NewzIntel.com

Category: Trade

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: GAZA – Oxfam: Humanitarian operations in Gaza severely hampered; famine risks increasing

    Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

    Restoring ceasefire deal vital as death toll hits 50,000 and continues to rise amid Israeli airstrikes, aid and power blockades, and renewed mass forced displacements.
    Oxfam and partners’ operations have been severely hampered as Israel’s renewed military assault and ground offensive on Gaza continues into its 7th day.
    Oxfam is calling for a renewed ceasefire and for Israel to lift its 23-day siege which is again blocking aid supplies and increasing famine risks for desperate civilians. Israel imposed a complete blockade 23 days ago and cut off electricity to Gaza a few days later.
    Israeli authorities are denying entry to trucks loaded with 63,000 metric tons of food for 1.1 million people. Operations have been forced to stop in vital areas such as food security and livelihood, as well as hygiene promotion, and essential repair work to damaged water infrastructure. 
    Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam’s OPT Policy Lead, said: “During the 42-day ceasefire families in Gaza could finally fall asleep knowing their loved ones would still be beside them when they woke up. Even though aid that entered was not enough-far from enough-it was something. The price of food stabilised. Supermarkets reopened. Bakeries began running again. Many people even went to their homes or what was left of it, and tried to repair and rebuild, however little they could.”
    Humanitarian agencies were able to mount operations that saw an average of more than 4,000 trucks per week entering Gaza despite Israeli authorities initially only partially opening the crossings and denying much of the urgently needed reconstruction materials. Oxfam reached almost 200,000 people with essential relief. 
    The Israeli government’s renewed bombardment of residential areas, including Jabalia and Khan Younis, has killed almost 700 people, including at least 200 children since March 18. Israeli authorities have issued new mass forced displacement orders, forcing around 120,000 Palestinians to flee. These orders are causing panic and chaos in the absence of anywhere safe in Gaza.
    Oxfam says humanitarian operations have been gravely hindered by the absence of guarantees of safety for aid workers moving around Gaza.
    Oxfam and its partners say their storage facilities containing food parcels are severely depleted. Israeli authorities have denied access to Oxfam shipments of six desalination units and seven trucks of water and sanitation infrastructure, up to 85% of which has been destroyed by Israel’s bombing campaign.
    “Oxfam, through its partners has been able to initiate emergency water trucking across the Gaza Strip, and are maintaining some other aid programs, such as multi-purpose cash transfers, despite the severe challenges that all humanitarian workers now face around lack of protection,” said Khalidi.
    “For the past 535 days, Israel has been systematically weaponising life-saving aid, inflicting collective punishment upon the population of Gaza. The denial of food, water, fuel and electricity is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Many within the international community are enabling this by their silence, inaction and complicity,” said Khalidi.
    Oxfam’s health partner in Gaza, Juzoor for Health and Social Development, had its center in Jabalia destroyed in an airstrike on March 18. It had been serving over 1,000 patients daily. Dr Umaiyeh Khammash, Director of Juzoor, said: “Every airstrike that hits, threatens the lives and safety of our dedicated staff and the patients they serve. This center is not just a building; it’s the heartbeat of healthcare for countless families here. Without it, many will lose access to crucial medical care.”
    In another attack yesterday (March 23), three sewage operators from the Abasan Al Kabira municipality working with Oxfam’s partner Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) were killed while performing their duties when their clearly- marked truck was destroyed in an attack by Israeli military.
    A renewed ceasefire must be permanent and accompanied by the safe return of Israeli hostages and illegally detained Palestinian prisoners. Israel must provide unfettered aid at scale. Oxfam said governments must stop transferring arms, while the international community must enforce international law. We reiterate our call for justice and accountability for all those affected.  
    Notes:
    • Oxfam works with 19 partner organizations in the Gaza Strip. Between 20 January and 28 February 2025, Oxfam reached a total of 181,622 people across the Gaza Strip with water and sanitation services, including repair and reconstruction, protection, multipurpose cash assistance, distribution of food parcels and essential agricultural inputs for recovery, protection, health care and case management.
    • Since Israel’s breach of the ceasefire and airstrikes on Gaza on 18 March, Oxfam staff movements have been severely restricted in the absence of a notification system. This week, Oxfam’s progammes in Gaza, including those of many partners, have been severely impacted. Oxfam is still able to undertake some water trucking and multipurpose cash distribution, but under high-risk conditions
    • The fatality rate in Gaza is based on the Palestinian Ministry of Health reporting on 24 March (11AM) and the fatality rate of children is reported by UNICEF on 21 March
    • Since 2 March, Israeli authorities have re-imposed a total siege, blockading the entire Gaza Strip. It is banning the entry of any humanitarian basic supplies, including water, food, medical supplies and fuel, as well as banning any commercial supplies to enter Gaza.
    • On 10 March, Israeli authorities cut off electricity supply to the only operational large-scale desalination plant for drinking water. With the exception of that last remaining, intermittent electricity feed to the desalination plant, Gaza has been under an electricity blackout since 11 October 2023.
    • The current siege is one week longer than in 2023, when the Israeli authorities imposed a total siege that lasted from 7-21 October 2023.
    • According to the IPC Special Snapshot – September 2024 – April 2025, the risk of Famine between November 2024 and April 2025 persists as long as conflict continues, and humanitarian access is restricted
    • According to the Palestinian Water Authority, 85% of the water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza is destroyed as a result of Israel’s bombing campaign.
    • The UN reported that during the 42-day ceasefire period, a total of 4,000 trucks per week travelled into Gaza, 600,000 people received polio vaccinations and maternity care was provided for 5,000 births.
    • Satellite images of the Gaza displacement orders, on 18 March, covers an area amounting to 37% of Gaza’s land and double the size of the original buffer zone. This has been reported by Sky News and the figures have been confirmed by the UN. The UN reported on 21 March that more than 120,000 people had fled since the evacuation orders were issued on 18 March.
    • Denial of Aid – breaches Customary IHL Rule 55; 1977 Additional Protocol II Arts 69-71 and 81; Fourth Geneva Convention 1949, Arts 23,55-63 and 108-111; Rome Statute ICC, Crime Against Humanity of Extermination, Art 7 1(b) “Extermination” includes the intentional infliction of conditions of life, inter alia the deprivation of access to food and medicine, calculated to bring about the destruction of part of a population. OCHA / WFP food insecurity data,  released every tuesday (18 Mar 2025): Most recent OCHA sitrep (18 Mar 2025):
    • Between 10 and 20 per cent of 4,500 surveyed pregnant and breastfeeding women are malnourished, a recent analysis by the Nutrition Cluster reveals.
    • To cope with shortages, the Food Security Sector (FSS) partners are drastically reducing food assistance to families, suspending flour distribution to families to prioritize supplies for bakeries, pausing the distribution of fresh produce, and scaling down hot meal preparations at some community kitchens.
    • FSS warns that over one million people risk being left without food parcels in March, and at least 80 of the 170 community kitchens may be forced to close in one to two weeks, if supplies, including cooking fuel, are not allowed into Gaza. The FSS estimates that more than 50,000 metric tons (MT) of food supplies are required monthly to assist everyone with full rations, in addition to 9,700 MT of flour needed monthly to keep the subsidized bakeries running.
    • Since the ceasefire took effect on 19 January, and as of 15 March, 4,646 children have enrolled in malnutrition treatment programmes, 672 of whom were diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.
    • The Nutrition Cluster notes a decrease in monthly enrolments in such programmes from about 5,000 in the month prior to the ceasefire to a monthly average of 2,500 in Phase One of the ceasefire.
    • Nutrition Cluster partners observed a rising number of pregnant and breastfeeding women becoming malnourished – between 10 and 20 per cent,
    • 11 March inter-agency mission to eastern Khan Younis found that agricultural facilities had been largely destroyed, including 1,400 dunums of open land,150 greenhouses, 90 poultry farms, and dozens of livestock and dairy cattle farms. The remaining cultivated land did not exceed 70-80 dunums.
    • Market survey carried out by WFP covering key developments during the first half of March (14th Mar published):
    • WFP currently has sufficient food stocks to support active kitchens and bakeries for up to one month, as well as ready-to-eat food parcels to support 550,000 people for two weeks.
    • WFP has approximately 63,000 metric tons of food destined for Gaza, stored or in transit in the region. This is equivalent to two to three months of distributions for 1.1 million people, pending authorization to enter Gaza.
    • Traders have begun withholding goods due to uncertainty over when new supplies will arrive.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump announces new 25 pct auto tariffs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced plans to impose 25 percent auto tariffs — on top of previous duties — on April 2.

    “What we’re going to be doing is a 25 percent tariff for all cars that are not made in the United States,” Trump said in the White House Oval Office.

    “We’re signing today. It goes into effect on April 2. We start collecting on April 3,” Trump told reporters.

    According to a document released by the White House, Trump signed a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts to address “a critical threat to U.S. national security.”

    “The 25 percent tariff will be applied to imported passenger vehicles (sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans) and light trucks, as well as key automobile parts (engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components), with processes to expand tariffs on additional parts if necessary,” the White House said.

    It also noted that importers of automobiles under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be given the opportunity to certify their U.S. content, and the 25 percent tariff will only apply to the parts that are not made in the United States.

    The current U.S. tariff on automobiles is generally set at 2.5 percent, while a 25 percent tariff is imposed on light trucks. Vehicles that meet the rules of origin under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are exempt from these tariffs. According to the latest announcement, the 25 percent tariff will be added on top of existing duties.

    Trump claimed that the tariffs would encourage more production to relocate to the United States, generate new revenue for the government, and help reduce the national debt. However, economists believe the tariffs will drive up car prices and hurt consumers, who are already facing high prices.

    “This is a major blow to the auto industry. Ford and GM shares are down sharply,” Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told Xinhua.

    “The higher cost of autos cut demand, especially since consumers are in weak shape financially,” Hufbauer said. “I expect substantial job losses in U.S. auto and parts firms.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Secures Commitment from EPA Nominee to Help Combat Tijuana River Pollution Crisis

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla Secures Commitment from EPA Nominee to Help Combat Tijuana River Pollution Crisis

    WATCH: Padilla highlights importance of federal infrastructure investments to address cross-border sewage flowsWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) secured a commitment from Jessica Kramer, nominee for Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to help address the ongoing Tijuana River transboundary pollution crisis and its harmful environmental and public health impacts.
    During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee nominations hearing, Padilla highlighted the hundreds of millions in federal funding he secured along with the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and the San Diego Congressional delegation to expand and upgrade the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) to address harmful sewage flows. Kramer echoed Senator Padilla’s characterization of these transboundary pollution flows as a “crisis” and emphasized the importance of federal infrastructure investments to combat the crisis. Padilla and Kramer agreed that collaboration and communication, with both Mexico and federal partners like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State Department, is essential to address these harmful cross-border flows.
    The hearing comes after Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Representatives Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50) and Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52) recently invited EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to visit San Diego’s South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBITWP) to see firsthand the ongoing environmental and public health consequences of the cross-border Tijuana River sewage crisis on local communities. Administrator Zeldin also recently expressed concern about the flow of sewage flowing across the border, posting about a briefing he received on the crisis and pushing Mexico to “honor its commitments to control this pollution and sewage.”
    PADILLA: I want to begin by expressing my appreciation for EPA Administrator Zeldin’s interest in one of my top EPA priorities, which is finally resolving the Tijuana River sewage crisis. For decades, communities in that part of Southern California have faced persistent both environmental as well as public health impacts of untreated sewage that has flowed across the border. … We recently invited Administrator Zeldin to tour the plant to see firsthand the challenges that we face. So I’d like to just begin by asking you, Ms. Kramer, how familiar you are with this issue, with the projects because assuming you are confirmed, I’d look forward to working with you to bring this project to completion.
    KRAMER: Absolutely. Thank you, Senator, for that question. During my first tenure at EPA under the first Trump Administration, this is, in fact, one of the issues that I worked on. And so EPA had been appropriated that first amount of funding that you referenced, and I was involved in the consideration of the various projects that could be funded to ensure that this transboundary flow crisis — to be completely frank, raw sewage flowing anywhere, in my mind, is a crisis — comes to an end. … I think the challenges that we’re seeing there, one, stems to ensuring that the infrastructure that is in place to ensure that these flows cease, but also two, ensuring that there is communication, robust communication that allows for partnership that is required to ensure that operation and maintenance of those infrastructure investments takes place. And it’s especially easy when it’s in the U.S., and it’s a little bit more challenging when we have infrastructure on the other side of the border that we need to be collaborating on.
    PADILLA: Well, that’s music to my ears, your familiarity with it, your history with it, your commitment to it as a priority. And yes, collaboration is key, not just with partners south of the border, but even within the federal government. We’ve brought to bear U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the intricacies of the State Department involvement here. So thank you for that.
    KRAMER: Absolutely.
    Senator Padilla also questioned Brian Nesvik, nominee to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service at the Department of the Interior, highlighting the complexities of California’s water system and threats to the state’s water security and quality in the face of climate change. He urged Nesvik to roll up his sleeves on California water challenges and encouraged him to listen to career professionals at the Fish and Wildlife Service and experts within California’s state agencies to navigate complex water and wildlife issues.
    Video of Padilla’s full line of questioning is available here.
    Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons of toxic sewage, trash, and unmanaged stormwater have flowed across the United States-Mexico border into the Tijuana River Valley and neighboring communities, forcing long-lasting beach closures and causing harmful impacts on public health, the environment, and water quality. U.S. military personnel, border patrol agents, and the local economy have also suffered harmful impacts from airborne and waterborne transboundary sewage flows. In 2023, sewage flowed across the border at the highest volume in a quarter century, exceeding 44 billion gallons.
    Senator Padilla has prioritized addressing the Tijuana River pollution crisis since he first came to the Senate, recently working with the San Diego Congressional delegation to secure $250 million in the federal disaster relief package to clean up the Tijuana River. This marked the final tranche of funding required to complete the SBIWTP upgrade project. The SBIWTP project broke ground in October 2024, and over the coming years, the SBIWTP will double in capacity, reducing transboundary flows by 90 percent. Importantly, Mexico’s rehabilitated San Antonio de los Buenos wastewater treatment plant is expected to be fully operational by Spring 2025, further reducing flows to California communities. 
    In response to a request from Padilla and the San Diego Congressional delegation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently opened an investigation into the public health impacts of air pollution caused by the ongoing Tijuana River transboundary pollution crisis. Senator Padilla and the delegation also recently secured a $200 million authorization for the Tijuana River Valley Watershed and San Diego County through the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 to help address the ongoing transboundary sewage crisis through stormwater conveyance, environmental and ecosystem restoration, and water quality protection projects. They also delivered over $103 million in additional funding for the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) in the bipartisan FY 2024 appropriations package. Padilla previously successfully secured language in the FY 2023 appropriations package to allow the EPA to unlock $300 million previously secured in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to the IBWC for water infrastructure projects. Last year, Padilla and Representatives Peters and Vargas announced bicameral legislation to help combat the Tijuana River sewage pollution crisis.
    More information on the hearing is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Pushes Back on Attempts to Use AI to Raise Prices

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew Ferguson expressing concern over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by corporations to target individuals with different prices for the same products through surveillance pricing. Senator Rosen urged Chair Ferguson to reverse his decision to close a public comment window early so the FTC can fully understand how large retailers are using technology to hurt consumers’ budgets.
    “I write to express my concern with your recent decision to close the public comment window two months early on the FTC’s Request for Information regarding retailers’ use of such surveillance pricing,” wrote Senator Rosen. “I urge you to reopen this public comment period, as it is important for the agency to fully understand how surveillance pricing is potentially driving up costs for consumers.”
    “Recent improvements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the accumulation of specific consumer data like geographic location and demographic information are allowing large corporate retailers to raise prices artificially, inconsistently, and unfairly,” she continued. “With Nevadans already experiencing some of the
    highest grocery prices in the United States, consumers’ ability to compare costs across stores and find the lowest price is important for putting food on the table.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been pushing back on the Trump Administration’s actions that raise prices for hardworking Nevadans. Last month, she took to the Senate floor to call out the Trump Administration for its lack of actions to lower grocery prices and address the egg shortage. Senator Rosen has also been urging her colleagues to reject Congressional Republicans’ legislative plans to increase the cost of living for Americans. Additionally, she sent a letter urging the Trump Administration to reverse course on imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico to prevent housing prices from rising even further. Earlier this month, Senator Rosen strongly criticized President Trump for resuming the implementation of his across-the-board tariffs on imported goods from Mexico and Canada.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Delegation Hails AIDEA’s Coastal Plain Court Victory

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    03.26.25
    Washington, DC— U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Representative Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today issued the following statements after the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska ruled that the Biden administration illegally canceled seven leases in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain of ANWR in 2023. The leases were bid on, won, and held by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), which filed the successful court challenge. 
    “As we wrote the Coastal Plain program in 2017, we adopted a legal framework substantially similar to the one in place for the NPR-A. After the first Trump administration developed a good program and AIDEA secured seven leases, the Biden administration spent four years attempting to turn the program on its head. From their initial pause and then the cancelation of these leases, to the arbitrary closure of 74 percent of the program area and a lease sale that was designed to fail, I can’t think of a single lawful thing the last administration did on the Coastal Plain,” Senator Murkowski said. “While we lost years of development to their willful intransigence, this decision is an important step to getting things back on track. I appreciate Judge Gleason’s clear-eyed reading of the law we wrote and congratulate AIDEA on their victory. I hope their leases are immediately reinstated and thank them for persevering in their effort to help develop our state’s abundant resources for the benefit of all Alaskans.” 
    “I’ve said for years that not only were President Biden’s 70 executive orders and actions shutting down Alaska harmful to our state and working families, but many of them were also illegal,” said Senator Dan Sullivan. “The District Court ruled yesterday that the administration’s cancellation of ANWR leases was a ‘serious’ error that violated ‘congressionally mandated procedures.’ That is an important rebuke, but I don’t believe that this was an honest mistake. President Biden’s lawyers likely knew this cancellation was illegal, but they did it anyway in order to have a chilling impact on future Coastal Plain lease sales and to kill hundreds, if not thousands of jobs for Alaskans. But it is a new day for our state. We now have an administration that is committed to unleashing our extraordinary resources, growing our economy and creating good-paying jobs for hardworking Alaskans.”  
    “The Biden Administration’s illegal cancellation of leases in ANWR was a reckless act of overreach that hurt Alaska families and threatened America’s path to energy security,” said Congressman Begich. “The law could not be more clear: the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed by Congress in 2017 and signed into law by President Trump mandates the responsible development of ANWR. This ruling brings us one step closer to restoring the promise of ANWR and putting Alaska back on the map as a cornerstone of America’s energy dominance.”
    In September 2023, the Department of the Interior canceled all seven of AIDEA’s leases on the Coastal Plain. AIDEA sued the Department the following month. In her opinion finding for AIDEA, U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason wrote that, “Federal Defendants’ cancellation of AIDEA’s leases was not in accordance with law because it failed to seek a court order…The Court finds that vacatur is appropriate. DOI’s error is serious: DOI cancelled AIDEA’s leases without following the congressionally-mandated procedure for doing so… DOI’s Lease Cancellation Decision of AIDEA’s ANWR leases is VACATED.”
    Judge Gleason has sent the matter back to the Department of the Interior for further action.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier holds video talks with US trade representative

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    He Lifeng, Chinese vice premier and Chinese lead for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs on Wednesday held video talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at the request of the U.S. side.

    The two sides exchanged candid, in-depth views on important bilateral economic and trade issues, following up on the consensus reached during a phone call between their two heads of state on Jan. 17, 2025.

    He expressed grave concern over the United States’ additional tariffs on Chinese goods over the issue of fentanyl, the Section 301 investigation and the proposed “reciprocal” tariffs.

    He said China hopes the U.S. side will soon return to resolving shared concerns through equal consultation.

    Greer said candid talks are important as they can boost mutual understanding and help resolve emerging issues.

    Both sides expressed belief that maintaining a stable bilateral economic and trade relationship serves the interests of both countries, and agreed to continue communication on issues of concern. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia may no longer be a ‘deputy sheriff’, but its reliance on the US has only grown deeper since 2000

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Andrews, Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement, Australian National University

    The year 2000 marked an inflection point for many Western countries, including Australia, in their outlook towards the world.

    The focus began to shift away from the peacekeeping interventions that had dominated the previous decade to one shaped by counter-terrorism operations and deployments to the Middle East.

    The threat of terrorism hasn’t gone away. But Australia is much more preoccupied by threats of a different nature 25 years later, largely emanating from China. These include cyber attacks, economic coercion, political interference, and the harassment of Australian Defence Force (ADF) ships, aircraft and personnel.

    Though our international outlook has changed a lot over the past quarter century, Australia’s alliance with the US has remained a constant throughout.

    However, as our militaries have grown closer, the US-China competition has also intensified. Combined with the array of unpredictable and destabilising decisions coming from the second Trump administration, this closeness has caused some unease in Australia.

    Evolving threats and challenges

    In December 2000, the Howard government released its first Defence White Paper. This marked the beginning of a period of major change in Australia’s international outlook and presence.

    It emphasised that “two interrelated trends seem likely to shape our strategic environment most strongly – globalisation and US strategic primacy”. It also noted that “military operations other than conventional war [were] becoming more common.”

    The paper was prescient in respect to China’s rise, as well. It said:

    The United States is central to the Asia-Pacific security system […] It will be in Asia that the United States is likely to face the toughest issues in shaping its future strategic role – especially in its relationship with China.

    There is a small but still significant possibility of growing and sustained confrontation between the major powers in Asia, and even of outright conflict. Australia’s interests could be deeply engaged in such a conflict, especially if it involved the United States.

    Yet, nine months after that document’s release, the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001, followed by the Bali bombings of 2002, began to dramatically reshape the global security outlook.

    A few days after the September 11 attack, Howard invoked the ANZUS Treaty for the first and only time, joinging US President George W. Bush’s “war on terror”. Australian forces then deployed to Afghanistan as part of the US-led invasion in October 2001.

    By the time the 2003 Foreign Policy White Paper was released, it highlighted “terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regional disorder and transnational crimes such as people smuggling” as the key features of Australia’s “more complex security environment”.

    A month later, Australia joined the US-led “coalition of the willing” to invade Iraq to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein and locate and destroy stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction believed to be there. (It later emerged that evidence of the existence of these weapons was erroneous.)

    Australia contributed 2,000 troops to the mission. Our soldiers remained actively engaged in training, reconstruction and rehabilitation work in Iraq until July 2009.

    Both of these events tied Australia’s foreign policy interests to the US to a greater degree than any time since the Vietnam War.

    Although the relationship with the US had been critical to Australian defence and foreign policy for decades, it had become less prominent in Australia’s strategic planning in the years following the end of the Cold War.

    US support – and diplomatic pressure on Indonesia – had been vital in securing the post-referendum presence of Australian peacekeepers in East Timor in 1999. However, it was the “war on terror” that really re-centred the relationship as core to Australian foreign policy.

    In fact, Australia was even referred to as the US’ “deputy sheriff” in the Asia-Pacific – a nickname used by Bush in 2003 that caused some unease at home and in the region.

    This image has since gone on to have significant staying power, and it’s proved difficult for Australia to dislodge.

    History repeating?

    Though the accusations of war crimes levelled against Australian special forces in Afghanistan continue to reverberate, our foreign policy focus has shifted firmly back to our own region.

    This change was driven in large part by the perceived threat posed by a rising China. While the need to focus more on China was acknowledged as early as the 2009 Defence White Paper, this emphasis became most pronounced under Scott Morrison’s leadership.

    The 2024 National Defence Strategy portrayed Australia as facing “its most challenging strategic environment since the Second World War”.

    It advocated for a significant change in the ADF’s strategic objectives and structure, noting the optimism of the 1990s had been “replaced by the uncertainty and tensions of entrenched and increasing strategic competition between the US and China”.

    Today, the military ties between the US and Australia are arguably as close as they have ever been.

    The ADF operates top-tier US platforms like the F-35 combat aircraft, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, M1 Abrams tanks, and AH-64 Apache helicopters. Defence Minister Richard Marles has gone so far as to say the ADF should not only interoperable with the US, but interchangeable.

    If all goes to plan, Australia will also build and operate its own fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership in the coming decades.

    At the same time, US President Donald Trump’s “America First” positioning has made the US’ closest allies nervous.

    His early moves have put paid to the notion that globalisation is the goal all major states are pursuing. In fact, some argue that deglobalisation may be taking hold as the US aggressively enacts tariffs against its allies, pursues economic onshoring and withdraws from key international bodies.

    These actions have led to many to question whether Australia has become too dependent on its major ally and if we need to emphasise a more self-reliant defence posture. However, this is much easier said than done.

    Looking back, the year 2000 represented the beginning of a period of major change for Australian foreign policy. Such is the pace of change now, we may view 2025 in the same light in another quarter century.

    Whether Australia’s alliance with the US will face long-term harm is yet to be seen. No matter how the bilateral relationship may change, the Indo-Pacific region will continue to be at the core of Australia’s foreign policy outlook, much as it was at the turn of the century.

    This piece is part of a series on how Australia has changed since the year 2000. You can read other pieces in the series here.

    David Andrews has not personally received funding from any relevant external bodies, but he has previously worked on projects funded by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Home Affairs, and Defence. David is a member of the Australian Labor Party and Australian Institute of International Affairs, and previously worked for the Department of Defence.

    – ref. Australia may no longer be a ‘deputy sheriff’, but its reliance on the US has only grown deeper since 2000 – https://theconversation.com/australia-may-no-longer-be-a-deputy-sheriff-but-its-reliance-on-the-us-has-only-grown-deeper-since-2000-252501

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier holds video talks with U.S. trade representative

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

    Chinese vice premier holds video talks with U.S. trade representative

    BEIJING, March 26 — He Lifeng, Chinese vice premier and Chinese lead for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs on Wednesday held video talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at the request of the U.S. side.

    The two sides exchanged candid, in-depth views on important bilateral economic and trade issues, following up on the consensus reached during a phone call between their two heads of state on Jan. 17, 2025.

    He expressed grave concern over the United States’ additional tariffs on Chinese goods over the issue of fentanyl, the Section 301 investigation and the proposed “reciprocal” tariffs.

    He said China hopes the U.S. side will soon return to resolving shared concerns through equal consultation.

    Greer said candid talks are important as they can boost mutual understanding and help resolve emerging issues.

    Both sides expressed belief that maintaining a stable bilateral economic and trade relationship serves the interests of both countries, and agreed to continue communication on issues of concern.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Adjusts Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts into the United States

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    COUNTERING TRADE PRACTICES THAT THREATEN TO IMPAIR U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose a 25% tariff on imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts, addressing a critical threat to U.S. national security.
    President Trump is taking action to protect America’s automobile industry, which is vital to national security and has been undermined by excessive imports threatening America’s domestic industrial base and supply chains.
    The 25% tariff will be applied to imported passenger vehicles (sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans) and light trucks, as well as key automobile parts (engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components), with processes to expand tariffs on additional parts if necessary.
    Importers of automobiles under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be given the opportunity to certify their U.S. content and systems will be implemented such that the 25% tariff will only apply to the value of their non-U.S. content.
    USMCA-compliant automobile parts will remain tariff-free until the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), establishes a process to apply tariffs to their non-U.S. content.

    The President is exercising his authority under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to adjust imports to protect our national security.
    This statute provides the President with authority to adjust imports being brought into the United States in quantities or under circumstances that threaten to impair national security.

    MAINTAINING A RESILIENT DOMESTIC INDUSTRIAL BASE: President Trump is taking action to end unfair trade practices that jeopardize U.S. national security.
    The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities and choke points in global supply chains, undermining our ability to maintain a resilient domestic industrial base.
    Legislation, pre-existing trade agreements like the USMCA, revisions to the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, and subsequent negotiations have not sufficiently mitigated the threat to national security posed by imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts.
    These new tariffs aim to ensure the U.S. can sustain its domestic industrial base and meet national security needs. 
    STRENGTHENING AMERICA’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY: President Trump’s decision to implement tariffs on imports of automobiles and automobile parts will protect and strengthen the U.S. automotive sector.
    Foreign automobile industries, bolstered by unfair subsidies and aggressive industrial policies, have expanded, while U.S. production has stagnated.
    In 1985, American-owned facilities in the United States manufactured 11.0 million automobiles, representing 97% of overall domestic (American- and foreign-owned) production of automobiles.
    In 2024, Americans bought approximately 16 million cars, SUVs, and light trucks, and 50% of these vehicles were imports (8 million).
    Of the other 8 million vehicles assembled in America and not imported, the average domestic content is conservatively estimated at only 50% and is likely closer to 40%.
    Therefore, of the 16 million cars bought by Americans, only 25% of the vehicle content can be categorized as Made in America.

    The United States trade deficit in automobile parts reached $93.5 billion in 2024.
    Currently, the U.S. automobile and automobile parts industry (American-owned and foreign-owned firms) employs approximately one million U.S. workers.
    Employment in automotive parts manufacturing totaled approximately 553,300 jobs in 2024, a decline of 286,000 jobs or 34% since 2000.
    In 2023, Research and Development (R&D) by American-owned automobile manufacturers amounted to only 16% of global R&D spending. R&D by American-owned firms lagged behind the EU, which controlled 53% of global R&D.
    TARIFFS WORK: Studies have repeatedly shown that tariffs can be an effective tool for reducing or eliminating threats to impair U.S. national security and achieving economic and strategic objectives.
    A 2024 study on the effects of President Trump’s tariffs in his first term found that they “strengthened the U.S. economy” and “led to significant reshoring” in industries like manufacturing and steel production.
    A 2023 report by the U.S. International Trade Commission that analyzed the effects of Section 232 and 301 tariffs on more than $300 billion of U.S. imports found that the tariffs reduced imports from China and effectively stimulated more U.S. production of the tariffed goods, with very minor effects on prices.
    According to the Economic Policy Institute, the tariffs implemented by President Trump during his first term “clearly show[ed] no correlation with inflation” and only had a temporary effect on overall price levels.
    An analysis from the Atlantic Council found that “tariffs would create new incentives for US consumers to buy US-made products.”
    Former Biden Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen affirmed last year that tariffs do not raise prices: “I don’t believe that American consumers will see any meaningful increase in the prices that they face.”
    A 2024 economic analysis found that a global tariff of 10% would grow the economy by $728 billion, create 2.8 million jobs, and increase real household incomes by 5.7%.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Autombile Parts Into the United States

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
    A PROCLAMATION
    1.  On February 17, 2019, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to me a report on his investigation into the effects of imports of passenger vehicles (sedans, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles, minivans, and cargo vans) and light trucks (collectively, automobiles) and certain automobile parts (engines and engine parts, transmissions and powertrain parts, and electrical components) (collectively, automobile parts) on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862) (section 232).  Based on the facts considered in that investigation, the Secretary found and advised me of his opinion that automobiles and certain automobile parts are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States. 
    2.  In Proclamation 9888 of May 17, 2019 (Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States), I concurred with the Secretary’s finding in the February 17, 2019, report that automobiles and certain automobile parts are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.  I also directed the United States Trade Representative (Trade Representative), in consultation with other executive branch officials, to pursue negotiation of agreements to address the threatened impairment of the national security of the United States with respect to imported automobiles and certain automobile parts from the European Union, Japan, and any other country the Trade Representative deems appropriate.
    3.  The Trade Representative’s negotiations did not lead to any agreements of the type contemplated by section 232.
    4.  In Proclamation 9888, I also directed the Secretary to monitor imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts and inform me of any circumstances that, in the Secretary’s opinion, might indicate the need for further action under section 232 with respect to such imports.
    5. The Secretary has informed me that, since the February 17, 2019, report, the national security concerns remain and have escalated.  The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities and choke points in global supply chains, undermining our ability to maintain a resilient domestic industrial base.  In recent years, American-owned automotive manufacturers have experienced numerous supply chain challenges, including material and parts input shortages, labor shortages and strikes, and electrical-component shortages.  Meanwhile, foreign automotive industries, propelled by unfair subsidies and aggressive industrial policies, have grown substantially.  Today, only about half of the vehicles sold in the United States are manufactured domestically, a decline that jeopardizes our domestic industrial base and national security, and the United States’ share of worldwide automobile production has remained stagnant since the February 17, 2019, report.  The number of employees in the domestic automotive industry has also not improved since the February 17, 2019, report. 
    6.  I am also advised that agreements entered into before the issuance of Proclamation 9888, such as the revisions to the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), have not yielded sufficient positive outcomes.  The threat to national security posed by imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts remains and has increased.  Investments resulting from other efforts, such as legislation, have also not yielded sufficient positive outcomes to eliminate the threat to national security from such imports.
    7.  After considering the current information newly provided by the Secretary, among other things, I find that imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts continue to threaten to impair the national security of the United States and deem it necessary and appropriate to impose tariffs, as defined below, to adjust imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts so that such imports will not threaten to impair national security.
    8.  To ensure that the imposition of tariffs on automobiles and certain automobile parts in this proclamation are not circumvented and that the purpose of this action to eliminate the threat to the national security of the United States by imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts is not undermined, I also deem it necessary and appropriate to establish processes to identify and impose tariffs on additional automobile parts, as further described below.
    9.  Section 232 provides that, in this situation, the President shall take such other actions as the President deems necessary to adjust the imports of the relevant article so that such imports will not threaten to impair national security.  
    10.  Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code; section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended; and section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, do hereby proclaim as follows:(1)  Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, all imports of articles specified in Annex I to this proclamation or in any subsequent annex to this proclamation, as set out in a subsequent notice in the Federal Register, shall be subject to a 25 percent tariff with respect to goods entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 3, 2025, for automobiles, and on the date specified in the Federal Register for automobile parts, but no later than May 3, 2025, and shall continue in effect, unless such actions are expressly reduced, modified, or terminated.  The above ad valorem tariff is in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported automobiles and certain automobile parts articles.(2)  For automobiles that qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the USMCA, importers of such automobiles may submit documentation to the Secretary identifying the amount of U.S. content in each model imported into the United States.  “U.S. content” refers to the value of the automobile attributable to parts wholly obtained, produced entirely, or substantially transformed in the United States.  Thereafter, the Secretary may approve imports of such automobiles to be eligible to apply the ad valorem tariff of 25 percent in clause (1) of this proclamation exclusively to the value of the non-U.S. content of the automobile.  The non-U.S. content of the automobile shall be calculated by subtracting the value of the U.S. content in an automobile from the total value of the automobile.(3)  If U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determines that the declared value of non-U.S. content of an automobile, as described in clause (2) of this proclamation, is inaccurate due to an overstatement of U.S. content, the 25 percent tariff shall apply to the full value of the automobile, regardless of the actual U.S. content of the automobile.  In addition, the 25 percent tariff shall be applied retroactively (from April 3, 2025, to the date of the inaccurate overstatement) and prospectively (from the date of the inaccurate overstatement to the date the importer corrects the overstatement, as verified by CBP) to the full value of all automobiles of the same model imported by the same importer.  This clause does not apply to or otherwise affect any other applicable fees or penalties.(4)  The ad valorem tariff of 25 percent described in clause (1) of this proclamation shall not apply to automobile parts that qualify for preferential treatment under the USMCA until such time that the Secretary, in consultation with CBP, establishes a process to apply the tariff exclusively to the value of the non-U.S. content of such automobile parts and publishes notice in the Federal Register.(5)  For avoidance of doubt, clause (4) of this proclamation does not apply to automobile knock-down kits or parts compilations.  Clause (4) of this proclamation applies only to individual automobile parts as defined by Annex I to this proclamation that otherwise meet the requirements of clause (4) of this proclamation.(6)  The Secretary, in consultation with the United States International Trade Commission and CBP, shall determine the modifications necessary to the HTSUS to effectuate this proclamation and shall make such modifications to the HTSUS through notice in the Federal Register.  (7)  Within 90 days of the date of this proclamation, the Secretary shall establish a process for including additional automobile parts articles within the scope of the tariffs described in clause (1) of this proclamation. In addition to inclusions made by the Secretary, this process shall provide for including additional automobile parts articles at the request of a domestic producer of an automobile or automobile parts article, or an industry association representing one or more such producers, where the request establishes that imports of additional automobile parts articles have increased in a manner that threatens to impair the national security or otherwise undermines the objectives set forth in any proclamation issued on the basis of the Secretary’s February 17, 2019, report or any additional information submitted to the President under clause (3) of Proclamation 9888 or clause (9) of this proclamation. When the Secretary receives such a request from a domestic producer or industry association, the Secretary, after consultation with the United States International Trade Commission and CBP, shall issue a determination regarding whether to include the articles within 60 days of receiving the request.  Any additional automobile parts articles that the Secretary has determined to be included within the scope of the tariffs described in clause (1) of this proclamation shall be so included on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time the day after a notice in the Federal Register describing the determination of the Secretary.  The notice in the Federal Register shall be made as soon as practicable but no later than 14 days after the Secretary’s determination.(8) Any automobile or automobile part, except those eligible for admission under “domestic status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.43, that is subject to the duty imposed by this proclamation and that is admitted into a United States foreign trade zone on or after the effective date of this proclamation, in accordance with clause (1) of this proclamation, must be admitted as “privileged foreign status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, and will be subject upon entry for consumption to any ad valorem rates of duty related to the classification under the applicable HTSUS subheading.(9)  The Secretary shall continue to monitor imports of automobiles and automobile parts.  The Secretary also shall, from time to time, in consultation with any senior executive branch officials the Secretary deems appropriate, review the status of such imports with respect to national security.  The Secretary shall inform the President of any circumstances that, in the Secretary’s opinion, might indicate the need for further action by the President under section 232.  The Secretary shall also inform the President of any circumstance that, in the Secretary’s opinion, might indicate that the increase in duty rate provided for in this proclamation is no longer necessary.(10)  No drawback shall be available with respect to the duties imposed pursuant to this proclamation.(11)  The Secretary may issue regulations and guidance consistent with this proclamation, including to address operational necessity.(12)  CBP may take any necessary or appropriate measures to administer the tariffs imposed by this proclamation.(13)  Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Speech: Navigating the New World (Dis)order in Turbulent Times

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    Special thanks to Diplosphere for helping organise this event.

    Tena kotou katoa.

    Mexican poet Homero Aridjis wrote “There are centuries in which nothing happens and years in which centuries pass”. It sure feels like this now.

    Large swathes of the 80-year-old rules-based world order developed after World War 2 are in tatters.

    The dramatic withdrawal of the United States of America from the Paris agreement, the World Health Organisation, and the halting of most USAID programmes are, to say the least, significant. The ineffective and stalled OECD work on the minimum taxation of multinational corporations. The whirl wind of tariffs and counter tariffs, which change almost daily.

    The war of words between neighbours in North America is unprecedented.

    The speed of the recent withdrawal of US support for institutions the US was itself pivotal in creating has shocked many.

    Europe, already reeling from the war in Ukraine and wider instability, is now deeply unsettled by recent statements and positions from the new USA administration.

    The withdrawal of the US security guarantee changed not just Europe but geopolitics everywhere including Asia and the Pacific.

    Tectonic shifts are rocking the world, which is markedly different from a decade ago.

    Multilateral institutions have diminished in authority and effect. The slide of the United Nations, and other important institutions like the World Trade Organisation, is obvious.

    The overuse of the UN Security council veto and inconsistent application of international law has undermined the United Nations. UN ineffectiveness feeds a cynicism and emboldens disregard for international laws, treaties and institutions. The UN Secretary General was declared persona non grata in Israel.

    Many countries we identify with – like Canadian and European democracies – which relied on security alliances with one great power are obviously rethinking their strategy.

    In stark contrast, the New Zealand government has spent the last 18 months seeking closer alignment to the US, increasingly positioning New Zealand as being in opposition to China. We did not consider this a wise approach, but in any case the shifting global landscape has rendered it unsound.

    The world is in a transition to a multipolar world, with heightened rivalry between the great powers.  

    We could be in for a rough ride. What would what a Labour government do if we held the reins?

    How should New Zealand navigate the new order?

    When should we speak out?

    When should we stay silent so as not to provoke a response?

    I’ll set out my thoughts on New Zealand’s foreign affairs, trade and defence responses. How Labour would steer New Zealand’s independent foreign policy efforts, both transactionally and more holistically.

    You will have seen that we share common views with the government about the likes of the Cook Islands, the militarisation of the Pacific, and on Ukraine, but that we differ strongly on AUKUS and Gaza.

    This should not surprise given Labour’s record, which we are proud to stand by.

    The Labour-led government stayed out of the illegal invasion of Iraq after the UN inspector Hans Blix found no evidence of weapons of mass destruction. National  said New Zealand should have joined that war, which made the Middle East less secure, and undermined the rules-based order.

    An earlier Labour government established New Zealand’s nuclear free status, which National also opposed.

    Labour sent peacekeeping and reconstruction forces to Timor-Leste and Afghanistan. We provided money for arms to Ukraine via the NATO fund, humanitarian aid, air transport in Europe, and New Zealand personnel to help train Ukrainian soldiers in the UK.

    These are examples of the New Zealand Labour Party in government applying our independent foreign policy, making decisions according to our assessment of New Zealand’s long-term national interest.

    New Zealand is not non-aligned and works most closely with like-minded countries which share our values.

    Australia is by far our most important relationship.

    We are internationalists, not isolationists, and a reliable supporter of international institutions.

    We understand communication between nations on sensitive issues benefits from diplomacy, whether via the United Nations, other multilateral fora, or bilaterally.

    We must be able to talk about differences between our country and others. Hegemony is taken too far if we cannot.

    Not all statements can be in public, but some should be.

    Sometimes, as now, there is a desire not to offend for fear of retaliation. At times of sensitivity, the wisdom of former Prime Ministers on both sides of the Tasman can be helpful. They can say what needs to be said.

    Paul Keating is well known for his pithy comments. He recently described the fairer  attributes of Australian society compared with US societal settings. He listed cradle to the grave healthcare for everyone, sustainable retirement savings and superannuation, an Australian economy which delivers substantial income increases for working people, high rates of Australian participation in education, and effective gun control.

    Keating’s purpose was to emphasise that we shouldn’t be subservient, nor cede moral authority, to others including the US when choosing our approach to the world.

    Malcolm Turnbull has spoken out against US tariffs noting their random use against Australia is not justified by a trade imbalance.

    John Key has quietly but importantly emphasised that we should be careful not to ruin our relationship with China.

    Helen Clark described the pitfalls of AUKUS pillar 2 and has been critical of loose language resurrecting the defunct ANZUS pact or using the Five Eyes intelligence network as a foreign affairs construct.

    She put it succinctly and well – “New Zealand needs a clear-eyed vision for courteous relations with the US and China, close dialogue with the Pacific Rim, Pacific Island and European friends”.

    Just because great-power politics have shifted does not mean Aotearoa should drop our long-standing commitment to human rights, open trade, multilateral institutions and the rights of small states.

    Obviously we understand diplomacy is required, but that should not silence our ability to speak up and advocate for what we believe in.

    We raise concerns about freedom of expression and the treatment of minorities in China, and about foreign interference. Some of this is said behind closed doors. Some is very public.

    When the Chinese government via its NZ embassy criticised New Zealand media for reports alleging foreign interference, in Labour we quickly and publicly stood up for the rights of New Zealand media and criticised the Chinese intervention.

    The New Zealand Labour Party’s view is that if we don’t stand up for what we believe in, we undermine our ability to do so in the future. We also undermine our reputation for fairness in foreign affairs, built up over decades, which in turn undermines our influence.

    The same principle applies to our relationship with the US.

    We have acknowledged the current government’s desire not to unnecessarily provoke a response from the US when things are so volatile.

    But the government’s seeming unwillingness to criticise anything pertaining to the US concerns us, even when the US went so far as to sanction others for participating in international institutions we support.

    For example, New Zealand is a member of the International Criminal Court. The US is not. That is their right, but for the US to sanction those assisting the ICC is wrong. Yet the current New Zealand government chose not to stand with 69 other countries including Switzerland, France, Canada, UK, Germany, Sweden – countries we share values with. This was an unfortunate break with NZs proud tradition of independently standing for what we believe in.

    If we want countries to support the international rule of law, we should apply it consistently. Many countries think the west is inconsistent in its application of international law in the middle east.

    The sympathy most New Zealanders felt for Israel and those who settled there following the holocaust has severely eroded. We condemned the killings and hostage taking by Hamas on 17 October 2023. But 70 years after the 1967 war, the blatant lack of rights of Palestinian people, the endless death and carnage in Gaza, and lack of progress towards a two State solution, or a single state alternative, is intolerable.

    This is why we have said New Zealand should be assisting the International Court of Justice when considering whether the state of Israel is acting illegally, as we did in respect of Rwanda and Ukraine. And be clear that individuals in breach of international law should face consequences in the International Criminal Court, and via a New Zealand sanctions regime.

    We have limited power and can’t always get our way. We try to use our values and reputation to influence better outcomes.

    We get the realpolitik of superpower.

    We are long term observers of superpower behaviour.  We are not surprised that China has become more assertive as it has becomes a superpower. The UK used to be, so were France, and Spain, and Italy back in the day.

    The USA has long used its power in central America, and beyond, to influence outcomes, and is currently pressuring Panama to limit Chinese influence.

    Russia’s Mr Putin has a history of invading and destabilising other countries. He is unlikely to stop, in part because his internal political position – including his life and retention of his billions – may rely upon his continued international aggression. This is why we support consideration by the New Zealand government of support for multinational peacekeeping efforts in the Ukraine.

     

    AUKUS pillar 2.

    The New Zealand Labour Party does not support joining AUKUS pillar 2, which the prior US administration described as a China containment strategy. There was a change of language from the New Zealand government after the 2023 election. New Zealand was described as a “force multiplier” for the US. The government said there were strong reasons in favour of pillar 2. Long redundant ANZUS language was resurrected. It appeared to us in Labour that the public were being softened up to join.

    We engaged the public in a debate. This included well-attended public meetings. Voices for and against AUKUS pillar 2 were active. The media delved into the issue.

    Neither interoperability nor access to technology rely upon AUKUS – two of the arguments put in its favour. Cooperation with other countries in Asia like Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea does not rely upon AUKUS and could be hindered if these countries do not like the anti-China AUKUS positioning.

    We concluded that AUKUS pillar 2 is not in New Zealand’s interests. Our decision was not influenced by the election of the new US administration, although for some this will be relevant.

    It is pleasing that senior former National and Act politicians have voiced their opposition too.

    Interestingly, the rhetoric from the government has toned down on AUKUS. That said, language in India last week, instead of emphasising the need to navigate a multi-polar world, clumsily positioned New Zealand as making binary choices between India and China.

    Being unsurprised that a rising China is more assertive in its nearby region does not mean we are comfortable with all steps in the Pacific.

    Being situated at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean distant from neighbours has trade and other disadvantages. But that physical isolation and low levels of militarisation in the vast Pacific are our greatest defensive attributes. Changes to that status quo concern us.

    We are perturbed by the recent agreements signed between the Cook Islands and China, labelled as a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The agreement commits the Cook Islands to supporting China in multilateral forums and to support candidates during elections of various boards and committees.

    We agree with the current New Zealand government that the process which preceded these commitments, and their substance, breach the arrangements under which the Cook Islands operate, which are referenced in the Joint Centenary Declaration of 2001.

    The Cook Islands are part of the realm of New Zealand. Cook Islanders carry New Zealand passports. The advantages this carries are the primary reason Cook Islands per capita GDP is a remarkable four times that of Fiji and five times that of Tonga and Samoa. Advantages include the ability to work in New Zealand and Australia, access to New Zealand health care and education, and superannuation portability.

    Consultation obligations are not some perfunctory commitment of little importance. They are to ensure the Cook Islands government neither deliberately nor unwittingly takes foreign affairs steps deleterious to the Cook Islands, or to New Zealand, and to our relationship.

    It is of course open to Cook Islanders to change their relationship with New Zealand and give up their New Zealand Passports. I doubt this will occur as Cook Islanders know their standard of living would slump if they did so. Security issues for the Cook Islands could deteriorate over time too.

    In terms of seabed mining, it is within the sovereign power of the Cook Islands to pursue this if their government desires. New Zealand’s experience with hundreds of millions of dollars of clean-up costs left behind by overseas oil companies makes us very wary. Nevertheless, if the Cook Islands so wish, New Zealand should assist them to manage the opportunities and risks, including with international participants.

    The prosperity and peacefulness of the Pacific Islands is of fundamental importance to New Zealand. The withdrawal of USAID does not help.

    New Zealand, with partners like Australia, must step up. We need to do more to help Pacific countries with affordable banking services, digital telecommunications, renewable electricity, sustainable resource utilisation (especially helping to maximise value from EEZ fisheries), and climate adaptation.  Better educational, health and civil society outcomes are good for us all. Labour mobility can also help, although care is needed given sensitivities for some concerned about depopulation,

    New Zealand can help Pacific populations displaced by sea levels rise.

    Reciprocity is key to prosperity and the desired avoidance of militarisation in our region. What would we do next?

    Labour would like to discuss a Pacific Peace Zone with other Pacific Island countries, and surrounding superpowers. Hon. Phil Twyford will detail how this meshes with our historic commitments to denuclearisation and peace on another day.

    We are continuing to work on our Pacific priorities within Labour, but one thing is already clear. The decline in New Zealand government spending on soft and hard power must be reversed.

    The split between hard power expenditure on military personnel and hardware, and soft power spending in development assistance and diplomacy will need to be worked through. But in our view increases to both are needed. A good principle to start with would be that every extra dollar spent on our military will be matched with an equivalent lift in our aid to the Pacific.

    Today is not the day to detail a defence procurement plan, but some high-level statements are appropriate. I make three points:

    1. In coalition with others, Labour recently replaced the Orions with P8s and replaced the Hercules. An earlier Labour government bought the current frigates, which are now nearing end of life. While we will never be a substantial military power, we need naval vessels to respond to disasters in the Pacific, and it is reasonable for our partners to expect they will have military capabilities. Rt Hon Chris Hipkins has acknowledged this requires cooperation across governments and election cycles.

    2. Our most effective fighting force is our SAS. They should be well paid and well equipped. They like to deploy to polish their renowned skills. Consideration should be given to their deployment in Ukraine in support of peace.

    3. The war in Ukraine has proven quantities of small drones are important. Ukrainian drones have effectively controlled the Black Sea against an invading nuclear power. They are affordable. We are home to Rocket Lab, Hamilton Jet, and drone companies delivering leading edge services to our world leading agricultural sector. 

    Australia has drone capabilities and is ahead of us in some areas. To use Sam Roggevin’s analogy in his book the Echidna Strategy, in defence we want to be a prickly adversary. New Zealand should prioritise working with Australia on defensive marine and air drones and commit significant resources to the task. Our defence spokesperson Hon. Peene Henare is engaged in these issues.

    Now I turn to trade. A lack of cooperation and compromise has blocked progress at the WTO for many years.

    This is not a dig at the US.  Many US complaints about trade imbalances caused by existing tariffs, non-trade barriers, state subsidised overcapacity and dumping are valid.

    That said, other distortions and unfairness caused by tax arbitrage substantially benefit the USA, especially in services like e-commerce. So does the US dollar reserve currency status, which in effect outsources much of the cost of US government deficits and debt. 

    Clearly these are complex issues.

    As Trade Minister during the last Trump administration, I had frequent dealings with then US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. He criticised private equity purchasers of US manufacturing outsourcing manufacturing to low cost-labour countries to shave off the last few percent of labour costs. Those owners banked increases in capital values at the cost of the US workers. He wrote about this in his book.

    He understood that the standard of living of working middle class citizens were essential underpinnings of both the long-term health of the US economy and democracy. Without a strong middle class working, producing, saving and consuming, the economy and society weakens.  

    There are ironies.

    The system has worked for the US in terms of its GDP per capita, which is amongst the highest in the world. The factors referred to by Paul Keating, together with the parallel concentration of wealth at the very top, are not primarily caused by other countries, but rather by the USA’s internal settings.

    Unfairnesses in trade settings are not new for New Zealand.

    New Zealand and Australia both play much fairer in global trade than most other countries but are still caught up in the maelstrom. 

    Sitting as we do at the bottom of the Pacific, New Zealand responded to protectionist measures in Europe and the Americas by building trade and foreign affairs relationships in Asia. Some of those strategies have been phenomenally successful for a little country – the China FTA, AANZFATA, CPTPP – which includes Japan, Canada, Mexico and Chile. Then we circled back to the UK and Europe. The current government has closed the Gulf deal and is pursuing India. Labour’s record in trade is second to none.

    How do we protect our trade interests now?

    We are as well placed as any distant small country can be. Our diversity of sales channels will help us minimise the first-round effects of the trade war. Risks to compliance with trade agreements and the second-round effects in terms of the risks of an international economic slowdown are impossible to model.  I certainly do not recommend tit for tat tariffs.

    Where might a new order emerge?  I will mention one new idea Damien O’Connor and I have discussed. It is at least possible that some of the barriers to trade between Europe and the US will soon be reduced for both security and economic reasons. What happens then? Maybe CPTPP could then be a sensible choice for Europe. The UK is already in it. If this happened, CPTPP – which is has overtaken the stagnant WTO – could become the de facto international standard. This possibility should be pursued by our excellent trade officials.

    I want to end by lifting our thoughts to the underlying drivers of the polarisation afflicting the world.

    Polarisation has increased between and within countries. There are many causes. Some are geopolitical, some economic, and some technological – like the role social media plays in carrying lies, misinformation, violence and death threats without consequence for those lying or those profiting from them.

    People feel less secure. Whatever the causes, this has political, economic, social and security implications.

    Many foreign affairs responses are transactional. But the big shifts post-World War 2 were holistic.

    There was broad acceptance that the extremes of fascism, revolution and wars had been caused by depressions and inequality, in turn partly caused by unaffordable reparations.

    The new world order after WW2 was intended to enable countries to succeed by encouraging international trade, access to resources, better health, and international cooperation.

    The decades that followed saw enormous progress in most parts of the world, with complimentary progressive measures within countries assisting to lift outcomes for billions of people.

    Now the underlying consensus has frayed to the point of disfunction.

    I believe the current turmoil will need a holistic response, and for that to be agreed a substantial subset of the international community will need to find common ground about the main underlying causes of the current worrisome trends.

    I’ve reached the stage of career that I know what I believe to be important. 

    For me there are two main themes.

    The first I have already touched on is gross wealth inequality, especially when this becomes intergenerational and sections of the population stagnate. This drives instability. I won’t say more about that in this speech, but history shows time and again that gross inequality ends in tears.

    The second is the breakdown in trust which happens when lies and misinformation prevail over facts. A cornerstone of the emergence of the nation state and the spread of liberal democracy was the enlightenment. There are rational facts. There are truths and untruths.

    The scourge of irresponsible social media, megalomaniacal tax avoiding tech barons, and irresponsible internet service providers is on my list of the important. 

    I have a view that we in the west have made a fundamental error in providing what is in effect an exclusion of liability for third party content.

    We have wrongly taken upon the shoulders of government the burden of regulating against what is harmful. I doubt this will ever work in practice. It also puts the burden on the harmed citizen (or government agencies) to respond after harm is caused. 

    The exclusion of liability was conferred when providers were more akin to the postal service, which has no liability for the content of a letter. Those providers morphed into publishers yet are protected from the legal remedies which apply to the traditional media they undermine. This mistake is the core of the problem.

    I am convinced it is better to remove the exclusion of liability, exposing those selling a harmful product to liability to the ordinary people that their product harms. 

    And it is a harmful product.

    Be it damage to young people, foreign interference, defamation, theft of other people’s content, the enabling of small but extreme groups of evildoers who find each other on-line, online sexual abuse, online streaming of terrorism, or the regular unpunished threats of death and injury. Lies and misinformation abound.

    A senior banker recently complained to me that internet investment scams are more common than legitimate products, and that the internet companies refuse to control them. Worse, they take money for the advertising service they provide to the fraudsters.

    Much of this is harm is from anonymous sources, with some deliberately aimed at undermining our democratic way of life and freedoms.

    Enabling private remedies for our citizens against those profiting from selling these harmful products, including through low-cost fora such as disputes tribunals or small claims courts, seems to me to be proper. Leave it to the Courts to work out the balance between freedom of expression and the duty not to sell a harmful product.

    There are ways to introduce safeguards, such as liability limits or safe harbours for media content or maybe for platforms that take active steps to prevent scams. But allowing the current situation to continue – where the burden falls almost entirely on individuals while social media giants profit – is untenable.

    The suggested approach does not make the government a censor and better avoids the risk of state suppression of freedom of speech. 

    Left unchecked, current ills will be made worse by those malevolently using AI to make the harms they are already causing worse. 

    Left unchecked the oligarch owners of these platforms will increasingly use them for the own political ends, as we already see with some platforms. 

    Fixing this would not ruin the internet. Point to point communications would still be protected like the mail. E-commerce would endure. Massive quantities of information will remain.

    I fear that if this is not addressed, polarisation and demagoguery will prevail.

    I am by nature an optimist. Opportunities arise from adversity. Digital services taxes sprouted at the end of the last Trump presidency, and I predict pressure for change will continue to mount.

    Many people in the world are fed up with these selfish tech giants. We should work with other countries to fix this.

    The holistic changes after World War 2 had the betterment of people at their heart.

    New Zealand under Labour Prime Minister Peter Fraser helped ensure the United Nations applied a human rights approach, for the benefit of people in countries large and small.

    New Zealand needs a clear-eyed vision for courteous relations with the US and China, close dialogue with the Pacific Rim, Pacific Island and European friends. 

    Everyone in this room has a role to play. It has never been more important to stand up for New Zealand’s independent foreign policy. And we all should.

    Media: Check against delivery

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Free Trade Bill Leads Canada; Session Lays Groundwork for a Stronger, More Resilient Nova Scotia

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The government laid the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient and self-reliant Nova Scotia during the latest session of the House of Assembly, which ended today, March 26.

    “Last fall, we asked Nova Scotians for a stronger mandate to govern and they gave us just that,” said Premier Tim Houston. “When we campaigned, we were not in the middle of a tariff war and no one knew about the threats of annexation that were coming.”

    Nova Scotia is leading the country with game-changing legislation that will remove borders on inter-provincial trade.

    “We’re one country. It doesn’t make sense that goods and skills can’t flow easily from one province to another,” said Premier Houston. “Canadian provinces have high standards and we need to trust that what our neighbours have to offer is also good enough for Nova Scotia.

    “Our bill on free trade within Canada has received national attention and Nova Scotia is leading the way – we should be proud about that.”

    The Premier said Trump’s tariff threats reinforce the need for greater economic and energy security.

    “A strong Nova Scotia is an economically self-sustaining Nova Scotia,” said Premier Houston. “We cannot let the future of our province be determined by those outside our province – Nova Scotians must control Nova Scotia’s destiny.”

    Premier Houston pointed to bills on internal trade and resource development as foundational elements of a stronger and more independent province: “We have resource wealth and new markets that we could not tap into because of bad legislation and too much red tape. We have laid the foundation to unlock our resource wealth and find new markets for our products.”

    He said lifting bans on hydraulic fracturing and uranium mining is central to improving our economic and energy security.

    “All of the natural gas used in Nova Scotia flows through the United States,” said Premier Houston. “That leaves us exposed to the whims of President Trump. But there’s enough natural gas here in Nova Scotia to power the province for nearly 200 years.”

    The Premier said everyone has a role to play in building a more resilient and independent Nova Scotia: “We will stand up for the interests of Nova Scotians and defend the province from the influence of special interest groups. These groups are trying to stop development here to the benefit of the United States.”

    This year’s budget contains historic tax cuts that will save the average Nova Scotian family about $1,000 per year. It also includes the largest capital plan in the Province’s history, with $2.3 billion in funding that will help stimulate the economy. These investments are in addition to additional funds for healthcare and housing.

    “The bills passed during this session will help create more economic opportunities for Nova Scotians while helping secure our energy future,” said Premier Houston.

    Legislation passed this session includes:

    • Government Organization and Administration Act
    • Agriculture, Energy and Natural Resources Act
    • Free Trade and Mobility within Canada Act
    • Administrative Efficiency and Accountability in Healthcare Act
    • Advanced Education and Research Act
    • Justice Administration Amendment (2025) Act
    • Financial Measures (2025) Act
    • amendments to the House of Assembly Act to enable the appointment of a special electoral boundaries commission
    • amendments to the Temporary Access to Land Act and Joint Regional Transportation Agency Act

    Additional Resources:

    Bills tabled in the legislature are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-65-session-1

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Kristof Schöffling’s Move Digital Leads Global Tech Transformation in 2025 with Breakthroughs in AI, Blockchain, and Robotics

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MAHE, SEYCHELLES, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Move Digital Limited, led by tech entrepreneur and strategist Kristof Schöffling, has unveiled an ambitious roadmap for 2025, solidifying its position as a global leader in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and robotics innovation.

    With operations across Monaco, Thailand, Tokyo, Sydney, and Hong Kong, Move Digital is delivering on its mission to integrate advanced technology into daily life – long before mainstream adoption.

    A Vision for 2025 Built on Proven Execution

    Kristof Schöffling, a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience and several successful tech exits, has developed a reputation for recognizing transformational trends before they become global movements. Under his leadership, Move Digital has evolved from a blockchain innovator into a world-class firm delivering AI-powered consumer applications, elite consulting for family offices, and cutting-edge robotics manufacturing.

    “Artificial intelligence should never be a concept locked in boardrooms or labs,” says Schöffling. “Our mission at Move Digital is to bring intelligent solutions into everyday lives, enabling convenience, freedom, and efficiency for all demographics.”

    AI for the Real World

    Move Digital’s AI division is now rolling out globally distributed applications that simplify daily routines, boost productivity, and enhance user experience across demographics. These solutions are designed to demystify AI and make its value tangible for businesses, households, and institutions.

    Strategic Consulting for Family Offices & Global Investors

    Recognizing a sharp uptick in demand for trusted tech advisors, Schöffling has expanded Move Digital’s footprint into strategic consulting for family offices and high-net-worth individuals. The firm now works with legacy investors in financial capitals such as Monaco, Tokyo, Bangkok, and Hong Kong – helping them navigate AI strategy, digital transformation, and blockchain innovation.

    “AI is no longer a playground for tech firms. It’s a fundamental economic asset,” says Schöffling. “Whether you’re overseeing a global portfolio or operating a legacy business, integrating AI is now a matter of staying competitive.”

    Robotics: Move Digital’s Next Frontier

    In 2025, Move Digital is entering the robotics space with production facilities under development in Vietnam and China. These facilities will produce intelligent household robots powered by modular AI systems and connected digital infrastructure.

    Forecasts project the global robotics market to grow from $46 billion in 2024 to over $169 billion by 2032. Move Digital aims to lead this charge with innovative products that bring automation into private homes and elevate the quality of daily living.

    Public Sector Engagement & Innovation

    In addition to his private sector success, Kristof Schöffling plays a key role in advising governments on emerging technology adoption. As Trade Commissioner of Vanuatu to Thailand, he contributes to initiatives around blockchain strategy and CBDC implementation – bridging public and private sector goals for a tech-driven future.

    About Kristof Schöffling

    Kristof Schöffling is a renowned technology leader, known for his early adoption of blockchain, AI, and decentralized systems. With a strategic footprint in Monaco, Thailand, and across Asia-Pacific, Schöffling is recognized globally for transforming emerging technology into high-impact solutions. Whether searched as Kristof Schöffling, Kristof Schoffling, or Kristof Schoeffling, his work consistently ranks among the most relevant and forward-looking in tech innovation.

    About Move Digital Limited

    Move Digital Limited is a global technology firm delivering AI-powered applications, high-end consulting for family offices, and robotics manufacturing focused on household automation. With a vision to make advanced technologies accessible, Move Digital continues to redefine the intersection of technology and real-world utility.

    Media Contact:

    Brand: Move Digital Limited

    Contact: Kristof Schöffling

    Email: hello@movedigital.io

    Website: https://movedigital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: United States Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint for $47 Million in Proceeds from the Sale of 1 Million Barrels of Iranian Oil

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A civil forfeiture complaint was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that $47 million in proceeds from the sale of nearly one million barrels of Iranian petroleum is forfeitable as property of, or affording a person a source of influence over, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or its Qods Force (IRGC-QF), designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

    The forfeiture complaint alleges a scheme between 2022 and 2024 to facilitate the shipment, storage, and sale of Iranian petroleum product for the benefit of the IRGC and IRGC-QF. The facilitators used deceptive practices to masquerade the Iranian oil as Malaysian, including by manipulating the tanker’s automatic identification system (AIS) to conceal that it onboarded the oil from a port in Iran. The facilitators presented falsified documents to the Croatian storage and port facility, claiming that the oil was Malaysian. The facilitators paid for storage fees associated with the oil’s storage in Croatia in U.S. dollars, transactions that were conducted through U.S. financial institutions that would have refused the transactions had they known they were associated with Iranian oil. The petroleum product was sold in 2024, and the United States seized $47 million in proceeds from that sale.

    The civil forfeiture complaint further alleges that the petroleum product constitutes the property of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which has perpetuated a federal crime of terrorism by providing material support to the IRGC and IRGC-QF. As alleged, profits from petroleum product sales support the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and both domestic and international human rights abuses.

    Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.

    FBI Minneapolis Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations New York are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert, Maeghan O. Mikorski, and Brian Hudak for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Adam Small of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are litigating the case. They received assistance from former Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

    A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Kyrgyzstan is Developing Its Own Crypto Hub: A7A5 Stablecoin Listed on the Regulated Exchange Meer Exchange

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kyrgyzstan continues to solidify its position as a regional crypto hub. The country is advancing its digital asset regulation, testing legal frameworks, and launching licensed platforms. One of the key steps in this direction is the launch of A7A5 – a stablecoin pegged to the Russian ruble within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The token was issued by the Kyrgyz company Old Vector, in full compliance with local regulatory requirements and with the support of the Kyrgyz government.

    One of the world’s leading crypto hubs

    As part of the strategic course set by the country’s president, Kyrgyzstan has adopted a comprehensive package of laws regulating the cryptocurrency market. For the first time, the country has introduced full legislation on digital assets, covering all major aspects of the industry – from exchanges to token issuers. This has created a new institutional infrastructure that did not previously exist in the market.

    Among the unique innovations is the mechanism for registering token issuances under official state supervision. Regulators ensure that token emissions comply with regulatory requirements, have fiat backing, undergo regular audits, and meet obligations to token holders. In essence, Kyrgyzstan provides one of the most transparent and secure tokenization models in the world.

    The first issuance of A7A5 (mint) was carried out in complete accordance with the new national legislation – under the control of regulatory authorities and directed to an officially registered, regulated broker.

    The A7A5 token is now available for trading on the regulated exchange Meer Exchange and is expected to be listed on decentralized platforms in the future. Its fiat backing is stored in bank accounts, and its volume is audited by an independent firm on a quarterly basis. The key advantage of A7A5 is the opportunity to earn up to 20% annually, driven by its link to the refinancing rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and additional income strategies in DeFi.

    For those seeking an alternative

    The digital asset market is moving toward the integration of traditional finance with decentralized technologies. The emergence of stablecoins has enabled users to:

    • Transition from volatile crypto assets to stable currencies without leaving the blockchain ecosystem.
    • Trade freely against the dollar – the world’s primary reserve currency.
    • Participate in DeFi protocols, with the potential to earn quasi-fixed income – returns close to fixed.

    However, despite the overall growth of the segment, stablecoins denominated in other currencies are still in their early stages.

    Currency diversity? Not yet

    Although the segment has seen significant capitalization, stablecoins other than the dollar still have very limited trading volumes:

    • USDT – exceeds $60 billion per day.
    • USDC – around $6 billion.
    • Stablecoins in euros (e.g., EURT, agEUR) rarely exceed $5–10 million in daily trading volume.
    • Stablecoins in yen and yuan are almost non-existent on major exchanges and DeFi protocols.
    • Stablecoins in emerging market currencies (rubles, reais, rupees, etc.) are virtually absent from the crypto market.

    This limits the potential for building robust currency strategies, including FX and carry trades, which are at the core of the global financial market with a daily volume exceeding $7 trillion.

    What’s preventing carry trade in crypto?

    To execute a traditional carry trade strategy in the digital space, several key elements are still missing:

    • Recently, one of the most popular strategies in the global market was the “dollar-yen” trade: borrowing in JPY at a low interest rate and investing in USD. Today, DeFi does not offer the option to borrow in yen or any other currencies to utilize carry trade opportunities, making this scenario unfeasible.
    • The reverse strategy – borrowing in dollars within DeFi – is possible, but there is no infrastructure to invest in assets from emerging markets with fixed returns or to hedge currency risk using derivatives.

    A7A5: The Solution

    The launch of A7A5, followed by its listing on both CEX and DEX, marks the first step in expanding the range of tools available to crypto investors, including:

    • Participation in income strategies involving assets from emerging markets.
    • The ability to hedge currency risks using derivative instruments.
    • Synthetic and direct participation in RWA (Real-World Assets) through digital infrastructure.

    A7A5 is designed for investors who are ready to leverage next-generation technologies to achieve higher returns, given the limited alternatives in the world of traditional finance.

    The listing on Meer Exchange ensures liquidity, transparency, and institutional access to a new class of digital assets tied to the Russian economy and emerging markets.

    Social Links

    X: https://x.com/A7A5official

    Telegram: https://t.me/A7A5official

    LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/a7a5official

    Media Contact

    Brand: A7A5

    Contact: Media team

    Email: info@a7a5.io

    Website: https://a7a5.io/

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint for $47 Million in Proceeds from the Sale of 1 Million Barrels of Iranian Oil

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A civil forfeiture complaint was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that $47 million in proceeds from the sale of nearly one million barrels of Iranian petroleum is forfeitable as property of, or affording a person a source of influence over, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or its Qods Force (IRGC-QF), designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

    The forfeiture complaint alleges a scheme between 2022 and 2024 to facilitate the shipment, storage, and sale of Iranian petroleum product for the benefit of the IRGC and IRGC-QF. The facilitators used deceptive practices to masquerade the Iranian oil as Malaysian, including by manipulating the tanker’s automatic identification system (AIS) to conceal that it onboarded the oil from a port in Iran. The facilitators presented falsified documents to the Croatian storage and port facility, claiming that the oil was Malaysian. The facilitators paid for storage fees associated with the oil’s storage in Croatia in U.S. dollars, transactions that were conducted through U.S. financial institutions that would have refused the transactions had they known they were associated with Iranian oil. The petroleum product was sold in 2024, and the United States seized $47 million in proceeds from that sale.

    The civil forfeiture complaint further alleges that the petroleum product constitutes the property of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which has perpetuated a federal crime of terrorism by providing material support to the IRGC and IRGC-QF. As alleged, profits from petroleum product sales support the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and both domestic and international human rights abuses.

    Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.

    FBI Minneapolis Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations New York are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert, Maeghan O. Mikorski, and Brian Hudak for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Adam Small of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are litigating the case. They received assistance from former Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

    A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Energy Sector – Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025 Ministerial Panel: Republic of Congo to Promote Onshore Acreage in Upcoming Bid Round

    SOURCE: Energy Capital & Power

    A ministerial panel at the inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum explored Congo’s strategy for regional collaboration, resource monetization and hydrocarbon development

    BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo, March 26, 2025/ — The Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons announced that the upcoming 2025 licensing round will focus on onshore blocks in the country’s continental basin.

    The announcement was made on March 25 by Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo, during a ministerial panel discussion at the inaugural Congo Energy & investment Forum in Brazzaville.

    “Our national development plan [aims to] develop the economy, but we cannot start without the development of hydrocarbons. We have no choice but to take care of hydrocarbons to give the country the capacity to develop,” Minister Itoua stated.

    During the panel session, Minister Itoua also highlighted the Ministry’s plans to collaborate with oil and gas company Trident Energy to valorize associated gas from the country’s N’Kossa oil field. The Minister announced it will launch an entity to monetize associated gas not used by international oil companies operating in the country as part of a strategy to reach zero flaring by 2030.

    Meanwhile, Aimé Sakombi Molendo, Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), announced that the country will hold discussions with the Republic of Congo on March 26 to explore bilateral cooperation and the possibility of co-developing hydrocarbon resources in cross-border basins. This comes as the DRC and Angola are set to kick off discussions with energy major Chevron for the joint development of the common interest zone between the two countries, with a governance agreement having been ratified in December last year.

    “We will be discussing with the Republic of Congo bilaterally to see to what extent the two countries can benefit from co-development of our abundant hydrocarbon resources,” Minister Molendo stated.

    José Barroso, Secretary of State for Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas for Angola, indicated the potential for developing joint projects in the energy sector with both the Republic of Congo and the DRC. Barroso highlighted the need to create the requisite technical conditions to incentivize national companies to participate in their respective markets in the three countries.

    “In the pipeline, we have projects that we are discussing amongst ourselves, and in the short future, we will be able to communicate more on this,” Barroso stated.

    Meanwhile, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), discussed the role the upcoming African Energy Bank will have on resource monetization and development in Africa. Spearheaded by APPO and the African Export-Import Bank, the bank aims to facilitate, promote and finance the development of Africa’s oil, gas and energy industries. According to Dr. Farouk, both the bank and the private sector will have an important role to play in ensuring that regional markets move forward and drive cross-border development.

    “None of our countries have what it takes to address the challenges of energy by themselves. The African Energy Bank is an example of how Africa wants to be independent and be in control of its resources,” Dr. Farouk stated.

    An outline of the Republic of Congo’s 2025 licensing round will be presented during the Congo Energy & Investment Forum.

    About the Congo Energy & Investment Forum:
    The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the highest patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, brings together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Commercial Innovation Incentive Extended to 2027

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on March 26, 2025

    Incentive Improvements Expand Eligibility Ensuring Saskatchewan Businesses Succeed

    Today, the Government of Saskatchewan introduced legislation that will extend the Saskatchewan Commercial Innovation Incentive (SCII). 

    “By extending the SCII, we are reaffirming Saskatchewan’s commitment to innovation and ensuring our province remains one of the best places in Canada to invest and do business,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said. “All of this means more opportunities, jobs and services the people of Saskatchewan need and deserve.”

    The SCII is a growth-focused tax incentive designed to support businesses commercializing innovation by reducing the provincial Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate to 6 per cent for a period of 10 consecutive years. Eligible companies can extend the CIT benefit period to 15 years, if 50 per cent or greater of the related research and development has been conducted in Saskatchewan.

    Last year, the Government of Saskatchewan began an external review aimed at improving the program’s eligibility requirements and simplifying the application process. Based on this review, the SCII will be eliminating the economic eligibility criteria to further improve eligibility. These improvements will encourage commercialization and innovation in the province.

    The new sunset date for SCII is June 30, 2027.

    The SCII is also highlighted in Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy, reinforcing the province’s dedication to fostering a thriving business environment.

    Investment in the province continues to rise. Private capital investment in Saskatchewan increased last year by 17.3 per cent to $14.7 billion, ranking first among provinces for growth. Private capital investment is projected to reach $16.2 billion in 2025, an increase of 10.1 per cent over 2024. This is the second highest anticipated percentage increase among the provinces.

    For more information on the SCII, please visit: saskatchewan.ca. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 26.03.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Stock Exchange Release
    26 March 2025 at 22:30 EET

    Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 26.03.2025

    Espoo, Finland – On 26 March 2025 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows:                

    Trading venue (MIC Code) Number of shares Weighted average price / share, EUR*
    XHEL 1,567,439 4.96
    CEUX 985,274 4.97
    BATE – –
    AQEU 96,142 4.96
    TQEX 169,350 4.97
    Total 2,818,205 4.96

    * Rounded to two decimals

    On 22 November 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to offset the dilutive effect of new Nokia shares issued to the shareholders of Infinera Corporation and certain Infinera Corporation share-based incentives. The repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia’s Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 25 November 2024 and end by 31 December 2025 and target to repurchase 150 million shares for a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 900 million.

    Total cost of transactions executed on 26 March 2025 was EUR 13,991,824. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 200,047,080 treasury shares.

    Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement.

    On behalf of Nokia Corporation

    BofA Securities Europe SA

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Inquiries:

    Nokia Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email: press.services@nokia.com
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications

    Nokia Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 931 580 507
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: QCI’s Andrew Cardno to Speak on “The Next Era of Tribal Gaming: The 7 Forces Shaping Its Future” at the Indian Gaming Association Trade Show

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is pleased to announce that Andrew Cardno, Chief Technology Officer of QCI, will be delivering a featured session at the 2025 Indian Gaming Trade Show & Convention in San Diego, CA. The session, titled “The Seven Forces Transforming Our Industry (Whether We Like It or Not),” will take place on April 1, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

    Tribal gaming stands at the forefront of an unprecedented era of transformation. Both internal dynamics and external pressures are driving change at a pace never seen before. In this timely session, Mr. Cardno will provide an in-depth exploration of seven powerful forces reshaping the future of tribal gaming. From the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics to shifting consumer expectations and evolving market forces, attendees will gain valuable insights into the technologies and trends defining the next era of the industry.

    “Tribal gaming has always been a leader in innovation, but the convergence of AI, robotics, and rapid technological advancement presents new challenges and exciting opportunities,” said Andrew Cardno, CTO of QCI. “This session is about equipping tribal operators with the knowledge and tools to embrace these changes while protecting the core traditions that make tribal gaming unique. By understanding these forces, we can ensure that team members are empowered, operations are optimized, and tribal enterprises continue to thrive.”

    Victor Rocha, Conference Chairman of the Indian Gaming Trade Show & Convention, added, “We are excited to feature Andrew Cardno in this important session. Tribal gaming is facing a critical moment, and understanding these seven forces is essential for our industry’s future. This conversation goes beyond technology — it’s about how we protect our sovereignty, strengthen our communities, and continue leading the gaming industry into the future.”

    Attendees will leave with practical strategies to integrate emerging technologies in ways that reinforce the unique strengths of tribal gaming enterprises. The session will focus on how these tools can enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experiences, and create new opportunities for team member growth — all while honoring the cultural and economic significance of tribal gaming.

    ABOUT The 2025 Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention
    As the premier events for the tribal gaming community, the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention and Mid-Year Conference & Expo deliver the insight and strategies you need to rise to the top of the competitive gaming industry landscape. There’s no better opportunity to meet industry leaders, access cutting-edge trends and celebrate a proud tradition of success. For more information visit: www.indiangamingtradeshow.com.

    ABOUT QCI
    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI’s data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    ABOUT Andrew Cardno
    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew’s innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today’s mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications. Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew’s impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring eight influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew’s work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    ABOUT Victor Rocha
    Victor Rocha holds the distinguished position of Conference Chairman for the Indian Gaming Association, while also leading Victor-Strategies as its president. As the owner and publisher of Pechanga.net, he has been deeply engaged in the political landscape of U.S. tribal gaming since 1998. Rocha’s outstanding contributions to the industry have been recognized through numerous accolades, such as AGEM’s 2023 Peter Mead Memorial Award Honoring Excellence in Gaming Media & Communication, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 2015 Tribal Gaming Visionary Award, the American Gaming Association’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award for Gaming Communications, Raving’s 2012 Casino Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Indian Gaming Association’s 2002 Outstanding Contribution to Indian Country, VCAT’s 2001 Catalyst Award, and Global Gaming Business Magazine’s 2000 “40 Under 40” list.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 3D Systems Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROCK HILL, S.C., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) announced today its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

    • Full-year 2024 revenue of $440 million, above lower end of guidance range, inclusive of a $9 million revenue reduction in Q4 driven by a change in accounting estimates for Regenerative Medicine program milestone recognition. This change in estimate is related to the now anticipated use of pre-clinical human decedent testing, successfully demonstrated by our partner, United Therapeutics, which led to refinement of the milestone technical criteria.
    • Continued reduction in operating expenses in Q4 reflecting the company’s focus on cost savings and efficiency improvements.
    • Announcement of a new cost reduction initiative expected to deliver over $50 million in incremental annualized savings related to actions taken throughout 2025 and the first-half 2026.
    • All regulatory approvals have been obtained for sale of Geomagic software platform, with a sale price of $123 million and targeted close in early April.
    • Balance sheet cash and cash equivalents of $171 million as of December 31, 2024. Proceeds from Geomagic sale to further strengthen balance sheet in Q2.
    • Normalizing for divestiture, 2025 full-year forecast reflects return to flat to modest top line organic growth with progressive cost reductions strengthening EBITDA performance throughout the year. Target is to exit 2025 at positive adjusted-EBITDA levels, with continuing momentum in 2026.
        Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		   Year Ended
    December 31,
          2024       2023       2024       2023  
    (in millions, expect per share data)   (unaudited)   (unaudited)        
    Revenue   $ 111.0     $ 114.8     $ 440.1     $ 488.1  
    Gross profit   $ 34.4     $ 44.0     $ 164.2     $ 196.4  
    Gross profit margin     31.0 %     38.3 %     37.3 %     40.2 %
    Operating expense   $ 64.8     $ 371.3     $ 441.6     $ 602.4  
    Operating loss   $ (30.4 )   $ (327.3 )   $ (277.4 )   $ (406.0 )
    Net loss attributable to 3D Systems Corporation   $ (33.7 )   $ (292.7 )   $ (255.6 )   $ (362.7 )
    Diluted loss per share   $ (0.25 )   $ (2.25 )   $ (1.94 )   $ (2.79 )
                     
    Non-GAAP measures for year-over-year comparisons (1)            
    Non-GAAP gross profit margin     31.3 %     39.8 %     37.4 %     40.6 %
    Non-GAAP operating expense   $ 58.4     $ 65.4     $ 250.3     $ 246.0  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ (19.1 )   $ (14.0 )   $ (66.4 )   $ (26.3 )
    Non-GAAP diluted loss per share   $ (0.19 )   $ (0.13 )   $ (0.62 )   $ (0.28 )
                                     
    (1) See “Presentation of Information in this Press Release” below for a description, and the Appendix for the reconciliation of non-GAAP measurements to the most closely comparable GAAP measure.
     

    Summary Comments on Results

    “While 2024 was a challenging year for sales, reflecting weak customer capex spending on new manufacturing plant capacity through the first three quarters, we were pleased to see a healthy uptick in the sale of new industrial printer systems and global services in the fourth quarter,” said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president & CEO of 3D Systems. “In addition, with the largest installed base in the additive manufacturing industry, we were pleased to see a return to healthy consumable sales across most markets, reflecting higher utilization rates for existing machines. These positive changes in our core business units were unfortunately masked by the impact of an accounting estimate change in our Regenerative Medicine program related to refinement of technical acceptance criteria associated with a potential change in testing methodology for printed human lungs, which are the focus of this program. This estimate change relates to the incorporation of in vivo human decedent testing protocols, which have recently been successfully demonstrated by our partner, United Therapeutics. While this accounting estimate change was not originally contemplated in our 2024 guidance, I am pleased that our core businesses still delivered within the full-year revenue range communicated in our prior forecast, and that the market showed signs of strengthening in the fourth quarter.”

    Dr. Graves continued, “While sales were weak across our industry for the last year, for 3D Systems 2024 will be remembered as a historic year of innovation, one in which dozens of new products were launched in both our Healthcare and Industrial markets. This strength in new products was a direct reflection of the continuity in R&D investment that we maintained over this challenging period. Naming just a few key milestones, early in the year we announced the largest contract in the Company’s history, securing our leadership in the dental market for the straightening of teeth, while simultaneously building critical momentum in the even larger adjacent market for teeth replacement, culminating in the announcement of our jetted denture solution which was granted clearance by the FDA in September. In our Industrial business, our collaboration with Daimler Truck demonstrated the exceptional savings potential for integrating digital rights management with on-demand localized print capabilities using Oqton work-flow management for critical spare parts, a market that is expected to reach $8 billion for trucks by 2027. With the broadest range of metal and polymer additive manufacturing technology in the entire industry, and our application-first mindset, we believe our organic growth prospects will be a key differentiator in the path ahead.”

    Dr. Graves concluded, “With our new products now gaining traction in the market, our focus is increasingly centered on driving gross margin expansion and operating expense improvements in the face of continuing uncertainty in the global markets. Given this potential demand profile, we believe it is prudent to undertake further significant actions to reduce costs and improve operating efficiencies to support our long-term mission of delivering growth with sustainable profitability. Our latest cost initiative, which began in Q1 of 2025, is targeted at delivering over $50 million of incremental annualized savings based on actions taken over the next six quarters. Importantly, while these efforts will not be fully completed until the middle of 2026, we anticipate significant improvements associated with them, in conjunction with those taken previously, leading us to expect break-even-or-better adjusted-EBITDA performance by the fourth quarter of 2025, despite essentially flat-to-modest revenue growth. From a balance sheet perspective, having previously retired over 50% of our Convertible Notes due November 2026, the remainder of which reaches maturity in Q4 of 2026, our cash balance at 2024 year-end of $171 million, supplemented by proceeds from the sale of our Geomagic software platform for $123 million in the coming weeks, positions us well to continue reducing our leverage while supporting the investments needed to deliver long-term growth and profitability.”

    Summary of Fourth Quarter Results

    Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased 3% to $111.0 million compared to the same period last year and includes an $8.7 million reduction due to a change in accounting estimate related to refinement of milestone recognition criteria within our Regenerative Medicine program.

    Healthcare Solutions revenue, which includes revenues from our Regenerative Medicine program, decreased 21% to $40.4 million compared to the prior year period.

    Industrial Solutions revenue increased 11% to $70.7 million compared to the prior year period.

    Gross profit margin for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 31.0% compared to 38.3% in the same period last year. Non-GAAP gross profit margin was 31.3% compared to 39.8% in the same period last year and decreased primarily due to the accounting estimate changes previously described for our Regenerative Medicine program. Excluding the impact of these accounting estimate changes, non-GAAP gross profit margins were 36.3% for Q4 and 38.7% for the full year 2024, offering a perspective on our core Healthcare and Industrial business performance.

    Net loss attributable to 3D Systems Corporation improved by $259.0 million to a loss of $33.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in the prior year. The improvement in net loss primarily reflects the year-over-year change in impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets taken during the prior year period.

    Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $5.1 million to a loss of $19.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year primarily driven by lower revenue and margin due to a change in accounting estimate related to refinement of milestone recognition criteria in our Regenerative Medicine program.

    Summary of Full-Year 2024 Results

    Revenue for 2024 of $440.1 million decreased 10% compared to the prior year. The decline in revenue primarily reflects lower hardware systems sales due to macroeconomic factors that are negatively impacting demand.

    Healthcare Solutions revenue decreased 11% to $189.7 million compared to the prior year.

    Industrial Solutions revenue decreased 9% to $250.4 million compared to the prior year.

    Gross profit margin for the full year 2024 was 37.3% compared to 40.2% in the prior year. Non-GAAP gross profit margin was 37.4% for the full year 2024 compared to 40.6% in the prior year. Gross profit margin decreased primarily due to the change in accounting estimate related to refinement of milestone recognition criteria within our Regenerative Medicine program and unfavorable manufacturing variances.

    Net loss for the full year 2024 improved by $107.1 million to a loss of $255.6 million compared to the prior year. The improvement in net loss primarily reflects the year-over-year change in impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets taken during 2023.

    Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $40.1 million to a loss of $66.4 million in 2024 compared to prior year primarily driven by lower revenues and increases in consulting and outside services expenses.

    2025 Outlook

    Assuming no material change in current macroeconomic conditions and the expected divestiture of the Geomagic business in early Q2 of 2025, the Company is providing the following for its full year 2025 outlook:

    • Revenue within the range of $420 million to $435 million, representing essentially flat to modest growth when excluding Geomagic revenue for the same periods in FY’24
    • Non-GAAP Gross Profit Margin within the range of 37% to 39%
    • Non-GAAP Operating Expense within the range of $200 million to $220 million
    • Adjusted EBITDA to be break even or better in Q4 2025

    Financial Liquidity

    At December 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents totaled $171.3 million and decreased $160.2 million since December 31, 2023. This decrease resulted primarily from the repurchase of our Convertible Notes due November 2026 of $87.2 million, cash used in operations of $44.9 million, and capital expenditures of $16.1 million. At December 31, 2024, the company had total debt, net of deferred financing costs of $212.0 million.

    Q4 and FY 2024 Conference Call and Webcast

    The Company will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss these results on March 27 2025, which may be accessed as follows:

    Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
    Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
    Listen via webcast: www.3dsystems.com/investor
    Participate via telephone: 201-689-8345

    A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the live presentation at www.3dsystems.com/investor.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believes,” “belief,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “anticipates” or “plans” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs, assumptions and current expectations and may include comments as to the company’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Presentation of Information in this Press Release

    3D Systems reports its financial results in accordance with GAAP. Management also reviews and reports certain Non-GAAP measures, including: Non-GAAP gross profit, Non-GAAP gross profit margin, Non-GAAP diluted income (loss) per share, Non-GAAP operating expense and Adjusted EBITDA. These Non-GAAP measures exclude certain items that management does not view as part of 3D Systems’ core results as they may be highly variable, may be unusual or infrequent, are difficult to predict and can distort underlying business trends and results. Management believes that the Non-GAAP measures provide useful additional insight into underlying business trends and results and provide meaningful information regarding the comparison of period-over-period results. Additionally, management uses the Non-GAAP measures for planning, forecasting and evaluating business and financial performance, including allocating resources and evaluating results relative to employee compensation targets. 3D Systems’ Non-GAAP measures are not calculated in accordance with or as required by GAAP and may not be calculated in the same manner as similarly titled measures used by other companies. These Non-GAAP measures should thus be considered as supplemental in nature and not considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    To calculate the Non-GAAP measures, 3D Systems excludes the impact of the following items:

    • amortization of intangible assets, a non-cash expense, as 3D Systems’ intangible assets were primarily acquired in connection with business combinations;
    • costs incurred in connection with acquisitions and divestitures, such as legal, consulting and advisory fees;
    • stock-based compensation expenses, a non-cash expense;
    • charges related to restructuring and cost optimization plans, impairment charges, including goodwill, and divestiture gains or losses;
    • certain compensation expense related to the 2021 Volumetric acquisition; and
    • costs, including legal fees, related to significant or unusual litigation matters.

    Amortization of intangibles and acquisition and divestiture-related costs are excluded from Non-GAAP measures as the timing and magnitude of business combination transactions are not predictable, can vary significantly from period to period and the purchase price allocated to amortizable intangible assets and the related amortization period are unique to each acquisition. Amortization of intangible assets will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully amortized. While intangible assets contribute to the company’s revenue generation, the amortization of intangible assets does not directly relate to the sale of the company’s products or services. Additionally, intangible assets amortization expense typically fluctuates based on the size and timing of the company’s acquisition activity. Accordingly, the company believes excluding the amortization of intangible assets enhances the company’s and investors’ ability to compare the company’s past financial performance with its current performance and to analyze underlying business performance and trends. Although stock-based compensation is a key incentive offered to certain of our employees, the expense is non-cash in nature, and we continue to evaluate our business performance excluding stock-based compensation; therefore, it is excluded from Non-GAAP measures. Stock-based compensation expenses will recur in future periods. Charges related to restructuring and cost optimization plans, impairment charges, including goodwill, divestiture gains or losses, and the costs, including legal fees, related to significant or unusual litigation matters are excluded from Non-GAAP measures as the frequency and magnitude of these activities may vary widely from period to period. Additionally, impairment charges, including goodwill, are non-cash. Furthermore, the company believes the costs, including legal fees, related to significant or unusual litigation matters are not indicative of our core business’ operations. Finally, 3D Systems excludes contingent consideration recorded as compensation expense related to the 2021 Volumetric acquisition from Non-GAAP measures as management evaluates financial performance excluding this expense, which is viewed by management as similar to acquisition consideration.

    The matters discussed above are tax effected, as applicable, in calculating Non-GAAP diluted income (loss) per share.

    Adjusted EBITDA, defined as net income, plus income tax (provision) benefit, interest and other income (expense), net, stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets, depreciation expense, and other Non-GAAP adjustments, all as described above, is used by management to evaluate performance and helps measure financial performance period-over-period.

    A reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP financial measures is provided in the accompanying schedules.

    3D Systems does not provide forward-looking guidance for certain measures on a GAAP basis. The company is unable to provide a quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking Non-GAAP gross profit margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Non-GAAP operating expense to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measures without unreasonable effort because certain items, including litigation costs, acquisition expenses, stock-based compensation expense, intangible assets amortization expense, restructuring expenses, and goodwill impairment charges are difficult to predict and estimate. These items are inherently uncertain and depend on various factors, many of which are beyond the company’s control, and as such, any associated estimate and its impact on GAAP performance could vary materially.

    About 3D Systems

    More than 35 years ago, Chuck Hull’s curiosity and desire to improve the way products were designed and manufactured gave birth to 3D printing, 3D Systems, and the additive manufacturing industry. Since then, that same spark continues to ignite the 3D Systems team as we work side-by-side with our customers to change the way industries innovate. As a full-service solutions partner, we deliver industry-leading 3D printing technologies, materials and software to high-value markets such as medical and dental; aerospace, space and defense; transportation and motorsports; AI infrastructure; and durable goods. Each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise and passion of our employees who endeavor to achieve our shared goal of Transforming Manufacturing for a Better Future. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

    Investor Contact: investor.relations@3dsystems.com
    Media Contact: press@3dsystems.com
       

    Tables Follow

     
    3D Systems Corporation
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (in thousands, except par value)
     
      December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    ASSETS      
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 171,324     $ 331,525  
    Accounts receivable, net of reserves — $2,433 and $3,389   101,471       101,497  
    Inventories   118,530       152,188  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   34,329       42,612  
    Assets held for sale   3,176       —  
    Total current assets   428,830       627,822  
    Property and equipment, net   51,044       64,461  
    Intangible assets, net   18,020       62,724  
    Goodwill   14,879       116,082  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets   50,715       58,406  
    Finance lease right-of-use assets   8,726       12,174  
    Long-term deferred income tax assets   2,063       4,230  
    Other assets   34,569       44,761  
    Total assets $ 608,846     $ 990,660  
    LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST AND EQUITY      
    Current liabilities:      
    Current operating lease liabilities $ 9,514     $ 9,924  
    Accounts payable   41,833       49,757  
    Accrued and other liabilities   45,488       49,460  
    Customer deposits   4,712       7,599  
    Deferred revenue   27,298       30,448  
    Liabilities held for sale   10,251       —  
    Total current liabilities   139,096       147,188  
    Long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs   211,995       319,356  
    Long-term operating lease liabilities   52,527       56,795  
    Long-term deferred income tax liabilities   2,076       5,162  
    Other liabilities   25,001       33,400  
    Total liabilities   430,695       561,901  
    Commitments and contingencies      
    Redeemable non-controlling interest   1,958       2,006  
    Stockholders’ equity:      
    Common stock, $0.001 par value, authorized 220,000 shares; shares issued 135,510 and 133,619 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively   136       134  
    Additional paid-in capital   1,593,366       1,577,519  
    Accumulated deficit   (1,362,243 )     (1,106,650 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (55,066 )     (44,250 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   176,193       426,753  
    Total liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interest and stockholders’ equity $ 608,846     $ 990,660  
     
    3D Systems Corporation
    Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
     
      Three Months Ended   Year Ended
      December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023    		   December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Revenue: (unaudited)   (unaudited)        
    Products $ 70,426     $ 74,763     $ 279,178     $ 328,731  
    Services   40,598       40,085       160,943       159,338  
    Total revenue   111,024       114,848       440,121       488,069  
    Cost of sales:              
    Products   46,288       49,816       175,859       203,258  
    Services   30,291       21,075       100,084       88,390  
    Total cost of sales   76,579       70,891       275,943       291,648  
    Gross profit   34,445       43,957       164,178       196,421  
    Operating expenses:              
    Selling, general and administrative   43,360       59,549       210,132       210,172  
    Research and development   20,219       22,513       86,479       89,466  
    Asset impairment charges   1,234       289,190       144,967       302,787  
    Total operating expenses   64,813       371,252       441,578       602,425  
    Loss from operations   (30,368 )     (327,295 )     (277,400 )     (406,004 )
    Non-operating income (loss):              
    Foreign exchange gain (loss), net   3,226       (978 )     2,452       (4,825 )
    Interest income   1,502       3,781       7,302       19,511  
    Interest expense   (620 )     (689 )     (2,564 )     (3,301 )
    Other income (loss), net   (1,505 )     31,887       20,214       32,307  
    Total non-operating income (loss)   2,603       34,001       27,404       43,692  
    Loss before income taxes   (27,765 )     (293,294 )     (249,996 )     (362,312 )
    (Provision) benefit for income taxes   (4,689 )     1,045       (2,193 )     641  
    Loss on equity method investment, net of income taxes   (1,001 )     (535 )     (3,404 )     (1,282 )
    Net loss before redeemable non-controlling interest   (33,455 )     (292,784 )     (255,593 )     (362,953 )
    Less: net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest   252       (116 )     —       (265 )
    Net loss attributable to 3D Systems Corporation $ (33,707 )   $ (292,668 )   $ (255,593 )   $ (362,688 )
                   
    Net loss per common share:              
    Basic $ (0.25 )   $ (2.25 )   $ (1.94 )   $ (2.79 )
    Diluted $ (0.25 )   $ (2.25 )   $ (1.94 )   $ (2.79 )
                   
    Weighted average shares outstanding:              
    Basic   132,576       130,431       131,861       129,944  
    Diluted   132,576       130,431       131,861       129,944  
     
    3D Systems Corporation
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (in thousands)
     
      Year Ended December 31,
        2024       2023  
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net loss before redeemable non-controlling interest $ (255,593 )   $ (362,953 )
    Adjustments to reconcile loss income to net cash used in operating activities:      
    Depreciation and amortization   33,310       33,413  
    Accretion of debt discount   1,378       2,640  
    Stock-based compensation   18,457       23,504  
    Loss on short-term investments   —       6  
    Non-cash operating lease expense   9,871       9,267  
    Provision for inventory obsolescence and revaluation   12,360       6,350  
    Provision for bad debts   506       595  
    Loss on the disposition of businesses, property, equipment and other assets   2,795       6  
    Gain on debt extinguishment   (21,518 )     (32,181 )
    Benefit for deferred income taxes and reserve adjustments   (952 )     (2,412 )
    Loss on equity method investment   3,404       1,282  
    Impairments of assets   144,967       304,698  
    Changes in operating accounts:      
    Accounts receivable   (6,376 )     (6,186 )
    Inventories   15,766       (20,555 )
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   7,049       (7,961 )
    Accounts payable   (5,812 )     (5,526 )
    Deferred revenue and customer deposits   3,602       1,245  
    Accrued and other liabilities   (6,187 )     (12,933 )
    All other operating activities   (1,914 )     (12,994 )
    Net cash used in operating activities   (44,887 )     (80,695 )
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Purchases of property and equipment   (16,121 )     (27,183 )
    Purchases of short-term investments   —       —  
    Sales and maturities of short-term investments   —       180,925  
    Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses, net of cash sold   96       194  
    Acquisitions and other investments, net of cash acquired   (3,000 )     (29,152 )
    Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities   (19,025 )     124,784  
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Repayment of borrowings/long-term debt   (87,218 )     (100,614 )
    Purchase of non-controlling interests   —       —  
    Taxes paid related to net-share settlement of equity awards   (2,662 )     (5,211 )
    Other financing activities   (1,385 )     (644 )
    Net cash used in financing activities   (91,265 )     (106,469 )
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   (5,053 )     3,516  
    Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   (160,230 )     (58,864 )
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year a   333,111       391,975  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year a $ 172,881     $ 333,111  
     
    (a)  The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets to the total of such amounts reported in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
     
      December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023    		   December 31,
    2022
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 171,324     $ 331,525     $ 388,134  
    Restricted cash included in prepaid expenses and other current assets   123       119       114  
    Restricted cash included in other assets   1,434       1,467       3,727  
    Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows $ 172,881     $ 333,111     $ 391,975  
     
    Amounts included in restricted cash as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 primarily relate to guarantees in the form of a standby letter of credit as security for a long-term real estate lease. Amounts included in restricted cash as of December 31, 2022 primarily relate to $3,435 deposited into and held in an escrow account prior to its use as part of our initial investment in the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation (“NAMI”) joint venture. The remaining amounts in restricted cash in all periods presented relate to collateral for letters of credit and bank guarantees.
     
    Appendix
    3D Systems Corporation
    Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
     
    Segment Revenue (1)
     
      Three Months Ended December 31,
    (in millions)   2024       2023     $ Change   % Change
    Healthcare Solutions $ 40.4     $ 51.2     $ (10.8 )     (21.1) %
    Industrial Solutions   70.7       63.7       7.0       11.0 %
    Total revenue $ 111.0     $ 114.8     $ (3.8 )     (3.3) %
     
    (1) Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding
      Year Ended December 31,
    (in millions)   2024       2023     $ Change     % Change  
    Healthcare Solutions $ 189.7     $ 213.2     $ (23.5 )     (11.0) %
    Industrial Solutions   250.4       274.9       (24.5 )     (8.9) %
    Total revenue $ 440.1     $ 488.1     $ (47.9 )     (9.8) %
     
    (1) Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding
     

    Gross Profit and Gross Profit Margin (1)

      Three Months Ended December 31,
    (in millions)   2024       2023  
      Gross Profit   Gross Profit Margin   Gross Profit   Gross Profit Margin
    GAAP $ 34.4       31.0 %   $ 44.0       38.3 %
    Amortization expense included in Cost of sales   0.2           0.4      
    Severance accrual adjustment   0.1           1.4      
    Non-GAAP (2) $ 34.7       31.3 %   $ 45.8       39.8 %
     
    (1) Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding
    (2) Calculated as non-GAAP gross profit as a percentage of total revenue.
       
      Year Ended December 31,
    (in millions)   2024       2023  
      Gross Profit   Gross Profit Margin   Gross Profit   Gross Profit Margin
    GAAP $ 164.2       37.3 %   $ 196.4       40.2 %
    Amortization expense included in Cost of sales   1.0           0.5      
    Severance accrual adjustment   (0.4 )         1.4      
    Non-GAAP (2) $ 164.8       37.4 %   $ 198.4       40.6 %
     
    (1)Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding
    (2) Calculated as non-GAAP gross profit as a percentage of total revenue.
     

    Non-GAAP Operating Expense(1)

      Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
    (in millions)   2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Operating expense $ 64.8     $ 371.3     $ 441.6     $ 602.4  
    Amortization expense   (0.8 )     (2.0 )     (13.3 )     (11.6 )
    Stock-based compensation expense   (1.1 )     (8.4 )     (18.4 )     (23.5 )
    Acquisition and divestiture-related expense   (1.4 )     1.2       (2.2 )     1.1  
    Legal and other expense   (1.8 )     (3.2 )     (11.0 )     (8.1 )
    Restructuring expense   (0.1 )     (3.3 )     (1.4 )     (10.1 )
    Asset impairment charges   (1.2 )     (290.1 )     (145.0 )     (304.4 )
    Non-GAAP operating expense $ 58.4     $ 65.4     $ 250.3     $ 246.0  
     
    (1) Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding
     
    Appendix
    3D Systems Corporation
    Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
     
    Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA (1)
     
      Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
    (in millions)   2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Net loss attributable to 3D Systems Corporation $ (33.7 )   $ (292.7 )   $ (255.6 )   $ (362.7 )
    Interest (income) expense, net   (0.9 )     (3.1 )     (4.7 )     (16.2 )
    Provision (benefit) for income taxes   4.7       (1.0 )     2.2       (0.6 )
    Depreciation expense   4.5       5.7       19.0       21.3  
    Amortization expense   1.0       2.4       14.3       12.1  
    EBITDA   (24.4 )     (288.8 )     (224.8 )     (346.1 )
    Stock-based compensation expense   1.1       8.4       18.4       23.5  
    Acquisition and divestiture-related expense   1.4       (1.2 )     2.2       (1.1 )
    Legal and other related costs   2.2       3.2       11.4       8.1  
    Restructuring expense   (0.2 )     4.8       0.7       11.5  
    Net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest   0.3       (0.1 )     0.1       (0.3 )
    Loss on equity method investment, net of tax   1.0       0.5       3.4       1.3  
    Asset impairment charges   1.2       290.1       145.0       304.4  
    Gain on repurchase of debt   —       (32.2 )     (21.5 )     (32.2 )
    Other non-operating (income) expense   (1.7 )     1.3       (1.2 )     4.7  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ (19.1 )   $ (14.0 )   $ (66.4 )   $ (26.3 )
     
    (1) Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding
     
    Appendix
    3D Systems Corporation
    Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
     
    Diluted Loss per Share (1)
     
      Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
    (in dollars)   2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Diluted loss per share $ (0.25 )   $ (2.25 )   $ (1.94 )   $ (2.79 )
    Amortization expense   0.01       0.02       0.11       0.09  
    Stock-based compensation expense   0.01       0.06       0.14       0.18  
    Acquisition and divestiture-related expense   0.01       (0.01 )     0.02       (0.01 )
    Legal expense   0.02       0.03       0.09       0.06  
    Restructuring expense   —       0.04       0.01       0.09  
    Asset impairment charges   0.01       2.23       1.10       2.35  
    Gain on repurchase of debt   —       (0.25 )     (0.16 )     (0.25 )
    Loss on equity method investment and other   0.01       —       0.03       —  
    Non-GAAP diluted loss per share $ (0.19 )   $ (0.13 )   $ (0.62 )   $ (0.28 )
     
    (1) Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025 Ministerial Panel: Republic of Congo to Promote Onshore Acreage in Upcoming Bid Round

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

    BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo, March 26, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons announced that the upcoming 2025 licensing round will focus on onshore blocks in the country’s continental basin.

    The announcement was made on March 25 by Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo, during a ministerial panel discussion at the inaugural Congo Energy & investment Forum in Brazzaville.

    “Our national development plan [aims to] develop the economy, but we cannot start without the development of hydrocarbons. We have no choice but to take care of hydrocarbons to give the country the capacity to develop,” Minister Itoua stated.

    During the panel session, Minister Itoua also highlighted the Ministry’s plans to collaborate with oil and gas company Trident Energy to valorize associated gas from the country’s N’Kossa oil field. The Minister announced it will launch an entity to monetize associated gas not used by international oil companies operating in the country as part of a strategy to reach zero flaring by 2030.

    Meanwhile, Aimé Sakombi Molendo, Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), announced that the country will hold discussions with the Republic of Congo on March 26 to explore bilateral cooperation and the possibility of co-developing hydrocarbon resources in cross-border basins. This comes as the DRC and Angola are set to kick off discussions with energy major Chevron for the joint development of the common interest zone between the two countries, with a governance agreement having been ratified in December last year.

    “We will be discussing with the Republic of Congo bilaterally to see to what extent the two countries can benefit from co-development of our abundant hydrocarbon resources,” Minister Molendo stated.

    José Barroso, Secretary of State for Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas for Angola, indicated the potential for developing joint projects in the energy sector with both the Republic of Congo and the DRC. Barroso highlighted the need to create the requisite technical conditions to incentivize national companies to participate in their respective markets in the three countries.

    “In the pipeline, we have projects that we are discussing amongst ourselves, and in the short future, we will be able to communicate more on this,” Barroso stated.

    Meanwhile, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), discussed the role the upcoming African Energy Bank will have on resource monetization and development in Africa. Spearheaded by APPO and the African Export-Import Bank, the bank aims to facilitate, promote and finance the development of Africa’s oil, gas and energy industries. According to Dr. Farouk, both the bank and the private sector will have an important role to play in ensuring that regional markets move forward and drive cross-border development.

    “None of our countries have what it takes to address the challenges of energy by themselves. The African Energy Bank is an example of how Africa wants to be independent and be in control of its resources,” Dr. Farouk stated.

    An outline of the Republic of Congo’s 2025 licensing round will be presented during the Congo Energy & Investment Forum.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investing in Alberta just got easier

    When it comes to setting up shop, any good business owner knows the key to success is location, location, location. Alberta offers thousands of acres of prime real estate in top locations, providing unmatched opportunities for prosperity for businesses and entrepreneurs.

    In the face of a changing geopolitical landscape, Alberta’s government remains committed to maintaining a strong business environment that attracts investment, while supporting economic growth and prosperity for Albertans. Alberta’s government is investing in cutting-edge tools and technology to help businesses thrive and attract large-scale investments to the province.

    Alberta’s Site Selector Tool is a free online service that helps connect businesses and investors to the best locations in Alberta. It combines real-time property listings with key data on infrastructure and socio-economic insights on communities, making it easy to choose where to expand or invest. With almost 7,000 available properties already featured on the tool, Alberta’s business community is empowered with access to free, easy-to-use data and a platform to pinpoint local opportunities.

    “When it comes to innovative solutions for investment attraction, the Alberta Site Selector Tool is best in class and has the potential to help us attract high-quality jobs and billions of dollars in investment.”

    Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade

    With the launch of new features on the tool, Alberta’s government is helping investors take their research to the next level and make their data-driven business decisions even more seamless with enhanced access to information supporting a range of sectors including agriculture, energy, data centres, manufacturing and more.

    “Time is money – and Alberta’s improved Site Selector Tool gives businesses the gift of both. By using technology to simplify investment decisions, we’re making Alberta the most attractive and straightforward place to do business in Canada.”

    Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation

    Investors can now activate new layers of data that capture a property’s proximity to infrastructure such as high-load corridors, mainline railways and international airports as well as high-capacity powerlines, substations, power generation, natural gas service areas and fibre internet. Investors can also access regional statistics on labour force availability, including labour force by occupation and industry, unemployment rates and graduate rates by degree program.

    The tool also boasts new functionality that saves investors and regional economic developers time, including the ability to:

    • Drop a pin on a map to generate location-specific data.
    • Save a custom view of the site that captures preferred filters and data layers.
    • Share and add properties to a list of favourites that can be downloaded to a spreadsheet or PDF to view later.

    This suite of enhancements was rolled out based on ongoing feedback from users, including municipalities and economic development organizations.

    “As the investment attraction agency for the Edmonton Metro Region, Edmonton Global uses the site selector tool regularly to answer questions from prospective investors, partners and team members. This information, along with insights from other data tools, helps us guide investors to make well-informed decisions for their businesses.”

    Jeff Bell, director of research & business intelligence, Edmonton Global 

    Since its launch in April 2024, the Alberta Site Selector Tool has been providing innovative ways for investors to find opportunities in Alberta while enabling economic development partners to promote their communities as a destination of choice to potential investors.

    Alberta remains the best place in Canada to invest due to its low tax environment, red tape reduction efforts and business-friendly policies. The Alberta government’s policies are attracting record investment, creating thousands of jobs and further diversifying the economy. Through investments like the Site Selector Tool, Alberta is building on its reputation as a province with unlimited opportunity.

    Related information

    • Alberta Regional Dashboard & Site Selector

    Related news

    • New tool making investing even easier in Alberta (April 2, 2024)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Agriculture Committee adopts two decisions to enhance transparency, notifications

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Agriculture Committee adopts two decisions to enhance transparency, notifications

    Tariff-Rate Quotas (TRQs) allow a specified quantity of a product to be imported at a lower tariff rate, while any quantity exceeding that limit is subject to higher tariffs.
    Triennial reviews of Nairobi and Bali decisions
    The Chair announced that members successfully concluded the third triennial review of the Nairobi Decision on Export Competition in December 2024 through a written procedure. The outcome package includes the Review Report (G/AG/39 ) and a decision on a comprehensive export competition notification requirements and formats (G/AG/2/Add.2 ). This streamlines the relevant notification requirements adopted in 1995 (G/AG/2 ) and integrates the export competition questionnaire (ECQ) from the Nairobi Decision. She thanked members for their constructive engagement in reaching consensus.
    Members also adopted a key document on enhanced transparency of TRQ administration notifications (RD/AG/134/Rev.2)  in order to implement the Bali Decision on Tariff Rate Quota administration. Members hailed the successful adoption of the decision on TRQ notifications (G/AG/2/Add.3), recognizing it as the culmination of months of hard work and productive dialogue.
    Members also launched discussions on the second triennial review of the operation of the Bali Decision and shared their expectations of the review.
    Updates on agricultural market developments, food security
    Members heard updated reports from the World Food Programme(WFP), the International Grains Council (IGC) and the World Bank on the latest developments in food security and agriculture. The organizations were invited to the Committee to share information and experiences as a follow-up to  the report and recommendations of the work programme undertaken pursuant to the MC12 declaration on food insecurity.
    The WFP warned that the world is entering a period of high uncertainty, marked by a worsening global food security crisis and humanitarian funding cuts. It estimated that 343 million people suffered from acute food insecurity across 74 countries in 2024 — nearly 200 million more than pre-pandemic levels.
    The WFP stressed that conflict remains the primary driver of food insecurity in war zones, including Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza and Somalia. Other factors, such as climate change, economic instability, rising food prices and currency depreciation, continue to affect food supply in developing economies.
    The WFP urged governments to find political solutions to end conflicts, strengthen food systems and enhance support for local economies. It also called for governments to secure funding to protect vulnerable populations and build community food resilience.
    The IGC projected record grain production and a global rebound in grain trade in 2025–26, driven by strong demand from Asia and Africa, as well as other positive market trends. The IGC also outlined its ongoing efforts to improve and standardize trade statistics for rice through better classification of rice types in global trade. It has also developed a dashboard for net food-importing countries to track market changes and refine food security strategies.
    The World Bank echoed concerns raised by the WFP and IGC, stating that acute food insecurity remains at record levels, with an estimated 713–757 million people undernourished. It introduced its Global Challenge Program on Food and Nutrition Security, which includes early warning systems, cross-sectoral approaches to nutrition, and improved access to climate finance for smallholders.
    The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to nutrition security, emphasizing its alignment with global efforts such as the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris and its integration of nutrition objectives across health, agriculture and social protection investments.
    Members thanked the international organizations for their updates. Some highlighted concerns over food insecurity in least developed countries (LDCs) and net food-importing developing countries (NFIDCs), citing conflict, climate change and high import dependency as key challenges. Others emphasized the need for greater financial support for food and climate resilience while urging the WTO to address the root causes of food insecurity through further agricultural reforms.
    Members also discussed follow-up to Food Security Work Programme recommendations (G/AG/38) from the 12th Ministerial Conference. The Chair commended members’ efforts in implementing some of these recommendations within the Committee and the Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance. Some members stressed the need to turn recommendations into concrete actions, including informal dedicated workshops to share experiences.
    Review of the NFIDC list 
    Divergences remain on the annual review of the NFIDCs list, which is undertaken annually in the Committee’s March meeting. Some members favoured a data-based review exercise requiring NFIDCs to present updated statistics, whereas some others saw no basis to submit such data by NFIDCs beyond their inclusion in the list.
    The discussion concluded without a common understanding of whether the annual review had been accomplished. Some members called for continued discussions in subsequent meetings, while others opposed extending talks beyond the annual March meeting. At the same time, members agreed that the current list (G/AG/5/Rev.12) remains valid unless consensus dictates otherwise.
    Review of agricultural policies
    A total of 208 questions were raised by members concerning individual notifications and specific implementation matters during the meeting. This peer review process allows members to address issues related to the implementation of commitments outlined in the Agreement on Agriculture. Of these, 31 issues were raised for the first time, while 15 were recurring matters from previous Committee meetings.
    The 31 new items covered a range of topics, including Australia’s food and fibre program, Brazil’s rural initiative, Canada’s multiple farm and dairy support programs, and the European Union’s tariffs on Russian agri-food imports. Other topics included India’s sugar support and tariff changes on Bourbon whiskey, Indonesia’s various farm support policies, and Japan’s support for CO₂ reduction and fertilizer procurement. Members also reviewed Paraguay’s financial assistance to farmers, Switzerland’s farm payments, Thailand’s debt relief measures and rice support, Türkiye’s tax and pricing systems, the United Kingdom’s productivity-boosting scheme, and the United States’ applied tariffs and multiple farm support programs.
    Since the previous meeting in November 2024, a total of 110 individual notifications have been submitted to the Committee, covering market access, domestic support, export competition and notifications in the context of the NFIDC Decision. The majority of these notifications — 45 in total — pertain to export competition.
    The Chair urged members to submit timely and complete notifications and to respond to overdue questions, stressing the critical importance of enhanced transparency.
    All questions submitted for the meeting are available in G/AG/W/252. All questions and replies received are available in the WTO’s Agriculture Information Management System (AG IMS).
    Technology transfer
    The Chair reported productive discussions at an informal meeting on 13 February regarding guidance on how to pursue further discussions on technology transfer in 2025.
    Some members expressed interest in shifting discussions from experience-sharing to the WTO framework of rules and its role in promoting agricultural innovations and technologies. While they acknowledged that the Agreement on Agriculture provides a clear policy and legal basis for agricultural technology transfer — essential for improving food security and rural development — barriers remain in accessing these technologies, highlighting the need for affordable innovations. To address these challenges, these members suggested future seminars to discuss both policy considerations under the Agreement on Agriculture and practical country case studies.
    Some members also emphasized the need for the Committee to further explore sustainable agriculture, with a focus on practical, expert-led discussions. One suggestion was to highlight the importance of capacity building in developing economies, supported by strengthened collaboration with regional research centres.
    The Chair noted the need to continue discussions on this agenda item at the next meeting, which will help the incoming Chair plan future work.
    Other business
    The Chair said that the election of the new Chair will be considered at the June meeting, as the consultation process is still ongoing.
    The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) briefly introduced its 2025 work plan (G/AG/GEN/248). In close cooperation with the WTO, the IICA will organize a seminar in Paraguay in the second half of the year to train government officials from the region on improving their notification capacity and negotiation skills.
    Next meeting
    The next meeting of the Committee on Agriculture is scheduled for 23-24 June 2025.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Trade Policy Review: Cambodia

    Source: World Trade Organization

    The following documents are available:

    Secretariat report

    A detailed report written independently by the WTO Secretariat.

    Government report

    A policy statement by the government of the member under review.

    From the meeting

    The Secretariat and Government reports are discussed by the WTO’s full membership in the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB).

    Background

    Trade Policy Reviews are an exercise, mandated in the WTO agreements, in which member countries’ trade and related policies are examined and evaluated at regular intervals. Significant developments that may have an impact on the global trading system are also monitored. All WTO members are subject to review, with the frequency of review depending on the country’s size.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Early exposure to air pollution could affect brain development and mental health later in life: new research

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Hobbs, Associate Professor and Transforming Lives Fellow in Spatial Data Science and Planetary Health, Sheffield Hallam University

    Getty Images

    Exposure to air pollution in early life could have lasting effects on child development and mental health in adolescence, according to our recent study.

    We integrated air pollution data with existing longitudinal data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS). The CHDS has followed more than 1,200 children born in the city in 1977, with a strong focus on developmental and mental health outcomes.

    Our aim was to examine how exposure to air pollution shapes development and mental health in later childhood and adolescence. We found an increased risk of attention problems, conduct issues, lower educational attainment and substance abuse in adolescence associated with higher exposure.

    Existing evidence often focuses on adulthood. However, by tracking air pollution exposure from the prenatal period to the age of ten, and linking this data to subsequent cognitive and mental health outcomes, we were able to highlight the long-term consequences of growing up in polluted environments.

    Air pollution is one of the leading environmental contributors to disease, especially respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution because their brains and bodies are developing.

    A growing body of evidence suggests air pollution could affect brain development, educational attainment and mental health, contributing to depression, anxiety and conduct or attention problems. Despite this, few studies have tracked long-term exposure to air pollution from early childhood.

    Patterns of exposure

    We chose to conduct this research in Christchurch because the city is a historical air-pollution hotspot, with a documented history of measurements, and because of its long-running birth cohort study.

    The CHDS collects detailed information on participants’ health, development, education and family backgrounds from prenatal into adulthood.

    The city of Christchurch now enjoys much better air quality, but it was an air-pollution hotspot in the past.
    Flickr/Larry Koester, CC BY-SA

    For this study, we linked historical air-pollution data, measured as the concentration of black smoke from 1977 to 1987, to residential locations of birth cohort members. This allowed researchers to estimate each child’s annual exposure to air pollution during key developmental periods.

    We found four distinct patterns of air-pollution exposure across childhood (see graph below):

    • consistently low (these children had the lowest levels of air pollution throughout childhood)

    • consistently high (this groups had the highest levels of air pollution from birth to the age of ten)

    • elevated preschool (exposure peaked between ages three to six and then declined)

    • high prenatal and postnatal (high exposure before and immediately after birth, but declining later).

    We then examined whether children in the higher exposure groups were more likely to experience adverse impacts on cognition, educational achievement and mental health in later childhood and adolescence.

    We adjusted for a range potential confounders such as socioeconomic status, neighbourhood disadvantage and parental characteristics.

    We found children with elevated pre-school exposure had poorer educational attainment and a higher likelihood of conduct disorders and substance abuse problems. High prenatal and postnatal exposure was linked to a greater risk of attention problems as well as substance abuse in adolescence.

    Children with persistently high air-pollution exposure were more likely to develop attention problems and had higher odds of substance abuse issues in adolescence.

    Researchers identified four different trajectory patterns of exposure to air pollution from the prenatal period through to the age of ten.
    Author provided, CC BY-SA

    What these findings mean

    The effects of air pollution on several outcomes were small at an individual level, but they could be highly important at a population level.

    This is because even small shifts in cognitive and mental health outcomes, when applied to entire populations of children exposed to poor air quality, could have major consequences affecting future educational achievement, workforce productivity and public health burdens.

    These findings support previous research suggesting air pollution could affect brain function by causing inflammation, oxidative stress and affecting neurodevelopmental pathways. Importantly, they reinforce the idea that certain developmental periods, such as the prenatal period and early childhood, may be especially sensitive to pollution exposure.

    We need further research to confirm our findings but potential considerations include reducing children’s exposure to air pollution and improving urban air quality by cutting emissions from vehicles, industry and residential heating.

    We should also promote cleaner energy sources to decrease exposure to harmful pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter. Providing better access to green spaces may mitigate the impact of air pollution.

    To strengthen public health and policy measures, we need stricter air quality regulations, particularly around schools and childcare centres. We should also implement air-quality monitoring in urban areas to identify high-risk zones for children.

    Better public information is crucial to minimise indoor and outdoor pollution exposure. This could include the use of air purifiers for indoor activies or limiting outdoor exposure during peak pollution periods.

    Further research and action

    Our study highlights the need for more research on air pollution’s effects on children’s mental health and cognition, particularly in different environmental and socioeconomic contexts.

    Policymakers, educators and healthcare professionals must consider air pollution as a potential risk factor for developmental challenges, not just a physical health concern.

    Air pollution may not be visible in the same way as poor housing or inaccessible healthcare, but its impact on child development could be important at a population level.

    Given the rising prevalence of mental ill health in young people and adults, tackling air pollution could be an overlooked but essential public health strategy for protecting future generations.

    Associate Professor Matthew Hobbs receives funding from Health Research Council of New Zealand and the Clare Foundation, New Zealand.

    Joseph Boden receives funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise, and the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

    Lianne Jane Woodward and Susie (Bingyu) Deng 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. Early exposure to air pollution could affect brain development and mental health later in life: new research – https://theconversation.com/early-exposure-to-air-pollution-could-affect-brain-development-and-mental-health-later-in-life-new-research-252644

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Trump vs. Plastic Pollution

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Underwater image of a turtle with plastic on his head. © Troy Mayne / Oceanic Imagery Publications

    In his first month back in the Oval Office, Trump made moves that sent shockwaves in the world of plastic pollution. First, there was the announcement of a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum, to which top global plastic polluter The Coca-Cola Company responded by announcing that they would produce even more plastic bottles to counter the increased price of aluminum cans. Then, there was the executive order to “bring America back” to plastic straws by ending federal procurement of paper straws. But perhaps the biggest blow came as unelected billionaire Elon Musk began efforts to dismantle the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the government agency in charge of managing coastal and marine ecosystems, which are heavily threatened by plastic pollution.

    While the paper straws announcement may have received far more media attention than it deserves, we cannot let such ridiculous symbolic distractions take our collective focus away from the most important issue here: the larger systemic crisis of dismantling key government institutions, such as NOAA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Park Service (NPS) among others, which protect the public good. Make no mistake, our efforts to end plastic pollution will continue no matter what obstacles lie ahead. In the absence of strong government leadership to enact effective policies that can address this crisis at the source, however, the battle to end plastic pollution has certainly gotten longer. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

    US Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD) at press conference to defend NOAA

    Take the Coca-Cola announcement. Instead of responding to the rising cost of aluminum by scaling up plastic bottles, Coke could seize this moment as an opportunity to shift a greater portion of its packaging away from single-use altogether and invest in expanding its existing refillable and returnable packaging portfolio. In 2023, the company reported selling 14% of its total beverage volume in reusable packaging already! Coca-Cola is uniquely positioned to scale up its existing reuse systems that already operate successfully around the world. Refillable Coke bottles are used widely in large country markets such as India, Brazil, Chile, the Philippines, and Mexico, among others.

    Similarly, Trump’s executive order about straws (unsurprisingly) misses the point. The debate between paper or plastic – whether it be straws, cups, or takeout containers – bypasses a much more important opportunity to move away from single-use disposable packaging altogether and expand reuse systems. Particularly in the case of packaging that comes into direct contact with food and beverages, both disposable plastic and paper alike have been found to contain harmful chemicals such as PFAS, phthalates, and bisphenols which are linked to a wide range of health issues. Arguing between paper or plastic is wasting precious time while we could be building large scale reuse systems that are better for the environment, human health, and the economy.

    Coca-Cola pioneered the reusable glass bottle system in the 1940s with great success. It knows full well how to operate large-scale reuse and refill systems using glass, which, unlike plastic, poses no health risks to consumers. PET plastic bottles shed microplastics and contain harmful chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, obesity, early puberty in children, reproductive health problems, and declining fertility. Chemicals in plastics cost Americans over $250 billion in annual healthcare. Coca-Cola is contributing to this public health crisis through its use of unsafe levels of antimony – a known carcinogen – and other chemicals in its PET plastic bottles.

    From household brand names like Coca-Cola to bulk packaging manufacturers, businesses are failing to seize the significant economic advantages that come with shifting to reusables (which has just been made easier than ever thanks to recent FDA changes to the federal food code). Unlike what the plastic industry would like us to believe, reuse systems can, in fact, be much better for business than single-use. Converting just 20% of global plastic packaging into reuse models could represent a $10 billion business opportunity, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Reuse: Rethinking Packaging report. The cost savings can be tremendous for even small businesses, which can save an average of $3,000 to $22,000 annually by transitioning from disposables to reusables. Even after accounting for upfront capital and labor costs, data from hundreds of case studies show that businesses that switch from single-use to reuse save money 100% of the time.

    The majority of American voters – Democrats and Republicans – want action to cut plastic pollution and protect our health. And literally zero Americans voted for Elon Musk’s takeover of the federal government. Musk’s DOGE agency has been wreaking havoc for weeks, slashing programs and firing workers who oversee essential services. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is the latest victim as hundreds of employees were fired late February. The consequences of this may be dire for plastic pollution as well as broader oceans issues alike.

    Many Americans interact with NOAA every day, maybe without even realizing it. NOAA provides vital services including weather and tide forecasts, extreme weather alerts, as well as fisheries and water quality data that keep people safe and allow businesses to thrive. One of NOAA’s most essential services include weather forecasts, which keep Americans informed about increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather events. In 2024, the USA’s hottest year on record, the cost for the U.S. of these disasters was at least $182.7 billion. NOAA’s timely forecasting saves lives and livelihoods. Losing NOAA’s essential services could result in even greater costs and higher loss of life following the ever increasing extreme weather events. Tourism, transportation, food, retail, and other businesses depend on NOAA to keep their doors open.

    NOAA Fisheries uses the best available science to ensure safe, healthy food and to protect endangered species. When US consumers go to the supermarket to buy seafood, at least 80% of which is imported, NOAA Fisheries’s Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) is the filter that aims to prevent seafood fraud or seafood tainted with forced labor from ending up in people’s shopping baskets. Americans want to know what they are buying and feeding their families, and they support more transparency and traceability in seafood. At this time, the US government should be expanding this program and strengthening the enforcement of import controls to prevent market access of goods produced by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing or forced labor. This would also better protect American seafood producers from unfair competition that relies on labor abuses and environmental destruction to keep costs low.

    Thankfully, people are rising up in defense of NOAA, and Greenpeace USA is too. At a recent press conference organized by US Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD), climate and environmental advocates, scientists, and members of Congress, Greenpeace USA was there in solidarity – along with our life-sized sea turtle sculpture! Here she is front and center, despite the plastic straw in her nose and oil spill covering her shell, with a few new friends a sign that says it all: “Trump is polluting our democracy.” To take a stand in support of sea turtles and other endangered marine animals, add your name here to contact your Member of Congress to save NOAA’s programs that are critical to our oceans, coastal communities, and economies. If you represent an organization, you can also consider signing onto this letter to protect NOAA, joining the close to 500 other organizations from around the country. Together, our voices are stronger.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State Restoring 12 Summit Trails on Colorado 14ers, Investing in More Outdoor Recreation Opportunities for Coloradans

    Source: US State of Colorado

    $2.4 million Awarded to 26 Non-Motorized Trail Projects 

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced that the Non-Motorized Trail Grant Program recently awarded $2,438,000 for 26 projects that will connect Coloradans and visitors to the outdoors with new and improved opportunities to get outside, including restoring trails on 12 of Colorado’s 14ers. The Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved the grants during the March 2025 PWC meeting. 

    “Our iconic 14ers will now be even more accessible and safe to summit! In Colorado, we are focused on expanding outdoor recreational opportunities for all Coloradans, while protecting our natural resources and public lands. This funding will help Coloradans have fun, get outside, and be active while protecting our awe-inspiring natural landscapes, keeping Colorado beautiful for generations to come,” said Governor Polis. 

    The Non-Motorized Trails Grant Program is a multi-agency partnership that includes CPW, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Colorado Lottery, and the Federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP). 

    “We’re excited to announce these Non-Motorized Trail Grants that will empower local agencies to create and maintain accessible trails while prioritizing wildlife conservation,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis. “Our agency is tasked with providing wildlife management and world-class outdoor recreation opportunities. To deliver on this mission, we recognize that recreation and conservation goals can often support each other, and that funding partnerships with other organizations and agencies across the state are critical to accomplish those goals.”

    Last year, a new Trail Stewardship pilot program with additional support from Great Outdoors Colorado was launched. This program provides funding specifically to support trail stewardship crews hired by land managers and nonprofits who focus on maintenance work throughout Colorado. This year, the State Trails Program received $1,500,000 in funding from Great Outdoors Colorado. 

    “As we continue to see increased use and natural disasters impact our outdoor spaces, we are fortunate to partner with Great Outdoors Colorado to launch a new opportunity to fund stewardship crews who are caring for trails across the state,” said CPW Assistant Director of Outdoor Recreation and Lands, Fletcher Jacobs. “These increased ‘boots on the ground’ trail crews will help support the Governor’s Wildly Important Goals to balance conservation and recreation by increasing the number of trail crew hours funded by the State Trails Program.” 

    2025 Grant Stats: 

    Construction: 3 grants totaling $575,000 

    Maintenance: 10 grants totaling $1,089,281 

    Planning/Support: 8 grants totaling $280,023 

    Trail Stewardship: 5 grant totaling $493,710 

    Some of the highlights from this year’s awarded projects include: 

    Statewide 14ers Trail Maintenance 2025 (Maintenance grant) 
    The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative was awarded a $250,000 grant to reconstruct and restore 12 summit trails on 14,000-foot peaks. The will include basic maintenance, intensive trail reconstruction and thousands of feet of closure/restoration. Reconstruction will include boardwalk repair, backwall supporting tundra beds, installation of timer check and rock steps. 

    The 12 summit trails included in the maintenance plan include: 

    • Mt. Bierstadt
    • Mt. Blue Sky
    • Quandary Peak
    • Mt. Democrat
    • Mt. Princeton
    • Mt. Massive
    • Capitol Peak
    • Mt. Columbia
    • San Luis Peak
    • Redcloud Peak
    • Wetterhorn Peak
    • Mt. Sneffels 

    Countywide Trail Maintenance Crew (Trail Stewardship grant) 
    Headwaters Trails Alliance was awarded an $89,040 grant to fund a four-to-six-person trail crew to maintain the 450 miles of trail in Grand County. This project will focus on assessing and addressing issues (deadfall and drainage), trail planning, drainage clearing and repair, and vegetation management. Work includes structure repair, replacement, and/or new construction (turnpikes, boardwalks, etc.), retread, regrading, outsloping, decommissioning, restoration and hazard tree clearing. 

    Trail Conservation Services (Trail Stewardship grant) 
    A $150,000 grant was awarded to the Colorado Mountain Bike Association to fund a trail stewardship crew of five to seven seasonal workers focused on addressing the backlog of maintenance of natural surface area trails, primarily in the recreation areas of the national forests that serve residents and visitors of the central Front Range. Work will focus on high-priority trails in the most heavily-used areas. COMBA’s trail crews have repaired and maintained more than 300 miles of trail, ensuring that these systems remain safe and accessible for the thousands of people who use them each year. 

    2025 Crested Butte Conservation Corps (Trail Stewardship grant) 
    The Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association was awarded a $75,000 grant. The crews will assist land managers, stakeholders, municipalities, and open space partners in the stewardship and maintenance of trails and sustainable recreation in the north end of the Gunnison Valley. The work will include removing fallen trees blocking access to trails and roads, creating drainage structures to mitigate water on trails from snowmelt and runoff, armoring trails to provide a hardened surface for sustainability, and other general maintenance needed to provide a sustainable trail network. 

    Mesa County Trail Sustainability (Trail Stewardship grant) 
    Mesa County Public Health was awarded a $123,685 grant to fund a year-round 5 person trail crew. Efforts will focus on persistent resource degradation from user and environmental created conditions and concentrate on closing social trails in Grand Valley. This work will focus on beginner trails to lessen the barrier to entry in local outdoor recreation. Work will include narrowing tread width where trail users have widened it, construction and maintenance of drainage structures, corridor clearing, rock work, revegetation and invasive species management also factor into the day-to-day activities. 

    Routt County Riders/Hahn’s Peak Bear’s Ears Trail Crew 2025 (Maintenance grant) 
    Routt County Riders was awarded a $55,985 grant to fund a 2-person addition to the USFS Hahn’s Peak/Bear’s Ears Non-Motorized Trail Crew to conduct maintenance of almost 400 miles of trail across the region. The crew will focus on significant and heavy maintenance projects that have been identified and planned for in advance. The crew will start work on lower elevation trails, including a volunteer event day to clear accessible trails in the Dry Lake Area. This project will focus on maintaining access to these trails that are important to the local communities, state residents, and the American people at large. 

    Austin Bluffs Open Space Improvements (Construction grant) 
    The City of Colorado Springs was awarded a $250,000 grant to construct 2.65 miles of trail in the Austin Bluffs Open Space. Work includes new wayfinding, trailhead improvements, and illegal trail closure. The project will create a multi-use, multi direction single track trail and a ¼ mile Enlightenment Hiking Only Trail to the summit of Pulpit Rock. Work also includes decommissioning and restoring illegal trails, and additional trailhead work to improve and designate parking in two main lots. 

    Backcountry Trail Maintenance Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness (Maintenance grant) 
    Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers was awarded a $148,566 grant to support two years of priority trail maintenance on seven trails in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. One area of focus will be on part of the Avalanche Creek Trail where a crossing has not been accessible for several years due to a bridge washing out. RFOV plans to maintain 15-18 miles of remote wilderness trail by installing drainage/erosion features (log or rock check dams, waterbars, retaining walls), and improving degraded tread. Trail crew work will be completed by a 4-person trail crew and volunteers. 

    Toivo Malm Trail Maintenance (Maintenance grant) 
    San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLV GO!) was awarded a $66,534 grant to mitigate future yearly maintenance on the Toivo Malm Trail (a prized birding area) by laying two miles of crusher fine to ensure the trail is accessible year round. Additionally, a 280 ft. boardwalk will be developed for a portion of the trail that holds moisture during monsoon seasons, alleviating side paths created by users. The trail is a highly used community trail on Alamosa’s southeast side. SLV GO! works with community members to identify and meet the needs of that community to enhance overall health and wellness and sustain the region’s natural resources. 
     

    Poudre River Trail Realignment & Trailhead Design (Planning grant) 
    The City of Greeley was awarded a $45,000 grant for design, engineering and construction plans for rerouting 600 linear feet of the existing Poudre River Trail due to river migration impacts. The project will also include the development of a new trailhead at N. 59th Ave. Amenities at the trailhead may include 20-30 parking spaces, an information kiosk, vault toilet, bike parking, benches, shade structures with tables, landscaping and trail connections to nearby regional trails. 

    A complete list of the Recreational Trail Grants is available here. 

    About the grant process 

    The Colorado Recreational Trails Committee is responsible for the review process for the trail grant applications and makes recommendations to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission regarding funding for grants. 

    The grant selection process follows a three-tiered recommendation and approval process. Applications are first evaluated and scored by a grant subcommittee made up of volunteer outside reviewers, State Trails Committee members, and trails program staff, who rank the applications in an order of recommended funding priorities. The ranked applications are submitted to the State Trails Committee which evaluates and recommends projects to the Parks and Wildlife Commission. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former federal employee sentenced to prison for mishandling classified materials

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant illegally removed documents from secure facility

    AUGUSTA, GA:  A former employee of a U.S. Department of Defense component agency was sentenced to federal prison for mishandling sensitive documents.

    Margaret Anne Ashby, 26, of Henderson, Nevada, was sentenced to 36 months in prison and a fine of $15,000 after pleading guilty to Unauthorized Removal/Retention of Classified Documents, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Ashby to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    “This sentence should serve as a reminder to all personnel who handle sensitive government documents that their proper handling is of paramount importance,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons. “Margaret Ashby is being held accountable for violating the laws that govern those entrusted to work with these materials.”

    As described in court documents and testimony, Ashby was hired in March 2020 as a civilian employee of a Department of Defense component agency located in the Southern District of Georgia. As required for her employment, Ashby possessed a Top Secret security clearance.

    From February 2022 to May 2022, Ashby, without authority, knowingly removed documents and materials containing classified information described in the plea agreement as “concerning the national defense or foreign relations of the United States.” She did so “with the intent to retain them at unauthorized locations, including her residence in the Southern District of Georgia and in digital files saved via a personal computing device located in the Southern District of Georgia.”

    “Certain responsibilities are mandatory to individuals with access to Top Secret information and when the trust placed on them to protect our national intelligence is violated, they put our country at risk,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We will continue work with our partners to protect the American people and uphold the constitution by safeguarding our country’s classified information.”

    The case was investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner and Darron J. Hubbard, and Trial Attorney David J. Ryan with the U.S. Department of Justice Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Commercial importers provided 30-day extension to submit financial security before the end of CARM transition period

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    March 26, 2025
    Ottawa, Ontario

    When the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system was launched externally on October 21, 2024, a 180-day transition period was introduced to grant commercial importers additional time to post their financial security electronically while benefitting from the Release Prior to Payment (RPP) Program. In response to feedback received from stakeholders, the CBSA will grant a 30-day extension to the transition period.

    Importers will now have until 3 am EDT on May 20, 2025, to post their financial security in the CARM system. Importers who do not post financial security in CARM by May 20, 2025, will no longer be able to benefit from having their goods released electronically at the border prior to making payment of the duties and taxes. Without RPP, importers will have to pay all duties and taxes before goods can be released.

    Once enrolled in the RPP Program, importers are not required to visit a commercial office to pay for the duties and taxes owed at time of release of their commercial shipment. Electronic enrollment also means that importers can avoid longer paper-based processing times. As such, all importers are strongly encouraged to make arrangements to post financial security well before the deadline of May 20, 2025.

    MIL OSI Canada News –