All articles tagged with #modernization
Whirlpool is cutting nearly 350 jobs at its Amana, Iowa, refrigerator plant—about a quarter of the 1,500 employees—as part of a multi-year modernization to broaden and diversify production. Layoffs begin March 9, with potential additional reductions later; the company will offer on-site HR support and unemployment guidance, and recall rights for affected workers are limited.
The Defense Department announced it will overhaul the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, modernizing it to emphasize warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality and survivability, while reducing wire-service reporting and signaling continued editorial independence as a publication for service members.
The U.S. Marine Corps is undergoing a continuous modernization process called Force Design to adapt to evolving warfare, emphasizing advanced technology, flexible MAGTF formations, and maintaining core Marine values to ensure readiness and dominance against peer adversaries.
North Korea is increasingly mimicking Western consumer culture through fake brands, modern resorts, and digital payments, despite international sanctions and its isolated economy, as part of Kim Jong-un's efforts to project prosperity and attract foreign currency.
King Charles is retiring the royal train by 2027 to save costs and modernize the monarchy, replacing it with helicopters and scheduled trains for official travel, amid ongoing health concerns and efforts to streamline royal expenses.
The Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford, a former airline executive, as the new FAA administrator, tasking him with modernizing outdated air traffic control systems and addressing staffing issues amid recent safety incidents, supported by a $12.5 billion funding boost from Congress.
The U.S. aims to overhaul its outdated air traffic control system, replacing legacy equipment like floppy disks and paper strips with modern technology, but faces significant challenges including high costs, aging facilities, and political hurdles, with a goal to complete the upgrade within four years.
Chicago O'Hare Airport's modernization project unveiled designs for Satellite Concourse 1, featuring new amenities and design elements. The project, part of the O'Hare 21 Terminal Area Plan, will add 19 new gates and is expected to create around 3,800 jobs. Completion is targeted for 2028, with potential further expansions if the budget allows.
A 911 outage affecting multiple states has prompted calls for increased modernization and regulation of the emergency system, with experts emphasizing the need for backups, redundancy, and resilient backups to prevent such outages. The outage, reportedly caused by a third-party company installing a light pole, left millions without emergency access for about 2½ hours, prompting an FCC investigation. Experts stress the need for a more unified, Next Generation 911 system and increased regulation at both state and federal levels to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Japan's royal family launched its official Instagram account, @kunaicho_jp, in an effort to connect with younger generations and dispel its image as reclusive. The account, managed by the Imperial Household Agency, features photos and videos of Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and Princess Aiko attending various events. Despite blocking comments, the account gained over 320,000 followers on its first day. The move reflects the family's attempt to adapt to modern times and appeal to a wider audience, following recent scandals and controversies.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit officials are considering the future of the 154-year-old Monongahela Incline, discussing the possibility of replacing it with more modern technology due to frequent closures and repairs. CEO Katharine Kelleman announced the formation of a committee and engagement with a consulting firm to explore potential solutions, including modern replacements like gondolas or trams. While emphasizing the incline's historical significance, Kelleman stated openness to a more modern approach. The incline recently closed due to a computer issue, and discussions about its future, maintenance, and funding are ongoing.
A German military official has warned that the country's armed forces still rely on outdated technology such as fax machines for document transmission and lack the ability to communicate via radio with some allies. The official emphasized the need for modernization to ensure effective communication and security in military operations.
The US Army has requested a $185.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2025, aiming to maintain modernization efforts while making tough trade-offs, including canceling the Extended Range Cannon Artillery program due to technical challenges. The budget also reallocates funds within the aviation portfolio, with plans to reinvest in areas such as soldier housing and unmanned aerial reconnaissance systems. Additionally, the Army seeks to ramp up munitions production and restart testing on the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon program, while also considering the procurement of Microsoft's Integrated Visual Augmentation System for close combat formations.
The U.S. Army plans to shrink its force in some areas and expand it in others to align with its modernization efforts and address recruiting challenges, aiming to reach approximately 470,000 soldiers by fiscal 2029. The new force structure includes building out theater-level multidomain task forces and making significant investments in integrated air and missile defense, while also reducing spaces through efficiencies and adjustments to close combat forces. The Army's whitepaper outlines these changes as it transitions from counterinsurgency missions to large-scale combat operations against technologically advanced adversaries.
The US Army is reducing its force size by about 24,000 positions, mainly in already-empty posts, and restructuring to focus on large-scale combat operations, adding 7,500 troops in critical missions such as air-defense and cyber capabilities. The move reflects the shift away from counterinsurgency missions and the struggle to fill existing units due to recruitment shortfalls. The overhaul aims to prepare for future wars against more sophisticated adversaries while addressing the steep recruiting challenges faced by the military services.