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  • MIL-OSI Economics: ASEAN, China strengthen commitment to advancing comprehensive strategic partnership

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    JAKARTA, 21 April 2025 – ASEAN and China reaffirmed their shared commitment to further advancing the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) at the 26th Meeting of the ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee (ACJCC), held today at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
     
    China reaffirmed its steadfast support for ASEAN Community-building efforts and ASEAN’s central role in regional affairs. China also underscored ASEAN as a key priority on China’s neighbourhood diplomacy.
     
    During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on recent developments in ASEAN and China, and reviewed the progress of ASEAN-China CSP over the past year. Notable progress has been made in the final year of the implementation of the ASEAN-China Plan of Action (POA) 2021-2025 and its Annex to advance the CSP.
     
    Under the framework of the existing POA, ASEAN and China continued to strengthen cooperation across a wide range of areas such as non-traditional security, trade and investment, science and technology, green economy, digital ecosystems, agriculture and food security, clean energy, tourism, education, public health, culture, and disaster management.
     
    Under the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges 2025, both sides looked forward to various projects and activities to be conducted, to implement the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Deepening Cooperation in People-to-People Exchanges adopted last year.
     
    The two sides also discussed other deliverables of ASEAN-China cooperation this year, including, among others, the expected signing of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 upgrade, the establishment of the ASEAN-China Tourism Ministers meeting, and the adoption of a new POA (2026-2030) to further advance the ASEAN-China CSP and contribute to the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
     
    China also put forward proposals for enhancing cooperation with ASEAN in maritime cooperation, artificial intelligence, transport, blue economy, women and children health, and environment.
     
    The Meeting was co-chaired by Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN, H.E. Sarah Al Bakri Devadason, and Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN, H.E. Hou Yanqi, and attended by Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States and representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
     
    *******
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Francis, a pope of many firsts: 5 essential reads

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Molly Jackson, Religion and Ethics Editor

    A mourner holds a portrait of Pope Francis at the Basílica de San José de Flores in Buenos Aires, a church where the pope worshipped in his youth. AP Photo/Gustavo Garello

    Pope Francis, whose papacy blended tradition with pushes for inclusion and reform, died on April, 21, 2025 – Easter Monday – at the age of 88.

    Here we spotlight five stories from The Conversation’s archive about his roots, faith, leadership and legacy.

    1. A Jesuit pope

    Jorge Mario Bergoglio became a pope of many firsts: the first modern pope from outside Europe, the first whose papal name honors St. Francis of Assisi, and the first Jesuit – a Catholic religious order founded in the 16th century.

    Those Jesuit roots shed light on Pope Francis’ approach to some of the world’s most pressing problems, argues Timothy Gabrielli, a theologian at the University of Dayton.

    Gabrielli highlights the Jesuits’ “Spiritual Exercises,” which prompt Catholics to deepen their relationship with God and carefully discern how to respond to problems. He argues that this spiritual pattern of looking beyond “presenting problems” to the deeper roots comes through in Francis’ writings, shaping the pope’s response to everything from climate change and inequality to clerical sex abuse.



    Read more:
    Francis is the first Jesuit pope – here’s how that has shaped his 10-year papacy

    2. LGBTQ+ issues

    Early on in his papacy, Francis famously told an interviewer, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” Over the years, he has repeatedly called on Catholics to love LGBTQ+ people and spoken against laws that target them.

    An LGBTQ couple embrace after a pastoral worker blesses them at a Catholic church in Germany, in defiance of practices approved by Rome.
    Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

    But “Francis’ inclusiveness is not actually radical,” explains Steven Millies, a scholar at the Catholic Theological Union. “His remarks generally correspond to what the church teaches and calls on Catholics to do,” without changing doctrine – such as that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

    Rather, Francis’ comments “express what the Catholic Church says about human dignity,” Millies writes. “Francis is calling on Catholics to take note that they should be concerned about justice for all people.”



    Read more:
    It shouldn’t seem so surprising when the pope says being gay ‘isn’t a crime’ – a Catholic theologian explains

    3. Asking forgiveness

    At times, Francis did something that was once unthinkable for a pope: He apologized.

    He was not the first pontiff to do so, however. Pope John Paul II declared a sweeping “Day of Pardon” in 2000, asking forgiveness for the church’s sins, and Pope Benedict XVI apologized to victims of sexual abuse. During Francis’ papacy, he acknowledged the church’s historic role in Canada’s residential school system for Indigenous children and apologized for abuses in the system.

    But what does it mean for a pope to say, “I’m sorry”?

    Members of the Assembly of First Nations perform in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on March 31, 2022, ahead of an Indigenous delegation’s meeting with Pope Francis.
    AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

    Annie Selak, a theologian at Georgetown University, unpacks the history and significance of papal apologies, which can speak for the entire church, past and present. Often, she notes, statements skirt an actual admission of wrongdoing.

    Still, apologies “do say something important,” Selak writes. A pope “apologizes both to the church and on behalf of the church to the world. These apologies are necessary starting points on the path to forgiveness and healing.”



    Read more:
    Pope Francis apologized for the harm done to First Nations peoples, but what does a pope’s apology mean?

    4. A church that listens

    Many popes convene meetings of the Synod of Bishops to advise the Vatican on church governance. But under Francis, these gatherings took on special meaning.

    The Synod on Synodality was a multiyear, worldwide conversation where Catholics could share concerns and challenges with local church leaders, informing the topics synod participants would eventually discuss in Rome. What’s more, the synod’s voting members included not only bishops but lay Catholics – a first for the church.

    Participants arrive for a vigil prayer led by Pope Francis and other religious leaders before the 2023 Synod of Bishops assembly.
    Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    The process “pictures the Catholic Church not as a top-down hierarchy but rather as an open conversation,” writes University of Dayton religious studies scholar Daniel Speed Thompson – one in which everyone in the church has a voice and listens to others’ voices.



    Read more:
    The worldwide consultations for the global synod reflect Pope Francis’ efforts toward building a more inclusive Catholic Church

    5. Global dance

    In 2024, University of Notre Dame professor David Lantigua had a cup of maté tea with some “porteños,” as people from Buenos Aires are known. They shared a surprising take on the Argentine pope: “a theologian of the tango.”

    Pope Francis drinks maté, the national beverage of Argentina, in St. Peter’s Square on his birthday on Dec. 17, 2014.
    Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images

    Francis does love the dance – in 2014, thousands of Catholics tangoed in St. Peter’s Square to honor his birthday. But there’s more to it, Lantigua explains. Francis’ vision for the church was “based on relationships of trust and solidarity,” like a pair of dance partners. And part of his task as pope was to “tango” with all the world’s Catholics, carefully navigating culture wars and an increasingly diverse church.

    Francis was “less interested in ivory tower theology than the faith of people on the streets,” where Argentina’s beloved dance was born.



    Read more:
    At 88, Pope Francis dances the tango with the global Catholic Church amid its culture wars

    This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversation’s archives.

    – ref. Francis, a pope of many firsts: 5 essential reads – https://theconversation.com/francis-a-pope-of-many-firsts-5-essential-reads-250500

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Lawful permanent residents like Mahmoud Khalil have a right to freedom of speech – but does that protect them from deportation?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Erin Corcoran, Professor of immigration, refguee and asylum law, University of Notre Dame

    The detention of noncitizen university students after their Palestinian rights activism raises questions about the limits of free speech. Rob Dobi/Moment/Getty Images

    The Trump administration has revoked the visas of more than 1,000 foreign university students since January 2025. Many of the individual cases that have made headlines center on foreign-born university students who participated in Palestinian rights protests.

    In early March, the federal government arrested, detained and began deportation proceedings against Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident born in Syria to Palestinian parents. Khalil participated in Palestinian rights protests at Columbia University in 2024.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in an April 9 memo that allowing Khalil to stay in the country would create a “hostile environment for Jewish students in the United States.”

    “The foreign policy of the United States champions core American interests and American citizens and condoning anti-Semitic conduct and disruptive protests in the United States would severely undermine that significant foreign policy objective,” Rubio wrote.

    Khalil is not the only noncitizen university student with legal permission to be in the U.S. who has been arrested and faces deportation after being involved in the Palestinian rights movement.

    Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish-born student at Tufts University, was detained by immigration authorities on March 25 near her Massachusetts home and is currently being held in Louisiana. She co-authored a 2024 op-ed in the campus newspaper calling for Tufts to recognize a genocide in the Gaza Strip.

    And Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian man who is a lawful permanent resident and a Columbia University student active in the Palestinian rights protests, was detained and arrested on April 25. This happened when Mahdawi showed up at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office for a citizenship interview in Vermont.

    “If you apply for a student visa to come to the United States and you say you’re coming not just to study, but to participate in movements that vandalize universities, harass students, take over buildings, and cause chaos, we’re not giving you that visa,” Rubio said on March 23, when asked by a journalist about revoking student visas and arresting Öztürk.

    These cases raise important questions: Do lawful permanent residents have the right to protected free speech? Or are there limitations – among them, a determination by the U.S. government that permanent residents’ speech or political activity makes them a threat to national security?

    Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil speaks to reporters at Columbia University on June 1, 2024, during a media briefing organized by protesters who were objecting to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
    Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

    Noncitizens’ First Amendment rights

    Arresting and detaining nonviolent, foreign protesters and the authors of opinion pieces is usually not legally permissible. That’s because these actions are protected by the Constitution’s First Amendment, which guarantees everyone the right to freedom of expression.

    The Supreme Court has found that there are some limits to free speech. The government may restrict speech, for example, when someone yells “Fire!” in a crowded theater when there is no actual danger.

    The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that the right to freedom of speech applies to everyone in the U.S., including noncitizens.

    Still, the First Amendment does not apply to noncitizens physically outside the U.S. The Supreme Court, for example, ruled in 1972 that the government may deny visas and bar entry to noncitizens who were seeking admission to the U.S. to engage in constitutionally protected speech.

    When noncitizens are living in the U.S., they have the same First Amendment protections as U.S. citizens, the Supreme Court ruled in 1945.

    As a scholar of U.S immigration and administrative law, I know that these protections enter a murkier territory when U.S. immigration law collides with the Constitution.

    A conflict with immigration law

    The Trump administration rests its argument that it can legally detain and deport noncitizens who have participated in Palestinian rights protests – but have not been charged with any crimes – on broad language in the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act.

    This law articulates important immigration rules, like who can enter the country and how someone can become a citizen. It also includes vague language that gives the secretary of state power to deport noncitizens in certain cases.

    “An alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is deportable,” the law reads.

    As foreign-born students Mahdawi, Öztürk and Khalil fight in court for their right to legally stay in the U.S., Rubio and other Trump administration leaders claim that this law gives them the power to determine whether Khalil and other noncitizens are creating “serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the U.S.

    The Department of Homeland Security also wrote on the social platform X on March 9 that “Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.”

    But the Trump administration has not provided any further specific details about how the views and actions of Khalil and other detained foreign students create serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the U.S. Nor has the government alleged that Khalil and other noncitizen students committed crimes or broke the law.

    Khalil’s attorneys have challenged the government’s use of the Immigration and Nationality Act as a basis to deport him in federal court. The lawyers assert that the U.S. government is attempting to deport Khalil for protected speech.

    Legal precedent and steps forward

    The Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment does not protect lawful permanent residents from being deported if their political affiliation violates the laws.

    But the court has not yet decided if lawful permanent residents participating in protests or expressing political views are protected against deportation, when the only evident ground for their deportation is political speech.

    A federal judge in New Jersey, where Khalil was first briefly detained, has ordered the government not to deport him until all his different court cases are resolved.

    On April 11, a different immigration judge in Louisiana – where Khalil is currently detained – ruled that he could be deported for being a national security risk. Khalil’s attorneys are appealing this decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals, which is part of the Department of Justice.

    Regardless of the outcome at the district court level, Khalil’s case will be appealed and most likely end up before the Supreme Court.

    The Supreme Court will then have to determine the appropriate balance between the executive branch’s authority to deport noncitizens it classifies as posing a threat to the country, and the right to freedom of expression that all people residing in the U.S. have.

    If the Supreme Court holds that the federal government can say that someone’s political speech can be a threat to U.S. national security interests, I believe the core of the First Amendment is at risk, for citizens as well as noncitizens.

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

    – ref. Lawful permanent residents like Mahmoud Khalil have a right to freedom of speech – but does that protect them from deportation? – https://theconversation.com/lawful-permanent-residents-like-mahmoud-khalil-have-a-right-to-freedom-of-speech-but-does-that-protect-them-from-deportation-254042

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Blue Mountain Solidifies Executive Leadership with Seasoned GTM Appointments to Drive Next Phase of Growth and Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STATE COLLEGE, Pa., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blue Mountain, the leader in GMP-compliant Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software for life sciences, is pleased to announce the appointment of Keith Pensabene as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and Christian Rockwell as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). These strategic additions to the executive leadership team reinforce Blue Mountain’s commitment to growth, innovation, and delivering exceptional value to its customers.

    Keith Pensabene brings extensive experience in revenue generation, sales leadership, and business development within the Life Sciences sector. Coming from leading companies including Accenture, IQVIA, Pilgrim QMS, and STARLIMS, Keith joined Blue Mountain as Chief Growth Officer where he was responsible for building strategic go-to-market partnerships to accelerate the company’s global footprint. As CRO, he will be responsible for driving Blue Mountain’s revenue strategy, optimizing sales performance, and expanding market opportunities. Pensabene’s proven track record of success in scaling businesses and fostering strong client relationships will be instrumental in accelerating the company’s growth trajectory.

    Further bolstering the leadership team, Christian Rockwell brings a wealth of experience in building marketing organizations to support high growth technology businesses at companies including Advarra, Sparta Systems, Misys and Oracle. As CMO, Rockwell will oversee all aspects of marketing, including brand positioning, product marketing, digital marketing, and go-to-market initiatives. His expertise in executing data-driven marketing strategies will support Blue Mountain’s mission to enhance its industry presence as the market leader and connect with a broader audience.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Keith and Christian to their roles at Blue Mountain,” said David Rode, CEO at Blue Mountain. “Their leadership, industry expertise, and strategic vision will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and scale as a business. We look forward to their contributions in driving sustainable growth and strengthening our market position.”

    About Blue Mountain

    Blue Mountain is the leader in enterprise asset management for Life Sciences. For over 35 years, Blue Mountain has been committed to delivering innovative and high-quality solutions that ensure regulatory compliance, enable operational efficiency and equipment uptime, and provide insights that optimize asset lifecycle management. Trusted by more than 400 Life Sciences companies, the Blue Mountain industry-leading cloud platform helps companies master end-to-end GMP asset management from set-up to installation and from training to validation. Blue Mountain is backed by Accel-KKR and headquartered in State College, PA.

    For more information, please visit www.coolblue.com and follow the company on LinkedIn.

    Media Contact:

    Christian Rockwell
    carockwell@coolblue.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McGovern Statement on the Passing of Pope Francis

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

    McGovern Statement on the Passing of Pope Francis

    WORCESTER, Mass., April 21, 2025

    WORCESTER, Mass.—Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, released the following statement on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis:

    “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis. His Holiness led with courage and compassion—and he understood that faith is about more than words, it’s about action. He didn’t just talk about feeding the hungry—he fed the hungry. He didn’t just denounce oppression—he fought for justice. He defended the dignity of immigrants and worked to end war and bring about peace. And in doing so, he taught people of all faiths how to live with integrity and purpose. For me, Pope Francis has been a source of hope and inspiration in difficult times. I hope his successor carries forward his vision of a Church that puts faith into action and leads with humility and service by caring for the most vulnerable among us.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Miske Enterprise Member Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy and Role in Kidnapping and Murder of Johnathan Fraser

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced that Delia Fabro-Miske, 30, of Honolulu, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release for racketeering conspiracy. Fabro-Miske pled guilty on January 12, 2024, in the middle of jury selection, to conspiring to conduct and participate in the conduct of the affairs of a racketeering enterprise, the “Miske Enterprise,” through racketeering activity that included bank fraud, obstruction of justice, and wire fraud.

    Fabro-Miske admitted that she and codefendant Michael J. Miske committed bank fraud by submitting fraudulent paperwork in order to obtain leases for two vehicles that were used for one of Miske’s businesses. Fabro-Miske also  obstructed a joint investigation into another of Miske’s businesses, Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control (“KTPC”), which was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (“HDA”). At Miske’s direction, Fabro-Miske submitted to HDA falsified fumigation logs, which claimed that she was the certified applicator of chemicals on hundreds of jobs. In reality, most of the listed jobs were completed by unlicensed applicators. Fabro-Miske also fraudulently obtained Social Security Administration (“SSA”) survivor benefits at Miske’s direction by having her wages at KTPC decreased below the SSA benefits income threshold. At the same time, Miske paid Fabro-Miske in benefits that were not reported to the SSA or Internal Revenue Service.

    Additionally, according to information provided to the Court, in or about 2017, Miske placed Fabro-Miske in charge of his businesses in an attempt to preserve and conceal his assets in anticipation of federal prosecution. In practice, Fabro-Miske carried out Miske’s wishes and acted at his direction. Fabro-Miske assisted in a fraudulent scheme committed through Miske’s businesses, which involved submitting false filings to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs that permitted the businesses to operate under fraudulently obtained and maintained licenses. Miske Enterprise members then falsely represented to customers that Miske’s businesses were properly licensed. Between 2017 and 2020, the businesses generated millions of dollars in income annually. As the head of Miske’s businesses, Fabro-Miske was also responsible for the proper and safe application of pesticides and other chemicals at customers’ homes. Information provided to the Court, however, showed that fumigations were regularly conducted without proper supervision or chemicals. Chief Judge Watson stated that Fabro-Miske’s work at Miske’s businesses “funded any number of crimes that we heard months and months of testimony” about in Miske’s trial, and her assistance “allowed Mr. Miske to run rampant in this community.”

    Finally, the Court determined that Fabro-Miske was also responsible for participating in a conspiracy with other Miske Enterprise members to kidnap and murder 21-year-old Johnathan Fraser. According to information provided to the Court, Caleb Miske – Miske’s son and Fabro-Miske’s husband – and Fraser were driving together when the two were involved in a car crash in November 2015.  Caleb Miske ultimately passed away from his injuries, and Miske blamed Fraser for his son’s death and enlisted several Miske Enterprise members to assist in his plan to murder Fraser. As part of that plan, Miske directed Fabro-Miske to rekindle her friendship with Fraser and his girlfriend and to lure them into living with her at an apartment paid for by Miske. On July 30, 2016, Fabro-Miske took Fraser’s girlfriend on a “spa day” paid for by Miske, ensuring that Fraser would be isolated when he was kidnapped. Fraser was never seen again after that day. Due to Miske’s death in December 2024, Chief Judge Watson explained that “the person most involved in Mr. Fraser’s demise will not ever be sentenced by this Court.” While Chief Judge Watson found that Fabro-Miske did not “directly and personally kill” Fraser and determined her to be a minimal participant in the kidnapping and murder conspiracy, he noted that there was “no doubt” that her actions led to Fraser’s murder and that the circumstances painted a “strong and clear picture” of a conspiracy to commit kidnapping murder in aid of racketeering.

    Fabro-Miske was charged alongside twelve other defendants, all of whom pled guilty except for Miske, who proceeded to trial and was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and 11 other felony charges on July 18, 2024. Seven other members and associates of the Miske Enterprise pled guilty to various offenses in related cases. 

    “Delia Fabro-Miske was an integral member of the Miske Enterprise, which terrorized, exploited, and defrauded our community for decades. She participated in Miske’s bank frauds, social security fraud, falsification of fumigation records, and the concealment of Miske’s illegally obtained assets, and was a vital cog in the plot to murder of Johnathan Fraser. Fabro-Miske’s sentence yesterday demonstrates that those who occupy even the lower rungs of Hawaii’s criminal enterprises will pay a steep price when they face justice in federal court,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The dismantling of the Miske Enterprise represents one of the most significant law enforcement efforts in the history of Hawaii law enforcement, and it would not have been possible without the tremendous and dedicated work of our partners at the Honolulu Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Environmental Protection Agency, among many others.”

    “Ms. Fabro-Miske was a key member in the Miske Enterprise fraud schemes, actively participating in defrauding the government and taxpayers,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “This sentencing reflects years of collaboration between FBI Honolulu and our law enforcement partners. The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantle violent criminal enterprises, hold their members accountable, and pursue justice for victims.”

    “Our investigators follow the money because criminal organizations profit at the expense of public safety,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “Ms. Fabro-Miske’s racketeering conviction is a reminder that, in the end, crime really doesn’t pay.”

    “The sentencing of Ms. Fabro-Miske underscores HSI’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations in Hawaii,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. “HSI will continue to hold accountable those who significantly harm our communities by breaking federal laws. By bringing justice to the Miske Enterprise, HSI sends the message that we will not tolerate any violent activity on our islands.”

    “By falsifying documents, defendant obstructed EPA and the state’s criminal investigation of a pesticide applicator that illegally applied restricted use pesticides,” said Benjamin Carr, Special Agent in Charge for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division in Hawaii. “Yesterday’s sentencing reflects the seriousness of defendant’s fraudulent conduct and the importance of complying with pesticide reporting requirements so EPA and Hawaii Department of Agriculture can keep our communities safe.”

    This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligencedriven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Honolulu Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Cybercrime Lab of the Department of Justice Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, the Honolulu Fire Department, the Hawaii National Guard, 93rd Civil Support Team, the Office of Investigations–Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Inciong, Michael Nammar, KeAupuni Akina, and Aislinn Affinito prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Republic of Gamers Announces Next-Gen RTX 50 Series Laptop Lineup – Now Available and Shipping in Canada

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced that it has begun shipping their much-anticipated NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ Series equipped line-up of laptops after initial unveil at CES 2025 subsequent pre-order on February 25, 2025. ASUS ROG’s line up of GeForce RTX™ Series Laptop GPUs include: ROG Strix SCAR 16 & 18, ROG Strix G16, and ROG Zephyrus G14 & G16, on retailers including Best Buy, Memory Express, Canada Computers and more. Featuring the latest cutting-edge silicon from Intel and NVIDIA, our portable line up is designed to deliver the power and performance that gamers can expect without compromise.

    ROG Strix SCAR 16 & SCAR 18: Unleashing Ultimate Power & Precision

    At the core of our 2025 lineup, the ROG Strix SCAR 16 & ROG Strix SCAR 18 pack serious power with an Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 275HX processors and up to a NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090 Laptop GPUs. Featuring a MUX Switch with NVIDIA Advanced Optimus, they deliver seamless performance for AAA gaming, demanding apps, and multitasking.

    With up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and 4TB PCIe Gen4 SSD storage, the SCAR Series offers blazing speed and smooth multitasking. The upgrade-friendly design makes memory and storage swaps easy. A standout AniMe Vision array and full-surround Aura RGB lighting add a bold, customizable aesthetic.

    The ROG Nebula HDR Display on both models features a stunning 2.5K mini-LED panel with 2,000+ dimming zones, 240Hz refresh rate, 16:10 aspect ratio, and 100% DCI-P3 color—delivering ultra-vivid, responsive visuals with 1200 nits peak brightness and enhanced contrast.

    ROG Strix G16: Empowering Every Gamer

    Built to unite squads and elevate gameplay, the ROG Strix G16 delivers fast AAA gaming and smooth content creation with the Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 Processor 275HX and up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 Series Laptop GPUs. Up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM ensures seamless multitasking, while advanced cooling—featuring Tri-Fan Technology and full-surround vents—keeps performance at its peak. Dual PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD slots (with Gen 5 support on Intel models) enable easy upgrades, and customizable hotkeys give gamers the edge they need. 

    ROG Zephyrus G14 & G16: Ultra-Portable Gaming at its Best

    The ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 are top picks for gamers and creators who need portability without compromising power. Built from CNC-milled aluminum, they offer a lightweight yet durable design. The G16 is equipped with an Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 285H, up to 64GB of blazing-fast LPDDR5X 7467 memory, and up to 2TB of PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD storage. The G14 features up to an AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 HX 370, 32GB of LPDDR5X 8000 memory, and a 1TB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD. With GPU options up to an NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090 on the G16 and up to an RTX™ 5080 on the G14, both models deliver top-tier performance for demanding gaming, creative workloads, and seamless multitasking.

    To keep things cool, both models use advanced thermal solutions with 2nd Gen Arc Flow Fans and either vapor chambers or heat pipes, depending on the spec. At just 3.46 lbs (G14) and 4.30 lbs (G16), and under 1.6 cm thin, they’re made for mobility. With bold Slash Lighting and a sleek Platinum White finish, the Zephyrus series makes a statement in both form and function.

    AVAILABILITY AND PRICING

    Pre-orders for our NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series-equipped laptops placed earlier on February have begun shipping starting with ROG Zephyrus G16 laptops. Availability at retailers, including Best Buy, Memory Express, Canada Computers, and selected retailers will continue to roll out throughout April and May. For specific release dates and availability, please reach out to your ASUS representative.

    SPECIFICATIONS

    ROG Strix SCAR 18 

    Config Model Name G835LX-XS99-CA G835LX-XS97 G835LW-BS97-CB G835LW-XS97 G835LR-XS96
    Marketing Name  ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) 
    Operating System  Windows 11 Pro 
    Color  Off Black
    Weight  3.30 Kg (7.28 lbs)
    Dimensions  39.9 x 29.8 x 2.35 ~ 3.20 cm (15.71″ x 11.73″ x 0.93″ ~ 1.26″)
    Display  18″, ROG Nebula HDR, Mini LED, 240Hz, 2560×1600, 500 nits (SDR), 1200 nits (HDR), 100% DCI-P3, Pantone Validated, G-Sync, Dolby Vision HDR, 1200:1 contrast ratio 
    Processor  Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX 2.7 GHz
    (36MB Cache, up to 5.4 GHz, 24 cores, 24 Threads); Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13TOPS
    Graphics  NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU
    24GB GDDR7    		 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU
    16GB GDDR7    		 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU
    12GB GDDR7
    Memory  64 GB DDR5 (2 x 32 GB SO-DIMM)  32 GB DDR5 (2 x 16 GB SO-DIMM)  64 GB DDR5 (2 x 32 GB SO-DIMM)  32 GB DDR5 (2 x 16 GB SO-DIMM) 
    Storage  2TB + 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD (RAID 0)
    (2x M.2 PCIe slots total)    		 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD (RAID 0)
    (2x M.2 PCIe slots total)    		 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD (RAID 0)
    (2x M.2 PCIe slots total)    		 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD (RAID 0)
    (2x M.2 PCIe slots total)    		 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD (RAID 0)
    (2x M.2 PCIe slots total)
    Webcam  1080p FHD IR Camera for Windows Hello
    Wi-Fi  Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 
    IO Ports  1 x 2.5G Lan Jack 
    2 x Thunderbolt 5 (PD, DP, G-Sync support) 
    3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 
    1 x HDMI 2.1 FRL 
    1 x 3.5 mm Audio Combo Jack 
    Battery  90 Whr 
    AC Adapter  Rectangle Conn, 380W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 19A, 380W, Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz universal 
    MSRP  C$6,999  C$6,499 C$5,299 C$5,299 C$4,499
    Where to buy link  Best Buy
    Canada Computers
    Memory Express
    ASUS    		 Canada Computers
    Memory Express
    ASUS    		 Best Buy
    ASUS    		 Best Buy
    Canada Computers
    Memory Express
    ASUS    		 Best Buy
    Canada Computers
    ASUS


    ROG Strix SCAR 16

    Config Model Name  G635LX-XS99-CA G635LX-XS97 G635LW-XS97 G635LR-XS96
    Marketing Name  ROG Strix Scar 16 (2025)
    Operating System  Windows 11 Pro
    Color  Off Black
    Weight  2.80 Kg (6.17 lbs)
    Dimensions  35.4 x 26.8 x 2.28 ~ 3.08 cm (13.94″ x 10.55″ x 0.90″ ~ 1.21″)
    Display 16″ ROG Nebula HDR, Mini LED, 240Hz, 2560×1600, 500 nits (SDR), 1200 nits (HDR), 100% DCI-P3, Pantone Validated, G-Sync, Dolby Vision HDR, 1200:1 contrast ratio 
    Processor Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX 2.7 GHz
    (36MB Cache, up to 5.4 GHz, 24 cores, 24 Threads); Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13TOPS
    Graphics  NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU
    24GB GDDR7    		 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU
    16GB GDDR7    		 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU
    12GB GDDR7
    Memory  64 GB DDR5 (2 x 32 GB SO-DIMM) 32 GB DDR5 (2 x 16 GB SO-DIMM)
    Storage  2TB + 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD (RAID 0)
    (2x M.2 PCIe slots total)    		 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD (RAID 0)
    (2x M.2 PCIe slots total)    		 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD (RAID 0)
    (2x M.2 PCIe slots total)    		 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD (RAID 0)
    (2x M.2 PCIe slots total)
    Webcam  1080p FHD IR Camera for Windows Hello
    Wi-Fi  Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 
    IO Ports  1 x 2.5G Lan Jack 
    2 x Thunderbolt 5 (PD, DP, G-Sync support) 
    3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 
    1 x HDMI 2.1 FRL 
    1 x 3.5 mm Audio Combo Jack 
    Battery  90 Whr 
    AC Adapter  Rectangle Conn, 380W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 19A, 380W, Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz universal 
    MSRP  C$6,699 C$5,999 C$4,999 C$4,199
    Where to buy link  Best Buy
    Canada Computers
    ASUS    		 Best Buy
    Canada Computers
    Memory Express
    ASUS    		 Canada Computers
    Memory Express
    ASUS    		 Best Buy
    Canada Computers
    ASUS


    ROG Strix G16 (2025) 

    Config Model Name  G615LW-XS96-CA G615LR-DS96-CA
    Marketing Name  ROG Strix G16 (2025) 
    Operating System  Windows 11 Pro  Windows 11 Home
    Color  Off Black 
    Weight  2.65 Kg (5.84 lbs)
    Dimensions  35.4 x 26.8 x 2.28 ~ 3.08 cm (13.94″ x 10.55″ x 0.90″ ~ 1.21″)
    Display  16-inch, 2.5K (2560 x 1600, WQXGA), 240HZ, 3ms, G-SYNC, 16:10 aspect ratio, IPS, anti-glare display, 100% DCI-P3, Pantone Validated, Dolby Vision HDR
    Processor  Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX
    2.7 GHz (36MB Cache, up to 5.4 GHz, 24 cores, 24 Threads); Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13TOPS
    Graphics  NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU
    16GB GDDR7    		 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU
    12GB GDDR7
    Memory  32 GB DDR5 (2 x 16 GB SO-DIMM)
    Storage  1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD
    (2x M.2 PCIe slots total)
    Webcam  1080p FHD IR Webcam 
    Wi-Fi  Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 
    IO Ports  1 x 2.5G Lan Jack 
    2 x Thunderbolt 5 (PD, DP, G-Sync support) 
    3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 
    1 x HDMI 2.1 FRL 
    1 x 3.5 mm Audio Combo Jack 
    Battery  90 Whr 
    AC Adapter  Rectangle Conn, Up to 380W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 19A, 380W, Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz universal 
    MSRP  C$4,299 C$3,599
    Where to buy link  Best Buy
    Canada Computers
    Memory Express
    ASUS    		 Canada Computers
    Memory Express
    ASUS

     
    ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) 

    Config Model Name  GA403WW-RS96-CA GA403WR-DS96-CA
    Marketing Name  ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) 
    Operating System  Windows 11 Pro  Windows 11 Home 
    Color  Platinum White
    Weight  1.57 Kg (3.46 lbs)
    Dimensions  31.1 x 22.0 x 1.59 ~ 1.83 cm (12.24″ x 8.66″ x 0.63″ ~ 0.72″)
    Display  14″, ROG Nebula, OLED, 120Hz, 2880 x 1800, 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3, Pantone Validated, G-Sync, Dolby Vision HDR 
    Processor  AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 HX 370 Processor
    2.0GHz (36MB Cache, up to 5.1GHz, 12 cores, 24 Threads); AMD XDNA™ NPU up to 50TOPS
    Graphics  NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU
    16GB GDDR7    		 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU
    12GB GDDR7
    Memory  32 GB LPDDR5X 8000 (on board)  32 GB LPDDR5X 7500 (on board) 
    Storage  1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD included (1 x SSD PCIE 4.0) 
    Webcam  1080p FHD IR Webcam 
    Wi-Fi  Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 
    IO Ports 1 x USB 4.0 (PD, DP support) 
    1 x USB 3.2 Gen Type-C (PD, DP, G-Sync support) 
    2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 
    1 x HDMI 2.1 FRL 
    1 x 3.5 Audio Combo Jack
    1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II)
    Battery  73 Whr 
    AC Adapter  Rectangle Conn, 200W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 12A, 240W, Input: 100~240C AC 50/60Hz universal 
    MSRP  C$4,299 C$3,699 
    Where to buy link  ASUS
    Canada Computers    		 Best Buy
    Canada Computers
    Memory Express
    ASUS


    ROG Zephyrus G16 

    Config Model Name  GU605CX-XS98-CA GU605CW-XS98-CA GU605CR-XS98-CA
    Marketing Name  ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) 
    Operating System  Windows 11 Pro 
    Color  Platinum White
    Weight  1.95 Kg (4.30 lbs)
    Dimensions  35.4 x 24.6 x 1.49 ~ 1.74 cm (13.94″ x 9.69″ x 0.59″ ~ 0.69″)
    Display  16″, ROG Nebula, OLED, 240Hz, 2560×1600, 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3, Pantone Validated, G-Sync, Dolby Vision HDR 
    Processor  Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 285H
    2.9 GHz (24MB Cache, up to 5.4 GHz, 16 cores, 16 Threads); Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13TOPS
    Graphics  NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU
    24GB GDDR7    		 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU
    16GB GDDR7    		 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU
    12GB GDDR7
    Memory  64 GB LPDDR5X 7467 (on board) 
    Storage  2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD included (2 x SSD PCIE 4.0) 
    Webcam  1080p FHD IR Webcam 
    Wi-Fi  Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 
    IO Ports  1 x Thunderbolt 4 (PD, DP support) 
    1 x USB 3.2 Gen Type-C (PD, DP, G-Sync support) 
    2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 
    1 x HDMI 2.1 FRL 
    1 x 3.5 Audio Combo Jack
    1x card reader (SD) (UHS-II, 312MB/s
    Battery  90 Whr 
    AC Adapter  Rectangle Conn, 240W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 12A, 240W, Input: 100~240C AC 50/60Hz universal 
    MSRP  C$5,999 C$5,299 C$4,799
    Where to buy link  Best Buy 
    Canada Computers
    Memory Express
    ASUS    		 Best Buy 
    Canada Computers
    Memory Express
    ASUS    		 Best Buy
    Canada Computers
    ASUS


    NOTES TO EDITORS

    Where to buy links:

    2025 ROG Gaming Laptops: https://rog.asus.com/content/2025-rog-gaming-laptops/

    ROG Strix SCAR 18 Product Page: https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/laptops/rog-strix/rog-strix-scar-18-2025/

    ROG Strix SCAR 16 Product Page: https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/laptops/rog-strix/rog-strix-scar-16-2025/

    ROG Strix G18 Product Page: https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/laptops/rog-strix/rog-strix-g18-2025/

    ROG Strix G16 Product Page: https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/laptops/rog-strix/rog-strix-g16-2025/

    ROG Zephyrus G14 Product Page: https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/laptops/rog-zephyrus/rog-zephyrus-g14-2025/

    ROG Zephyrus G16 Product Page: https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/laptops/rog-zephyrus/rog-zephyrus-g16-2025-gu605/

    ROG Flow Z13 Product Page: https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/laptops/rog-flow/rog-flow-z13-2025/

    ROG Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asusrog

    ROG X (Twitter): https://www.x.com/asus_rog

    ASUS Pressroom: http://press.asus.com

    ASUS Global Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asus

    ASUS Global Twitter: https://www.x.com/asus

    About ROG

    Republic of Gamers (ROG) is an ASUS sub-brand dedicated to creating the world’s best gaming hardware and software. Formed in 2006, ROG offers a complete line of innovative products known for performance and quality, including motherboards, graphics cards, system components, laptops, desktops, monitors, smartphones, audio equipment, routers, peripherals and accessories. ROG participates in and sponsors major international gaming events. ROG gear has been used to set hundreds of overclocking records and it continues to be the preferred choice of gamers and enthusiasts around the world. To become one of those who dare, learn more about ROG at http://rog.asus.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d97476b-b354-4048-936e-d919b5e64652

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Varonis Announces Partnership With Pure Storage

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI and SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Varonis Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRNS) today announced a new partnership with Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG), a leading provider of advanced data storage technology and services. As the first data security company to natively integrate with Pure Storage, Varonis enables customers to proactively secure their sensitive data, detect threats, and comply with evolving data and AI privacy rules.

    Pure Storage enhances cyber resilience with immutable snapshots that allow rapid recovery after a cyber incident. Together, Varonis and Pure Storage deliver a powerful data security and cyber resilience solution that helps prevent data breaches and provides rapid recovery in the event of a disaster.

    By partnering, Varonis’ AI-powered platform enables Pure Storage customers to automatically:

    • Discover and classify sensitive data. Varonis scans data in Pure Storage FlashArray and FlashBlade systems in real time, matching classification results with identities, permissions, and activity to identify and fix exposed or at-risk data.
    • Reduce data exposure. Varonis maps complex permissions, such as nested groups and inheritance, right-sizes access, and automatically fixes excessive permissions, like removing over-privileged access.
    • Detect and stop threats. Varonis uses AI and machine learning to analyze user behavior to detect threats, suspicious activity, and malicious insiders. With Varonis Managed Data Detection and Response (MDDR), Pure Storage customers can extend their teams with a 24x7x365 incident response SLA.

    “Ensuring the security of data — and the data powering AI — is challenging and critical,” said Varonis EVP of Engineering and CTO David Bass. “More and more customers rely on Pure Storage to harness the full potential of their AI data, from ingestion to inference. Customers love Pure Storage, and we are thrilled to partner to ensure that they can innovate with AI securely.”

    “In a world where ransomware risk continues to rise, ensuring data security and resilience is more critical than ever,” said Pure Storage VP of Enterprise Growth and Solutions Dan Kogan. “With this partnership, Pure Storage and Varonis are empowering organizations to proactively secure critical and sensitive data, detect threats, and recover rapidly from cyber incidents. By combining Pure Storage’s layered resilience approach and indelible snapshots with Varonis’ intelligent data security, customers can confidently protect their unstructured data, mitigate risk, and maintain uninterrupted operations.”

    Both companies have been recognized as industry leaders. Pure Storage is a Leader in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Primary Storage Platforms. Varonis is a Leader and a Customer Favorite in The Forrester Wave™: Data Security Platforms, Q1 2025.

    Additional Resources

    About Varonis

    Varonis (Nasdaq: VRNS) is the leader in data security, fighting a different battle than conventional cybersecurity companies. Our cloud-native Data Security Platform continuously discovers and classifies critical data, removes exposures, and detects advanced threats with AI-powered automation.

    Thousands of organizations worldwide trust Varonis to defend their data wherever it lives — across SaaS, IaaS, and hybrid cloud environments. Customers use Varonis to automate a wide range of security outcomes, including data security posture management (DSPM), data classification, data access governance (DAG), data detection and response (DDR), data loss prevention (DLP), AI security, and insider risk management.

    Varonis protects data first, not last. Learn more at www.varonis.com.

    About Pure Storage

    Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG) delivers the industry’s most advanced data storage platform to store, manage, and protect the world’s data at any scale. With Pure Storage, organizations have ultimate simplicity and flexibility, saving time, money, and energy. From AI to archive, Pure Storage delivers a cloud experience with one unified Storage as-a-Service platform across on premises, cloud, and hosted environments. Our platform is built on our Evergreen architecture that evolves with your business – always getting newer and better with zero planned downtime, guaranteed. Our customers are actively increasing their capacity and processing power while significantly reducing their carbon and energy footprint. It’s easy to fall in love with Pure Storage, as evidenced by the highest Net Promoter Score in the industry. For more information, visit www.purestorage.com.

    Pure Storage, the Pure Storage P Logo, Pure Realize, Pure1, FlashBlade//EXA, and the marks in the Pure Storage Trademark List are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pure Storage Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. The Trademark List can be found at purestorage.com/trademarks. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Tim Perz
    Varonis Systems, Inc.
    646-640-2112
    investors@varonis.com

    News Media Contact:
    Rachel Hunt
    Varonis Systems, Inc.
    877-292-8767 (ext. 1598)
    pr@varonis.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Amendments to Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) Framework

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank issued a draft circular on July 25, 2024 on ‘Basel III Framework on Liquidity Standards – Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) – Review of Haircuts on High Quality Liquid Assets (HQLA) and Run-off Rates on Certain Categories of Deposits’. The draft circular proposed certain amendments to the LCR framework and invited comments from banks and stakeholders.

    2. The feedback received has been carefully examined and the final guidelines have been issued by the Reserve Bank today. With the issuance of these guidelines, a bank shall:

    • assign additional run-off rates of 2.5 per cent to internet and mobile banking enabled retail and small business customer deposits.

    • adjust the market value of Government Securities (Level 1 HQLA) with haircuts in line with margin requirements under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF).

    3. In addition, the final guidelines also rationalise the composition of wholesale funding from ‘other legal entities’. Consequently, funding from non-financial entities like trusts (educational, charitable and religious), partnerships, LLPs, etc. shall attract a lower run-off rate of 40 per cent as against 100 per cent currently.

    4. The Reserve Bank has undertaken an impact analysis of the above measures based on data submitted by banks, as on December 31, 2024. It is estimated that the net impact of these measures will improve the LCR of banks, at the aggregate level, by around 6 percentage points as on that date. Further, all the banks would continue to meet the minimum regulatory LCR requirements comfortably. Reserve Bank is sanguine that these measures will enhance the liquidity resilience of banks in India, and further align the guidelines with the global standards in a non-disruptive manner.

    5. To give the banks adequate time to transition their systems to the new standards for LCR computation, the revised instructions shall become applicable w.e.f. April 01, 2026.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/145

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The final of the All-Russian TIM Championship of SPbGASU has started. SPO League 2025

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Victoria Vinogradova opens the championship

    This year, the final of the All-Russian TIM Championship is held at SPbGASU. The SPO League 2025 is being held as part of the VIII International Conference “Information Modeling in Construction and Architecture” (BIMAC-2025). This emphasizes its importance, provides participants with the opportunity to meet representatives of many specialized companies and generally learn about the situation on the industry market.

    Vice-Rector for Continuing Education at SPbGASU Victoria Vinogradova emphasized that this TIM Championship is being held jointly with industrial partners – the Association of SRO “Osnova Proekt” with the support of the National Association of Surveyors and Designers (NOPRIZ) and the industry Consortium of Secondary Vocational Education in the Sphere of Construction.

    “Today, the construction market is digitalizing and is in dire need of relevant specialists. Therefore, together with industrial partners, we are implementing and supporting innovative educational initiatives, which include the TIM Championship. It allows participants not only to gain primary experience in information modeling, develop existing competencies, but also to pump up soft skills, for example, teamwork. All this contributes to a successful start in professional activity,” noted Victoria Vinogradova.

    Having successfully completed the tasks of the correspondence stage, the teams from the Novosibirsk College of Architecture and Construction, Novgorod College of Construction, St. Petersburg College of Architecture and Construction, Belgorod College of Construction, Perm College of Construction, Rostov-on-Don College of Construction, Khabarovsk Technical College, Bryansk College of Construction named after Professor N. E. Zhukovsky reached the final of the TIM Championship. Within three working days, they will design an apartment building.

    The head of the basic resource center “Novstroy” and the team of the Novgorod Construction College Tatyana Veselova said that the college tries to take part in many competitions.

    “Participation in competitions helps students develop their abilities and motivates them. When they get a profession, the kids strive to achieve their goals, outline a path that will lead to career growth in the future, and understand that a certified specialist needs experience to be successful. The TIM Championship is aimed at acquiring practical skills, which is what makes it interesting. Our team prepared for it and is motivated to win,” noted Tatyana Veselova.

    Third-year student of Novgorod Construction College Viktor Golubev recalled that representatives of his college participated in TIM Championship last year. This year, he decided to fill his gap. “We have been studying 3D modeling throughout the entire educational process, thanks to which we consider ourselves well prepared for TIM Championship. Information modeling is a relatively new and promising direction in the market, so specialists are in demand here. We need to have time to enter this niche and become the best. I am only determined to win!” Viktor noted.

    Fourth-year student of the Perm Construction College Ksenia Yarusova is a future architect, but since this position was already occupied in the team, she is performing in a different area of activity. To do this, she studied the requirements stated in the conditions of the TIM Championship and prepared for it.

    “Immersion in the specifics of related specialists’ activities has its advantages: it is much easier to work as an architect if you know, for example, the nuances of water supply design. This will allow us to minimize all inconsistencies in the project and misunderstandings with related companies. Information modeling is no longer the future, but the present of our industry, therefore, in order to be a sought-after and successful specialist, you need to have the relevant knowledge and skills. The TIM Championship gives you the opportunity to acquire them. Our team has prepared a lot for it and will do everything in our power to win,” shared Ksenia Yarusova.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon Charged with Possession of Firearm Following Arrest in Southeast

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WASHINGTON – Rhondell Williams, 38, of the District of Columbia, has been indicted on a federal firearms charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

            Williams is charged in an indictment unsealed in federal court with three charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of a prohibited weapon.

            According to court documents, on April 4, 2025, MPD officers observed an individual, later identified as the defendant, holding an open bottle of tequila in the 2800 block of Pomeroy Road SE. Upon approaching Williams, officers discovered the open container of alcohol and subsequently arrested him.  During the arrest, it is alleged that a search revealed that Williams was also in possession of a concealed, loaded 9mm semi-automatic “ghost gun” with no serial number.    

            Further investigation revealed that Williams does not possess a permit to carry a firearm in Washington, D.C., and has a prior conviction for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

            This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department.

    View Williams indictment here. 

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s healthcare sector sees progress in expanding foreign participation

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

    BEIJING, April 21 — China’s healthcare sector is making steady progress in opening up to foreign investment and expertise, with more than 150 joint-venture and wholly overseas-invested medical institutions now operating nationwide, a senior health official announced Monday.

    Over 1,500 healthcare professionals from outside the mainland are currently practicing in China on a short-term basis, said Jiao Yahui, a senior official with the National Health Commission, at a press briefing in Beijing.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to facilitate increased cross-border financial services in Shanghai

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

    BEIJING, April 21 — China will take more steps to further facilitate cross-border financial services in Shanghai by leveraging the municipality’s role as an international financial center, according to a plan jointly issued by the central bank, the Shanghai municipal government and other financial authorities.

    The plan outlines 18 key measures including improving cross-border settlement efficiency, strengthening the hedging of foreign exchange risks, and enhancing the insurance sector’s services for export companies.

    China will further optimize the management and operation of foreign exchange business, and encourage corporate groups to establish fund pools in Shanghai to achieve efficient onshore management and use of global funds.

    The country will also promote financial institutions to enhance their capacity to provide digital services, and support them to improve services for enterprises to expand abroad by leveraging technologies such as blockchain.

    Efforts will be made to enhance the functionality and global coverage of the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System and encourage more banks to participate in the system, according to the plan.

    The plan underscored the need to develop diversified products and services to hedge against foreign exchange risks, and the promoting of cross-border use of the Chinese currency renminbi.

    China will increase insurance support for key export enterprises such as domestic commercial aircraft and new energy vehicle companies, and promote collaboration between insurance companies and reinsurance firms to establish insurance consortiums — thereby enhancing their capacity to cover special risks, according to the plan.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China launches tourism promotion campaign, highlighting inbound travel

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

    BEIJING, April 21 — China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Monday launched a tourism promotion campaign centering on the 15th China Tourism Day, which falls on May 19.

    Running until May 31, the campaign will feature over 6,000 beneficial measures for tourists nationwide, with more than 1 billion yuan (about 138.78 million U.S. dollars) of subsidies to be provided by over 60 cooperative entities including Meituan and Alipay, Li Xiaoyong, an official with the ministry, told a press conference.

    Notably, the campaign will highlight inbound tourism promotion, as the ministry will work with other authorities to make inbound tourism more convenient and provide more diverse tourism products, Li said.

    Overseas tourism agencies will be invited to China for on-site visits and business negotiations, while promotion of Chinese tourism resources will be carried out overseas, Li added.

    In the first quarter of 2025, China’s border officers recorded 17.44 million border crossings made by foreign nationals, representing a 33.4 percent year-on-year increase, according to the National Immigration Administration.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, federal partners arrest Honduran alien for illegally reentering US after 2 deportations

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BROCKTON, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement working with federal partners with the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested an illegally present Honduran national who unlawfully reentered the United States after two previous deportations. Officers with ICE Boston and agents with FBI Boston and ATF Boston arrested Oscar Lopez-Perez, 40, April 16 in Brockton. Lopez-Perez has a prior conviction for assault and battery and has been charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of liquor.

    “Oscar Lopez-Perez has displayed a complete disregard for U.S. immigration laws by illegally reentering the country after being previously deported,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Additionally, he has presented a significant threat to the residents of Massachusetts. ICE Boston will not tolerate such threats to our New England communities. We will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from our neighborhoods.”

    U.S. Border Patrol arrested Lopez-Perez May 11, 2008, after he illegally entered the United States. USBP served Lopez-Perez a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge and released him on an order of recognizance. A DOJ immigration judge ordered Lopez-Perez removed from the United States to Honduras Sept. 15, 2003. The Brockton District Court convicted Lopez-Perez July 13, 2011, for assault and battery.

    ICE Boston arrested Lopez-Perez Oct. 16, 2012, pursuant to his removal order. ICE removed Lopez-Perez from the United States to Honduras Jan. 4, 2013. USBP arrested Lopez-Perez May 8, 2013, after he illegally reentered the United States. USBP served him a notice of intent/decision to reinstate prior removal order. USBP transferred custody of Lopez-Perez to ICE. ICE removed Lopez-Perez from the United States to Honduras May 31, 2013. Lopez illegally reentered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location and without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration officer. The Stoughton District Court arraigned Lopez-Perez Sept. 21, 2020, for operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor and operating negligently.

    Officers with ICE Boston and agents with FBI Boston and ATF Boston arrested Oscar Lopez-Perez April 16 in Brockton. Lopez-Perez remains in ICE custody.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: From Urban Operations to Demolitions: 41st IBCT Trains for Horn of Africa Mission

    Source: United States Army

    1 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team fire M4 carbines during weapons qualification at Range 73, Yakima Training Center, Wash., March 30, 2025. Individual weapons qualification was a critical component of Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training, ensuring combat readiness for the upcoming Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL
    2 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Peter May, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, fires an M500 shotgun during a weapons familiarization range at Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 1, 2025. Soldiers qualified with multiple weapon systems during Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training in preparation for their Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL
    3 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Camron Hall, Hotel Company, 141st Support Battalion, monitors a Soldier engaging targets in the hallway of the live fire shoothouse at Range 24, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 6, 2025. Range safety personnel maintained close supervision throughout all phases of the urban operations training to ensure safe execution of live fire exercises during Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL
    4 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, practice room-clearing procedures in a glass house training aid at Range 24, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 6, 2025. The glass house, constructed with handrails instead of the traditional engineer tape, provided a full-scale mock-up of the live fire shoothouse layout for squads to rehearse their movements before conducting live fire training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL
    5 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment enter the live fire shoothouse at Range 24, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 6, 2025. The urban operations training is part of Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training in preparation for the unit’s upcoming deployment to the Horn of Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL
    6 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A combat engineer from 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion sprints toward a designated breach point carrying a live Bangalore torpedo during a live-fire urban assault exercise at Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 3, 2025. Engineers were integrated with infantry platoons throughout Operation Djibouti Dawn to practice combined-arms tactics in preparation for their Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne)
    7 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 240406-Z-ZJ128-1002

    Staff Sgt. Steven Olson, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, in the foreground, and Sgt. Andrew Kline, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, conduct an after-action review from the catwalk overlooking the live fire shoothouse at Range 24, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 6, 2025. Instructors provided immediate feedback to squads after each iteration of the urban operations training to reinforce proper tactics and techniques during Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne)

    8 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 250403-Z-ZJ128-1002 Staff Sgt. Charles Owen, squad leader with 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, delivers a situation report on buildings cleared during Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training at Range 25, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 3, 2025. Urban terrain training provides soldiers with critical skills needed during Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training in preparation for their Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne)
    9 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An infantryman and an engineer range safety detonate a claymore mine from a crater position during demolitions training at Yakima Training Center, Wash., March 31, 2025. Soldiers from the 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion conducted the demolitions range for infantry units, providing hands-on experience with explosive devices that may be encountered during the upcoming Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne)
    10 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Alex Begla, spotter, and Sgt. Jeffrey Machado, sniper, from the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment sniper section, establish a firing point and analyze the engagement area prior to an assault at Range 25, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 3, 2025. The sniper team provided overwatch and intelligence gathering as part of the battalion’s integrated combat operations training during Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training in preparation for their Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne)
    11 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A weapons squad from 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment fires an M240 machine gun from a support-by-fire position during a blank-fire iteration at Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 5, 2025. The training exercise prepared the crew for live-fire operations scheduled for the following day as part of Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training in preparation for their Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL

    YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash. – “Claymore, Claymore, Claymore!” The warning echoes across the demolition range seconds before a deafening “whoomp” sends a cloud of smoke and debris skyward. Soldiers rise from behind cover, faces breaking into exhilarated grins as they witness the raw power of battlefield demolitions firsthand.

    This explosive training represents just one facet of Operation Djibouti Dawn, which brought more than 400 Oregon National Guard soldiers to Yakima Training Center from March 28 to April 7, 2025, to prepare for an upcoming Horn of Africa deployment.

    The operation assembled soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment (2-162 IN); 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment (1-186 IN); 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion (741 BEB); and support elements to focus on fundamental infantry and combat engineer tasks.

    “The end state was to master the basics, be able to fire and maneuver, and have the engineers integrated to support operations,” said Lt. Col. Ryon Skiles, rear detachment commander of 2-162 IN.

    Training included weapons qualification, demolitions, live fire training at Range 24 squad level room clearing in a 369-degree shoothouse, and urban area platoon assault at Range 25. Following field training, units returned to home stations for administrative tasks and recovery operations.

    “We qualified with every weapon system in the infantry battalion, from the .50 caliber machine gun to AT-4s and claymores,” Skiles said. “The goal was hands-on experience to allow soldiers deploying to HOA to be competent and confident.”

    Approximately 150 Oregon soldiers will join Task Force Baton, a 1,150-member joint force from four states. The task force will support Special Operations Command and Africa Command missions across three countries.

    Lt. Col. Sergio Hands, incoming Task Force Baton commander, described their mission: “Our main task is to support operations against local violent extremists, protecting critical assets in the area.”

    The deployment begins at Fort Bliss, Texas, in May 2025, with an expected return in April 2026.

    What made this Annual Training unique was its collaborative approach across units. With multiple battalions operating at reduced strength due to concurrent deployments to Kosovo and Egypt, units pooled resources and personnel. Cooks from multiple units formed a single section to serve approximately 800 meals daily for approximately 400 soldiers, while medical support included 18 combat medics who received specialized training with the U.S. Army Air Ambulance Detachment stationed at Yakima.

    Training progressed deliberately from classroom to application. “We went through a step-by-step three-day exercise, from crawling with dry fire to walking using blanks to the actual live fire,” Skiles explained.

    For many soldiers, this marked a return to fundamentals. “The soldiers were happy getting back to what they joined the Army to do,” Skiles said. “It was about using your MOS to be successful.”

    Senior leaders consistently reported high morale among participants—especially significant for National Guard soldiers who balance military service with civilian careers.

    For the deployment, Bravo Company, 2-162 IN, will form the core infantry element, supplemented by soldiers from other units. “We took on volunteers for this mobilization. This Annual Training was about getting everybody in the squads prepared,” Skiles said.

    “Annual training experiences like Operation Djibouti Dawn exemplify why the Oregon National Guard continues to be the military service of choice,” said Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon National Guard. “Our soldiers receive world-class training that prepares them for both federal missions abroad and emergencies here at home, all while maintaining deep connections to the communities they serve.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: TMD Energy Limited Announces Pricing of US$10.08 Million Initial Public Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TMD Energy Limited (the “Company”) (NYSE American: TMDE), together with its subsidiaries is a Malaysia and Singapore based services provider engaged in integrated bunkering services which involves ship-to-ship transfer of marine fuels, ship management services and vessel chartering services, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering (the “Offering”) of 3,100,000 ordinary shares (“Shares”) at a price to public of US$3.25 per Share for the total gross proceeds of approximately US$10.08 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and other related expenses, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase additional Shares. The Shares will begin trading on April 21, 2025, U.S. Eastern time, on the NYSE American under the symbol “TMDE”. The Offering is expected to close on April 22, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

    The Company has granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an aggregate of 465,000 additional Shares to cover over-allotments at the initial public offering price, If the underwriter exercises their option to purchase the additional Shares in full, the total gross proceeds before deducting underwriting discounts and other related expenses from the offering are expected to be approximately US$11.59 million.

    The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for (i) the purchase of cargo oil; (ii) defraying listing expenses; and (iii) working capital and other general corporate purposes.

    Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”) is acting as sole book-running manager of the Offering. Loeb & Loeb LLP, is acting as U.S. legal counsel to the Company, and Pryor Cashman LLP is acting as U.S. legal counsel to Maxim for the Offering.

    A registration statement on Form F-1, as amended (File No. 333-283704) related to the Offering was initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 10, 2024 and was declared effective by the SEC on March 31, 2025. The Offering is being made only by means of a prospectus forming a part of the effective registration statement. Copies of the prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from Maxim Group, LLC, 300 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022, United States of America or by email at syndicate@maximgrp.com. In addition, a copy of the prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About TMD Energy Limited

    TMD Energy Limited and its subsidiaries (“TMDEL Group”) are principally involved in marine fuel bunkering services specializing in the supply and marketing of marine gas oil and marine fuel oil which includes high sulfur fuel oil, low sulfur fuel oil and very low sulfur fuel oil, to ships and vessels at sea. TMDEL Group is also involved in the provision of ship management services for in-house and external vessels, as well as vessel chartering. As of today, TMDEL Group operates in 19 ports across Malaysia with a fleet of 15 bunkering vessels. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: www.tmdel.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the Company’s Offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be successfully completed. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may”, “could”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    TMD Energy Limited
    Email: corporate@tmdel.com

    WFS Investor Relations
    Email : services@wealthfsllc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ATI Nursing Education’s 2025 National Nurse Educator Summit Kicks Off April 22 in Orlando and Virtually

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ORLANDO, Fla., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ATI Nursing Education, an Ascend Learning brand and a leading provider of education technology solutions and support to more than 60% of the nation’s undergraduate nursing programs, is hosting the 2025 National Nurse Educator Summit, a vital industry event dedicated to advancing the future of nursing education. Taking place April 22-25 in Orlando, Florida, and virtually, this year’s Summit will bring together hundreds of nurse educators, academic leaders, and healthcare experts to tackle critical issues facing healthcare and nursing education today, including establishing a stable pipeline of nurses for years to come.

    Since 2010, the National Nurse Educator Summit has been a catalyst for movement and a forum for exchanging ideas that drive real-world impact in healthcare, becoming a cornerstone of the academic nursing calendar. Over 700 nursing administrators and faculty across all 50 states are registered to gather for three and a half info-packed days of inspiring sessions, interactive workshops, and incredible networking opportunities.

    “Nurse educators are often overlooked members of the nursing community. Many have left positions as practicing nurses to ensure the next generation has the tools they need to succeed,” said Dr. Lissy Hu, CEO of Ascend Learning. “The Summit allows them to connect with each other, share best practices, and work together to help the nurses of tomorrow succeed.”

    This year’s Summit features an agenda packed with distinguished nurse educators from leading institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Duke IPEC Center, and others. Sessions will cover a wide variety of topics including innovative learning tools and teaching strategies, student and faculty retention, academic and practice readiness, and leadership.

    “The nursing profession is at an inflection point, where shortages and new technologies are putting pressure on institutions to adapt so they can retain students and maintain the nursing pipeline,” said Patty Knect, Chief Nursing Officer at Ascend Learning. “The Summit is a space for collaboration, support, and action. We’re equipping faculty with the tools, strategies, and community they need to prepare the next generation of nurses—confidently and compassionately.”

    With in-person registration currently at capacity, virtual attendance remains open for sessions beginning April 23. Register for the virtual Summit here.

    About ATI Nursing Education
    ATI helps create competent, practice-ready nurses who are dedicated to maintaining public safety and ensuring the future of healthcare. As a leading provider of online learning programs for nursing, ATI supports and helps educate future nurses from admissions, throughout undergraduate and graduate nursing school, and via continuing education over the course of their careers. ATI began in 1998 with the aid of a nurse, and ATI’s team of doctorally- and master’s-prepared nurse educators continue to lead the development of ATI’s psychometrically designed and data-driven solutions. These solutions improve faculty effectiveness, fuel student progress, and advance program outcomes in three distinct areas: assessing performance, remediating problem areas, and predicting future student and program success. For nursing school administrators and nurse educators, ATI is the trusted advisor that consistently drives nursing success. To learn more about ATI, visit www.atitesting.com.

    About Ascend Learning: 
    Ascend Learning is a leading healthcare and learning technology company. With products that span the learning continuum, Ascend Learning focuses on high-growth careers in a range of industries, with a special focus on healthcare and other licensure-driven occupations. Ascend Learning products, from testing to certification, are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers. Learn more at www.ascendlearning.com.

    Media Contact
    V2 Communications for Ascend Learning
    ascend@v2comms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Election Diary: Albanese government stays mum over whatever Russia may have said to Indonesia

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

    The imbroglio over the reported Russian request to Indonesia to base planes in Papua initially tripped Peter Dutton, and now is dogging Anthony Albanese.

    After the respected military site Janes said a request had been made, the Australian government quickly obtained an assurance from the Indonesians there would be no Russian planes based there.

    Moreover, the government was able to score a hit on Dutton, who had wrongly named Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto as having said there’d been a Russian approach. Later, Dutton admitted he’d stuffed up.

    One might have thought the story would have died as the election caravan moved on. But it continued when it became obvious the government would not say, despite repeated questions, whether it knew a request had in fact been made to the Indonesians.

    Then Russia’s ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov, leapt into the fray. Tolchenov wrote a letter to The Jakarta Post, responding to an article by Australian academic Matthew Sussex on The Conversation, which was republished in the Post.

    His letter dripping with sarcasm, the ambassador wrote:

    It is hard to imagine that any ordinary Australians should be concerned about what is happening 1,300 kilometers from their territory, about matters that concern relations between other sovereign states and have nothing to do with Australia. Perhaps it would be better for them to pay attention to the United States’ Typhon medium-range missile system in the Philippines, which will definitely reach the territory of the continent?

    It is clear that the leaders of the two main political parties, replacing each other in power and calling it democracy, are now trying to outdo each other, heating up the situation. They stop at nothing, and the time has come to play the so-called ‘Russian card’. This means to show to overseas mentors who is more anti-Russian and Russophobe. In this regard, I would like to remind them of the words of US President Donald Trump, which he pronounced in the White House on Feb. 28, 2025, to the Ukrainian citizen ‘Z’: ‘You have no cards’.“



    Read more:
    Russia has long had interest in Indonesia. Australia must realise its partners may have friends we don’t like

    Meanwhile, Employment Minister Murray Watt strayed off the government’s script of diplomatic silence when he told Sky on Sunday, “There is no proposal from Russia to have a base anywhere in Indonesia in the way that Peter Dutton and his colleagues have been claiming”.

    The questioning intensified.

    Late Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles was back on Sky to impose the official blackout over what the government knew of the alleged discussions between Russia and Indonesia.

    “What we know about that, and when we knew about it, is obviously not something I’m going to ventilate in the public domain.

    “What matters here is that the Indonesians have made it completely clear to us that they have absolutely no intent of having Russian aircraft operating from their nation,” Marles said.

    Another instalment of “What the Russians Asked” may come in Tuesday night’s third leaders debate on Nine.

    A possible chance for real reform

    We keep getting lectured in this campaign about various significant issues (such as tax reform) that are being pushed under the carpet. But there’s something else that’s being overlooked: whether our institutions are in need of a big overhaul.

    With public trust low, accountability vital but often wanting, and our democracy sometimes resembling a car urgently needing a service, there are plenty of reforms that could be considered.

    John Daley (formerly of the Grattan Institute and now an independent consultant) and Rachel Krust, in a report released Monday and titled Institutional reform stocktake, propose a rich agenda for change. The stocktake was sponsored by the Susan McKinnon Foundation, a non-partisan body committed to promoting all aspects of better government.

    The report identifies short-term priority reforms as well as ones that would take longer to achieve.

    Parliamentarians often claim we’d be better governed with four-year terms. But given that would require a referendum, it is effectively out of reach. So the stocktake advocates a next-best option: fixed three year terms, which could be legislated. Four year terms would be a more distant aim.

    The advantage of fixed terms is they’d stop the disruption of months of speculation about the timing (that we saw before the current election). The disadvantage to the party in power is the prime minister can’t choose the day best suiting them.

    The Albanese government recently brought in caps for political donations and spending, to take effect in the coming term. Daley and Krust advocate these be revisited. The donation and disclosure caps should be lowered, they argue, and an expert commission should consider the caps on spending (which were criticised by some as limiting small and new players).

    Other priority recommendations are to beef up civics education, enhance parliamentary committees, put more structure around the appointment and termination of departmental secretaries, and better resource independent members of parliament, particularly if they hold the balance of power.

    One reason institutional reform is important is to achieve better policy outcomes, the report says. “Australian governments are getting worse at delivering policy changes that make a big difference to long-term problems.”

    While identifying a prospective advantage for policy, the report puts its finger on why such reform faces resistance.

    Institutional reforms have often not progressed in Australia because they would not serve the interests of incumbent parties. Many of the suggested changes would leave members of the government more exposed to questioning, challenge or censure, reduce the advantages of established political parties relative to new entrants, reduce the power of party officials relative to rank-and-file members, or reduce employment opportunities after a political career.

    The report says if the election produces a hung parliament this “may widen the window for reform”.

    “Crossbenchers usually have strong electoral incentives to prosecute institutional reforms, because they are usually both popular and not supported by incumbent parties.”

    But the crossbenchers need to be quick. “This window of opportunity may narrow again. The power of independents to push for institutional change is greatest during negotiations immediately following an election.”

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

    – ref. Election Diary: Albanese government stays mum over whatever Russia may have said to Indonesia – https://theconversation.com/election-diary-albanese-government-stays-mum-over-whatever-russia-may-have-said-to-indonesia-254201

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pope Francis showed in deeds and words he wanted to face the truth in Canada

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Christine Jamieson, Associate Professor, Theological Studies, Concordia University

    Pope Francis has died. In reflecting on his legacy in regard to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada, I am struck by three key moments.

    First, his encounter with Indigenous delegates in Rome in April 2022. Second, his pilgrimage of penance to meet Indigenous survivors in Canada in July 2022. Third, his role in the Catholic Church formally repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery in March 2023.

    In my view, each moment represented a move toward reconciliation for Indigenous Peoples in Canada. My focus, for the most part, considers the healing dimension of his visit. At the same time, I understand and acknowledge the limitations of his apology and the deep pain caused because of what was not said.

    For example, the late Murray Sinclair, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, spoke of the apology’s failure to acknowledge the “full role of the church in the residential school system.”

    Dene interpreter and survivor, Jessie Sylvestre, asked to translate Pope Francis’s apology during his visit, was critical and hurt that the Pope read his apology rather than speak it from the heart. She also named feeling “almost sick” and angry after seeing the “very patriarchal” sight of many priests and the Pope. The absence of women in visible leadership roles was noted as disturbing by other Indigenous women also.

    Still, for many Indigenous survivors, Pope Francis’s apology was deeply meaningful and I wish to explore that phenomenon here.

    My academic research often delves into Indigenous spiritualities and Christian ethics. I am a co-investigator for a research project examining the life and work of Canadian Catholic (Jesuit) theologian, Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984), through the lens of his connection to the Indian Residential School System.

    I am particularly interested in why some survivors of Residential Schools in Canada are (and remain) Christian in the face of the horrendous treatment they endured at the hands of Christian churches’ representatives.

    ‘Unforgetting’ and healing

    When Pope Francis visited in late July of 2022, he consciously and intentionally began a journey into the complex and disturbing relationship between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples.

    In commenting on the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), many people are critical of a tendency to jump too quickly over truth.

    For perpetrators or those navigating moral responsibility for historic injustices and wrongs, it is much easier to avoid understanding what truly happened and rush to be reconciled. The long delay in the Pope coming to Canada and apologizing to Indigenous survivors after the TRC’s clear call for this in Call to Action No. 58 speaks to feet dragging with regard to the Catholic Church as an institution.

    Yet, it is possible to say that by Pope Francis’s deeds and words he consciously and intentionally demonstrated he wanted to face the truth.

    His naming of genocide to describe what took place during residential schools, in response to a question from Brittnay Hobson, a journalist who is a member of Long Plain First Nation, revealed his desire to speak truth.

    During his visit, he listened to what he named in his Maskwacis apology as traumas and bitter memories. He named the importance of “mak[ing] space for memory,” and of “recall[ing] the past.”

    He acknowledged that his presence and his apology could trigger survivors but he understood why it was vitally important for many survivors to witness his apology. Many dared to share their burden with him despite the pain that was evoked.

    Anishinaabe and Ukrainian writer Patty Krawec, from Lac Seul First Nation, uses the term “unforgetting” by which she means “excavating truth and bringing it to the surface.”

    Such “unforgetting” was stirred up by Pope Francis’s presence and his words. For some, it was either consciously or intuitively an important step toward healing and reconciliation.

    ‘Incarnate’ meaning

    Pope Francis, both because he represented the Catholic Church and because of who he is as a person, played a role in excavating deep memories and consoling the pain of “heavy burdens.”

    He acknowledged the horrors of what Ojibwe author Richard Wagamese described as “an institution that tried to scrape the Indian off of their insides.” In Maskwacis, Pope Francis thanked Indigenous survivors for telling him “about the heavy burdens that you still bear, for sharing with me these bitter memories,” noting that even though costly, “it is right to remember, because forgetfulness leads to indifference.”

    In his book, Method in Theology, Lonergan speaks about different “carriers of meaning.” One such carrier was what he termed “incarnate meaning,” the “meaning of a person, of their way of life, of their words or of their deeds.”

    I believe that Pope Francis’ “incarnate meaning” was his most significant legacy in terms of what his visit meant for reconciliation. Certainly, he understood and acknowledged that words are not enough, “firm action and irreversible commitment” are required.

    Continued spiritual violence

    In the article “The Papal Apology and Seeds of an Action Plan,” Don Bolen, Archbishop of Regina, spells out four areas that witness to where action is taking place: truth telling (in the form of research and archival work), solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, supporting recovery of “Indigenous language and culture” and recognizing the intrinsic value of Indigenous Peoples’ “relationship with the land and environment.”

    Yet, in a soon-to-be published paper (titled Spiritual Violence against Indigenous Peoples in Canada: Ethical Guidelines and Calls to Healing), with colleagues, I describe the ongoing “spiritual violence” against Indigenous traditions by Christian churches.

    As I wrote in 2021, the TRC’s Call to Action No. 60 clearly identifies the spiritual violence that continues to be committed by non-Indigenous Christians.

    This violence is done when there is an absence of respect for Indigenous spirituality in its own right. It is also done when there is ignorance about the legitimacy and richness of Indigenous Christianity, of the gospel expressed through the lens of Indigenous cultures. This lack of recognition was also displayed during the celebration of the masses during Pope Francis’s visit.



    Read more:
    One year ago, Pope Francis disavowed the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ – but Indigenous Catholics’ work for respect and recognition goes back decades

    Beauty of Indigenous Peoples’ traditions

    Pope Francis understood the privilege of encounter with the beauty of Indigenous Peoples’ traditions as he so clearly stated in his encyclical letter, Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home.

    In that letter, he recognizes the deeply rooted values of Indigenous Peoples in relationship with land (which includes water, vegetation, animals — all that lives on and because of the land).

    Several times during his visit to Canada, Pope Francis spoke of that special relationship, a relationship that is so foreign to a western perspective which tends to view land merely as a commodity and not as a living being with which one is in relationship.

    Bolen recollects how Ted Quewezance of Keeseekoose First Nation in Saskatchewan, a survivor he has the privilege of working with, frequently said “that each survivor will need to make their own decision whether to accept or not to accept the papal apology, and that every survivor is on their own healing journey.” This was clear throughout Pope Francis’s visit and the several times he spoke an apology and sought forgiveness.

    As was witnessed in many encounters — Maskwacis, Edmonton, Québec and Iqaluit — perhaps Pope Francis’s most important legacy for truth and reconciliation in Canada is his willingness and humility to acknowledge the suffering, to be present to those who suffer, and in face of that suffering to have the audacity to say, “What are you going through?”

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

    – ref. Pope Francis showed in deeds and words he wanted to face the truth in Canada – https://theconversation.com/pope-francis-showed-in-deeds-and-words-he-wanted-to-face-the-truth-in-canada-250746

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Exposure to perceptible temperature rise increases concern about climate change, higher education adds to understanding

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By R. Alexander Bentley, Professor of Anthropology, University of Tennessee

    Higher education can train students to carefully consider the evidence around them. Adam Crowley/Tetra Images/Getty images

    Years ago, after taking an Earth science class, I found myself looking at the world differently. It was the 1990s, and lakes in Wisconsin where I lived at the time were beginning to freeze later in winter and thaw earlier in spring, and flowers seemed to bloom a bit earlier.

    That geology class helped me understand the gradual warming that was underway, warming that has accelerated since then.

    People are more likely to believe an explanation when they see direct evidence of it. In the U.S., the percentage of people who recognize that global warming is happening is higher in counties that experienced record high temperatures in the previous decade. But understanding what’s happening and why also matters. That’s because people’s existing knowledge shapes how they interpret the evidence they see.

    Education level and political affiliation are both known to be strong global predictors of concern about climate change.

    But does higher education actually create climate concern? As an anthropologist and a researcher in computational social science, I and my colleague Ben Horne set up a study to try to answer that question.

    Education leverages experience into concern

    In our study, we used Census Bureau data on the percentage of the population with at least a bachelor’s degree in 3,048 U.S. counties, NOAA data on recent warming by state, and Yale climate opinion survey data. We wanted to find out whether climate concern increases as a product of education and recent warming.

    We found that in many southern states − such as Alabama, Mississippi and Texas − the correlation between the percentage of bachelor’s degrees at the county level and climate concern was weak. Higher education levels didn’t seem to make much of a difference in how concerned people were about climate change.

    However, in northern states − such as Maine, Vermont and Michigan − the education effect was stronger. We believe this difference is in part because climate change is more perceptible in colder states. A 1-degree temperature rise in Florida may not feel significant, whereas in Maine or Wisconsin, it would be more noticeable as winters became shorter and signs of spring came earlier.

    We believe the results suggest that higher education helps people who are exposed to perceptible warming shifts better understand the changes they are experiencing; it’s the pairing of both that makes the difference.

    We wondered whether political ideology might be driving the trends we were finding. Southern states also tend to be more politically conservative.

    When we controlled for political leanings, however, our analysis found that the education effect appeared to be mostly influenced by whether people had experienced perceptible warming in recent years.

    There were two outliers: Despite being cold states that have experienced the effects of climate change, North and South Dakota had low education effects when it came to climate concern. One possible explanation is that fossil fuels are central to their economies, shaping local attitudes toward climate change.

    Nationally, our study suggests that higher education leverages people’s experience with climate change to increase their climate concern. It isn’t just having a college education alone, as the different results from warmer and colder parts of the country show. It is experiencing rising temperatures that makes the difference. The more perceptible the warming, the greater the effect.

    Young people are growing up with climate change

    A generation ago, climate change seemed to be more theoretical prediction than common experience for most people in the U.S.

    This may be part of the reason why a sense of urgency has been slow to develop, even though three-quarters of Americans recognize that global warming is happening. Generations that grew up in the mid-20th century, when seasons and climate seemed constant, had little reason to expect change.

    Today, as climate change accelerates, people are experiencing increasingly dangerous summer heat waves and extreme weather. Surveys show climate concern has increased in U.S. counties that have recently experienced warmer winters or extreme temperatures, and climate-driven disasters have increased public concern.

    Younger generations may see the world differently. For them, climate change has been a reality in their developing years. Given their personal experiences and interest in science, we believe higher education will have a powerful effect.

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

    – ref. Exposure to perceptible temperature rise increases concern about climate change, higher education adds to understanding – https://theconversation.com/exposure-to-perceptible-temperature-rise-increases-concern-about-climate-change-higher-education-adds-to-understanding-249420

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Endowments aren’t blank checks – but universities can rely on them more heavily in turbulent times

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ellen P. Aprill, Senior Scholar in Residence at the UCLA Law School’s Lowell Milken Center For Philanthropy And Nonprofit Law, University of California, Los Angeles

    The Trump administration is demanding that at least 60 U.S. colleges and universities change their policies or lose out on billions of dollars in federal funding.

    In Harvard University’s case, the government has accused the Ivy league school – so far without providing any specific evidence – of violating some students’ civil rights by allowing other students to engage in what the authorities characterize as antisemitic speech. The government has demanded broad oversight of Harvard’s admissions policies, along with changes in its hiring processes and campus culture.

    Harvard stands to lose out on more than US$2.2 billion. It may seem to be better insulated from this pressure than many other schools because it has the nation’s largest educational endowment – a reservoir of stocks, bonds and other financial assets that helps fund its operations, research and scholarships. Harvard’s endowment totaled more than $53 billion in 2024.

    As a nonprofit law scholar, who served in the Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy in the 1980s, I study and write about both state and federal law as it applies to nonprofit organizations. I believe that the law permits most colleges and universities to increase spending from their endowments in light of the financial pressures so many of them are facing.

    Precedents for boosting endowment spending

    Not all endowments are alike.

    They tend to be composed of an array of smaller funds, some of which are subject to legal restrictions that make it impossible for the schools they support to freely use those assets.

    Universities must respect the limits donors put on their gifts, such as tying them to specific scholarships, funding jobs held by certain kinds of professors or supporting the construction or maintenance of a particular building.

    It’s up to a university’s governing board to decide how much of the school’s endowment will be spent in a given year.

    As Harvard’s financial report for its 2024 fiscal year puts it: “There is a common misconception that endowments, including Harvard’s, can easily be accessed like checking accounts.” That is definitely not the case.

    Nonetheless, some college and university boards did allow increased endowment spending at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Recession, which lasted from late 2007 until mid-2009.

    During that downturn and the financial crisis that precipitated it, the value of endowments, along with most financial assets, plummeted.

    About 80% of Harvard’s 14,000 separate endowment funds are reserved for “specific programs, departments or purposes.” But others are less restricted, Harvard has stated in the financial reports it makes available to the public.

    While it’s always important to proceed with care when spending money reserved for use on a rainy day or to ensure the long-term existence of a revered institution, most colleges and universities are freer to dip into their endowments than they may realize when conditions get stormy.

    Leeway in an important law

    In all states except Pennsylvania, U.S. endowments are subject to a 2006 model law known as the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act.

    Under this law, managing and investing an endowment requires the university to consider its charitable purposes and financial needs, while respecting the intentions of the donors who provided its assets. These are state laws, not federal statutes. In most states, a university may spend as much of an endowment fund as it deems “prudent.”

    Exercising that prudence requires the consideration of several factors.

    They include the purposes of the institution as a whole and the particular endowment fund, prevailing economic conditions, and what other financial resources the institution can tap. However, in almost one-third of states, including California and New York, annually spending more than 7% of an endowment’s fair market value, measured by a three-year average, is presumed to be imprudent.

    But that isn’t a legal maximum because the model law’s drafters noted that “circumstances in a particular year” could easily void that presumption. Based on my study of nonprofit law, including the laws that apply to higher education, I’m confident that this caveat could easily apply to the Trump administration’s education-related spending cuts in 2025, just as it did during the pandemic and the Great Recession.

    What’s more, endowment spending rate by universities in 2024 was 4.8%. As a result, many universities, including those in states with a 7% cap on prudent spending, will likely be able to increase their use of endowment funds to maintain their budgets at prior levels.

    In addition, living donors can release any restriction they placed on the funds they gave universities that are still held in their endowments. Even when those funds are from donors who have died, a university can ask a court to release restrictions that have become impractical or wasteful.

    The Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act also permits institutions to lift restrictions on all endowment funds that are more than 20 years old and relatively small. This amount varies from state to state and typically ranges between $25,000 and $100,000

    Archon Fung, a John F. Kennedy School of Government professor, addresses students, faculty and other members of the Harvard University community on April 17, 2025.
    AP Photo/Charles Krupa

    A bias toward accumulating

    In addition to Harvard, other examples of the largest higher education endowments include Yale with $41 billion, Princeton with $34 billion and Columbia, which has some $15 billion. All three are among the 60 schools the Education Department is investigating for allegedly failing to “protect Jewish students on campus.”

    Why do the boards of even these universities tend to hesitate to dip deeply into their endowments when their revenue declines?

    One explanation is that because endowments can enhance a university’s prestige, its leaders and endowment donors have a bias toward accumulating rather than spending. Another is that board members have an obligation to protect their institutions’ long-term viability. Boards also bear a responsibility to preserve funds for a future rainy day, no matter how severe the current turbulence may be, how large the endowment has become or how successful the school’s current fundraising efforts are.

    That may explain why Harvard is reportedly in talks with investment banks about issuing $750 million in bonds that will allow the school to meet its spending needs without dipping so deeply into its endowment.

    More attacks could be on the way

    At the same time, the Trump administration’s trade, fiscal and other policies may continue to roil financial markets, reducing the value of university endowments, for months or years to come.

    The federal government is reportedly looking into whether it can revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, a drastic move that would have no comparable precedents.

    In mid-April 2025, Harvard began to push back on the Trump administration’s demands, saying that they violate the free speech rights protected by the Constitution’s First Amendment and “invade university freedoms long recognized by the Supreme Court.” Harvard’s donors have responded to the resistance of the school’s leaders with a flurry of new gifts.

    In my view, it’s reasonable for colleges and universities to consider stepping up their endowment spending due to the Trump administration’s actions that could interfere with higher education revenue. Increasing endowment payouts now could ease, although not fully solve, the mounting crises that colleges and universities of all kinds now face.

    The John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly referred to as Harvard Kennedy School, is a member of The Conversation U.S.

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

    – ref. Endowments aren’t blank checks – but universities can rely on them more heavily in turbulent times – https://theconversation.com/endowments-arent-blank-checks-but-universities-can-rely-on-them-more-heavily-in-turbulent-times-254909

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Federal laws don’t ban rollbacks of environmental protection, but they don’t make it easy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Stan Meiburg, Executive Director, Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University

    EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced plans to review or reverse dozens of environmental protection regulations. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin have announced their intent to reconsider dozens of current regulations in an effort to loosen standards originally imposed to protect the environment and public health. But it’s not as simple as Trump and Zeldin just saying so.

    A few of the changes, such as reconstituting the membership of EPA’s Science Advisory Board and Clean Air Act Scientific Advisory Committee or using enforcement discretion to avoid targeting favored industries, are administrative measures that can be changed with the stroke of a pen.

    But many, including carbon emissions standards for power plants and motor vehicles, wastewater limits for refineries and chemical plants, or air pollution standards, can only be revised in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, a federal law first passed in 1946.

    That process includes public notice of the proposed changes, an opportunity for the public to comment on those proposals, and a review of those comments by the responsible federal agency.

    There’s a big book that contains rules about how to change the rules.
    designer491/iStock / Getty Images Plus

    There are some explicit restrictions that prevent loosening of existing environmental standards for clean air and water. In general, though, if the administration has evidence to support its claims that the protections should be reduced and the administration follows the process required by law, it is possible to loosen the restrictions. But as a former longtime senior leader at EPA and student of environmental policy, I know that process is not easy – and it’s not meant to be.

    As examples of how the process of changing the rules and standards works, let’s look at the provisions of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Similar provisions exist in the nation’s wide range of environmental protection laws, including the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and others.

    EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announces plans to review several environmental regulations on March 12, 2025.

    Keeping the air clean

    The Clean Air Act sets uniform national standards for air quality, and it created the rules by which states create plans to meet those standards.

    One section of the law, Part C of Title I of the act, is titled “Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality.” Its provisions are meant to prevent states that meet the national standards from allowing air quality to get worse in the future.

    Its basic effect is to require that new sources of pollution, or existing ones that make significant equipment changes, use the best available technology that meets or exceeds the minimum federal standards for pollution control. Additional protections apply to sensitive areas like national parks.

    For areas that did not yet meet the standards, a set of amendments passed in 1990 included one that prevented air quality from getting worse. That provision, known as the “anti-backsliding rule,” says that no state whose air did not meet the standards before Nov. 15, 1990, can change its plan “unless the modification insures equivalent or greater emission reductions.” And once a state’s air quality improves to meet the standards, the state must follow maintenance plans to make sure the air quality doesn’t get worse.

    Protecting the water

    Under the Clean Water Act, states set water quality standards to protect drinking water and water for recreation, as well as to protect wildlife.

    The Environmental Protection Agency has interpreted key sections of the law to require that states ensure that whatever companies discharge into the water from factories or other operations don’t degrade downstream water quality – even if the existing conditions are better than the minimum standards. Known as “anti-degradation provisions,” these rules mean water that is currently far cleaner than the standards require can’t legally be made more dirty, even if only a little bit.

    The Clean Water Act also contains anti-backsliding provisions that prevent new discharge permits from allowing more pollution than previous permits did.

    Air pollution is regulated by the federal government.
    AP Photo/J. David Ake

    Rollbacks are possible

    Many federal standards can be weakened, so long as the EPA follows the Administrative Procedure Act’s process.

    Since the 1970 passage of the Clean Air Act, the national air quality standards have not been weakened. Technology standards for air and water pollution controls have tightened over time because of advances that improved performance while reducing costs.

    To change the rules under the Clean Air Act, the EPA must first provide evidence that the existing rules are no longer appropriate. Without that evidence, any changes may be overturned by the courts as not founded in facts – in legal terms, “arbitrary and capricious.” The first Trump administration’s efforts to change the rules failed in many court cases on this basis.

    This review process is also required of the EPA’s intended effort to revoke the so-called “endangerment finding,” which establishes the agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. If successful, that revocation would undo the legal grounds for carbon dioxide and methane pollution standards for motor vehicles, electric utilities, oil and gas production, and large industrial sources.

    Such an effort will certainly end up in court. The endangerment finding began with a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that required the EPA to assess whether greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health and welfare. In 2009, the agency found that they did. In 2012, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that finding, and the Supreme Court declined to reconsider the case.

    Algae floats on Lake Erie. Algae blooms can be caused by water pollution.
    AP Photo/Paul Sancya

    Other ways to reduce environmental protections

    The Trump administration’s stated plans for amending water pollution rules illustrate that rolling back protections can also mean undoing efforts to strengthen restrictions, if those efforts did not get finalized before 2025.

    For instance, in June 2024, the Biden administration’s EPA notified the public that it intended to tighten restrictions on manufacturing plants’ discharges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, into surface water or public sewage-treatment systems. Those are a large category of human-made chemicals, used to make products resistant to water, stains and heat, which can be harmful to human health at some levels. These chemicals don’t break down easily and therefore are often called “forever chemicals.”

    But the changes were never finalized, and on the second day of Trump’s second term, the new administration announced that the proposal had been withdrawn.

    Rollbacks can also mean extending compliance deadlines for current standards. For example, the EPA has announced that it will review discharge rules for power plants. Even if the rules themselves don’t change, giving power plants more time to comply with the rules can increase pollution.

    Public protests across the nation have objected to the Trump administration’s efforts to weaken environmental protections.
    Brett Phelps/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    No change until new versions are finalized

    In general, U.S. environmental laws do not prevent the EPA from weakening protection standards. But merely announcing the agency’s intention to do something doesn’t make it so.

    In a recent executive order, Trump claimed he could take an action without public notice and comment “because I am ordering the repeal.” But federal law specifies that the process of change requires explicit descriptions of scientific and technical reasons and evidence that justify any proposed actions, and a notice-and-comment process that involves the public.

    In the meantime, the existing standards remain in place, enforceable by citizen lawsuits even if the federal government decides not to enforce them. Agencies require technical and legal expertise to craft rules that can survive inevitable challenges in the courts. Many of those experts have been fired or laid off by the Trump administration, making the job of changing regulations more difficult.

    Stan Meiburg is a volunteer with the Environmental Protection Network, a non-partisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. He is also a 39 year alumnus of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He is a professional colleague with Sid Shapiro, whose Conversation article is cited in this piece.

    – ref. Federal laws don’t ban rollbacks of environmental protection, but they don’t make it easy – https://theconversation.com/federal-laws-dont-ban-rollbacks-of-environmental-protection-but-they-dont-make-it-easy-253515

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why don’t humans have hair all over their bodies? A biologist explains our lack of fur

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Maria Chikina, Assistant Professor of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh

    Some mammals are super hairy, some are not. Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images

    Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.

    Why don’t humans have hair all over their bodies like other animals? – Murilo, age 5, Brazil

    Have you ever wondered why you don’t have thick hair covering your whole body like a dog, cat or gorilla does?

    Humans aren’t the only mammals with sparse hair. Elephants, rhinos and naked mole rats also have very little hair. It’s true for some marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, too.

    Scientists think the earliest mammals, which lived at the time of the dinosaurs, were quite hairy. But over hundreds of millions of years, a small handful of mammals, including humans, evolved to have less hair. What’s the advantage of not growing your own fur coat?

    I’m a biologist who studies the genes that control hairiness in mammals. Why humans and a small number of other mammals are relatively hairless is an interesting question. It all comes down to whether certain genes are turned on or off.

    Hair benefits

    Hair and fur have many important jobs. They keep animals warm, protect their skin from the sun and injuries and help them blend into their surroundings.

    They even assist animals in sensing their environment. Ever felt a tickle when something almost touches you? That’s your hair helping you detect things nearby.

    Humans do have hair all over their bodies, but it is generally sparser and finer than that of our hairier relatives. A notable exception is the hair on our heads, which likely serves to protect the scalp from the sun. In human adults, the thicker hair that develops under the arms and between the legs likely reduces skin friction and aids in cooling by dispersing sweat.

    So hair can be pretty beneficial. There must have been a strong evolutionary reason for people to lose so much of it.

    Why humans lost their hair

    The story begins about 7 million years ago, when humans and chimpanzees took different evolutionary paths. Although scientists can’t be sure why humans became less hairy, we have some strong theories that involve sweat.

    Humans have far more sweat glands than chimps and other mammals do. Sweating keeps you cool. As sweat evaporates from your skin, heat energy is carried away from your body. This cooling system was likely crucial for early human ancestors, who lived in the hot African savanna.

    Of course, there are plenty of mammals living in hot climates right now that are covered with fur. Early humans were able to hunt those kinds of animals by tiring them out over long chases in the heat – a strategy known as persistence hunting.

    Humans didn’t need to be faster than the animals they hunted. They just needed to keep going until their prey got too hot and tired to flee. Being able to sweat a lot, without a thick coat of hair, made this endurance possible.

    Genes that control hairiness

    To better understand hairiness in mammals, my research team compared the genetic information of 62 different mammals, from humans to armadillos to dogs and squirrels. By lining up the DNA of all these different species, we were able to zero in on the genes linked to keeping or losing body hair.

    Among the many discoveries we made, we learned humans still carry all the genes needed for a full coat of hair – they are just muted or switched off.

    In the story of “Beauty and the Beast,” the Beast is covered in thick fur, which might seem like pure fantasy. But in real life some rare conditions can cause people to grow a lot of hair all over their bodies. This condition, called hypertrichosis, is very unusual and has been called “werewolf syndrome” because of how people who have it look.

    Petrus Gonsalvus and his wife, Catherine, painted by Joris Hoefnagel, circa 1575.
    National Gallery of Art

    In the 1500s, a Spanish man named Petrus Gonsalvus was born with hypertrichosis. As a child he was sent in an iron cage like an animal to Henry II of France as a gift. It wasn’t long before the king realized Petrus was like any other person and could be educated. In time, he married a lady, forming the inspiration for the “Beauty and the Beast” story.

    While you will probably never meet someone with this rare trait, it shows how genes can lead to unique and surprising changes in hair growth.

    Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

    And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

    Maria Chikina receives funding from NIH and NSF.

    – ref. Why don’t humans have hair all over their bodies? A biologist explains our lack of fur – https://theconversation.com/why-dont-humans-have-hair-all-over-their-bodies-a-biologist-explains-our-lack-of-fur-233314

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: American Rebel Light Beer Partners with Charlotte Motor Speedway to be Title Sponsor of American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nashville, TN, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), is thrilled to announce its title sponsorship of the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This exciting collaboration marks a milestone in the brand’s journey to connect with motorsports enthusiasts across the nation.

    The American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals is one of the most anticipated events in drag racing, showcasing the thrill and intensity of the sport as racers go 4 wide at over 300 miles an hour. With American Rebel Light as the title sponsor, fans can expect a weekend packed with adrenaline-pumping action and patriotic punch.

    “As a brand dedicated to celebrating the American spirit, we couldn’t be more excited to sponsor such an iconic event,” said Todd Porter, President of American Rebel Beverage. “The American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals represents the perfect platform for us to engage with our audience, support motorsports, and share our exceptional beer with racing fans everywhere.”

    “American Rebel is honored to be named entitlement sponsor for the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway on the Charlotte Motor Speedway property,” said American Rebel CEO Andy Ross. “It’s also an honor to be the entitlement sponsor for the 1,000th Top Fuel event and celebrate that milestone with the NHRA. We’ve been sponsoring Tony Stewart Racing and the Matt Hagan Funny Car for three seasons now and the relationship with Tony, Leah, Matt and everyone in the wider NHRA family has been extraordinary. Our racing marketing program has opened many doors and helped establish numerous critical associations that have advanced American Rebel Beer. Being the title sponsor at Charlotte Motor Speedway will roll out American Rebel Beer in North Carolina in a big way. The only thing better than a weekend at the track and celebrating in victory lane with a cold Rebel Light is bringing the party. I’ll be performing a concert on the midway at the track between Nitro Qualifying Sessions #3 & #4.”

    American Rebel Light will be featured prominently at the event with branded signage all throughout the track, a promotional party tent, and opportunities for fans to sample the beer. In addition, the company plans to host exclusive promotions and giveaways that highlight its commitment to quality and connection.

    The American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals will take place April 25 – 27 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, promising three days of unforgettable racing action. Tickets are available now at American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Tickets | Events | Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    About American Rebel Light:

    American Rebel Light is more than just a beer—it’s a celebration of freedom, passion, and quality. Brewed with care and precision, our light beer delivers a refreshing taste that’s perfect for every occasion.

    For more information about American Rebel Light and its sponsorship of the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, visit American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals | Events | Charlotte Motor Speedway or follow us on social media @AmericanRebelBeer.

    Since its launch in September 2024, American Rebel Light Beer has rolled out in Tennessee, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri and North Carolina and is adding new distributors and territories regularly. For more information about the launch events and the availability of American Rebel Beer, please visit americanrebelbeer.com or follow us on our social media platforms.

    Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a domestic premium light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

    American Rebel Light is a Premium Domestic Light Lager Beer – All Natural, Crisp, Clean and Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

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

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
    info@americanrebel.com

    American Rebel Beverages, LLC
    Todd Porter, President
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

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

    Company Contact:
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com
    info@americanrebel.com

    Media Contact:
    Matt Sheldon
    Matt@PrecisionPR.co

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Pope Francis dies at 88

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This file photo taken on May 26, 2024 shows Pope Francis waving to the crowd as he attends an event at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, died Monday at the age of 88, said the Vatican in a statement.

    Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Francis was head of the Roman Catholic Church since 2013.

    His death came weeks after returning home from a 38-day stay in intensive care, and followed an intense Holy Week schedule that included public appearances.

    After a period of mourning, the Vatican will turn toward preparations for a gathering of the College of Cardinals to select Francis’ successor.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Opening of and operation in deposit accounts of minors

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    RBI/2025-26/26
    DOR.MCS.REC.17/01.01.003/2025-26

    April 21, 2025

    All Commercial Banks
    All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
    All State Co-operative Banks and District Central Co-operative Banks

    Madam/ Dear Sir,

    Opening of and operation in deposit accounts of minors

    Reserve Bank of India has issued guidelines in the past to banks on opening of and operations in the deposit accounts of minors. A review of the existing guidelines has been made with a view to rationalise and harmonise the extant guidelines.

    2. Based on the review, the revised instructions on opening and operation in the deposit accounts of minors are given below:

    1. Minors of any age may be allowed to open and operate savings and term deposit accounts through his/ her natural or legal guardian. They may also be allowed to open such accounts with mother as guardian in terms of RBI’s Circular DBOD.Leg.BC.158/C.90(H)-76 dated December 29, 1976.

    2. Minors above such an age limit not less than 10 years and up to such amount and such terms as may be fixed by the banks keeping in view their risk management policy, may be allowed to open and operate savings/ term deposit accounts independently, if they so desire, and such terms shall be duly conveyed to the account holder.

    3. On attaining the age of majority, fresh operating instructions and specimen signature of the account holder shall be obtained and kept on record. Moreover, if the account is operated by the guardian, the balance shall be got confirmed. The banks shall take advance action, including communicating these requirements to minor account holders attaining the age of majority, to ensure fulfilment of these requirements.

    4. The banks are free to offer additional banking facilities like internet banking, ATM/ debit cards, cheque book facility, etc., to the minor account holders basis their risk management policy, product suitability and customer appropriateness.

    5. The banks shall ensure that accounts of minors, whether operated independently or through a guardian, are not allowed to be overdrawn and that these always remain in credit balance.

    6. The banks shall perform customer due diligence for opening of deposit accounts of minors and undertake ongoing due diligence, as per the provisions of Master Direction on Know Your Customer (KYC) Direction, 2016 dated February 25, 2016, as amended from time to time.

    3. The above guidelines are issued under sections 35A and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Banks are advised to make new and/ or amend existing policies to align them with these guidelines, latest by July 01, 2025. In the meanwhile, existing policies may continue.

    4. The circulars tabulated in the Annex shall stand repealed from the effective date of this circular.

    Yours faithfully

    (Veena Srivastava)
    Chief General Manager

    Annex

    List of guidelines issued on minor deposit accounts

    Sl. No. Circular Date Title of the circular
    1 RPCD.No.RF.DIR.BC.32/D.1-85 January 08, 1985 Opening of Bank Account in the Name of Minor with Mother as Guardian
    2 UBD.(DC)1148/V.1-84/85 February 22, 1985 Opening of a Bank Account in the Name of Minor with Mother as Guardian
    3 DBOD.No.Leg.BC.19/C.90(H)-89 September 08, 1989 Opening of Bank Accounts in the Names of Minors with Mothers as Guardians
    4 DBOD.No.Leg.BC.28/C.90(H)-89 October 06, 1989 Opening of Bank Accounts in the Names of Minors with Mothers as Guardians
    5 UBD.DC.1/V.1-89/90 January 02, 1990 Opening of Bank Accounts in the Names of Minors with Mothers as Guardians
    6 DBOD.No.Leg.BC.108/09.07.005/2013-14 May 06, 2014 Opening of Bank Accounts in the Names of Minors
    7 UBD.BPD.(PCB).Cir.No.61/13.01.000/2013-14 May 12, 2014 Opening of Bank Accounts in the Names of Minors
    8 RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.100/03.05.33/2013-14 May 12, 2014 Paragraph 4.10 (Opening accounts in the name of minors with Mothers as guardians) of Annex to the circular on ‘Customer Service in Regional Rural Banks’
    9 RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.104/03.05.33/2013-14 May 27, 2014 Opening of Bank Accounts in the Names of Minors
    10 RPCD.CO.RCB.BC.No.29/07.51.010/2014-15 September 09, 2014 Opening of Bank Accounts in the Names of Minors

    DBOD.No.Leg.BC.158/C.90(H)-76

    December 29, 1976

    All Commercial Banks

    Dear Sirs,

    Opening of Bank Accounts in the Names
    of Minors with Mothers as Guardians

    It has been brought to our notice that considerable difficulty is being experienced by women customers in opening bank accounts in the names of minors, with mothers as their guardians. Presumably, the banks are reluctant to accept the mother as a guardian of a minor, while father is alive in view of section 6 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, which stipulates that the father alone should be deemed to be the guardian in such case. To overcome this legal difficulty and to enable the banks to open freely such accounts in the name of minors under the guardianship of their mothers, it has been suggested in some quarters that the above provisions should be suitably amended. While it is true that an amendment of the above Act may overcome the difficulty in the case of Hindus, it will not solve the problem for other communities as minors belonging to Muslim, Christian, Parsi Communities would still be left out unless the laws governing these communities are also likewise amended.

    2. The legal and practical aspects of the above problem were, therefore, examined by us in consultation with the Government of India and we are advised that if the idea underlining the demand for allowing mothers to be treated as guardians relates only to the opening of fixed and savings bank accounts, there would seem to be no difficulty in meeting the requirements as, notwithstanding the legal provisions, such accounts could be opened by banks provided they take adequate safeguards in allowing operations in the accounts by ensuring that the minors’ accounts opened with mothers as guardians are not allowed to be overdrawn and that they always remain in credit. In this way, the minors’ capacity to enter into contract would not be a subject matter of dispute. If this precaution is taken, the banks’ interests would be adequately protected. We shall therefore, be glad if you will kindly apprise all your branches of the position as stated above and instruct them to allow minors’ accounts (fixed and savings only) with mothers as guardians to be opened, whenever such requests are received by them, subject to the safeguards mentioned above.

    Yours faithfully,

    P.R. Kulkarni
    Dy. Chief Officer

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Week 13 Wins: President Trump’s Relentless Pursuit of Prosperity, Opportunity

    Source: The White House

    Another week of successes for the American people is in the books as President Donald J. Trump continues to deliver on his promises.

    Here is a non-comprehensive list of wins in week 13:

    • Americans continued to see early results of President Trump’s commitment to American manufacturing and job growth.
      • Abbott Laboratories announced it will spend $500 million on its Illinois and Texas facilities.
      • NVIDIA announced it will manufacture its AI supercomputers entirely in the U.S. as part of its pledge to produce $500 billion of AI infrastructure in the U.S. over the next four years.
      • Honda Motor Co. announced plans to shift production of the Civic from Japan to the U.S. amid plans to boost its U.S. production by up to 30% in the next several years.
      • Ellwood Group – a small manufacturer of forged steel, nickel and aluminum products – announced a sales increase of 35% quarter-over-quarter following President Trump’s steel tariffs.
    • President Trump continued to secure our border and rid our communities of illegal immigrant criminals.
      • U.S. Border Patrol recorded the fewest illegal crossings at the southwest border on record in March – down 94% lower over last March.Violent terrorist gang members and criminal illegal immigrants continued to be deported to El Salvador.
      • In just the past several days, ICE arrested a host of depraved criminal illegal immigrants, including a convicted rapist in Brooklyn, a convicted murder in Los Angeles, and a convicted arsonist in Virginia.
    • President Trump continued to pursue peace through strength around the world.
      • The Trump administration secured the release of an America missionary held in Tunisia for 13 months.
      • The Trump Administration directed additional successful airstrikes against Houthi terrorists.
    • President Trump signed an order aimed at stopping illegal immigrants and other ineligible individuals from obtaining benefits under the Social Security Act and enhancing investigations into fraud.
    • President Trump took executive action to expand on the historic efforts of his first term to lower prescription drug prices — delivering lower prices for Medicare, providing massive discounts on lifesaving medications, like insulin, for low-income and uninsured Americans, and helping states save millions on prescription drug costs.
    • President Trump opened the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument to commercial fishing, undoing a nonsensical Biden-era ban and boosting the economy of American Samoa and other Pacific islands.
    • President Trump signed an executive order to restore American seafood competitiveness by reducing regulatory burdens, combating unfair foreign trade practices, and enhancing domestic seafood production and exports.
    • President Trump took additional action to ensure government remains accountable to the taxpayers who fund it.
      • President Trump signed a memorandum to ensure government is leveraging modern technology to effectively and efficiently conduct environmental reviews and evaluate permits.
      • President Trump signed an executive order to enforce existing law requiring the federal government to utilize the competitive marketplace and the innovations of private enterprise to provide better, more-cost-effective services to taxpayers.
      • President Trump rescinded two longstanding presidential actions that unnecessarily restricted where federal agencies could site their facilities.
      • President Trump signed an executive order to dramatically simplify and streamline the federal procurement process.
    • President Trump signed an executive order launching an investigation into the national security risks posed by U.S. reliance on imported processed critical minerals and their derivative products.
    • The Department of Justice announced a civil lawsuit against the Maine Department of Education over their consistent and willful refusal to protect women and girls in sports and other private spaces.
    • The Department of the Treasury continued its crackdown on Chinese facilitation of Iranian oil exports, sanctioning various Chinese companies purchasing from, and providing vessels for, Iran’s shadow fleet.
    • The Department of the Interior announced the emergency withdrawal and transfer of jurisdiction of nearly 110,000 acres of federal land along the southern border to support operations in border security.
    • The Trump Administration’s joint task force on Title IX launched an investigation into the University of Maryland over allowing a male athlete to compete in women’s fencing and use women’s-only intimate facilities, and launched an investigation into the University of Maryland and Wagner college for penalizing a female athlete for refusing to compete against a male.
    • Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released records on the government’s investigation into the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
    • The Department of State canceled 139 grants worth $214 million, including wasteful programs like “Building the Migrant Domestic Worker-Led Movement” in Lebanon or “Get the Trolls Out!” in the United Kingdom.
    • The Department of State scrapped its Global Engagement Center, which was at the center of U.S. government-sponsored censorship and media manipulation.
    • The Department of Health and Human Services launched new studies on the link between environmental toxins and autism.
    • Institutions across the country continued to dissolve their divisive “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programming in response to President Trump’s executive order.
      • James Madison University ended its DEI programming.
      • Ball State University announced it will end its DEI programming.
      • Rochester Community School District in Michigan eliminated its DEI director position.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: TransUnion Appoints Brian Silver Executive Vice President of Marketing Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brian Silver joined TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) as Executive Vice President of Marketing Solutions, effective April 7, 2025. He reports to the newly appointed Chief Global Solutions Officer, Mohamed Abdelsadek.

    As Executive Vice President, Silver will drive the vision, strategy and innovation behind TransUnion’s TruAudience® products. TruAudience enables data-driven marketing and measurement with a suite of privacy-first identity resolution, data enrichment, audience targeting and advanced analytics solutions.

    “TruAudience is a leading solution suite for marketing, powered by TransUnion’s OneTru platform—giving it amazing potential for continuing innovation,” said Abdelsadek. “Brian’s deep knowledge and experience are essential in steering that innovation to address the evolving challenges marketers face in identifying audiences and measuring campaigns in a privacy-focused environment.”

    Matt Spiegel, EVP of TruAudience Growth Strategy, added, “Brian is an amazing addition for TransUnion. I look forward to working closely with him, Mohamed, and the market-facing teams to drive growth of the TruAudience portfolio.”

    Silver joins TransUnion from Oracle Advertising, where he served as Global Vice President, Strategy and Business Development. Over the past 25 years, Silver has established himself as a leader in identity-based digital marketing. His past roles include serving as President at LiveIntents; Vice President, Global Revenue Operations at Verizon Media; and Vice President, Global Business Planning and Operations, Communications Products, at Yahoo!.

    “I am thrilled to join TransUnion and lead the TruAudience team in driving forward our vision and strategy,” said Silver. “With the power of TransUnion’s OneTru platform, we are uniquely positioned to solve for the identity resolution, audience discovery, and measurement challenges required to deliver effective marketing. I look forward to leveraging my experience to help our clients achieve their goals and drive business growth for TransUnion.”

    About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)
    TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this with a Tru™ picture of each person: an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care. Through our acquisitions and technology investments we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good® — and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world. http://www.transunion.com/business

    Contact Dave Blumberg
      TransUnion
    E-mail david.blumberg@transunion.com
    Telephone 312-972-6646

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Aemetis India Plant Receives $31 million of Biodiesel Orders from OMCs for Delivery in Next Three Months

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CUPERTINO, Calif., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX), a diversified global renewable natural gas and biofuels company, announced the Company’s subsidiary in India, Universal Biofuels, received multiple orders for an aggregate of $31 million for the delivery during May, June and July of more than 33,000 kiloliters of biodiesel to the three government-owned Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).  

    Additional OMC orders are expected throughout the year in order to continue shipments to fuel blending terminals on an ongoing basis to support the India government goal of increasing from a 1% to 5% biodiesel blend.

    ”Universal Biofuels and other biodiesel producers look forward to continuous support from the government of India to ensure that climate issues are addressed, while ensuring a healthy biodiesel industry,” stated Sanjeev Duggal, CEO of Universal Biofuels.

    “We are pleased with the progress being made in India in support of the 5% biodiesel blending target of more than 1.2 billion gallons per year,” stated Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis.  “The OMCs did not take deliveries during this past winter and instead decided to issue new orders for biodiesel with deliveries from May to July. Our Universal Biofuels subsidiary has successfully completed deliveries under contracts with the OMCs for the past several years, highlighting our track record for producing and timely delivering high quality renewable fuels at our India plant.”

    Recently, India achieved a 20% ethanol blend into gasoline and the government stated a new 30% blend target for ethanol, enabling further growth in ethanol production and expanding revenues for farmers while reducing the importation of petroleum gasoline into India.

    Universal Biofuels significantly expanded the production capacity of the Kakinada biodiesel plant to 80 million gallons per year during a recent plant upgrade and maintenance cycle, including expansion of its proprietary process that produces biodiesel from waste and byproducts that Universal utilizes to produce biofuels that are lower carbon intensity at a significantly reduced cost. 

    Aemetis’ Universal Biofuels subsidiary is one of the largest biodiesel producers in India, having been in operation for more than 17 years. Universal Biofuels increased annual biodiesel capacity from 50 million gallons to 80 million gallons last year, with further biodiesel expansion to other locations and diversification into biogas production planned for 2025. To support further growth, Universal Biofuels is preparing for an IPO in India which is expected to be completed in late 2025, subject to continued favorable stock market conditions.

    Universal Biofuels completed $112 million of biodiesel and glycerine shipments in the twelve months ended September 2024, including deliveries to the three government-owned oil marketing companies under a cost-plus contract. Shipments of biodiesel to OMC’s are expected to begin in early May under the next round of biodiesel contracts. 

    About Aemetis

    Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is a renewable natural gas and renewable fuel company focused on the operation, acquisition, development, and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace petroleum products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Founded in 2006, Aemetis is operating and actively expanding a California biogas digester network and pipeline system to convert dairy waste gas into Renewable Natural Gas. Aemetis owns and operates a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley near Modesto that supplies about 80 dairies with animal feed. Aemetis owns and operates an 80 million gallon per year production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin. Aemetis is developing a sustainable aviation fuel plant and a CO2 sequestration project in California. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com. 

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events or other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections of financial results; statements related to the development, engineering, financing, construction and operation of the Aemetis biodiesel and other biofuel facilities; our ability to promote, develop, finance, and construct facilities to produce biodiesel, renewable fuels, and biochemicals; and statements about future market prices and results of government actions. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “showing signs,” “targets,” “view,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and predictions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results or events could differ materially from those set forth or implied by such forward-looking statements and related assumptions due to certain factors, including, without limitation, competition in the ethanol, biodiesel and other industries in which we operate, commodity market risks including those that may result from current weather conditions, financial market risks, customer adoption, counter-party risks, risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and in our other filings with the SEC. We are not obligated, and do not intend, to update any of these forward-looking statements at any time unless an update is required by applicable securities laws.

    Company Investor Relations
    Media Contact:
    Todd Waltz
    (408) 213-0940
    investors@aemetis.com

    External Investor Relations
    Contact:
    Kirin Smith
    PCG Advisory Group
    (646) 863-6519
    ksmith@pcgadvisory.com

    The MIL Network –