costs of the public service expansion.

    Reversing the net increase in costs in the next term of Parliament, however, will not be easy and could not be done immediately.

    In turn, Labor is hiring fewer consultants and contractors. Those numbers could rise again if permanent positions are axed under a Coalition government.

    Dutton is careful not to make any specific commitments regarding the number of jobs that would go nor the dollar savings involved. However, he and his shadow ministers have repeatedly referred to the 36,000 new positions under Labor.

    While the Coalition won’t be detailing any spending cuts until after the election, Dutton has alluded to US President Donald Trump’s playbook by targeting “culture, diversity and inclusion advisers”.

    Dutton contends these roles add to costs while providing little public service:

    Such positions, as I say, do nothing to improve the lives of everyday Australians.

    Putting the public service growth into context

    Despite Dutton’s combative language, the growth of the Australian Public Service is not nearly as dramatic as he claims, nor is it concentrated in Canberra.

    The State of the Service Report shows the Australian Public Service headcount is lower now (0.68%) as a percentage of the Australian population than it was in 2008 (0.75%). It is also a smaller share of the overall Australian workforce (1.36% compared to 1.52%).

    Despite Dutton’s often repeated claim that all of the additional public servants are based in Canberra, the proportion of the public service working in the capital has decreased to just 36.9%.

    The numbers back up the government’s claim that the expanded bureaucracy has delivered improvements to critical public services such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Veterans’ Affairs and Centrelink outside of Canberra.

    Labor has also committed to savings

    Despite its defence of the public service, a re-elected Labor government would also need to find efficiencies.

    The Australian Financial Review has drawn attention to the mid-year budget update, which forecast no growth in the public service wages bill from 2025–26 to 2027–28. This is despite an enterprise bargaining agreement to increase wages by 11.2% over the three years to March 2026.

    Finance and Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher has dismissed the Coalition’s claims of a $7.4 billion black hole. She says Labor’s forecasting method is the same as the one the Liberals used in government

    And the minister has restated Labor’s commitment to finding its own savings through the 1% efficiency dividend, which she says is “largely a good thing”.

    In other words, the Albanese government is assuming pay increases will be offset by efficiency measures over the next three years. That will require some effort.

    Where savings could actually be made

    Regardless of who forms the next government, there are savings to be made across the public service, which has become too top heavy.

    Remuneration is a mess, with extraordinary variations in pay, particularly among the senior executive level.

    A wholesale change in the membership of the Remuneration Tribunal, which sets public service pay levels, and a review of its methodology are much needed.

    There should also be more emphasis on skills and capability, and less on diversity. A strong business case exists to maximise the talent pool the public service draws on, but care is needed to not compromise the merit principle in the pursuit of equity.

    Dutton’s plan raises legitimate concerns

    Dutton’s populist rhetoric about the public service raises legitimate concerns beyond the potential job cuts.

    There’s a real risk the Coalition will resurrect its ideological preference for the private sector, with its associated extra costs and conflicts of interest.

    Nor is there any clear commitment to avoiding a return to the politicisation of the bureaucracy evident under former prime minister Scott Morrison, which contributed to the Robodebt scandal.

    The Albanese government has sadly dropped the ball by failing to legislate to promote merit-based appointments, leaving open opportunities for politically based hirings and firings.

    With election day fast approaching, voters may reasonably be wary of both sides of politics when it comes to the independence and performance of the public service.

    Andrew Podger 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. Peter Dutton is promising to slash the public service. Voters won’t know how many jobs are lost until after the election – https://theconversation.com/peter-dutton-is-promising-to-slash-the-public-service-voters-wont-know-how-many-jobs-are-lost-until-after-the-election-248897

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: OpenAI says DeepSeek ‘inappropriately’ copied ChatGPT – but it’s facing copyright claims too

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lea Frermann, Senior Lecturer in Natural Language Processing, The University of Melbourne, The University of Melbourne

    TA Design/Shutterstock

    Until a few weeks ago, few people in the Western world had heard of a small Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company known as DeepSeek. But on January 20, it captured global attention when it released a new AI model called R1.

    R1 is a “reasoning” model, meaning it works through tasks step by step and details its working process to a user. It is a more advanced version of DeepSeek’s V3 model, which was released in December. DeepSeek’s new offering is almost as powerful as rival company OpenAI’s most advanced AI model o1, but at a fraction of the cost.

    Within days, DeepSeek’s app surpassed ChatGPT in new downloads and set stock prices of tech companies in the United States tumbling. It also led OpenAI to claim that its Chinese rival had effectively pilfered some of the crown jewels from OpenAI’s models to build its own.

    In a statement to the New York Times, the company said:

    We are aware of and reviewing indications that DeepSeek may have inappropriately distilled our models, and will share information as we know more. We take aggressive, proactive countermeasures to protect our technology and will continue working closely with the US government to protect the most capable models being built here.

    The Conversation approached DeepSeek for comment, but it did not respond.

    But even if DeepSeek copied – or, in scientific parlance, “distilled” – at least some of ChatGPT to build R1, it’s worth remembering that OpenAI also stands accused of disrespecting intellectual property while developing its models.

    What is distillation?

    Model distillation is a common machine learning technique in which a smaller “student model” is trained on predictions of a larger and more complex “teacher model”.

    When completed, the student may be nearly as good as the teacher but will represent the teacher’s knowledge more effectively and compactly.

    To do so, it is not necessary to access the inner workings of the teacher. All one needs to pull off this trick is to ask the teacher model enough questions to train the student.

    This is what OpenAI claims DeepSeek has done: queried OpenAI’s o1 at a massive scale and used the observed outputs to train DeepSeek’s own, more efficient models.

    A fraction of the resources

    DeepSeek claims that both the training and usage of R1 required only a fraction of the resources needed to develop their competitors’ best models.

    There are reasons to be sceptical of some of the company’s marketing hype – for example, a new independent report suggests the hardware spend on R1 was as high as US$500 million. But even so, DeepSeek was still built very quickly and efficiently compared with rival models.

    This might be because DeepSeek distilled OpenAI’s output. However, there is currently no method to prove this conclusively. One method that is in the early stages of development is watermarking AI outputs. This adds invisible patterns to the outputs, similar to those applied to copyrighted images. There are various ways to do this in theory, but none is effective or efficient enough to have made it into practice.

    There are other reasons that help explain DeepSeek’s success, such as the company’s deep and challenging technical work.

    The technical advances made by DeepSeek included taking advantage of less powerful but cheaper AI chips (also called graphical processing units, or GPUs).

    DeepSeek had no choice but to adapt after the US has banned firms from exporting the most powerful AI chips to China.

    While Western AI companies can buy these powerful units, the export ban forced Chinese companies to innovate to make the best use of cheaper alternatives.

    The US has banned the export of the most powerful computer chips to China.
    Nor Gal/Shutterstock

    A series of lawsuits

    OpenAI’s terms of use explicitly state nobody may use its AI models to develop competing products. However, its own models are trained on massive datasets scraped from the web. These datasets contained a substantial amount of copyrighted material, which OpenAI says it is entitled to use on the basis of “fair use”:

    Training AI models using publicly available internet materials is fair use, as supported by long-standing and widely accepted precedents. We view this principle as fair to creators, necessary for innovators, and critical for US competitiveness.

    This argument will be tested in court. Newspapers, musicians, authors and other creatives have filed a series of lawsuits against OpenAI on the grounds of copyright infringement.

    Of course, this is quite distinct to what OpenAI accuses DeepSeek of doing. Nevertheless OpenAI isn’t attracting much sympathy for its claim that DeepSeek illegitimately harvested its model output.

    The war of words and lawsuits is an artefact of how the rapid advance of AI has outpaced the development of clear legal rules for the industry. And while these recent events might reduce the power of AI incumbents, much hinges on the outcome of the various ongoing legal disputes.

    Shaking up the global conversation

    DeepSeek has shown it is possible to develop state-of-the-art models cheaply and efficiently. Whether they can compete with OpenAI on a level playing field remains to be seen.

    Over the weekend, OpenAI attempted to demonstrate its supremacy by publicly releasing its most advanced consumer model, o3-mini.

    OpenAI claims this model substantially outperforms even its own previous market-leading version, o1, and is the “most cost-efficient model in our reasoning series”.

    These developments herald an era of increased choice for consumers, with a diversity of AI models on the market. This is good news for users: competitive pressures will make models cheaper to use.

    And the benefits extend further.

    Training and using these models places a massive strain on global energy consumption. As these models become more ubiquitous, we all benefit from improvements to their efficiency.

    DeepSeek’s rise certainly marks new territory for building models more cheaply and efficiently. Perhaps it will also shake up the global conversation on how AI companies should collect and use their training data.

    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. OpenAI says DeepSeek ‘inappropriately’ copied ChatGPT – but it’s facing copyright claims too – https://theconversation.com/openai-says-deepseek-inappropriately-copied-chatgpt-but-its-facing-copyright-claims-too-248863

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Global: Dementia: why prescription drugs like antibiotics and vaccines have been linked to lower risk of the disease

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rahul Sidhu, PhD Candidate, Neuroscience, University of Sheffield

    Antibiotics, antivirals and anti-inflammatory drugs were all associated with reduced dementia risk Slladkaya/ Shutterstock

    There’s currently no cure for dementia. Although some recently developed drugs show promise in slowing the progress of the disease, these are both costly and may have limited benefit for many patients.

    However, a recent Cambridge-led study has found a link between commonly used prescription drugs – including antibiotics, antivirals and vaccines – and a lower risk of dementia.

    Given these drugs are already licensed and their safety profiles well established, this could enable faster and more cost-effective clinical trials in the search for a cure.

    The study analysed health data from 130 million people, including one million people who had been diagnosed with dementia. Having identified possible links with prescription drugs and dementia risk, the researchers conducted a systematic review of 14 studies to explore these links further and understand which prescription drugs might affect dementia outcomes.

    This led them to the conclusion that antibiotics, antivirals and anti-inflammatory drugs were all associated with reduced dementia risk. The researchers also found a link between the hepatitis A, typhoid and diphtheria vaccines and lower dementia risk.

    It’s unknown how long participants had been taking any of these prescription drugs or how many times they’d been prescribed them during their lifetime, so it will be important for future studies to investigate these factors.

    Immune reponse and brain health

    Based on their findings, the researchers suggest that the protective effects that these prescription drugs appear to have may be because they reduce inflammation, control infections and improve overall brain health.

    This supports the theory that common types of dementia could be triggered by viral or bacterial infections. We know that infections that last a few days to several weeks, whether bacterial or viral, can cause great damage to the brain. This is because infections cause an enhanced immune response from the body, which can damage brain cells – disrupting brain connections and accelerating memory decline.

    Antibiotics and antivirals help to combat infections.

    Antivirals and antibiotics help combat infections, which in turn may dampen this excessive immune response. Meanwhile, vaccines can prevent these infections from occurring in the first place. In both cases, this can significantly reduce the risk of prolonged infections and their potentially devastating consequences for brain health.

    It’s also worth noting that other studies have also shown an association between the BCG vaccine, which protects against tuberculosis, and a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s (a type of dementia).




    Read more:
    My work investigating the links between viruses and Alzheimer’s disease was dismissed for years – but now the evidence is building


    Inflammation and dementia risk

    Regarding the new study’s finding of a link between the use of anti-inflammatory medications and a reduced risk of dementia, notably non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen were identified as potentially protecting against memory decline.

    Again, this is another piece of evidence suggesting that inflammation plays a central role in dementia.Inflammation is the body’s natural way of defending itself against injury or infection. But when inflammation lasts too long, it can cause harm – particularly to the brain. Long-lasting inflammation releases chemicals that can damage healthy tissue. These chemicals can damage brain cells and disrupt communication between them, which leads to memory loss.

    Anti-inflammatory drugs work by blocking the production of certain molecules that cause inflammation. By doing this, they might help protect brain cells from damage caused by long-term inflammation.

    Next steps

    The evidence for the benefits of other types of drugs on dementia risk was less consistent. The study found that certain blood-pressure drugs, antidepressants and diabetes drugs were linked to both a lower and higher risk of dementia.

    One possible reason is that these prescription drugs affect different biological processes. Even drugs designed to treat the same condition may target different biological mechanisms, which might explain the varying results.

    For example, some blood pressure medications – such as ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) – improve brain health by enhancing blood flow and reducing inflammation. On the other hand, beta-blockers primarily lower heart rate and may not provide the same neuroprotective benefits.

    Diabetes drugs also had mixed associations with dementia risk. But as people with diabetes are already at a higher risk of developing dementia, this makes it difficult to determine whether this association was due to the effects of the drugs themselves, or if diabetes is the main factor at play.

    Overall, more research is needed to confirm this study’s findings and better understand how all these drugs appear to influence dementia risk. Randomised controlled trials will be crucial to see if these prescription drugs really can be repurposed to prevent dementia effectively. At the same time, looking into the biological mechanisms that are potentially affected by these drugs could shed light on the causes of dementia.

    This research highlights the importance of addressing inflammation and infections as part of a broader strategy for maintaining brain health. And by finding new uses for existing drugs, scientists could deliver treatments to patients more quickly – offering hope in the fight against dementia.

    Rahul Sidhu 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. Dementia: why prescription drugs like antibiotics and vaccines have been linked to lower risk of the disease – https://theconversation.com/dementia-why-prescription-drugs-like-antibiotics-and-vaccines-have-been-linked-to-lower-risk-of-the-disease-248041

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Lee, Lummis Reintroduce the Knife Owners Protection Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) reintroduced the Knife Owners Protection Act (KOPA), legislation that would protect knife owners traveling across state lines from changing state and local laws. If possession of the knife is legal in the state where the journey starts and ends, and provided the knife is secured in accordance with the requirements set in KOPA, knife owners would no longer be threatened with arrest simply for traveling from one state to another.
    Originally introduced in 2013, KOPA serves as the first proactive pro-knife federal legislation in the nation’s history. In 1986, Congress enacted the Firearm Owner Protection Act (FOPA) to protect law-abiding gun owners from an inconsistent patchwork of local laws, but no such protections currently exist for knife owners.
    “Let’s make sure conflicting state laws are not the basis for arresting an honest American,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This bill eliminates that uncertainty.”
    “Patchwork and unclear knife laws across America endanger the rights of law-abiding knife owners, especially when traveling,” said Senator Lee. “This legislation will provide consistency and clarity for Americans who safely transport knives between jurisdictions and prevent capricious prosecutions against them.”
    “Those who travel across the country with knives for work, recreation and self-defense are presently subject to arrest and prosecution under a confusing patchwork of inconsistent state and local laws,” said Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter. “What is perfectly legal in one place may be a serious crime in another, resulting in forfeiture of the knife and carrying significant penalties including jail time. Enforcement is not uniform even within jurisdictions and is too often subject to the vagaries of political expediency.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Admits Drug Trafficking Offense And Possessing Firearm In Furtherance Of Drug Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – An East Orange, New Jersey man today admitted possessing quantities of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine he intended to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

    Ibraheem Muhammad, 41, of East Orange, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an Indictment charging him with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Law enforcement investigated Muhammad for his drug distribution from an apartment in East Orange (the “Residence”).  On May 9, 2022, Muhammad was arrested on a warrant after law enforcement saw him exit the Residence and engage in a suspected drug transaction.  He was caught in possession of numerous envelopes of suspected heroin and keys to the Residence.  A subsequent search of the Residence revealed Muhammad to be in possession of controlled substances that subsequently lab tested positive for heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl, and various glassine envelopes and other paraphernalia used for packaging drugs.  Law enforcement also recovered approximately $14,000 in cash; a Girsan 9mm semi-automatic handgun, loaded with fourteen (14) rounds of 9mm ammunition; and an additional fifteen (15) rounds of 9mm ammunition.  

    The drug charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million.  The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charge carries a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 24, 2025.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., Newark Field Division; and the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Maurice Boyd.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
     

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Global: USAid shutdown isn’t just a humanitarian issue – it’s a threat to American interests

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor in the Department of Government, University of Essex

    The website for the United States Agency for International Development (USAid), the world’s biggest aid donor, has gone dark.

    Donald Trump’s new administration plans to place the autonomous agency under the control of the state department. The secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has now declared himself as head of the agency to “align” it with Trump’s priorities.

    Several days ago, on January 26, Rubio said: “Every dollar we spend, every programme we fund, and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”

    But the decision to freeze USAid, which is part of Trump’s policy to put “America first”, places everyone at risk. Organisations that provide vital care for vulnerable people around the world are being forced to halt operations. The boss of one such organisation said: “People will die.”

    Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a close adviser to Trump, is playing an active role in the destruction of USAid. He has claimed – without providing any evidence – that the agency is “beyond repair”. “It needs to die,” Musk wrote on X.

    Musk, who leads the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), is gearing to cut trillions of dollars from the US budget. However, by seeing cuts to USAid as a solution, Trump and Musk are catering to an audience that has a fundamental misunderstanding about US foreign aid more generally.

    Surveys demonstrate that Americans believe 25% of the federal budget is spent on foreign aid. In reality, the US gives about 0.2% of its gross national product (GNP), the total value of goods and services produced by a country, to foreign aid – or less than 1% of its federal budget. This is far below the UN target of 0.7% of GNP.

    But, despite this, USAid provided 42% of all humanitarian aid globally in 2024. This included about US$72 billion (£58 billion) in aid in a wide range of areas, from helping people access clean water, sanitation, healthcare and energy, to providing disaster relief, shelter and food.

    USAid also delivered programmes aimed at supporting democracy, civil society, economic development and landmine clearance in war zones, as well as working to prevent organised crime, terrorism and conflict. The gutting of USAid will have a profound impact on human security.

    The Trump administration has granted a waiver for the continuation of “life-saving humanitarian assistance”. This includes a programme that helps 20 million people living with HIV/Aids access anti-retroviral drugs. But there are questions about the future of US Aids organisation, the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar).

    To date, over 43 million people worldwide have died from Aids. But one of the biggest success stories of the George W. Bush administration was its launch of Pepfar in 2003. The World Health Organization says that Pepfar, working in partnership with USAid, has saved 26 million lives.

    Pepfar employs more than 250,000 doctors, nurses and other staff across 55 countries. One of the functions that USAid performs is ordering and procuring the drugs used by Pepfar to keep the millions infected with HIV alive. It remains to be seen whether federal payments to USAid’s locally run partner organisations will be stopped.

    We are, in any case, likely to see an uptick in other infectious diseases. USAid had been working to prevent current outbreaks of mpox and Marburg virus from spreading beyond Africa. It is not clear what the future is for these programmes.

    And USAid’s work with malaria, a disease that kills about 450,000 children under the age of five each year, is facing uncertainty. From 2000 to 2021, USAid’s work helped to prevent 7.6 million deaths from malaria. Also in doubt is USAid’s work to develop and implement the malaria vaccine, which was considered a gamechanger for combating the disease.

    At the same time, USAid responds to an average of 65 natural disasters each year. In 2024 alone, it responded to 84 separate crises across 66 different countries. The government is letting go all of the staff important for implementing these types of programmes.

    Dozens of senior USAid officials have been placed on leave, while contractors working on the agency’s programmes have been furloughed. Up to 3,000 aid workers in Washington DC could reportedly be laid off this week.

    What Trump’s team misunderstand is that the work of USAid is also vital for preserving American interests. China, which has poured more than US$1 trillion of assistance into infrastructure projects in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America since 2013, will now be given an opportunity to exert more influence around the world. The void in US aid is a gift for China in the battle for soft power.

    White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, lists some of what she calls the ‘insane priorities’ that USAid has been spending money on.

    Global aid sector in disarray

    Foreign aid relies on certainty and transparency about the future of aid programmes. But the Trump administration has offered little clarity while US foreign aid programmes are all being reviewed. One aid organisation referred to the situation as an “absolute dumpster fire” due to the uncertainty.

    There have already been reports of total confusion in health clinics previously supported by USAid, which were shut down without warning. Africa will probably be the region most negatively affected. Local workers in healthcare-related projects on the continent will lose their jobs, while nurses, doctors and healthcare workers across clinics will be unable to continue their vital work.

    The Democrats have claimed that Trump does not have the legal authority to eradicate a congressionally funded independent agency. They have said court challenges are already in motion and have pledged to try to block approval of Trump’s state department nominations until the shutdown is reversed.

    Trump did try to cut US foreign aid during his first term, but Congress refused. He then tried – and ultimately failed – to freeze the flow of aid appropriated by Congress. This time, Trump is not bothering to play by the rules.

    Natasha Lindstaedt 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. USAid shutdown isn’t just a humanitarian issue – it’s a threat to American interests – https://theconversation.com/usaid-shutdown-isnt-just-a-humanitarian-issue-its-a-threat-to-american-interests-248939

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ofsted report cards are a superficial change – the inspectorate needs a culture shift

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andrew Clapham, Associate Professor of Education Policy, Nottingham Trent University

    Ofsted, England’s education inspectorate, has released proposals for a new approach to inspecting schools and other education providers. The proposals are now under consultation, with parents, teachers, education professionals and learners invited to share their views.

    These proposals mark the latest changes to Ofsted after the public outcry following the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry in January 2023. The coroner’s report in December 2023 ruled that the Ofsted inspection had contributed to Perry’s suicide. But the proposals neglect key areas that we, having researched people’s experiences of Ofsted, believe should change. These include the behaviour of inspectors and the process of inspecting schools.

    Crucially, the proposal document emphasises the continuing importance and authority of Ofsted in raising achievement in the school system. And in a recent speech on the proposals, education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “The improvements in inspection and accountability starting in the 90s have been instrumental for raising standards in our schools. With Ofsted’s role right at its heart. And to those who call for the abolition of a strong, independent, effective inspectorate, I have said before and I will say again: never.”

    Our current research work, analysing written submissions of experiences of Ofsted to the education select committee, has found a stark picture of the inherently unfair and unhealthy nature of Ofsted inspections and the toll they take on teachers.

    Ofsted’s chief inspector Martyn Oliver explains the proposed report cards.

    Anticipating an Ofsted inspection informs almost everything teachers do, and under these proposals, this will not change. If Ofsted’s position of power and authority over schools remains and these problems stay unaddressed, it will continue to cause risk and harm to those working in the state education sector in England.

    Report cards

    Central to the proposed changes is the introduction of report cards, which will replace a system which gave schools a headline judgement of “inadequate”, “requires improvement”, “good” or “outstanding”. Instead, a range of aspects of a school’s remit – including leadership and governance, achievement, inclusion, attendance and personal development and wellbeing – will each be assessed on a five-point scale.

    These range from “causing concern” (red on the report card) to “attention needed” (amber), “secure” (light green), “strong” (green) and “exemplary” (dark green).

    These grading scales will also focus on how schools support disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils, and there will be more emphasis on the local circumstances which schools operate in. Whether a school meets its safeguarding responsibilities will be assessed not on a scale but as either “met” or “not met”.

    Ofsted will also publish contextual data on the school. These data will include categories such as the number of children with special educational needs and disabilities, performance data, attendance and absence data along with socio-economic indicators for the area the school serves.

    But concerns are already being raised. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders’ union the NAHT, has argued that the new system will repeat the high stakes of the previous single-word judgements.

    Inspector behaviour and accountability

    There are two specific areas where we believe the new proposals have particularly failed. The first concerns inspectors’ conduct.

    Ofsted’s chief inspector Martyn Oliver has maintained that Ofsted needs to become more empathic and respectful, emphasising the moral and professional duty of inspectors.

    The consultation document states that “professional dialogue between inspectors and leaders will be a priority”. But the appalling behaviour that has been alleged of some inspectors is not acknowledged, and there is no indication as to how this culture of harm is being addressed.

    The second concerns the inspection process. There is no mention of Ofsted becoming more accountable. In her independent learning review for Ofsted, former chief inspector Dame Christine Gilbert recommended the institution of an improved complaints system for when a school believes an inspection outcome is unfair. But this is not mentioned in the proposals.

    Neither is there any consideration of sharing the evidence base – the information gathered by Ofsted inspectors during their visit to a school – on which an inspection judgement is made. Presumably this would be too time consuming, as suggested by Amanda Spielman, another previous chief inspector of Ofsted.

    It is perhaps unsurprising that Ruth Perry’s sister, Julia Waters, has commented that the risk of harm from Ofsted remains.

    We would therefore seek far more than a simple rebrand of the previous Ofsted model. Only a root and branch reform of the inspectorate would address the fundamental issues affecting teachers and schools.

    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. Ofsted report cards are a superficial change – the inspectorate needs a culture shift – https://theconversation.com/ofsted-report-cards-are-a-superficial-change-the-inspectorate-needs-a-culture-shift-249037

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: The UK would be lucky to avoid US tariffs – but a global trade war would hurt everyone

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Renaud Foucart, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster University

    Below the Sky/Shutterstock

    The first weeks of the Donald Trump’s administration have been marked by a flurry of announcements and U-turns on US trade policy.

    One of the first decrees centred on Trump’s favourite word: tariffs. He announced that US consumers and businesses would be taxed an extra 25% when they bought Canadian or Mexican products. (Canadian oil got off more lightly, with a 10% tariff.)

    But because this is Donald Trump we’re talking about, it later emerged that none of this was actually happening, for now. It might be next month, or later, or maybe not at all.

    However, US residents definitely face an additional 10% on the cost of products from China. There is also a plan for a 100% tax on semiconductors from Taiwan.

    And President Trump announced new import taxes will “definitely happen” on products from the European Union. If these do ever come to pass, it’s possible there may be a better deal for the UK.

    The reason for the possible Great British exemption from new US import taxes is that the stated goal of these taxes is to reduce the US trade deficit. This deficit refers to the fact that the US buys much more from the rest of the world than the rest of the world buys from it.

    And, depending on how we measure the financial flows coming in and out of tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands, the UK is one of the few countries in a position to make the case that it actually has a trade deficit with the US (the UK buys more from the US than the US buys from it).

    What about consumers?

    Being able to avoid new US tariffs would be very good news for the UK. If the US imposed import taxes on UK products and services, it would be bad for their consumers, who end up paying more. But it would also be bad for UK industry. Moreover, the UK would likely retaliate and tax US products, ultimately hurting British consumers as well.

    In theory, the UK miraculously escaping new US import taxes might even mean it indirectly benefits from a trade war between the US and the EU. If the UK can sell and buy more cheaply to both sides while they tax each other, it becomes more competitive. The UK would also get its imports more cheaply, and international businesses may want to establish subsidiaries in the UK.

    It is interesting to imagine a world in which a medium-sized, free trade supporting country like the UK ends up the winner of a global commercial war between its two most important trading partners.

    Things are not that simple however. Research shows that a major impact of tariffs is changes in global supply chains.

    As the UK has learned the hard way with Brexit, modern supply chains are increasingly interconnected. British exports are typically made with components from the European continent, which are themselves made with Chinese inputs.

    Additional costs anywhere in the chain result in more expensive products. Moreover, it is not clear that UK products made with EU and Chinese components would be exempt from US import tax.

    Disruption to supply chains could force up the cost of UK exports.
    Peter Titmuss/Shutterstock

    This is a global problem. For every final product a UK consumer ends up buying, there are many firms trying to source the best possible components and materials to make it with. If the US levies a 100% tax on chips and semiconductors from Taiwan, this means that products from the US tech industry will become more expensive for UK firms to use. This is even more pertinent given that China has retaliated to the new 10% US tax on its products by limiting the export of metals the US uses to produce its own chips.

    In this way it is easy to underestimate how sensitive supply chains are to small shocks, and what the butterfly effect of a trade war between two other countries might be on products bought and sold in the UK. So, while the UK would definitely be better off not being subject to US taxes, the main focus should be on helping to avoid global trade wars.

    How to do this is not clear, because no one seems to understand what Trump really wants from his tariffs. One theory is that he wants to pass for a madman and bully other countries into committing to buy more US-manufactured products.

    Or, in the case of Europe, to increase military spending by buying more US military equipment. In that case, tariffs would be short-lived and the impact limited. It will simply increase the incentives for international firms not to depend too much on the US.

    Or perhaps Trump really has no idea what he is doing, seemingly pursuing the two opposing goals of keeping domestic prices low while attempting to reduce its trade imbalance with ever-increasing import taxes. In that case, the consequences for consumers all over the world would be very bad. This is in part because of the effect on supply chains, but also because when the US economy is in bad shape the entire world suffers.

    Renaud Foucart 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. The UK would be lucky to avoid US tariffs – but a global trade war would hurt everyone – https://theconversation.com/the-uk-would-be-lucky-to-avoid-us-tariffs-but-a-global-trade-war-would-hurt-everyone-248963

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: How AI imagery could be used to develop fake archaeology

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Colleen Morgan, Senior Lecturer in Digital Archaeology and Heritage, University of York

    Generative AI is often seen as the epitome of our times, and sometimes even as futuristic. We can use it to invent new art or technology, analyse emerging data, or simulate people, places and things. But interestingly, it is also having an impact on how we view the past.

    AI imagery has already been used to illustrate popular articles, such as covering scientific discoveries about Neanderthals. It was employed to animate the Mesolithic period (from about 9,000 to 4,300 years ago) in a museum. TikTok users have adopted it to make realistic short videos about archaeology and history. It’s even been used in a TV documentary about Stonehenge.

    Yet there are many issues with using AI imagery in archaeology – some of which are also found more broadly within generative AI use. These include its environmental impact and the violation of intellectual property (using training data created by humans).

    But others are more specific to archaeology. As an academic who has worked extensively on “resurrecting” the past through digital technology, generative AI has both fascinating potential and enormous risk for archaeological misrepresentation.

    Even before the use of AI, it was widely accepted within archaeology that visualisations of the past are highly fraught and should be treated with extreme caution. For example, archaeologist Stephanie Moser examined 550 reconstructions published in academic and popular texts on human evolution. Her review found highly biased depictions, such as only males hunting, making art and tools and performing rituals, while women were in more passive roles.

    A similar study by Diane Gifford-Gonzalez revealed that “not one of 231 depictions of prehistoric males shows a man touching a child, woman, or an older person of either sex … no child is ever shown doing useful work.” These reconstructions do not reflect scientists’ nuanced understanding of the past. We know humans organised themselves in an incredible array of variety, with a multitude of gender roles and self-expression.

    A recent DNA-based study, for example, showed that women were actually at the centre of societies in the iron age.

    The stakes of representation in archaeology are high. For example, the hotly-debated, dark-skinned reconstruction of “Cheddar Man”, originally found in south-west England, was based on ancient DNA analysis. It made headlines for disrupting the perception that all human ancestors in the north were light-skinned.

    Reconstructed head of the Cheddar Man based on the shape of his skull and DNA analysis, shown at the Natural History Museum in London.
    wikipedia, CC BY-SA

    This and similar controversies reveal the iconic power of reconstructions, their political implications, and their ability to shape our understanding of the past.

    While the Cheddar Man reconstruction demonstrates that research is iterative, such reconstructions are sticky. They have profound visual legacies and are not easily supplanted when new data becomes available.

    This is exacerbated as they are incorporated into generative AI data sets.
    Beyond the use of outmoded data, generative AI visualisations of the past can be extremely poor.

    Even when more plausible details are included, they can be seamlessly integrated with other highly inaccurate elements. For example, it is impossible for viewers to disentangle the data-led from the so-called hallucinations (mistakes) produced by AI.

    Highlighting uncertainty is of central importance and concern among archaeologists. Archaeological illustrator Simon James noted that reconstruction artists have used strategically placed clouds of smoke to obscure unknown elements.

    As a digital archaeologist, I have made virtual reconstructions of many different sites and subjects. I know there is often estimation and guesswork involved in making holistic representations.

    Indeed, photo-realistic accuracy is not always the paramount consideration in visualisation – particularly when exploring different hypotheses or addressing young audiences. But knowing what is backed by archaeological data and what is more speculative is key for authentic visual communication.

    Pseudoarchaeology

    This is particularly important at a time when pseudoarchaeology is increasingly prevalent in popular media, such as the Ancient Apocalypse show on Netflix. The celebrity host and author Graham Hancock asserts there was a lost ice age civilisation of Atlantis, with advanced technology. But this claim has been thoroughly repudiated by archaeologists.

    Arguably, hoaxes will be much easier to perpetuate using generative AI.
    Beyond the high potential for misinformation about archaeology, the use of generative AI for archaeological visualisations can actually be harmful for archaeological knowledge production.

    My research has shown that crafting reconstructions and illustrations in archaeology is incredibly important for understanding and interpreting the past. Creating visualisations based on science – and indeed soundscapes, smellscapes and other interpretations based on multiple senses – is very helpful for generating new questions.

    Drawing allows archaeologists to create more detailed mental models and therefore a better understanding of archaeological remains. By delegating this creation to AI, archaeologists lose a powerful tool for knowledge generation. Moreover, my collaborative work with artists has demonstrated the intriguing possibilities that creative approaches open up to tell new stories about the past.

    Even with all of these problems, I encourage an engaged, critical, applied approach to understanding the impact of digital technologies on our investigation of the past. And this includes exploring the uses of generative AI for archaeological visualisation.

    Archaeologists and non-specialists are able to leverage generative AI to creatively produce interpretive media. Indeed, some archaeologists are already exploring AI to generate hypotheses about ancient life. And we are teaching critical uses of AI to our archaeology students.

    But what remains imperative is that archaeologists engage with and critique all visualisations – both those created by generative AI and using other media.

    Colleen Morgan 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. How AI imagery could be used to develop fake archaeology – https://theconversation.com/how-ai-imagery-could-be-used-to-develop-fake-archaeology-247838

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Go Back to Where You Came From: Channel 4’s social experiment makes a spectacle of empathy for refugees

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Fiona Murphy, Assistant Professor in Refugee and Intercultural Studies, Dublin City University

    The White Cliffs of Dover have become associated with irregular migration via small boat. DaisyKDesigns/Shutterstock

    The new Channel 4 programme Go Back to Where You Came From is unsettling viewing, almost unbearable at times. It takes six British citizens – some staunchly anti-immigration, others more open – and drops them into lives shaped by conflict and displacement.

    The premise is to cultivate understanding of the refugee experience, to make the unimaginable tangible. But in doing so, the show risks turning forced displacement into spectacle, reducing suffering to an immersive learning experience for those with the privilege of ignorance.

    The show opens with participants offering their views – filmed in their homes or standing at the cliffs of Dover, where one man declares: “What I’d do is, I’d set landmines up, and then any boat that comes within 50m of this beach, they’d get blown up.”

    Then, two teams, two journeys. One is sent to Somalia, the other to Syria.

    In Mogadishu, Nathan, Jess and Matilda navigate a city carved up by checkpoints, escorted by an American security team. Nathan surveys the streets like a man assessing a lost cause: a “shithole”, he mutters. Jess, fiercely anti-immigration, feels exposed – her fear magnified by the weight of unfamiliar eyes, the choreography of a life not her own. She wants to leave.

    At a camp for internally displaced people, women speak of gender-based violence, of female genital mutilation, of lives spent in spaces never built for them. Jess listens, nods and files their words neatly into the folder of convictions she brought with her. She does not question; she confirms. The mindsets of Somalian men, she concludes, are the problem.

    In Raqqa, Bushra, Chloe and Dave pick their way through streets reduced to rubble. Chloe complains about the rubbish, as if it were neglect rather than obliteration. “They should stay and clean it up,” she says. The children sifting through debris do not register. In a bombed-out home, a father speaks of safety, the only thing he wants for his children. The children do not speak.

    The violence of ‘refuge’

    Watching the show, I thought of the conversations I’ve had with asylum seekers and refugees on the island of Ireland as part of my research. Many speak of the quiet violence of exclusion – how “welcome” is so often a hollow gesture, how refuge can feel like another form of exile.

    Many recount racial hatred in the streets, the fear woven into daily movements, the gnawing sense that they are barely tolerated, not wanted. Some have told me, with devastating clarity, that had they known what awaited them here – homelessness, suspicion, a life in bureaucratic limbo – they might never have fled at all. Not because home was safe, but because this isn’t living either.

    These experiences are not anomalies. They are built into the asylum systems in the UK and Ireland, where deterrence is policy. As of mid-2024, 122.6 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide, yet the UK hosts just 1% of them.

    And “hosting” often takes the form of offshore detention, indefinite waiting and policies designed to make seeking refuge as inhospitable as possible. In Ireland, the failure is just as insidious: asylum seekers sleeping rough, vulnerability assessments in name only, the quiet withdrawal of care until people simply disappear from view.




    Read more:
    ‘When you get status the struggle doesn’t end’: what it’s like to be a new refugee in the UK


    After the first episode of the Channel 4 show, I am left wondering: what is the point of each participant’s journey? The documentary trades in empathy – tracking transformation by how much the participants feel, learn and change. But empathy, when it stops at the self, is just another performance. It asks: how have I been altered? Instead of: what must I do with what I now know?

    This is the trap of a genre that packages suffering into something neatly consumable. As film researcher Pooja Rangan argues, humanitarian documentaries often render asylum seekers passive, their worth measured by how much sympathy they can elicit. Go Back to Where You Came From follows this script, focusing not on the agency of the displaced, but on the moral awakenings of those who continue to look away.

    The real question is not whether the participants feel something, but whether feeling will ever translate into action – by them, or by us as viewers. To hold governments to account. To insist that refuge is a right, not a privilege. To refuse the quiet, grinding violence of neglect.

    “Go back to where you came from” is a phrase hurled not just at refugees, but at anyone deemed out of place. The programme inverts it, sending its wielders on a reckoning. But in the end, they return. To safety, to comfort, to homes untouched by war or exile. Or, as one put it, back to the pub.

    And yet, for those seeking refuge, the journey drags on – through border camps, detention centres, doorways, the freezing cold and the bureaucracy of the asylum system – while the world watches, then turns off their televisions.

    Fiona Murphy receives funding from British Academy and the Irish Research Council

    ref. Go Back to Where You Came From: Channel 4’s social experiment makes a spectacle of empathy for refugees – https://theconversation.com/go-back-to-where-you-came-from-channel-4s-social-experiment-makes-a-spectacle-of-empathy-for-refugees-248803

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James and Coalition of 20 Attorneys General Condemn Planned Purge of FBI Agents

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in calling on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to demand further testimony from Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director nominee Kash Patel following reports of a planned purge of thousands of FBI agents and staff involved in investigations and prosecutions related to the January 6, 2021 riots at the Capitol. In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Attorney General James and the coalition expressed grave concern over reports that the Trump administration is planning to fire agents and staff who participated in January 6th investigations at the FBI, eliminating approximately 15% of the FBI workforce. The attorneys general warn that these actions could have dangerous consequences for the rule of law and public safety nationwide.

    “This effort to defund the FBI to fulfill a political vendetta puts the American people at risk. The FBI is critical to keeping Americans safe from violent crime, terrorism, and threats to our democracy,” said Attorney General James. “Any effort to retaliate against career law enforcement officials for doing their jobs is unacceptable and a direct threat to our justice system. Before the Senate votes on Kash Patel’s confirmation, the American people deserve to know whether he plans to carry out a politically motivated purge of FBI agents and staff. Our nation’s safety depends on it.”

    Reports indicate that more than a dozen January 6th prosecutors have already been dismissed and that the administration is considering the removal of at least six more high-ranking FBI officials. Additionally, the acting deputy attorney general has reportedly ordered the FBI to compile a list of all FBI employees who worked on January 6th investigations. If this list is used for its reported intent of firing all agents and staffers involved in the January 6th investigations and prosecutions, it could impact more than 6,000 FBI personnel and severely weaken federal law enforcement efforts across the country, in red and blue states alike.

    At the time of Mr. Patel’s confirmation hearing, reports of the alleged FBI purge had not yet been made public. The attorneys general are urging the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to seek answers from Mr. Patel on these matters before the body votes to confirm his nomination. Senators, as representatives of the American people, should know what Mr. Patel plans to do with the list of FBI agents and staff that is being compiled before they cast their votes.

    The attorneys general argue that purging more than 6,000 FBI agents and staff will have disastrous effects for public safety nationwide and will put communities in danger. FBI employees and staff protect the country from many of the public safety harms that the administration itself has identified as law enforcement priorities, including but not limited to fentanyl, cartels, and foreign terrorist organizations. 

    Members of the FBI’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces assist federal and local law enforcement agencies in stopping cartels from smuggling fentanyl and guns into our communities. These task forces also contributed to the recent convictions of five New York members of La Cosa Nostra. The FBI also runs the Joint Terrorism Task Force across the country, protecting Americans from terrorism and other security threats. The hardworking agents, prosecutors, and staff at the FBI keep Americans safe every day, and mass firings would have a disastrous effect, undoubtedly resulting in countless criminals roaming free.

    Attorney General James and the coalition are calling on Congress to take immediate action to prevent this ridiculous attack on law enforcement and ensure that the FBI remains independent and fully operational. Congress has a responsibility to the nation to keep Americans safe and hold the administration accountable. The attorneys general urge Congress to start by calling Mr. Patel back before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions about the purported FBI purge before voting on his nomination.

    Joining Attorney General James in sending this letter to Chairman Grassley are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

    MIL OSI USA News