NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Search for new lease of life for Pounds House

    Source: City of Plymouth

    A search is on for a sympathetic new owner who can revive and restore a Grade II listed mansion house in the heart of Plymouth.

    Pounds House in Central Park is in need of a new lease of life and the Council, which owns the building, has looked extensively at options but has not identified a use for it and has now decided to open up its future to other interested parties.

    Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member with responsibility for assets said:
    “We constantly review our properties and assets to make sure they provide value in meeting the needs of our services to residents and helping us deliver priorities for the city.

    “This involves both buying and selling properties to best meet the needs of the residents we serve.

    “We have not identified a Council use for the building that would warrant large scale investment and need to focus our efforts elsewhere. It is a shame, but we need to be pragmatic and offer this as an opportunity which we hope others will grasp. We want this building to be loved for the long term.”

    The Council has a large portfolio of assets, from land to office blocks, retail parks and shops, which support the local economy and thousands of jobs. As a landowner it keeps its properties under constant review, assessing them on whether they are used, the cost of upkeep, whether it fits in with the Council’s and the city’s priorities. As well as disposing assets, it also acquires them, depending on needs of the city, its economy and its residents.

    In the last five years the Council has spent £490,787 on the property, including work to the roof and rainwater goods, security, electrical installations, gas and water hygiene inspections/testing and insurance. Removing the property from the Council’s books would remove a substantial liability for maintenance. The mansion house has been empty since 2017 and significant external work is needed.

    The future of the house has had a number of false starts. Investigation works were due to start in 2020 but were put on hold to allow the building to be used as part of the Mayflower 400 celebrations. There were further delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 some work carried out to address more pressing issues including repairs to very old window frames.

    The house is expected to be sold at auction in the next few months. As there is a small area around the boundary of the house that will form part of the disposal package, the Council is placing a Loss of Public Open Space legal notice in the Herald and on the Council’s website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Personal Management”: an online course for people with disabilities

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    We invite you to take part in the advanced training program “Personal Management”, developed for students with disabilities.

    The online course is aimed at developing key competencies in the field of personal effectiveness, time management and professional self-development.

    As part of the course, participants will:

    They will become familiar with the conceptual foundations and modern technologies for increasing personal efficiency. They will develop skills of self-organization, self-regulation and management of psycho-emotional state. They will master methods of rational time planning and increasing productivity. They will form an individual career growth strategy and learn to build effective career scenarios.

    The training is designed for 36 academic hours and will take place online from May 12 to June 15, 2025.

    To participate in the program, you must register before April 21, 2025.

    The program will provide valuable knowledge and practical tools for achieving success in academic, professional and personal activities.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/03/2025

    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: Armed Felon Indicted Following Traffic Stop in Northwest D.C.

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

              WASHINGTON – Trevon Timothy Vines, 30, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on a federal gun charge in the latest case to be federally adopted as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. 

              The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Sean T. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, 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).

              Vines was indicted on one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Person Convicted of a Crime Punishable by Imprisonment for a Term Exceeding One Year. 

              According to court documents, on March 15, 2025, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the vicinity of 1820 7th Street NW after observing a traffic infraction. It is alleged that during the course of the stop, officers observed several open containers of alcohol and requested that all occupants exit the vehicle.

              It is alleged that one of the occupants, defendant Vines, was seated in the front passenger seat and holding a cup consistent with the others observed. As officers attempted to place Vines in handcuffs, they felt what they immediately recognized to be a handgun on his person in a front left jacket pocket. Vines then began physically resisting, grabbing one officer’s vest and attempting to move him while repeatedly reaching for the weapon forcibly.

              Officers eventually recovered the firearm and discovered that it had been reported stolen from a gun dealer in White Plains, Maryland.

              An investigation revealed that Vines is a convicted felon with multiple prior convictions. At the time of the incident, Vines was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal and D.C. law. He did not have a license to carry or own a firearm in the District of Columbia.

              This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, ATF Baltimore Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.

              This case is part of Make D.C. Safe Again, 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.

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

     

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Niagara-on-the-Lake — Cuban National arrested for attempting to enter Canada between the ports

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    In mid-March, 2025, a Cuban National attempted to enter Canada from the US by running across the Fort Erie International Railway Bridge. Members of the RCMP Niagara-on-the-Lake Border Integrity Unit, with the assistance of members of the OPP contributing to Ontario’s Operation Deterrence, were able to locate and arrest the individual under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

    The individual was transported to the CBSA at the Peace Bridge port of entry in Fort Erie. After being assessed, the individual was found to be ineligible for entry to Canada and was returned to the United States on the same day.

    The Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP Border Integrity Unit currently maintains a 24/7 presence at the railway bridge. The RCMP have recently arrested several people attempting to make illegal entry into Canada at the railway bridge. All individuals who have been arrested were eventually returned to the U.S.

    Members of the Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP are actively conducting patrols along the border in this area on the land, on the water and in the air to disrupt cross-border criminal activity.

    The RCMP is committed to working with our partners to protect the residents and communities of Canada. Our collaboration with both the CBSA and OPP continues to provide positive results for Canada. The RCMP also acknowledges the assistance of CN rail.

    “The RCMP continues to see positive operational impact from new investments in law enforcement between ports of entry and collaborative efforts with CN Police, OPP and CBSA in maintaining the security and integrity of Canadian borders.”
    Sgt. Lepa Jankovic, Border Integrity Unit, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Central Region RCMP

    “The CBSA and RCMP work in close partnership to maintain the security of our borders. This is yet another example of how our collaboration contributes to protecting the integrity of our border and the safety of our communities.”
    – Michael Prosia, A/Regional Director General, Southern Ontario Region, Canada Border Services Agency

    Fast Facts

    In Canada, border security and integrity is a shared mandate between the CBSA and the RCMP. The CBSA is responsible for enforcement at 1,200 ports of entry across the country, while the RCMP is responsible for enforcement between ports of entry.

    The RCMP Niagara-on-the-Lake Border Integrity Unit is tasked with the prevention and detection of cross-border smuggling both to and from Canada. This unit supports four CBSA ports of entry by conducting larger criminal investigations that start at the port. The unit is also tasked with protecting the border area between the ports from Cobourg on Lake Ontario to Port Burwell on Lake Erie. The members of the unit will often be found in boats ensuring vessels are complying with reporting requirements when entering Canada.

    If you have any information related to smuggling, drug importation, trafficking, or possession, or wish to report other criminality, you can contact the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020, the confidential CBSA Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), at any time.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Johns County Man Pleads Guilty To Tax Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jacksonville, Florida – United Staes Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Daniel Tharp has pleaded guilty to the willful failure to pay taxes. Tharp faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to court records, Tharp was the managing director for Hangar X Holdings, LLC, where he had the corporate responsibility to collect and account for the company’s trust fund taxes, which included income taxes, Medicare taxes, and Social Security taxes withheld from the company’s employees’ pay. From October 2014 through December 2019, the company paid wages to employees and withheld these trust fund taxes. Tharp, however, knowingly and intentionally failed to pay this money to the IRS. In total, Tharp caused the company to fail to pay over $1.2 million in such taxes.

    This case was investigated by IRS—Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader Of Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty To Smuggling Thousands Of Kilograms Of Cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Cristian Javier Vente Ocoro (39, Colombia), a/k/a “Shrek,” “Happy,” and “Teletubis,” has pleaded guilty to conspiring to traffic cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Vente Ocoro faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He was arrested in Colombia in September 2023 at the request of the United States and extradited to the United States a year later. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreement, Vente Ocoro was part of an organization that smuggled cocaine from South America to Central America and Mexico, a substantial portion of which passed through points of entry on the United States/Mexico border. Vente Ocoro handled the organization, logistics, and planning of smuggling ventures, as well as recruited and paid crewmembers. As part of the investigation, investigators associated Vente Ocoro with two failed smuggling ventures – the first on June 25, 2019, that involved 1,090 kilograms of cocaine; the second on July 31, 2019, that involved 2,125 kilograms of cocaine.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi- jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

    The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities. The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Colombian National Police provided critical investigative support. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendant. The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Antonio Used Car Dealer Employee Sentenced for Odometer Tampering

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – A used car dealership manager in San Antonio was sentenced in a federal court to six months in prison and ordered to pay more than $260,000 in restitution for odometer tampering.

    According to court documents, Felipe Alcibar, 62, was the primary party responsible for the day-to-day operations of Autotex Financial, a used car dealership. Beginning no later than October 2020 and continuing until at least November 2023, Alcibar knowingly and intentionally disconnected, reset or altered the odometers on multiple vehicles that had been purchased by Autotex and that were advertised for sale to the general public.

    Alcibar was charged in a one-count information filed Oct. 8, 2024. He pleaded guilty Oct. 30, 2024. In addition to a six month prison sentence, Alcibar was ordered to pay a restitution of $264,747.05.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

    The Department of Transportation Office of Odometer Fraud investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Chung prosecuted the case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Tunisia’s rap revolution: 5 women who are redefining hip-hop

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jyhene Kebsi, Director of Learning & Teaching (Gender Studies), Macquarie University

    Women rappers were not really a feature of Tunisia’s typically masculine and chauvinist hip-hop scene until the revolution that overthrew Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.

    Now there are several politically conscious female voices rising in the rap scene. Gender studies scholar Jyhene Kebsi has published a research paper on how their lyrics highlight the multiple inequalities that women in Tunisia – and the world – must overcome.

    How have male Tunisian rappers generally treated women in their songs and videos?

    The gender politics of Tunisian men’s rap is complex, but we can talk about one of its tendencies. Although there are men who’ve supported their female colleagues and collaborated with them on songs, their portrayals tend to lump women into one of two groups: virtuous or promiscuous; madonnas or whores.

    Read more: Senegal’s female rappers aren’t letting obstacles get in their way – who the rising voices are

    This is clear in their use of obscene words that aim to degrade the “fallen” women they rap about. Their sexual references can be seen as a way to debase the “easy girls and immoral women” who challenge patriarchal norms.

    This is in sharp contrast to the love and indebtedness they express towards their mothers and sisters. In contrast to western rap, the mother figure is central in Tunisian rap.

    The sacredness of the mother in Tunisian Muslim culture is seen in songs full of gratitude towards those who brought them into the world.

    Their reliance on this male-centred division between “respectable” and “unrespectable” women spreads a toxic masculinity that supports harmful gender stereotypes.

    This strengthens men’s social dominance and their policing of women’s bodies. Having said that, it is very important to highlight that sexism is not limited to the Arab rap scene. As I explain in my paper, many western male rappers objectify, humiliate and degrade women in their songs too.

    Who are the four female rappers you discuss?

    The four Tunisian women rappers I analyse are Sabrina, Medusa, Queen Nesrine and Tuny Girl.

    There’s a common perception that Medusa was Tunisia’s first female rapper. In reality, Sabrina began performing rap in 2007 and Tunisia’s other female artists joined the rap scene after the 2011 revolution.

    Medusa is Tunisia’s most famous female rapper in the west – her migration to France boosted her international profile. Although Tuny Girl and Queen Nesrine have not gained the fame of Medusa or Sabrina, they’ve released powerful feminist songs that criticise the status quo in post-revolutionary Tunisia.

    These artists have mainly relied on digital media to share their songs with the public through social platforms like YouTube and Facebook. Unfortunately, all four of them have faced opposition because they’re women.

    Rap is considered a masculine musical genre. Tunisian women’s initial entry into this male-dominated world was not easily accepted. Attitudes towards female rappers have evolved thanks to women’s gradual success in attracting a larger fan base.

    But these four artists share a strong resistance to sexism. Most importantly, while being aware of patriarchal pressures, they’re conscious of the many different forms of oppression that intersect to keep women less equal than men.

    This is evident in their songs, which reflect a strong awareness of intersectionality.

    What is intersesectionality?

    The black US feminist Kimberle Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” in 1989 to describe the double discrimination of sexism and racism faced by black women. So, she used the term to discuss the multiple forms of inequality that compound themselves and create interlocking obstacles that shape black women’s experiences of discrimination.

    Intersectionality highlights the experiences of multiple forms of discrimination when these categories of social identity interact with and shape one another.

    We see an understanding of intersectionality in a song like Hold On, where Medusa raps about illiteracy, political struggle and motherhood:

    I am watching the floating misery / Illiteracy has spread and made us go from one extreme to the other / Where is the freedom for which activists struggled? / I am the free Tunisian who exposed their chest to bullets / I am the mother, the mother of the martyr who has not gotten his revenge.

    Or, in her song Arahdli, Sabrina raps about a range of social ills:

    Leave me alone / The police catch you and harm you / Don’t believe the corrupt state / Unemployment and poverty will not make you happy.

    I found that what Medusa, Sabrina, Queen Nesrine and Tuny Girl have in common is their rejection of, as Crenshaw puts it, the “single-axis framework”. The one-sided narrative that reduces women’s problems solely to men and patriarchy.

    Instead, these artists highlight the damaging impact – for women – of the intersection of gender inequality, political corruption, unjust laws, ineffective local policies, the collapse of Tunisia’s economy and the country’s weak position in the global geopolitical landscape.

    Their songs are united in their recognition that Tunisian women’s lives are shaped by all these overlapping power structures, exposing them to marginalisation and discrimination.

    So, their songs identify hidden, interrelated structural barriers to their freedom. Misogyny is just one element that needs to be considered alongside other local and global issues when we discuss gender politics in Tunisia.

    What other new trends are female rappers ushering in?

    Women are at the forefront of innovation in Tunisian rap. Take Lully Snake. She’s a Tunisian-Algerian rapper based in Tunisia. This 24-year-old artist was previously a breakdancer. Her passion for hip-hop culture and her love for US artists like Tupac, Kool G Rap, Queen Latifah and Foxy Brown led her to start rapping.

    Like all Tunisian women rappers, she considers her entry into rap to have been a long and difficult journey. Starting in 2019, her first song was only released in 2024.

    Lully Snake first uploaded her debut song Zabatna Kida on Instagram. Its uniqueness lies in its combination of rap and mahraganat, an Egyptian street music that emerged in Cairo’s ghettos. Its success encouraged her to carry on rapping in both Tunisian and Egyptian, alongside other western languages and Maghrebi dialects.

    Lully Snake’s experimentation proves that female rappers are innovating while spreading messages that empower women. This has ultimately enriched Tunisian rap.

    – Tunisia’s rap revolution: 5 women who are redefining hip-hop
    – https://theconversation.com/tunisias-rap-revolution-5-women-who-are-redefining-hip-hop-253066

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Drone Surveying Market One of The Fastest Growing Segments of the Drone Industry as Revenue Opportunity Climbs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The US Drone Surveying Market has been the Global Market Leader in recent years and is expected to continue for years to come. The US has been the market leader in the drone industry since the start of the drone revolution. Across industries, companies have employed drones for their day-to-day operations. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, mining, real estate, and agriculture are some of the prominent end-use industries for the drone surveying market. According to an industry report, the US drone surveying market is expected to witness double-digit market growth in the forecast period and is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 2540.0 million by the end of 2033. The construction and mining industry is expected to be the market leader in the demand for drone surveying services. Increased spending from governments and rising demand for residential and commercial spaces would add a significantly high pace to the overall drone surveying demand in the US. The report said; “Why Land Survey Commands Largest Market Share? The drone land survey as a service is a common one among all industries. The demand for land surveys arises from sectors such as construction, mining, energy, real estate, public administration, and agriculture among others. That is why land survey services contribute most to the drone survey company’s revenue. The drone land survey holds around 53% of the total market share in the drone survey industry. With the help of drone land surveys, companies/institutions get their desired datasets which ultimately help them in making informed decisions. For example, a land survey for infrastructure development can help companies and planning and development by providing required 3D maps or images. It is expected that the land survey market to remain the top revenue contributor for drone survey service providers.”   Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR), Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR), EHang (NASDAQ: EH), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT).

    Fact.MR continued: “Construction Industry to Contribute Most to the Drone Surveying Service Demand. The spending on infrastructural development has been all-time high across the major economies of the world. The market players are taking the help of drone service providers in different stages of planning and development. Drone surveying companies provide services for the use of town planning, land record digitalization, urban city development, and other development-related services. With the help of drones, companies are able to cover increased areas (acres of land/area) within no time, and with precise and accurate data. These collected images and data can be easily converted into meaningful output, which can be useful in the planning and development of urban towns. Drone surveying has been very useful for the construction industry by providing important insights with minimal cost and improved efficiency.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Closes Second Southeast Region Acquisition, Wallace Surveying Corporation, Set to Become the Third Acquisition to Power Its National Drone as a Service (DaaS) Business – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that it has closed the acquisition of Wallace Surveying Corporation (“Wallace”) of West Palm Beach, Florida, a well-established land survey company with thirty years of experience. Wallace provides construction and land development surveys delivering accurate and reliable data that supports project planning and design for developers, contractors, engineers, and architect customers.

    This is ZenaTech’s second acquisition in the Southeast region as part of a larger national roll-up strategy to disrupt the land survey industry by accelerating the use of drones for speed and accuracy benefits. The acquisition also further powers the Company’s national Drone as a Service, or DaaS, business as the third US acquisition set to provide access to the ZenaDrone 1000 and the IQ series. These multifunction drones are set to provide a variety of services including power line inspections, precision agriculture, law enforcement, and search and rescue for natural disasters such as hurricanes.

    “Wallace Surveying Corporation is well respected in the South Florida business community with longstanding existing customer relationships. Its team brings considerable expertise toward our goal of innovating land surveys at scale leveraging advanced drone data collection, data management, mapping and digital deliverables. This acquisition is another step towards our vision to create a national DaaS business, bringing AI drone efficiencies and precision to a variety of legacy verticals and manual tasks,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    ZenaTech’s Drones as a Service or DaaS model is similar to Software as a Service (SaaS), but instead of providing software solutions over the Internet, the company will offer ZenaDrone solutions and services on a subscription or pay-per-use basis. Customers can conveniently access drones for eliminating manual or time-consuming tasks achieving more precision, such as for surveying, inspections, security and law enforcement, or farming precision agriculture applications, without having to buy, operate, or maintain the drones themselves.

    The DaaS business model offers customers such as government agencies, real estate developers, construction firms, farmers or energy companies reduced upfront costs as there is no need to purchase expensive drones, as well as convenience, as there is no need to manage maintenance and operation. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and enables access to advanced drone technology sensors or attachments like spraying, without the need for specialized training.

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

    In Additional ZENA News: ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) 2024 Financial Results Shows Revenue and Assets Increase.

    2024 Financial Results:

    • As of December 31, 2024, and consistent with its recent 6K filing, ZenaTech’s 2024 full-year revenue increased by 7% to $1.96 million as compared to $1.82 million for the full year of 2023 (all figures in $Cdn. dollars)
    • Comprehensive loss for the period was ($4.04 million) versus ($.251 million) last year due to increased one-time costs of listing on Nasdaq Capital Market from lawyers, accountants, auditors, financial advisor (investment banker) and other going public expenses
    • Assets have increased over 110% to $34.6 million at year-end 2024, up from $16.4 million at year-end 2023. This is due to the company’s acquisition of three patents, and a total of four software companies. In addition, the company has signed multiple Letters of Intent (LOIs) as part of an acquisition strategy that will tremendously increase future revenue
    • Liabilities continue to be low, having increased $3.7 million to $12.8 million at year-end 2024 from $9.1 million at year-end 2023
    • The Company’s ratio of debt to total capitalization is 31%, which is well within the accepted standard of less than 50%
    • ZenaTech’s existing cash and funds available through lines of credit will be sufficient to finance the next 12 months of the company’s operations. We anticipate that cash generated internally, and lines of credit will be sufficient to fund our drone development and acquisitions
    • Additional information is available from ZenaTech’s 6K filing on the SEC EDGAR website. The company will be filing its 20F by the due date, which is April 30, 2024, for Private Foreign Issuers. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.zenatech.com/newsroom/.

    Other recent developments in the drone/aviation industries include:

    Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR) recently announced a partnership today to build the AI foundation for the future of next-gen aviation technologies. For decades, the aviation industry has made only incremental improvements, constrained by legacy technology and a dominant duopoly in commercial aviation. With the rapid acceleration of AI, as well as breakthroughs in distributed electric propulsion, the industry is now poised for change.

    The two plan to leverage Palantir Foundry and AIP to accelerate the scaling of Archer’s aircraft manufacturing capabilities at its facilities in Georgia and Silicon Valley, with the intent to advance the development of software solutions to drive innovation across the entire value chain.

    This would include the development of next-gen software utilizing AI to improve a range of aviation systems, including air traffic control, movement control and route planning, with the goal of improving efficiency, safety and affordability across the industry.

    Archer and Palantir will formalize this partnership later today during a signing ceremony between Palantir co-founder and CEO, Alex Karp, and Archer founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, at Palantir’s AIPCon.

    EHang (NASDAQ: EH), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology platform company, recently announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong EHang General Aviation Co., Ltd. (“EHang General Aviation”), and its joint venture company in Hefei, Hefei HeYi Aviation Co., Ltd. (“HeYi Aviation”), have been granted the first batch of Air Operator Certificates (“OC”) for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”).

    This milestone officially marks the launch of China’s human-carrying flight era in the low-altitude economy, allowing citizens and consumers to purchase flight tickets for low-altitude tourism, urban sightseeing, and diverse commercial human-carrying flight services at related operation sites in Guangzhou and Hefei. In the future, operators will also gradually expand into more other scenarios such as urban commuting based on operational conditions legally and compliantly. The issuance of the first batch of OCs sets a new benchmark for the low-altitude economy and urban air mobility and further unleashing a more powerful vitality of the new-quality productive forces.

    Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, recently reported its financial results for the 2024 Transition Period (as of December 31, 2024 and the eight months then ended) and provides a corporate update.

    “Red Cat’s partnerships and global expansion strategy is already yielding strong results. Over the past few months, we’ve introduced the Black Widow and Edge 130 drones to key international markets, including the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and soon Latin America,” said Jeff Thompson, Red Cat CEO. “This momentum underscores growing global interest in our Family of Systems. The ongoing development of Black Widow for the U.S. Army’s SRR Program of Record, bolstered by AI partners like Palantir and Palladyne, we’re not only meeting immediate defense needs—we’re ensuring our warfighters and allies are well equipped for rapidly-evolving battlefield.”

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Dinan Capital Advisors Welcomes Michael Brill as Managing Director Leading Private Capital Markets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHOENIX, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dinan Capital Advisors (“Dinan”), a leading middle-market investment bank, is pleased to welcome Michael Brill as Managing Director, where he will lead the private capital markets practice.

    Brill and his team will establish Dinan’s New York office, providing sponsors and entrepreneurs with capital solutions supporting a wide range of corporate initiatives, including acquisitions, recapitalizations, refinancings, and growth financings.

    “We’re thrilled to have Michael on board,” said Michael Dinan, President and CEO of Dinan. “Private capital solutions are a strong complement to Dinan’s existing buy-side and sell-side services, and Michael’s capital markets expertise and proven track record across industries will be invaluable as we continue to expand our value-added services to more fully serve our clients.”

    Brill brings over 25 years of experience from both bulge bracket and boutique firms. Most recently, he served as Senior Managing Director in the investment banking practice at B. Riley Securities. Prior to B. Riley, Brill launched the New York office of FocalPoint, and headed the private capital markets practice at Duff & Phelps. He also led private financing practices at Lehman Brothers and Barclays, as well as the fixed income practice at Canaccord Genuity.

    Brill has structured and executed transactions across a variety of sectors, including healthcare, technology, industrials, and energy. Brill’s expertise spans the full spectrum of the private capital markets. He has extensive experience working with entrepreneurs, independent sponsors, and private equity firms to develop and implement innovative capital structures that drive strategic growth.

    “I’m excited to join Dinan and contribute to the firm’s continued success,” said Brill. “Dinan has built a strong reputation for delivering M&A solutions to the middle market. I’m eager to build on that foundation.”

    Brill’s addition to the Dinan team and the expansion of Dinan’s private capital markets practice marks an important step in the firm’s ongoing evolution as the M&A partner of choice for middle-market companies.

    About Dinan

    Dinan & Company, LLC is an established middle-market investment bank specializing in merger, acquisition, and private capital markets solutions. “Dinan” is the brand under which Dinan & Company and its subsidiary, Dinan Capital Advisors, operate and provide services.

    Dinan offers Wall Street-caliber expertise to the thriving middle market, serving a diverse range of clients, including private equity groups, Fortune 1000 companies, family-owned businesses, and entrepreneurs.

    For over 35 years, business owners and investors have relied on Dinan to turn M&A opportunities into results. Let Dinan help unlock your next success story. Learn more at www.dinancompany.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4d377cb-c936-490c-badb-39f97a10923e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Centri Capital Conference Scheduled for April 2025 at Nasdaq in NYC

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via InvestorWire — Centri Business Consulting, LLC, a highly respected accounting and advisory firm, is pleased to announce the Centri Capital Conference, an exclusive event designed for investment bankers, private equity investors, venture capitalists, and other capital markets participants. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Nasdaq in New York City.

    With an insights-packed agenda featuring in-depth company presentations from C-suite leaders, high-powered meetings, and a distinguished roster of industry experts, this exclusive event will bring together hundreds of attendees from across the investment community. Invited experts will share invaluable perspectives on leveraging technology-driven growth opportunities while navigating broader market volatility.

    This invite-only event will explore a diverse range of topics across the rapidly evolving global capital markets. The conference is especially well-timed following Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s recent remarks on the “highly uncertain environment.” While the FOMC projects additional rate cuts in 2025, concerns about inflation, weakening consumer sentiment, geopolitical instability, increasing trade restrictions, and the rising likelihood of global conflicts continue to shape market conditions.

    Michael Aiello, CEO & Managing Partner of Centri, stated: “The Centri Capital Conference is instrumental in fostering collaborative relationships between seasoned capital market professionals searching for new opportunities and innovative companies seeking access to risk capital, market exposure, and long-term strategic partnerships. We’ve curated an incredible lineup of presenting companies and expert speakers who will provide valuable insights on the future of the capital markets. It is a must-attend event in the deal space.”

    The conference will feature a curated lineup of 50+ high-growth companies spanning healthcare, life sciences, disruptive technology, and other rapidly expanding sectors. Attendees will have access to one-on-one meetings, gaining unique market insights, exploring synergies, and discussing future business roadmaps.

    Christopher Mora, Chief Revenue Officer, Partner, and Capital Markets Practice Leader at Centri, added: “The Centri Capital Conference is designed to maximize business productivity by creating an environment primed for networking, knowledge-sharing, and building lasting connections to support long-term growth.”

    Attendees will also engage directly with renowned thought leaders and seasoned experts through a series of dynamic panel discussions:

    • IPO Market: Trends, Pathway to Success, and Lessons Learned featuring J.D. Moriarty, CEO, ICR & Jay Heller, Head of Capital Markets, Nasdaq
    • Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Dynamics: Shaping the Future of Capital Markets featuring Edward McGee, CFO, Grayscale Investments
    • Cutting Through the Hype: How Growth-Stage Investors & Company CEOs Can Leverage AI featuring Mike Ryan, CEO, Bulletpoint Network
    • Market Disruptors: Capital Strategies for Innovative Companies featuring Sean McGann, Managing Director, Cantor Fitzgerald
    • Investment Trends: Venture Capital and Private Credit featuring John Pennett, Partner in Charge of Technology and Life Sciences Practice, EisnerAmper
    • Global Dynamics: Navigating Economic and Regulatory Shifts featuring Derek Dostel, Partner, Davis Polk

    The event will conclude with an evening reception, providing attendees with a relaxed environment to connect with industry peers and fellow professionals.

    As a premier event in the financial landscape, the Centri Capital Conference offers unparalleled education, networking, and collaborative opportunities, making it a must-attend for investors and executives active in the capital markets.

    Companies and investors interested in presenting, attending, or sponsoring the Centri Capital Conference can register here.

    About Centri Business Consulting, LLC

    Centri Business Consulting provides the highest quality advisory consulting services by being reliable and responsive to its clients’ needs. The firm specializes in financial reporting, internal controls, technical accounting research, valuation, mergers & acquisitions, tax, CFO and HR advisory services for companies of various sizes and industries. From complex technical accounting transactions to monthly financial reporting, Centri’s professionals offer the specialized expertise, and multilayered skill sets necessary to ensure projects are completed timely and accurately.

    About IBN

    IBN consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 18+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of client-partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.
    Through our Dynamic Brand Portfolio (DBP), IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) Press Release Enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions; and (6) total news coverage solutions.
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    Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: http://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

    About Centri Business Consulting, LLC

    Centri Business Consulting provides the highest quality advisory consulting services to its clients by being reliable and responsive to their needs. Centri provides companies with the expertise they need to meet their reporting demands. Centri specializes in financial reporting, internal controls, technical accounting research, valuation, mergers & acquisitions, and tax, CFO and HR advisory services for companies of various sizes and industries. From complex technical accounting transactions to monthly financial reporting, our professionals can offer any organization the specialized expertise and multilayered skillsets to ensure the project is completed timely and accurately.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Invesco Ltd: Form 8.3 – Invesco Ltd: Form 8.3 – DS Smith PLC; Public dealing disclosure; Public dealing disclosure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1. KEY INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Full name of discloser: Invesco Ltd.  
    (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
    The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		    
    (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
    Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.  
    (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:    
    (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:
    For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 02.04.2025  
    (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
    If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 Yes, Dowlais Group plc  
       
    2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.  
    (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)  
       
    Class of relevant security: USD 0.01 common US0240611030  
      Interests Short Positions  
      Number % Number %  
    (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 2,282,988* 1.92      
    (2) Cash-settled derivatives:          
    (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:          
      Total 2,282,988* 1.92      
    *The change in the holding of 15 shares since the last disclosure on 02.04.2025 is due to the transfer in of a discretionary holding at 3.95 USD.  
       
    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    		  
       
       
    (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)  
       
    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:    
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:    
       
    3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    		  
    (a) Purchases and sales  
       
    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit  
    USD 0.01 common US0240611030 Purchase 1,120 3.95 USD  
       
    (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit  
               
       
    (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)
     
    (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying
     
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   
       
    (ii) Exercise  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit  
               
       
    (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)  
                 
    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)  
             
       
    4. OTHER INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements  
       
    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
    (b) Agreements, arrangements, or understandings relating to options or derivatives  
       
    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
       
    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO  
       
    Date of disclosure 03.04.2025  
    Contact name Philippa Holmes  
    Telephone number +441491417447  
       

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Invesco Ltd: Form 8.3 – Qualcomm Incorporated; Public dealing disclosure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1. KEY INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Full name of discloser: Invesco Ltd.  
    (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
    The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		    
    (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
    Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 Qualcomm Incorporated  
    (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:    
    (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:
    For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 02.04.2025  
    (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
    If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 Yes: Alphawave IP Group plc  
       
    2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.  
    (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)  
       
    Class of relevant security: USD 0.0001 common US7475251036  
      Interests Short Positions  
      Number % Number %  
    (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 32,392,165* 2.92 6,705 0.00  
    (2) Cash-settled derivatives:          
    (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:          
      Total 32,392,165* 2.92 6,705 0.00  
    *The change in the holding of 66,995 shares since the last disclosure on 02.04.2025 is due to the transfer out of a discretionary holding at 153.05 USD.  
       
    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    		  
       
       
    (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)  
       
    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:    
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:    
       
    3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    		  
    (a) Purchases and sales  
       
    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit  
    USD 0.0001 common US7475251036 Purchase 1,007 154.08 USD  
    USD 0.0001 common US7475251036 Purchase 207 152.26 USD  
    USD 0.0001 common US7475251036 Purchase 208 152.05 USD  
    USD 0.0001 common US7475251036 Sale 12,022 154.08 USD  
    USD 0.0001 common US7475251036 Sale 220 153.44 USD  
       
    (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit  
               
       
    (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)
     
    (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying
     
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   
       
    (ii) Exercise  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit  
               
       
    (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)  
                 
    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)  
             
       
    4. OTHER INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements  
       
    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
    (b) Agreements, arrangements, or understandings relating to options or derivatives  
       
    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
       
    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO  
       
    Date of disclosure 03.04.2025  
    Contact name Philippa Holmes  
    Telephone number +441491417447  
       

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Tunisia’s rap revolution: 5 women who are redefining hip-hop

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jyhene Kebsi, Director of Learning & Teaching (Gender Studies), Macquarie University

    Women rappers were not really a feature of Tunisia’s typically masculine and chauvinist hip-hop scene until the revolution that overthrew Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.

    Now there are several politically conscious female voices rising in the rap scene. Gender studies scholar Jyhene Kebsi has published a research paper on how their lyrics highlight the multiple inequalities that women in Tunisia – and the world – must overcome.

    How have male Tunisian rappers generally treated women in their songs and videos?

    The gender politics of Tunisian men’s rap is complex, but we can talk about one of its tendencies. Although there are men who’ve supported their female colleagues and collaborated with them on songs, their portrayals tend to lump women into one of two groups: virtuous or promiscuous; madonnas or whores.



    Read more:
    Senegal’s female rappers aren’t letting obstacles get in their way – who the rising voices are

    This is clear in their use of obscene words that aim to degrade the “fallen” women they rap about. Their sexual references can be seen as a way to debase the “easy girls and immoral women” who challenge patriarchal norms.

    This is in sharp contrast to the love and indebtedness they express towards their mothers and sisters. In contrast to western rap, the mother figure is central in Tunisian rap.

    The sacredness of the mother in Tunisian Muslim culture is seen in songs full of gratitude towards those who brought them into the world.

    Their reliance on this male-centred division between “respectable” and “unrespectable” women spreads a toxic masculinity that supports harmful gender stereotypes.

    This strengthens men’s social dominance and their policing of women’s bodies. Having said that, it is very important to highlight that sexism is not limited to the Arab rap scene. As I explain in my paper, many western male rappers objectify, humiliate and degrade women in their songs too.

    Who are the four female rappers you discuss?

    The four Tunisian women rappers I analyse are Sabrina, Medusa, Queen Nesrine and Tuny Girl.

    There’s a common perception that Medusa was Tunisia’s first female rapper. In reality, Sabrina began performing rap in 2007 and Tunisia’s other female artists joined the rap scene after the 2011 revolution.

    Medusa is Tunisia’s most famous female rapper in the west – her migration to France boosted her international profile. Although Tuny Girl and Queen Nesrine have not gained the fame of Medusa or Sabrina, they’ve released powerful feminist songs that criticise the status quo in post-revolutionary Tunisia.

    These artists have mainly relied on digital media to share their songs with the public through social platforms like YouTube and Facebook. Unfortunately, all four of them have faced opposition because they’re women.

    Rap is considered a masculine musical genre. Tunisian women’s initial entry into this male-dominated world was not easily accepted. Attitudes towards female rappers have evolved thanks to women’s gradual success in attracting a larger fan base.

    But these four artists share a strong resistance to sexism. Most importantly, while being aware of patriarchal pressures, they’re conscious of the many different forms of oppression that intersect to keep women less equal than men.

    This is evident in their songs, which reflect a strong awareness of intersectionality.

    What is intersesectionality?

    The black US feminist Kimberle Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” in 1989 to describe the double discrimination of sexism and racism faced by black women. So, she used the term to discuss the multiple forms of inequality that compound themselves and create interlocking obstacles that shape black women’s experiences of discrimination.

    Intersectionality highlights the experiences of multiple forms of discrimination when these categories of social identity interact with and shape one another.

    We see an understanding of intersectionality in a song like Hold On, where Medusa raps about illiteracy, political struggle and motherhood:

    I am watching the floating misery / Illiteracy has spread and made us go from one extreme to the other / Where is the freedom for which activists struggled? / I am the free Tunisian who exposed their chest to bullets /
    I am the mother, the mother of the martyr who has not gotten his revenge.

    Or, in her song Arahdli, Sabrina raps about a range of social ills:

    Leave me alone / The police catch you and harm you / Don’t believe the corrupt state / Unemployment and poverty will not make you happy.

    I found that what Medusa, Sabrina, Queen Nesrine and Tuny Girl have in common is their rejection of, as Crenshaw puts it, the “single-axis framework”. The one-sided narrative that reduces women’s problems solely to men and patriarchy.

    Instead, these artists highlight the damaging impact – for women – of the intersection of gender inequality, political corruption, unjust laws, ineffective local policies, the collapse of Tunisia’s economy and the country’s weak position in the global geopolitical landscape.

    Their songs are united in their recognition that Tunisian women’s lives are shaped by all these overlapping power structures, exposing them to marginalisation and discrimination.

    So, their songs identify hidden, interrelated structural barriers to their freedom. Misogyny is just one element that needs to be considered alongside other local and global issues when we discuss gender politics in Tunisia.

    What other new trends are female rappers ushering in?

    Women are at the forefront of innovation in Tunisian rap. Take Lully Snake. She’s a Tunisian-Algerian rapper based in Tunisia. This 24-year-old artist was previously a breakdancer. Her passion for hip-hop culture and her love for US artists like Tupac, Kool G Rap, Queen Latifah and Foxy Brown led her to start rapping.

    Like all Tunisian women rappers, she considers her entry into rap to have been a long and difficult journey. Starting in 2019, her first song was only released in 2024.

    Lully Snake first uploaded her debut song Zabatna Kida on Instagram. Its uniqueness lies in its combination of rap and mahraganat, an Egyptian street music that emerged in Cairo’s ghettos. Its success encouraged her to carry on rapping in both Tunisian and Egyptian, alongside other western languages and Maghrebi dialects.

    Lully Snake’s experimentation proves that female rappers are innovating while spreading messages that empower women. This has ultimately enriched Tunisian rap.

    Jyhene Kebsi 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. Tunisia’s rap revolution: 5 women who are redefining hip-hop – https://theconversation.com/tunisias-rap-revolution-5-women-who-are-redefining-hip-hop-253066

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: London Luton Airport Expansion development consent decision announced

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    London Luton Airport Expansion development consent decision announced

    The London Luton Airport Expansion application has today been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Transport.

    London Luton Airport Expansion

    The application comprises the expansion of London Luton Airport from its current permitted cap of 18 million passengers per annum (mppa) up to 32 million mppa, including: new terminal capacity; additional taxiways and other transport infrastructure; the construction of landside support buildings; surface access adjustments; mitigation works and other associated development.  

    The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by London Luton Airport Limited on 27 February 2023 and accepted for examination on 27 March 2023.  

    Following an examination during which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 10 May 2024.   

    This is the 57th transport application out of 152 applications examined to date and was again completed by the Planning Inspectorate within the statutory timescale laid down in the Planning Act 2008.   

    Local communities continue to be given the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in this six-month examination.   

    The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to all local views and the evidence gathered during the examination before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State.  

    The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State for Transport and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation are publicly available on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website.  

    Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate Press Office, on 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email:   

    Press.office@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prof Thomas Hartung – Exposome Moonshot Project

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Human Exposome Moonshot Project is a bold initiative to map how environmental exposures shape human health from conception to old age. Much like the Human Genome Project transformed genetics, the Human Exposome Project seeks to revolutionize our understanding of disease origins, public health, and environmental policy. Today, we know that up to 90% of chronic diseases are linked to environmental factors—ranging from pollutants and diet to social stressors. However, a comprehensive understanding of these exposures remains elusive.

    Prof Hartung is on the Organising Committee of the Exposome Moonshot Project. He will be in the UK, ahead of the first Human Exposome Moonshot Forum in Washington in May, speaking at the International Network for Governmental Science Advice conference.

    Journalists were invited to attend this briefing to meet Prof Hartung and learn more about how the Human Exposome Moonshot Project will redefine environmental health and public policy on a global scale over the next decades. He covered:

    • What is the Human Exposome, and why is it as significant as the Human Genome Project?
    • How do environmental exposures contribute to major diseases, and what percentage of disease burden can be attributed to these factors?
    • Why is now the right time for a Human Exposome Moonshot? What technological breakthroughs make it feasible today?
    • What key advances in artificial intelligence, exposomics, and real-time exposure monitoring are driving this initiative?
    • How will the project impact healthcare, drug development, and regulatory science?
    • What role will governments, industry, and public health organizations play in shaping and implementing the exposome agenda?
    • How can stakeholders—scientists, policymakers, businesses, and the public—get involved in this initiative?
    • What are the expected short- and long-term outcomes of the Human Exposome Project, and how will success be measured?

    Speakers included:

    Prof Thomas Hartung, Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Whiting School of Engineering, Georgetown University, Washington D.C., and University of Konstanz, Germany and Director at the Centers for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) in the US and Europe. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Morgan McGarvey Statement on Donald Trump’s Tariff Announcement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan McGarvey (Kentucky-03)

    April 02, 2025

    Today, Congressman Morgan McGarvey released the following statement following Donald Trump’s tariff announcement: 

    “I want to bring more manufacturing jobs home, but tariffs don’t solve problems on their own. To work, they must be backed by a comprehensive plan. Donald Trump has not paired his overly broad, half-baked tariffs with any comprehensive strategy to return manufacturing jobs to the United States, and without one, these tariffs will only hurt working families and small businesses, while decimating Kentucky’s bourbon industry. 

    “Families are already struggling to get by in Trump’s economy. Things will only get worse as Donald Trump continues to undermine unions and strip workers’ health care to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS John C. Stennis Implements Reactor Pin Program to Enhance Readiness and Professionalism

    Source: United States Navy

    NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (March 10, 2025) – The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) is the second nuclear-powered carrier of its class to implement a new reactor pin program. The program, started in December 2024, recognizes senior in-rate qualifications within the reactor department, providing Sailors with a visible symbol of their expertise and contributions to shipboard operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Apr 3, 2025 1300 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 031232

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0732 AM CDT Thu Apr 03 2025

    Valid 031300Z – 041200Z

    …THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM PARTS OF
    THE ARKLATEX INTO THE MID-SOUTH AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE…

    …SUMMARY…
    Severe thunderstorms are likely today along/near a frontal zone from
    the southern Plains into the lower Mississippi and Tennessee
    Valleys. The most concentrated corridor for severe potential should
    be focused from the Arklatex into western/middle Tennessee, where
    very large hail and a few strong tornadoes are possible.

    …Southern Plains into the Lower Mississippi Valley/Mid-South and
    Southern Mid-Atlantic…
    Within broad upper troughing over the western CONUS, ascent
    associated with an embedded mid-level shortwave trough has
    encouraged multiple elevated supercells across west into
    north-central TX this morning along/north of a surface front. These
    thunderstorms are also being aided with continued moisture transport
    by a southerly low-level jet. With ample MUCAPE along/north of the
    front, steep mid-level lapse rates, and strong cloud-layer shear all
    present, these supercells should continue to pose a threat for
    mainly large to perhaps very large hail for at least a couple more
    hours. By late morning to early afternoon, thunderstorm interactions
    and mergers may gradually reduce the severe hail threat north of the
    front across OK/TX into AR.

    With neutral to slightly rising mid-level heights, the convectively
    reinforced front is forecast to move little today across the
    ArkLaTex, Mid-South, and TN Valley. Ongoing convection this morning
    across middle/eastern TN into eastern KY may pose an isolated severe
    threat in the short term. But, most of this activity has outpaced
    greater low-level moisture to the southwest, and/or has become
    slightly elevated to the north of the front. Even though large-scale
    ascent will tend to remain nebulous/weak across these areas,
    persistent low-level warm advection should aid in renewed
    thunderstorm development along/near the stalled front through the
    afternoon and evening. Any convection which can form on or just
    south of this boundary will have a rather favorably moist low-level
    airmass, steep lapse rates aloft, and strong deep-layer shear to
    support organized updrafts. Large to very large hail will be a
    threat with supercells that are forecast to develop, and a tornado
    threat will likely exist with any convection that can remain surface
    based/to the warm side of the front. With rather strong low-level
    shear forecast, a conditionally favorable environment will exist for
    strong tornadoes, with continued uncertainty whether supercells this
    afternoon/evening will be mainly surface based, or slightly elevated
    north of the front.

    Across the central Appalachians and southern Mid-Atlantic, remnants
    of convection and related outflow boundaries from earlier this
    morning should tend to serve as a northern limit to any appreciable
    severe threat today. Some adjustments have been made to the Marginal
    and Slight Risk areas to account for this. Overall thunderstorm
    coverage and intensity remain rather uncertain across these regions
    later this afternoon and evening, with some guidance still showing
    isolated thunderstorms redeveloping. If any convection can form
    along/south of the front later today, then it could pose some threat
    for hail and damaging winds.

    Finally, elevated supercells are forecast to develop once again late
    tonight into early Friday morning across parts of west into
    north-central TX. These should mainly have a severe hail threat.

    ..Gleason/Leitman.. 04/03/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1630Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Verity Announces Agreement with Minnesota Soybean Processors to Track and Verify Sustainable Agriculture Attributes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ENGLEWOOD, Colo., April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verity Holdings, LLC (“Verity”), is pleased to announce we have partnered with Minnesota Soybean Processors (“MnSP”) to implement Verity’s proprietary track and trace software. This collaboration aims to unlock additional value for MnSP through export premiums while streamlining compliance reporting and auditability.

    “This partnership with MnSP is a great example of how Verity’s technology empowers producers to capture and communicate the value of sustainable agriculture,” said Kimberly Bowron, President of Verity. “By leveraging our advanced data verification and supply chain transparency solutions, MnSP can document key attributes with confidence, ensuring that sustainably grown soybeans translate into real value for farmers, processors, and international buyers alike.”

    This partnership reinforces Verity and MnSP’s commitment to expanding opportunities in international markets for sustainably certified products, such as those derived from regeneratively grown soybeans. Both companies share the view that this is the first of many opportunities to create value by ensuring complete traceability from farm to finished products.

    Since 2003, MnSP has operated a soy crush plant that processes 100,000-plus bushels per day; a refinery for producing feedstock for edible oil and biofuels out of crude soybean oil; and a 41 million gallon per year biodiesel-production plant that has operated for 20 years, located in Brewster, Minnesota.

    About Verity
    Verity Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gevo, Inc (NASDAQ: GEVO), is pioneering the ability to track, verify, and quantify carbon intensity across the entire carbon cycle. Through its proprietary digital MRV (Measure, Report, Verify) platform, which is powered by distributed ledger technology, Verity offers comprehensive carbon project development and accounting services. These services are designed to enhance the environmental value across entire business systems, maximizing the value of carbon and sustainability efforts at each stage. Verity is at the forefront of creating the ability to track, verify, and empirically value carbon intensity across the full carbon lifecycle.

    About Gevo
    Gevo, Inc. is a next-generation diversified energy company committed to fueling America’s future with cost-effective, drop-in fuels that contribute to energy security, abate carbon, and strengthen rural communities to drive economic growth. Gevo’s innovative technology can be used to make a variety of renewable products, including SAF, motor fuels, chemicals, and other materials that provide U.S.-made solutions. By investing in the backbone of rural America, Gevo’s business model includes developing, financing, and operating production facilities that create jobs and revitalize communities. Gevo owns and operates one of the largest dairy-based renewable natural gas (“RNG”) facilities in the United States, turning by-products into clean, reliable energy. We also operate an ethanol plant with an adjacent carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”) facility, further solidifying America’s leadership in energy innovation. Additionally, Gevo owns the world’s first production facility for specialty alcohol-to-jet (“ATJ”) fuels and chemicals. Gevo’s market-driven “pay for performance” approach regarding carbon and other sustainability attributes, helps ensure value is delivered to our local economy. Through its Verity subsidiary, Gevo provides transparency, accountability, and efficiency in tracking, measuring and verifying various attributes throughout the supply chain. By strengthening rural economies, Gevo is working to secure a self-sufficient future and to make sure value is brought to the market.

    For more information, see www.gevo.com.

    About Minnesota Soy Processors
    Minnesota Soy Process is striving to become the largest independent soybean crush facility in the country and to grow into a diverse, vertically integrated leader in soybean processing, logistics and commodity management. MnSP wants to provide superior value to its customers, security for its employees, and returns to its shareholders. For more information, please visit mnsoy.com.

    Forward Looking Statement
    Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to a variety of matters, including, without limitation, Verity’s technology and platform, the commercial benefits of using the Verity platform, and the attributes of Verity’s platform, the value of sustainability premiums and other statements that are not purely statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are made based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Gevo and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Gevo undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Gevo believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Gevo in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Gevo for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by Gevo.

    Media Contact
    Heather Manuel
    VP, Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
    PR@gevo.com

    IR Contact
    Eric Frey
    Vice President of Finance & Strategy
    IR@Gevo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Philippine Airlines Names ibex Contact Center Partner of the Year

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MANILA, Philippines, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and AI-powered customer engagement technology solutions, today announced that Philippine Airlines (PAL), the Philippines’ flag carrier and only full-service network airline, recently awarded ibex its Top Overall Contact Center Partner Award for 2024.

    “Our partnership with ibex goes beyond performance—it reflects our shared commitment to PAL’s goal of being truly customer-obsessed,” said Mac Munsayac, Head of Customer Experience at Philippine Airlines. “By putting our people first, we ensure they’re empowered to put our customers at the heart of everything we do. That’s how we achieved PAL Customer Support’s 2024 scores of 95% CSAT and +74 NPS for voice, and 92% CSAT with +78 NPS for non-voice—best-in-class results that showcase the dedication of our frontliners and partners.”

    Despite being PAL’s newest CX partner, ibex raised the bar by achieving the highest scorecard results among its global BPO partners.

    “This is a tremendous honor, and we are so proud to work with the premier airline in the Philippines,” said Potski Alvarez, President of ibex Philippines. “This award is a clear validation of ibex’s ability to deliver the best CX through our unique combination of amazing talent, world-class training and development, and industry-leading technology. We applaud PAL’s focus and commitment to delivering the best customer experience possible. Together, we are resetting the gold standard for their customers and helping deliver on PAL’s promise of gracious Filipino care that comes from the heart—one experience at a time.”

    ibex operates nine CX service centers across the Philippines, including – Quezon City, City of Mandaluyong, Pasig City, City of Parañaque, City of Muntinlupa, Davao City, and Tagbilaran City. The company recently celebrated the grand opening of its second site in Davao – located at Felcris Centrale, 40-D Quimpo Blvd, Talomo – and continues to look for new expansion opportunities in the Philippines.

    The revolutionary ibex Wave iX solution suite harnesses AI to assist agents in delivering hyper-personalized customer interactions that drive enhanced outcomes and profitability.

    ibex’s award-winning culture and unparalleled employee experience features a full range of fun activities and engagement events for employees year-round, including annual employee VIP events, ibex Idol global talent competition, ibex Sirens beauty pageant celebrating LGBTQIA+ employees, Customer Service Week and ongoing employee health and wellness programs.

    ibex has been recognized globally for its agent-first culture and outstanding employee experience. Recent awards include Philippines’ Best Employers 2024 by the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the 2023 Philippines Best Employer Brand Award by the Philippines Leadership Congress and Awards.

    “At ibex, we know that a better employee experience translates to a better customer experience, and we are focused on helping our agents succeed and advance their careers by creating the best workplace, training, tools, rewards, recognition, and opportunities,” added Potski.

    ibex offers highly competitive compensation and best-in-class benefits. New hires have access to industry-leading training and development programs to help them succeed and build their skills to advance in their careers.

    If you would like to join the winning ibex team, go to ibex.co to apply online. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ibexphilippines/.

    About PAL

    Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the flag carrier of the Philippines and the country’s only full-service network airline. Established in 1941, it holds the distinction of being Asia’s first commercial airline. PAL operates a fleet of Boeing, Airbus, and De Havilland aircraft, offering scheduled nonstop flights from its hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao to 54 domestic and 38 international destinations across Asia, North America, and Oceania.

    Renowned for its signature heartfelt and gracious Filipino service, PAL plays a vital role in supporting the global economy through air cargo and charter services. It also serves the travel needs of overseas Filipinos, business travelers, tourists, and families from around the world.

    About ibex

    ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global CX delivery center model consisting of approximately 30 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, utilities and logistics.

    ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 30,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including the AI-powered ibex Wave iX solutions suite, to manage nearly 175 million critical customer interactions, adding over $2.2B in lifetime customer revenue each year and driving a truly differentiated customer experience. To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn.

    Media Contact
    Dan Burris
    Daniel.Burris@ibex.co

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e7c03cf8-cb99-4ccc-94ac-f0fad4379963

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Top Originator Donald Campbell Joins Rate in Andover, MA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leader in fintech mortgage solutions, today announced the addition of Donald Campbell as one of its newest top-producing loan originators in Andover, Massachusetts. Campbell, who has spent 13 years in the mortgage industry, is recognized for his commitment to supporting first-time homebuyers and providing an exceptional client experience.

    Following in his mother’s footsteps, who began her mortgage career in 2001, Campbell has built his reputation for helping clients navigate the homebuying process. Campbell and his team’s commitment to service and lasting relationships has earned them a loyal clientele in the thousands.

    “Rate has been a breath of fresh air, especially seeing their commitment to the Latino community,” said Campbell. “Their Language Access Program is unmatched—they’ve meticulously translated their entire customer-facing platform into Spanish, ensuring both accessibility and compliance.”

    “We’re excited to have Donald join our team,” said Jeff Nelson, Chief Production Officer-East at Rate. “His experience and dedication to his clients make him a valuable addition to our company, and I’m eager to see his continued growth with Rate.”

    By bringing Campbell on board, Rate continues to strengthen its presence in Massachusetts, emphasizing client-centric solutions and a diverse, talented team of experts.

    About Rate

    Rate Companies is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, Rate has over 850 branches across all 50 states and Washington D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate has helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates, and delivering unparalleled customer service. Honors and awards include: Top 5 Mortgage Lender by Inside Mortgage Finance for 2024; Best Mortgage Lender for First-Time Homebuyers by NerdWallet for 2023; HousingWire’s Tech100 award for the company’s industry-leading FlashClose℠ digital mortgage platform in 2020, MyAccount in 2022, and Language Access Program in 2023; the most Scotsman Guide Top Originators for 11 consecutive years; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years; and Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces list for seven straight years. Visit rate.com for more information.

    Press Contact

    press@rate.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9e7a1518-ebab-436c-b6c6-3620149ce2bc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SoftServe Partners with Google Cloud to Accelerate AI & Data Solution Development Worldwide

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With 73% of large companies globally saying they need to overhaul their data strategies to unlock AI’s value in a recent report by SoftServe, a premier IT consulting and digital services provider, the company today announced a new partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate development of AI-powered solutions and data initiatives.

    What does this mean for enterprise clients and the market?
    Siloed data slows productivity and creates inefficiencies. This multi-year agreement with Google Cloud will include investments in data solution development to accelerate implementations of next-gen products like Google Agentspace that can help clients speed time-to-value for the AI solutions SoftServe builds in collaboration with Google Cloud.

    Additionally, SoftServe will partner with Google Cloud on:

    • Deep-research initiatives: Developing the latest resources and access to technologies for clients to tap into transformational data initiatives and the next stages of AI, such as agentic AI and physical AI
    • Skill development: Fostering collaboration to elevate capabilities enabling clients to benefit from highly skilled delivery experts to drive progress and ingenuity
    • Supercharged industry value: Ensuring alignment between data frameworks, Google Cloud’s trusted platform, and SoftServe’s industry excellence in fields such as financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail

    “SoftServe’s partnership with Google Cloud is the first step toward a streamlined partnership model that puts our clients at the center of data and AI innovations,” said Volodymyr Semenyshyn, Chief Revenue Officer at SoftServe. “AI continues to be the pinnacle of our solution development, which makes this partnership enable better benefits for enterprises seeking AI solutions, reduced implementation costs, and ROI validation. By working with Google Cloud, SoftServe can deliver better outcomes to clients on a global scale.”

    “Agentic AI presents significant opportunities for businesses to optimize data utilization and drive growth,” said Colleen Kapase, VP Channels & Partner Programs at Google Cloud. “By leveraging Google Cloud’s advanced AI and data tools, SoftServe can deliver specialized solutions that help customers address industry-specific challenges and drive tangible business transformation.”

    This agreement comes ahead of SoftServe’s presence at Google NEXT 2025, happening April 9-11 in Las Vegas, NV. SoftServe will showcase three enticing demos – the Gen AI Retail Shopping Assistant, Gen AI Intelligent Video Monitoring, and Gen AI Industrial Assistant – in booth #940 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Learn more at this link.

    Software is a Premier level Partner for Google Cloud in the Service Engagement Model and holds Specializations in Generative AI, Machine Learning, and Cloud Migration. SoftServe is also now listed as a Strategic Services Partner (SSP) under the new strategic partnership agreement with Google Cloud.

    To learn more about SoftServe’s partnership with Google Cloud, please visit this website.

    ABOUT SOFTSERVE
    SoftServe is a premier IT consulting and digital services provider. We expand the horizon of new technologies to solve today’s complex business challenges and achieve meaningful outcomes for our clients. Our boundless curiosity drives us to explore and reimagine the art of the possible. Clients confidently rely on SoftServe to architect and execute mature and innovative capabilities, such as digital engineering, data and analytics, cloud, and AI/ML.

    Our global reputation is gained from more than 30 years of experience delivering superior digital solutions at exceptional speed by top-tier engineering talent to enterprise industries, including high tech, financial services, healthcare, life sciences, retail, energy, and manufacturing. Visit our website, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (Twitter) pages for more information.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Evicted PNG settlement fears collective punishment over gang rape and killing

    By Harlyne Joku and BenarNews staff

    Residents of an informal Port Moresby settlement that was razed following the gang rape and murder of a woman by 20 men say they are being unfairly punished by Papua New Guinea authorities over alleged links to the crime.

    Human rights advocates and the UN have condemned the killing but warned the eviction by police has raised serious concerns about collective punishment, violations of national law, police misconduct and governance failures.

    A community spokesman said more than 500 people living at the settlement at the capital’s Baruni rubbish dump were forcibly evicted by the police in response to the killing of 32-year-old Margaret Gabriel on February 15.

    Port Moresby newspapers reported the gang rape and murder by 20 men of 32-year-old Margaret Gabriel . . . “Barbaric”, said the Post-Courier in a banner headline. Image: BenarNews

    Authorities accuse the settlement residents, who are primarily migrants from the Goilala district in Central Province, of harboring some of the men involved in her murder.

    Prime Minister James Marape condemned Gabriel’s death as “inhuman, barbaric” and a “defining moment for our nation to unite against crime, to take a stand against violence”, the day after the attack.

    He assured every effort would be made to prosecute those responsible and his “unwavering support” for the removal of settlements like Baruni, calling them “breeding grounds for criminal elements who terrorise innocent people.”

    Gabriel was one of three women killed in the capital that week.

    Charged with rape, murder
    Four men from Goilala district and two from Enga province, all aged between 18 and 29, appeared in a Port Moresby court on Monday on charges of her rape and murder.

    The case has again put a spotlight again on gender-based violence in PNG and renewed calls for the government to find a long-term solution to Port Moresby’s impoverished settlements.

    Dozens of families, some of whom have lived in the Baruni settlement for more than 40 years, were forced out of their homes on February 22 and are now sleeping under blue tarpaulins at a school sports oval on the outskirts of the capital.

    Spokesman for the evicted Baruni residents, Peter Laiam . . . “My people are innocent.” Image: Harlyne Joku/Benar News

    “My people are innocent,” Peter Laiam, a community spokesman and school caretaker, told BenarNews, adding that police continued to harass the community at their new location.

    “They told me I had to move these people out in two weeks’ time or they will shoot us.”

    Laiam said a further six men from the settlement were suspected of involvement in Gabriel’s death, but had not been charged, and the community has fully cooperated with police on the matter, including naming the suspects.

    Authorities however were treating the entire population as “trouble makers,” Laiam added.

    “They also took cash and building materials like corrugated iron roofing for themselves” he said.

    No police response
    Senior police in Port Moresby did not respond to ongoing requests from BenarNews for reaction to the allegations.

    Assistant Commissioner Benjamin Turi last week thanked the evicted settlers for information that led to the arrest of six suspects, The National newspaper reported.

    Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Junior defended the eviction at Baruni last month, telling EMTV News it was lawful and the settlement was on state-owned land.

    Bare land left after homes in the Baruni settlement village were flattened by bulldozers at Port Moresby, PNG. Image: Harlyne Joku/Benar News

    Police used excavators and other heavy machinery to tear down houses at the Baruni settlement, with images showing some buildings on fire.

    Residents say the resettlement site in Laloki lacks adequate water, sanitation and other facilities.

    “They are running out of food,” Laiam said. “Last weekend they were washed out by the rain and their food supplies were finished.”

    Separated from their gardens and unable to sell firewood, the families are surviving on food donations from local authorities, he said.

    Human rights critics
    The evictions have been criticised by human rights advocates, including Peterson Magoola, the UN Women Representative for PNG.

    “We strongly condemn all acts of sexual and gender-based violence and call for justice for the victim,” he said in a statement last month.

    “At the same time, collective punishment, forced evictions, and destruction of homes violate fundamental human rights and disproportionately harm vulnerable members of the community.”

    The evicted families living in tents at Laloki St Paul’s Primary School, on the outskirts of Port Moresby, PNG. Image: Harlyne Joku/Benar News

    Melanesian Solidarity, a local nonprofit, called on the government to ensure justice for both the murder victim and displaced families.

    It said the evictions might have contravened international treaties and domestic laws that protect against unlawful property deprivation and mandate proper legal procedures for relocation.

    The Baruni settlement, which is home primarily to migrants from Goilala district, was established with consent on the customary land of the Baruni people during the colonial era, according to Laiam.

    Central Province Governor Rufina Peter defended the evicted settlers on national broadcaster NBC on February 20, and their contribution to the national capital.

    “The Goilala people were here during pre-independence time. They are the ones who were the bucket carriers,” she said.

    ‘Knee jerk’ response
    She also criticised the eviction by police as “knee jerk” and raised human rights concerns.

    The Goilala community in Central Province, 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the capital, was the center of controversy in January when a trophy video of butchered body parts being displayed by a gang went viral, attracted erroneous ‘cannibalism’ reportage by the local media and sparked national and international condemnation.

    The evictions at Baruni have touched off again a complex debate about crime and housing in PNG, the Pacific’s most populous nation.

    Informal settlements have mushroomed in Port Moresby as thousands of people from the countryside migrate to the city in search of employment.

    Critics say the impoverished settlements are unfit for habitation, contribute to the city’s frequent utility shortages, and harbour criminals.

    Mass evictions have been ordered before, but the government has failed to enact any meaningful policies to address their rapid growth across the city.

    While accurate population data is hard to find in PNG, the United Nations Population Fund estimates that the number of people living in Port Moresby is about 513,000.

    Lack basic infrastructure
    At least half of them are thought to live in informal settlements, which lack basic infrastructure like water, electricity and sewerage, according to 2022 research by the PNG National Research Institute.

    A shortage of affordable housing and high rental prices have caused a mismatch between demand and supply.

    Melanesian Solidarity said the government needed to develop a national housing strategy to prevent the rise of informal settlements.

    “This eviction is a wake-up call for the government to implement sustainable urban planning and housing reforms rather than resorting to forced removals,” it said in a statement.

    “We stand with the affected families and demand justice, accountability, and humane solutions for all Papua New Guineans.”

    Stefan Armbruster, Sue Ahearn and Harry Pearl contributed to this story. Republished from BenarNews with permission. However, it is the last report from BenarNews as the editors have announced a “pause” in publication due to the US administration withholding funds.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs are the highest in decades − an economist explains how that could hurt the US

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Bedassa Tadesse, Professor of Economics, University of Minnesota Duluth

    President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping new tariff plan on April 2, 2025, to reshape U.S. trade and boost domestic industry.

    Framing the announcement as “Liberation Day,” he proposed a 10% tariff on essentially all imports, with steeper rates for major trade partners, including 34% on Chinese goods and 20% on those from the European Union. Starting April 3, a 25% tariff on all foreign-made cars and auto parts will take effect – a move that he says will revive U.S. manufacturing and reset America’s trade agenda.

    But the fanfare surrounding the announcement masks a much larger gamble. What’s really at stake is trust – America’s long-standing reputation as a stable and predictable destination for global investment. And once that trust is lost, it’s incredibly hard to win back.

    The strategy is presented as a robust defense of American manufacturing and the middle class. But foreign direct investment – when overseas companies build factories or expand operations in the U.S. – depends on more than just opportunity. It depends on certainty.

    If global investors start to worry that U.S. trade policy can shift abruptly, they may relocate their capital elsewhere. As such, the administration’s aggressive approach to tariffs risks undermining the very confidence that has long made the U.S. a top destination for global capital.

    Auto tariffs as a case in point

    Nowhere is this risk more visible than in the auto industry.

    In 2023 alone, the United States attracted over US$148 billion in foreign direct investment, with nearly $42.9 billion tied to manufacturing, including in the automotive sector. Over the past few decades, major global automakers such as Toyota, BMW and Hyundai have established expansive plants in states including Alabama, Ohio and Kentucky.

    These facilities – many of which have seen significant reinvestment and expansion in recent years, especially in response to the shift toward electric vehicles – employ thousands of Americans and contribute significantly to local economies.

    Trump’s tariff push aims to get automakers to manufacture more vehicles on U.S. soil to overcome rising import costs. It’s a strategy with precedent. During his first term, the threat of auto tariffs, alongside existing plans, helped spur Toyota’s $1.6 billion investment in a North Carolina plant and Volkswagen’s expansion of its operations in Tennessee. It’s not far-fetched to imagine Honda or Mercedes following suit with new factories in Indiana or Texas.

    But here’s the catch: “Made in the USA” doesn’t always mean “made for less.” American auto plants often face productivity and efficiency gaps compared with foreign competitors. Labor costs are higher. Assembly lines move more slowly, partly due to stricter labor protections, less automation and aging infrastructure. And U.S. automakers such as Ford and GM still depend heavily on global supply chains. Even for vehicles assembled in America, about 40% of the parts, such as engines from Canada and wiring harnesses from Mexico, are imported.

    When those parts are taxed, production costs go up. Moody’s estimates that pickups such as the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado could cost $2,000 to $3,000 more as a result. Goldman Sachs projects price hikes of up to $15,000, depending on the vehicle. Automakers then face a dilemma: raise prices and risk losing customers or absorb the costs and cut into their margins.

    A ripple effect across the economy

    Tariffs may protect one industry, but their ripple effects reach much further. They raise costs for other sectors that rely on imported inputs, slow down production by making supply chains more expensive and less efficient, squeeze profit margins, and leave businesses and consumers with harder choices.

    Factories represent billion-dollar investments that take years to recoup their costs. Mixed signals, such as the president calling tariffs “permanent” one moment and negotiable the next, create a climate of uncertainty. That makes companies more hesitant to build, hire and expand.

    And investors are watching closely. If building in the U.S. becomes more expensive and less predictable, is it still a smart long-term bet? When a company is deciding where to build its next battery plant or chip facility, volatility in U.S. policy can be a deal breaker.

    The consequences could surface soon. Goldman Sachs has already lowered its 2025 U.S. GDP growth forecast to 1.7%, down from an earlier 2.2%, citing the administration’s trade policy risks. Consumers, still grappling with inflation and high interest rates, may begin to delay big-ticket purchases, especially as tariffs push prices even higher.

    The international fallout

    America’s trading partners aren’t standing still. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his country “will fight back – with purpose and with force.” The European Union is exploring duties on American tech firms. Japan, a longtime ally, is signaling unease. If these countries redirect investment to other countries, the U.S. could lose its competitive edge for years to come.

    And while roughly 1 million Americans work in the auto manufacturing industry, more than 150 million make up the total American labor force. When tariffs drive up input costs, it can trigger a chain reaction, hurting retailers, stalling service-sector jobs and slowing overall economic growth.

    Consumers will feel it too. Higher prices mean lower sales, reduced tax revenues and shrinking profits. All of that weakens the economy at a time when household budgets are already strained.

    Lessons from history

    The U.S. has seen how trade policy can shape investment decisions – just in reverse. In the 1980s, Japanese automakers responded to U.S. import quotas not by withdrawing but by building plants in the United States. That response was possible because policies were clear and negotiated, not abrupt or adversarial.

    Today, the story is different. Volatile, unilateral tariffs don’t build trust – they erode it. And when trust erodes, so does investment.

    Yes, a factory in Indiana or Kentucky might reopen. Yet if that comes at the cost of deterring billions of dollars in long-term investment, is it worth it?

    So while the president may celebrate April 2 as Liberation Day, markets may come to see it as the tipping point – when global confidence in the U.S. economy began to falter in earnest.

    Bedassa Tadesse 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. Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs are the highest in decades − an economist explains how that could hurt the US – https://theconversation.com/trumps-liberation-day-tariffs-are-the-highest-in-decades-an-economist-explains-how-that-could-hurt-the-us-253685

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Landmark anti-terror legislation gains Royal Assent

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Landmark anti-terror legislation gains Royal Assent

    Martyn’s Law will deliver increased protection by ensuring public premises and events are better prepared in the event of a terrorist attack.

    Premises and events will be better prepared to respond to attacks as landmark legislation known as Martyn’s Law gained Royal Assent and became law today (Thursday 3 April).

    The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 will require public premises where 200 or more individuals may be present, to be better prepared and have plans in place to keep people safe in the event of an attack.

    Larger premises and events where 800 or more people will be present will be required to take further steps to reduce their vulnerability to acts of terrorism – such as having CCTV, bag search policies or vehicle checks where appropriate.

    ‘Martyn’s Law’ is named in tribute to Martyn Hett who was tragically killed alongside 21 others in the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017.

    It delivers on the Prime Minister’s personal promise to Martyn’s mother, Figen Murray, who has been the driving force in campaigning for this legislation in her son’s memory, that he would bring in this law.

    The Prime Minister invited Figen Murray into Downing Street today to mark this landmark moment and to express the debt of gratitude the nation has for her selfless work to turn such unimaginable pain into a lasting legacy for son Martyn.

    The government is securing Britain’s future through the Plan for Change and this Act delivers a manifesto commitment to strengthen the security of public events and venues.

    Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said:

    Today is a landmark moment for our security as my government delivers on its promise to introduce Martyn’s Law and better protect the public from terrorism.

    Figen’s courage and determination in the face of such unimaginable loss is truly humbling and it is thanks to her campaigning that Martyn’s Law means her son’s legacy will live on forever.

    Security is the foundation of our Plan for Change and the first duty of any government. Martyn’s Law will ensure everyone can enjoy public events more safely and ensure venues across the country have clear, practical measures in place to protect people.

    Figen Murray, mother of Martyn Hett said:

    My son Martyn Hett was murdered alongside 21 innocent victims in the Manchester Arena terror attack on 22 May 2017, and whilst nothing will bring Martyn back, I am determined to ensure nobody endures what my family has experienced.

    For the last 6 years I have campaigned to introduce measures that will improve security at public venues and how they respond to a terror attack – Martyn’s Law.

    I am grateful to the Prime Minister, the Security Minister and Lord Hanson for how quickly they’ve progressed Martyn’s Law through parliament. But this would not have happened without the tireless support of my co-campaigners Nick Aldworth, Brendan Cox, Nathan Emmerich, my husband Stuart, and my children.

    Over the implementation period it is vital that the government and Security Industry Authority provide all that is necessary for publicly accessible locations to implement Martyn’s Law.

    Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said:

    Martyn’s Law will significantly strengthen public safety across our country, I’d like to thank Figen Murray for her tireless work to make this law a reality.

    This government is securing Britain’s future through the Plan for Change and, as the eighth anniversary of the attack approaches, this new law delivers upon the lessons from the Manchester Arena Inquiry to keep people safe.

    CTP Senior National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare, Jon Savell, said:

    Martyn’s Law will ensure that the public have additional protection from terrorist attacks while at events and public venues. We will continue to work with businesses and with the government to make sure premises have the support they need to prepare for the implementation of the act.

    Figen Murray has campaigned tirelessly for the introduction of this legislation and it’s thanks to her unwavering determination that it has achieved Royal Assent.

    Mike Kill CEO of the Night Time Industries Association

    The passing of Martyn’s Law into legislation is a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to public safety. This law will ensure that venues and events across the UK take appropriate and proportionate steps to protect the public from the evolving threat of terrorism. The NTIA has long supported measures that enhance security while remaining practical for businesses to implement.

    We appreciate the government’s recognition of the challenges businesses face and the commitment to a 24-month implementation period, allowing time for preparation and adaptation. As an industry we will continue working closely with the Home Office, the SIA, and key stakeholders to provide clear guidance and support. Ensuring the safety of our night-time economy and public spaces remains our priority, and we fully support this crucial legislation.

    Security Minster, Dan Jarvis, said:

    I am proud that we have delivered Martyn’s Law as part of our commitment to strengthen the security at public events and venues.

    I would like to pay tribute to Figen Murray, who has been nothing short of inspirational in her campaign for this legislation and a driving force in making it happen.

    Giles Smith, Chief Executive of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) said:

    The SGSA welcomes the passing of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) 2025 legislation.

    Providing a safe, welcoming environment for fans is the SGSA’s top priority and we support the objectives of Martyn’s Law.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP delivers aid to hardest-hit areas in earthquake-stricken Myanmar

    Source: World Food Programme

    Photo: © WFP/Arete/Photolibrary. Mother and children seek shelter after the earthquake in Seinpan ward, Mandalay city on 1st April 2025.

    MANDALAY, Myanmar – Within 48 hours of the powerful earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday afternoon, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) began emergency food distributions to affected communities. WFP has so far reached over 24,000 earthquake survivors in four areas, Mandalay, Naypyitaw, Sagaing and Shan, and is scaling up efforts to assist 850,000 affected people.

    Here are the latest updates on WFP’s emergency quake operations in Myanmar.

    WFP Food Distributions

    • WFP has ongoing food assistance operations in the hardest-hit areas of Mandalay, Naypyitaw, Sagaing and Shan. 
    • Sagaing: WFP has reached nearly 4,000 people with food rations in conflict-hit Sagaing, already home to a third of Myanmar’s internally displaced population before the earthquake. 
    • Mandalay City: At the epicentre in Mandalay, WFP has distributed fortified biscuits to more than 15,000 people since 1 April. WFP also reached 480 households – about 2,400 people – in Sein Pan, one of the poorest and worst-impacted ward in Mandalay, where almost every resident lost their home due to the earthquake and a subsequent fire.
    • Southern Shan: WFP and partners have so far reached 4,000 people with assistance. 
    • Nay Pyi Taw: Since food distributions started on 30 March, a total of 1,000 people have received fortified biscuits from WFP.
    • WFP has dispatched more than 100 metric tons of food from Yangon to Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, and Sagaing. 
    • WFP has over 200 metric tons of fortified biscuits available for immediate distribution, with an additional 7,000 metric tons of food stocks in-country to assist those hardest hit.
    • WFP aims to reach 100,000 people with ready-to-eat food in the first phase of response, followed by food assistance for 850,000 people for one month.

    Assessments, logistics and coordination: 

    • WFP has established a central response hub in Nay Pyi Taw to coordinate the earthquake response and has rapidly deployed teams to Mandalay.
    • WFP is collaborating with partners on rapid needs assessments in Mandalay, Sagaing, Shan and Nay Pyi Taw, while also evaluating market access and functionality.
    • An interagency Rapid Needs Assessment is ongoing, with results expected soon.  

     Response challenges:

    • Access to earthquake hit areas and unreliable telecommunications continue to pose challenges for WFP and partners to mount a full-scale response to the massive needs. 
    • WFP urgently needs US$ 40 million to support 850,000 people affected by the earthquake.
    • Myanmar is already facing severe food insecurity, with 15.2 million people – one in four – food insecure. Despite escalating humanitarian needs, WFP’s funding shortfalls recently forced the suspension of assistance to over one million people, leaving only 35,000 of the most vulnerable currently receiving monthly support from WFP.

    Note to the editor: 
    Broadcast quality footage available here
    Hi-res photos available here
    More about WFP’s operations in Myanmar here

    #                     #                       #

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

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media, @WFPAsiaPacific

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: How will the start-up timing of the new U.S. LNG export facilities affect our forecast?

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-depth analysis

    April 3, 2025

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), March 2025
    Note: Earlier scenario assumes start-up dates two-to-five months earlier than announced by project developers; Later scenario assumes start-up dates six months later than announced by project developers.

    U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) represent the largest source of natural gas demand growth in our March 2025 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), with LNG gross exports expected to increase by 19% to 14.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2025 and by 15% to 16.4 Bcf/d in 2026. The start-up timing of two new LNG export facilities—Plaquemines LNG Phase 2 (consisting of 18 midscale trains) and Golden Pass LNG—could significantly affect our forecast because these facilities represent 19% of incremental U.S. LNG export capacity in 2025–26.

    To illustrate the possible range of outcomes, we varied the assumed start-up dates of these new facilities compared with the baseline in our March 2025 STEO. This enabled us to quantify the changes in natural gas feedgas demand that would result from earlier or later start-up dates and discuss the implications for domestic supply-demand balances, prices, and storage. This analysis is limited only to the effects on natural gas; we did not examine the repercussions of each scenario on other areas of the energy sector.

    Which projects are driving the increase in LNG exports?

    LNG exports from the United States have increased every year since 2016, rising from 0.5 Bcf/d in 2016 to 11.9 Bcf/d in 2024, making the United States the world’s largest LNG exporter in 2023 and 2024. Increasing international demand for natural gas and the buildout of U.S. LNG export facilities have enabled this growth. We expect U.S. LNG exports to continue growing, driven by the start-up of three new facilities: Plaquemines LNG (Phases 1 and 2), Corpus Christi LNG Stage 3, and Golden Pass LNG. These facilities have a combined nominal export capacity of 5.3 Bcf/d (up to 6.3 Bcf/d peak capacity) and will expand the existing U.S. LNG export capacity by almost 50% once these projects become fully operational. Plaquemines LNG Phase 1 started LNG exports in December 2024, and we assume that this facility will fully ramp up by April 2025. Corpus Christi Stage 3 produced its first LNG cargo in February 2025, and we assume that the project will place all seven midscale trains in service by the end of 2026.

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Liquefaction Capacity File; trade press
    Note: Bcf/d=billion cubic feet per day; LNG=liquefied natural gas

    What scenarios did we develop and analyze?

    The start-up timing of exports, or in-service date (ISD), for Golden Pass and Plaquemines LNG Phase 2 is uncertain and could affect our STEO forecast of natural gas supply and demand balances, storage, and prices. Differences between our estimate of a project’s ISD and the actual ISD can arise due to accelerated or delayed construction times, for example.

    We developed two scenarios around our March 2025 STEO—the Earlier scenario, which assumed start-up dates two-to-five months earlier than announced by project developers, and the Later scenario, which assumed start-up dates six months later than announced by project developers.

    Data source: U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) filings, announcements by terminal developers, trade press
    Note: Consistent with Venture Global’s initial regulatory filings, we use Plaquemines Phase 2 to refer to the project’s Blocks 10–18 (corresponding to Trains 19–36); each block contains two single mixed refrigerant process trains, a refrigerant storage site, and piping that connects the refrigerant storage site and the process trains. Golden Pass T2 and T3 fall into or out of the STEO forecast depending on the in-service date. The March Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) forecast period ends in December 2026; any in-service date later than that is not included in our STEO forecast. The Earlier scenario assumes start-up dates two-to-five months earlier than announced by project developers; the Later scenario assumes start-up dates six months later than announced by project developers. Bcf/d=billion cubic feet per day

    The assumed ISDs of the new U.S. LNG export facilities in our March 2025 STEO are based on public announcements by the terminal developers and filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). We assume each facility undergoes an initial ramp-up period during which it operates below its nominal capacity while the developers gradually prepare various systems to enter full production mode. When the ramp-up period ends but before commercial service with the start of long-term contracts begins, we assume LNG exports from the new facilities will be dispatched based on global demand.

    In each of the scenarios, we applied the same assumptions of ramp-up periods for the new LNG export facilities, during which liquefaction trains are gradually brought up to full production capacity over a period of several months.

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), March 2025
    Note: Liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity of the new projects is the nominal capacity. The Earlier scenario assumes start-up dates two-to-five months earlier than announced by project developers; the Later scenario assumes start-up dates six months later than announced by project developers.

    How could various start-up dates affect U.S. LNG export volumes?

    Compared with the March 2025 STEO, U.S. LNG exports are lower in the Later scenario and higher in the Earlier scenario; the largest volume difference in both scenarios occurs in 2026. The Earlier scenario results in 0.2 Bcf/d more LNG exports in 2025 and 0.5 Bcf/d more LNG exports in 2026 compared with the March STEO. The Later scenario results in 0.2 Bcf/d fewer LNG exports in 2025 and 0.8 Bcf/d fewer LNG exports in 2026.

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), March 2025
    Note: The Earlier scenario assumes start-up dates two-to-five months earlier than announced by project developers; the Later scenario assumes start-up dates six months later than announced by project developers. LNG=liquefied natural gas

    How could differences in LNG exports affect U.S. natural gas prices and inventories?

    In the March 2025 STEO, annual demand exceeds supply in both 2025 and 2026, leading to lower inventories and increasing Henry Hub prices in both years. We forecast the Henry Hub natural gas spot price will almost double from an average of about $2.20 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2024 to an average of nearly $4.20/MMBtu in 2025 and increase an additional 7% to average just under $4.50/MMBtu in 2026.

    Varying levels of LNG exports translate directly to changes in demand for domestic natural gas to supply feedgas to the LNG facilities, affecting natural gas inventories, supply, and prices. For example, in the Later scenario where LNG exports are lower compared with the March 2025 STEO, we would expect to see reduced feedgas demand result in higher volumes of natural gas in underground storage, all else being equal, that would also likely result in lower natural gas prices. Conversely, higher LNG exports in the Earlier scenario would result in lower volumes in underground storage and likely higher natural gas prices, all else being equal.

    Lower natural gas prices tend to lead to more consumption of natural gas in the electric power sector because of the flexibility in that sector to switch between fuel sources. This increased consumption in the electric power sector would lead to more overall natural gas demand, offsetting the lower demand for LNG exports that results from our Later scenario. Higher natural gas prices, which could result from our Earlier scenario, tend to decrease demand for natural gas in the electric power sector, potentially offsetting some of the increased demand for LNG exports in that scenario.

    On the supply side, changes in natural gas prices tend to affect domestic natural gas production with a delay of about six months, with lower prices typically resulting in lower production and higher prices typically resulting in higher production. Natural gas price changes mainly affect regions that produce mostly natural gas with limited co-production of crude oil and other liquids, such as in the Haynesville and Appalachia regions. Natural gas production in areas such as the Permian region, where natural gas production is primarily associated natural gas, tends to not be affected as much by changes in the natural gas price alone. As new LNG facilities on the Gulf Coast begin operating, we expect natural gas production—particularly in the Haynesville region because of its proximity to these facilities—would increase to meet the increased demand.

    Principal contributors: Victoria Zaretskaya, Corrina Ricker

    Tags: international, natural gas, pipelines, exports/imports, LNG (liquefied natural gas), forecasts/projections, infrastructure, production/supply, United States, STEO (Short-Term Energy Outlook), inventories/stocks

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: VizyPay Celebrates Fourth Consecutive Year on the 2025 Inc. Regionals List

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WAUKEE, Iowa, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VizyPay, a leading payment processing fintech serving small businesses in rural America, proudly announces its fourth consecutive year on the 2025 Inc. Regionals list, ranking #89 overall in the Midwest, No. 3 in Iowa, and No. 4 in financial services. The esteemed awards recognize the fastest growing privately owned companies in the United States, and this achievement underpins VizyPay’s incredible growth and relentless commitment to serving SMBs across the country.

    “Our continued growth is a reflection of our team’s deep-rooted dedication and passion to serve our customers,” said Frank Pagano, managing partner of VizyPay. “Securing a place on the Inc. Regionals: Midwest list for the fourth consecutive year is more than an honor—it’s an affirmation of our dedication to delivering affordable, transparent payment solutions that empower small businesses across rural America.”

    Over the past year, VizyPay has scaled up its team and infrastructure to meet the Midwest’s growing demand for secure and transparent payment solutions for its small business owners. The company’s unique offerings such as dual pricing and cash discount methods work to eliminate hidden fees and help thousands of small businesses reduce costs and improve their bottom line. With more than 131 million transactions processed, VizyPay delivered over $40 million in savings on processing fees to its network of 12,000+ merchants across the U.S.

    VizyPay’s rapid growth can also be attributed in part to the Learning for Geniuses (LFG) Tour, a nationwide initiative led by VizyPay CEO, Austin Mac Nab, focused on uplifting local entrepreneurs and driving the growth of small to medium-sized businesses. Traveling coast to coast, Mac Nab and the VizyPay team offer mentorship to entrepreneurs, providing a space to network with others, exchange ideas, and gain actionable insights to level up their game. To date, the tour has reached some key locations such as Austin, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Jacksonville, FL, and Las Vegas, NV, with additional stops scheduled across the U.S. throughout 2025.

    “With the LFG Tour, we are equipping the next generation of entrepreneurs to become the catalyst to driving growth for small businesses and success in rural America,” said Mac Nab. “This tour will go a long way to empowering individuals to achieve financial freedom and achieve their personal goals and never settle for less.”

    Along with being a four-time Inc. 5000 award honoree, VizyPay was also recognized as a Des Moines Top Workplace for the fourth year in a row and received the DSM Inclusion Award, showcasing its incredible workplace reputation and company culture.

    Complete results of the 2025 Inc. Regionals: Midwest can be found at inc.com/regionals/midwest.

    About VizyPay

    Headquartered in Waukee, Iowa, VizyPay was founded in 2017 by entrepreneurs who each had either significant credit card processing experience or were previously small business owners. Their combined understanding of these different industries created the perfect cocktail for a credit card processing company that could truly look out for the business owner. Making a huge splash nationwide by being transparent and customer-centric, VizyPay is a four-time Inc. 5000 honoree and three-time Inc. Regionals Midwest honoree.

    Media Contact

    Erica Torres

    Uproar by Moburst for VizyPay

    erica.torres@moburst.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fan zones, fireworks and flags – plans unveiled for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 extravaganza

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Plans to create a carnival atmosphere around this summer’s opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in Sunderland have been unveiled by the City Council.

    Fan zones, fireworks and more than 150 colourful flags and banners will all add to the party atmosphere in the city centre, together with a fan parade to the Stadium of Light across the new Wear Footbridge connecting the city centre to the stadium.

    England’s Red Roses are due to kick off the opening match of the tournament against the USA at the Stadium of Light at 7.30pm on Friday 22 August and tickets are already selling fast.

    The Red Roses are favourites to win the tournament after last winning the World Cup in 2014 when South Shields born Sunderland University graduate Katy Daley McLean captained the team.

    The game was awarded to Sunderland following a competitive bidding process and will provide an estimated economic impact benefit of £20 million for the region.

    Details of plans for the tournament’s opening weekend have been released following approval by Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet last week, setting the stage for a spectacular opening weekend of celebrations for those attending the match at Stadium of Light.

    Fan zones at Keel Edge and Keel Square over the three days from Thursday 21 August to Saturday 23 August will add to the carnival atmosphere, hosting live entertainment, interactive games and a food court offering a range of tempting food and drink.

    On the evening of Thursday 21 there will also be a tie up with Sunderland Music City featuring local talent and musicians.

    Post game on Friday evening, there will a firework display from Riverside Park which can be viewed from across the city centre.

    A programme of community events across the North East involving Northumberland, Durham and Sunderland Rugby Clubs is also being planned, including touch rugby beach festivals planned from Bamburgh to Sunderland to engage local communities and rugby clubs.

    Councillor Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism at Sunderland City Council, said: “It’s going to be incredibly exciting weekend. The eyes of the world will be on Sunderland and it’s a brilliant opportunity to showcase the city.

    “We will have visitors from across the globe and I can’t wait to welcome them to Sunderland.

    “There’s something for all the family in the events we’ve laid on across the weekend and I think it will be a real celebration of both the tournament and the city.”

    Further tickets for the tournament are due to go on sale later this spring, with competitive prices from £10 for adults and £5 for children. This means a family of four can enjoy an evening at the Women’s Rugby World Cup Opening Game for £30.

    To be the first to hear the latest ticketing news, fans can register for updates at www.rugbyworldcup.com/2025/newsletter

    To find out more about more about rugby in Sunderland and how to get involved, visit: www.mysunderland.co.uk/rugbyworldcup

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –