Blog

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Electric vehicle tax begins

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lower Sackville — Update: Woman charged with fraud offences faces additional charges

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment has charged Alissa Kathryn MacGillivary with additional fraud offences.

    Officers reviewed hundreds of documents seized during the execution of a search warrant in August 2024. This led investigators to identify a further eight organizations and individuals who had been defrauded by MacGillivary.

    To date, RCMP officers have found more than 15 aliases and real identities used by MacGillivary, and the investigation indicates that she used forged documents to obtain financial benefits dating back to 1995.

    1. currently estimated that MacGillivary has fraudulently obtained more than $100,000 since 2014.

    On January 17, at the request of investigators, MacGillivary attended the Cole Harbour RCMP detachment where she was safely arrested. She has been charged with more than 100 other offences:

    • Failure to Comply with a Release Order
    • Extortion
    • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (4 counts)
    • Forgery (21 counts)
    • Use of Forged Documents (28 counts)
    • Possession of Forged Documents (32 counts)
    • Using Mails to Defraud (4 counts)
    • Fraud (2 counts)
    • Identity Theft (10 counts)
    • Identity Fraud (4 counts)

    MacGillivary appeared in court and was remanded into custody. She will return to Dartmouth Provincial Court on February 7, at 9:30 a.m.

    The investigation, led by RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment with assistance from the RCMP/HRP Integrated Criminal Investigation Division and the RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment Street Crime Enforcement Unit, is ongoing.

    Anyone who thinks they could be a victim, knows someone who could be a victim, is encouraged to contact police at 902-490-5020. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips (8477) or submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.

    File#: 24-111120

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Digital Assets Backoffice Tech Company Formidium Launches CryptoTax360 For Tax Data Calculations and Forms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A pioneer in accounting and tax reporting solutions for digital assets, Formidium Corp, based in Chicago, Illinois has launched its portal CryptoTax360.io. It’s an extensive platform designed to simplify digital asset and cryptocurrency tax reporting. With its powerful automated tools, seamless integrations, and robust reporting, CryptoTax360.io makes capital gain/loss calculations and tax forms preparation quick and effortless for crypto traders, enthusiasts, and industry professionals.

    Crypto tax reporting has long been a headache for investors and traders, largely due to the complexity of digital asset transactions. From navigating multiple wallets and exchanges to calculating capital gains and losses across varied transaction types—staking, margin trading, and DeFi activities—the process can be overwhelming. Adding to the challenge, tax reporting requirements leave no room for error. Manual reporting increases the risk of mistakes, consumes hours of effort, and leaves users frustrated, especially during tax season.

    CryptoTax360.io steps in to streamline this process. Designed with simplicity and comprehensive coverage in mind, the platform eliminates the tedious aspects of crypto tax reporting through automated tools and seamless integrations. Users can consolidate data across exchanges, wallets, and DeFi protocols effortlessly. The platform offers capital gain/loss calculations using multiple methods like FIFO, LIFO, HIFO, and more.

    CryptoTax360.io offers an instant generation of forms like Schedule D and Form 8949, streamlining the tax preparation process. Its robust dashboard provides insights into portfolio performance, helping users stay organized without stress.

    “Crypto tax reporting has always been a daunting task due to the complexity of digital asset transactions’ bookkeeping, financial reporting and tax reporting. Managing multiple wallets, exchanges, and varied transaction types, can feel overwhelming. Our goal with CryptoTax360 is to eliminate this frustration by providing a seamless and effortless reporting solution for everyone.” said Nitin Somani, Co-Founder of Formidium.

    Crypto Tax Reporting with CryptoTax360 in 3 Easy Steps:

    1️. Effortless Trade Imports – Seamlessly connect wallets and exchanges via API, public addresses, or by uploading files directly.

    2️. Comprehensive Portfolio Insights – Review auto-synced transactions, dashboards, and gain and loss breakdowns for complete transparency.

    3️. Quick Report Generation – Instantly generate and export tax-filing-ready reports in PDF or Excel formats, making tax preparation smooth and stress-free.

    About CryptoTax360.io

    Cryptotax360.io is a technology platform developed by Formidium Corp, provides a 360-degree view of cryptocurrency trades, transactions, tax and portfolio reporting. Whether you’re an individual investor, professional trader, or CPA, CryptoTax360.io provides seamless integrations, automated tax data calculations, and portfolio reporting. CryptoTax360 transforms tax season into a stress-free experience. Visit www.cryptotax360.io for more information and to sign up.

    About Formidium

    Formidium is a pioneer in digital assets accounting and tax reporting. Since 2016, the firm has built a global presence with offices in the U.S., India, Canada, and Singapore, supporting over 600 client relationships. It’s cloud-native, scalable SaaS platform enables automated workflows, real-time data access, and modular capabilities for seamless growth.

    Media Contact

    Krishna Priya Gupta
    info@cryptotax360.io

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Equasens: 2024 annual revenue

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Villers-lès-Nancy, 6 February 2025 – 6:00 p.m. (CET)

    PRESS RELEASE

    2024 annual revenue: €216.8 million including €58.6 million in Q4 (+2.6% on a reported basis and -0.4% like-for-like)

    Revenue (€&) 2023
    Reported basis
    2024
    Reported basis
    Change /
    Reported basis
    Of which external growth Of which Ségur1 2024

    Of which Ségur 2023

    Like-for-like change
    (organic growth)
    Q1 56.2 53.3 -2.9 -5.2% 2.0 0.3 -1.4 -3.8 -6.7%
    Q2 56.4 54.7 -1.7 -3.0% 1.7 0.3 -1.2 -2.6 -4.6%
    Q3 50.1 50.2 0.1 0.3% 1.8 0.2 -0.3 -1.5 -3.0%
    Q4 57.0 58.6 1.5 2.6% 1.7 0.2 -0.3 -0.2 -0.4%
    Total 219.7 216.8(*) -3.0 -1.4% 7.2 1.1 -3.2 -8.2 -3.7%

    (*)unaudited

    Note: Acquisitions in 2023 and 2024 (Atoopharm, Speach2Sense, Pratilog, ADV in Germany – now Pharmagest Germany) and Digipharmacie) have been restated in the scope of consolidation.
    Maintaining a strategy of external growth, in December 2024 Equasens Group acquired 90% of the capital of Calimed SAS, a software publisher for private practitioners and surgeons (with no consolidated revenue in Q4 2024).

    Equasens Group, (Euronext Paris™ – Compartment B – FR 0012882389 -EQS), a leading provider of digital solutions for healthcare professionals, reported full-year revenue for the 12-month period ending 31 December 2024 of €216.8m, contracting 1.4% on a reported basis. Like-for-like (organic growth), i.e. excluding the effects of acquisitions and the impact of the Ségur digital healthcare investment programme, revenue decreased by 3.7%.

    Annual revenue at 12/31/24 / Division (€m) 2023
    Reported basis
    2024
    Reported basis
    Change /
    Reported basis
    Of which external growth Of which Ségur 2024

    Of which Ségur 2023

    Like-for-like change
    (organic growth)
    Pharmagest 162.7 163.5 0.8 0.5% 7.1 0.5 -1.5 -5.3 -3.3%
    Axigate Link 31.1 32.1 1.0 3.2%   0.3  -1.0 1.7 5.5%
    e-Connect 15.0 11.2 -3.8 -25.3%       -3.8 -25.3%
    Medical Solutions 8.9 7.9 -1.0 -10.9% 0.1 0.3 -0.7 -0.7 -8.1%
    Fintech 2.0 2.0 0.0 -2.1%       0.0 -2.1%
    Total 219.7 216.8 -3.0 -1.4% 7.2 1.1 -3.2 -8.2 -3.7%

    No businesses were transferred between Divisions in FY 2024.

    FY revenue for the 12 month period ending 31 December 2024 / Activities (€m) 2023
    Reported basis
    2024
    Reported basis
    Change / Reported basis
    Sale of configurations and hardware 93.5 86.1 -7.4 -7.9%
    Scalable maintenance and professional training services 78.1 81.0 2.8 3.6%
    Software solutions and subscriptions 45.4 46.8 1.4 3.0%
    Other services (including intermediation) 2.7 2.9 0.2 7.9%
    Total 219.7 216.8 -3.0 -1.4%

    In Q4 2024 alone, Equasens Group registered sales of €58.6m, up 2.6% on a reported basis at 31 December 2023 (-0.4% like-for-like).

    Q4 2024 revenue / Division (€m) 2023
    Reported basis
    2024
    Reported basis
    Change /
    Reported basis
    Of which external growth Of which Ségur 2024

    Of which Ségur 2023

    Like-for-like change
    (organic growth)
    Pharmagest 42.2 43.4 1.2 2.9% 1.7 0.1 -0.2 -0.5 -1.1%
    Axigate Link 8.9 9.5 0.7 7.6%   0.1 -0.1 0.7 7.7%
    e-Connect 3.3 2.9 -0.3 -10.1%       -0.3 -10.1%
    Medical Solutions 2.2 2.2 0.0 -0.9%   0.1 -0.1 0.0 -2.1%
    Fintech 0.6 0.5 -0.1 -11.6%       -0.1 -11.6%
    Total 57.1 58.6 1.5 2.6% 1.7 0.3 -0.4 -0.2 -0.4%
    Q4 2024 revenue highlights by type of business 2023
    Reported basis
    2024
    Reported basis
    Change / Reported basis
    Sale of configurations and hardware 23.2 23.5 0.1 0.4%
    Scalable maintenance and professional training services 19.8 20.4 0.6 3.1%
    Software solutions and subscriptions 13.2 13.8 0.5 4.1%
    Other services (including intermediation) 0.8 1.0 0.2 27.5%
    Total 57.1 58.6 1.5 2.6%
    • In a year marked by political instability, particularly in France, configuration and equipment sales were again heavily impacted on a full-year basis (-7.9%). The recovery initially anticipated in Q3 got off to a slower than expected start with marginal growth in Q4 (+0.4%).
    • Scalable maintenance services and business training continued to display positive momentum with stable growth (+3.1 % in Q4 2024 and +3.6% for the full year).
    • Software solutions and subscriptions performed particularly well in H2 after declining in the first half (reflecting the base effect from Ségur) to achieve 3% growth for the full year.
    • The PHARMAGEST Division recorded annual sales of €163.5m (+0.5%) for the year ended 31 December 2024 on a reported basis, including €7.1m of restated sales arising from acquisitions in 2023 and 2024. On a like-for-like basis, sales for the division declined 3.3% for the full year.

    In Q4 2024, the Division grew 2.9% to €43.4m on a reported basis compared with Q4 2023, including €1.7m in restated sales linked to acquisitions in Q4 2023 and 2024. Like-for-like, the division’s sales declined 1.1% in the last quarter.

    • The Division’s strategy of innovation and bringing new software, hardware and services to market has strengthened its value proposition in terms of pharmacy productivity and automation solutions starting in the third quarter, with, for example, the id.Express payment terminal deployed in France, Germany and Belgium, the new id.Genius module integrating AI into dispensing, and id.Assistance, a new service facilitating the use and adoption of the id. offering on a day-to-day basis.
    • Based on these advances, the Pharmacy business now has a differentiating offering capable of generating revenue from its customer base (€2m at 31/12/2024) and contributing to growth in market share with more than 500 new customers in France and Italy (+€3.5m at 31/12/2024).
    • Digipharmacie, a provider of digital accounts payable management solutions for pharmacies, recently approved as a partner of the French e-reporting platform (Plateforme de Dématérialisation Partenaire or PDP), recorded annual growth of 27%.
    • The shift of the Division to SaaS offering culminated in the launch in September 2024 of the ASCA Dynamics solution, a cloud based version of the electronic label management software developed by Equasens Group. Nearly 250 of the 500 pharmacies added to ASCA’s customer base in 2024 are already equipped with this solution.

    This Division accounts for 75.4% of total revenue.

    • The AXIGATE LINK division registered €32.1m in revenue for the 12 month period ended 31 December 2024 (+3.2% on a reported basis and +5.5% like-for-like). In Q4 2024, the Division grew 7.6% to €9.5m on a reported basis compared with the same period in 2023. Like-for-like, the division’s revenue grew 7.7% in the last quarter.
      • The nursing home sector, which accounts for 53% of the Division’s revenues, experienced a strong growth in 2024, with the addition of 104 new establishments (excluding the UK), bringing its installed base to a total of 3,400 sites. The Titanlink SaaS offering was a resounding success, more than 600 sites equipped out of a total of 2,500 in France and 90 in Belgium out of a total of 932.
      • The Homecare sector also delivered a very solid performance, with a net gain of 20 customers, including 5 Hospital-at-Home programmes. In addition, the sector started rolling out the first version of a software package for regional elderly and disabled homecare centres (Centres de Ressources Territoriales or CRTs) to coordinate patient care. This activity accounts for 22% of the Division’s revenue.
      • The Hospital sector, 12% of the Division’s revenue, grew 4.1% in 2024 compared with 2023 with a net increase of 7 facilities, including 3 major psychiatric establishments. A portion of these orders signed in 2024 will be implemented and recognised in revenue for 2025.
      • The PandaLab Pro secure messaging system recently passed the milestone of 50,000 independent users or private organisations and 360,000 messages sent per month. 2024 experienced a growth in the number of use cases, particularly in teleconsultation, remote assistance and outpatient prescriptions, with the latter reaching 85,000 prescriptions exchanged in December 2024 alone.

    This Division accounts for 14.8% of total revenue.

    • The E-CONNECT division had revenue of €11.2m for the year ended 31 December 2024 (down 25.3% on a reported basis). Revenue in Q4 2024 was down 10.1% in relation to the same quarter in 2024 to €2.9m, representing a decline significantly less than in previous quarters.
      • Despite challenging market conditions, 2024 remained a year of investment, following an exceptional period in 2023 which benefited from a one-off regulatory development (the discontinuation of Application Reader Terminal sales).
      • In Q4 2024, Kapelse’s eS-KAP+ mobility solution was authorised for all prescribing healthcare professionals, midwives and health centres. This latest certification completes the “auxiliary health practitioners” approval obtained in 2024 and extends the number of partner software publishers who are starting to integrate eS-KAP+ into their business applications.
      • Sales of KAP-eCV (the electronic French health insurance card reader) got off to a promising start, with several thousand readers sold in Q4.
      • In November 2024, the new NOVIAcare offering (entailing a switch to modular sales) met with considerable success when it was unveiled at the Silver Economy Expo international exhibition in Cannes, confirming the potential of the first scalable and modular telecare solution on the market.

            This Division accounts for 5.2% of total revenue.

    • The MEDICAL SOLUTIONS Division recorded revenue of €2.2m in Q4 2024, down slightly (-0.9%) on Q4 2023. Reflecting the diminishing impact of the base effect from the Segur digital healthcare investment programme, the decline for the full year was limited to -10.9% to €7.9m, compared with -19.1% in H1 2024.
      • The launch of LOQUii, the AI voice consultation assistant, in November 2024, provides further confirmation of the recovery. By adopting a “Try Before You Buy” formula, more than 500 doctors used the solution in Q4, highlighting the potential for significant growth from Q1 2025 onwards, once the initial trial period is over.
      • At the same time, the roll-out of the MS.Safe online backup solution that combines safety and ease of use attracted around 50 users in less than two months.

    The Division accounts for 3.6% of total revenue.

    • The FINTECH Division  recorded revenue of €0.5m (-11.6%) in Q4 2024, and €2.0m for the full year (-2.1% compared with 2023).
      • The new Dispay digital bankcard payment service now integrated into the medical software solution of healthcare professionals resulted in subscriptions by 80 customers in Q4 and the Division remains confident that it will generate additional revenues as its customer base expands.

    The Division accounts for 1.0% of total revenue.

    2025 outlook
    Based on the encouraging indicators for Q4 2024, the Group is looking ahead to 2025 with confidence. Positive momentum is expected for the first half of the year, benefiting notably by a favourable base effect at the start of the year. A significant acceleration is expected in the second half with nominal growth of nearly 10%, driven by the capital expenditures and the roll-out of new solutions (software, hardware and services).

    In this context, Equasens Group is in the process of implementing a major strategic transformation to SaaS (Software as a Service) business model. This transition entails the gradual migration from solutions hosted at healthcare professionals’ premises to solutions hosted in the Group’s data centers which are certified Health Data Hosting (HDS) and ISO 27001. The new add-on modules are now developed almost exclusively for SaaS solutions which will increase the proportion of recurring revenues. This transformation is driven by a robust cloud infrastructure and customised support to assist our customers with their digital transition.

    At the same time, the Group is continuing to invest in Artificial Intelligence and accelerating its integration into its business tools to enhance its range of decision-making tools. This development brings real added value to healthcare professionals by making the prescription process more secure, providing personalised patient support and optimized time management.

    Backed by a solid financial structure, the Group will continue to monitor potential opportunities for external growth.

    This guidance does not take into account the potential effect of cyclical or macro-economic events that could have a direct or indirect impact on the healthcare sector.

    Financial calendar:

    • FY 2024 results: 29 March 2025
    • Presentation of 2024 annual results (SFAF): 31 March 2025, Paris
    • Q1 2025 revenue: 12 May 2025
    • Annual General Meeting: 26 June 2025
    • Q2 2025 revenue: 31 July 2025
    • H1 2025 results: 26 September 2025
    • Presentation of H1 2025 results to analysts (SFAF): 29 September 2025
    • Q3 2025 revenue: 5 November 2025
    • FY 2025 revenue: 5 February 2026

    About Group Equasens

    Founded over 35 years ago, Equasens Group, a leader in digital healthcare solutions, today employs over 1,300 people across Europe.
    Equasens Group’s specialised business applications facilitate the day-to-day work of healthcare professionals and their teams, working in private practice, collaborative medical structures or healthcare establishments. The Group also provides comprehensive support to healthcare professionals in the transformation of their profession by developing electronic equipment, digital solutions and healthcare robotics, as well as data hosting, financing and training adapted to their specific needs.
    And reflecting the spirit of its tagline “Technology for a More Human Experience”, the Group is a leading provider of interoperability solutions that improve coordination between healthcare professionals, their communications and data exchange resulting in better patient care and a more efficient and secure healthcare system.

    Listed on Euronext Paris™ – Compartment B

    Indexes: MSCI GLOBAL SMALL CAP – GAÏA Index 2020 – CAC®SMALL and CAC®All-Tradable
    Included in the Euronext Tech Leaders segment and the European Rising Tech label

    Eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (“Service à Réglement Différé” – SRD) and equity savings accounts invested in small and mid caps (PEA-PME).
    ISIN: FR 0012882389 – Ticker Code: EQS

    Get all the news about Equasens Group www.equasens.com and on LinkedIn

    CONTACTS

    EQUASENS Group
    Analyst and Investor Relations:
    Chief Administrative and Financial Officer: Frédérique Schmidt
    Tel: +33 (0)3 83 15 90 67 – frederique.schmidt@equasens.com

    Financial communications agency:
    FIN’EXTENSO – Isabelle Aprile

    Tel.: +33 (0)6 17 38 61 78 – i.aprile@finextenso.fr

    Forward-looking statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements that are not guarantees of future performance and are based on current opinions, forecasts and assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions about Equasens’ current and future strategy and the environment in which Equasens operates. These involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results or other events, to materially differ from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those detailed in Chapter 3 “Risk factors” of the Universal Registration Document filed with the French financial market authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers or AMF) on April 29, 2024 under number D.24-0366. These forward-looking statements are valid only as of the date of this press release.


    1 An investment programme rolled out by the French government to support the national strategy for eHealth acceleration.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Information Relating to the Total Number of Voting Rights and Shares Forming the Share Capital

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    In Bernin, on Februay 6, 2025

    INFORMATION RELATING TO THE TOTAL NUMBER
    OF VOTING RIGHTS AND SHARES
    FORMING THE SHARE CAPITAL

    (Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and article 223-16 of the General Regulation of the French financial markets authority (AMF))

    Corporate name and address of the company: SOITEC
    Parc Technologique des Fontaines – Chemin des Franques
    38190 Bernin (FRANCE)

    Statement date Total number of shares forming the share capital Total number of voting rights
    01/31/2025 35,726,462(1) Number of theoretical (gross) voting rights (2): 45,642,048
    Number of exercisable (net) voting rights (3): 45,585,990
    1. 35,726,462 ordinary shares of €2.00 par value each, listed on the Euronext Paris regulated market under ISIN code FR0013227113 and the mnemonic “SOI”.
    1. The total number of theoretical voting rights (or “gross” voting rights) is used as the basis for calculating the crossing of shareholding thresholds. In accordance with article 223-11 of the General Regulation of the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers – AMF), this number is calculated on the basis of all shares to which single or double voting rights are attached, including shares without voting rights (for example, treasury shares, liquidity contract, etc.).
    1. The total number of exercisable voting rights (or “net” voting rights) is calculated after taking into account the number of shares entitled to double voting rights, and after deduction of the shares without voting rights (for example, treasury shares, liquidity contract, etc.).

    #  #  #

    About Soitec

    Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has been developing cutting-edge products delivering both technological performance and energy efficiency for over 30 years. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions, and generated sales of 1 billion Euros in fiscal year 2023-2024. Soitec occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three main strategic markets: Mobile Communications, Automotive and Industrial, and Edge and Cloud AI. The company relies on the talent and diversity of its 2,300 employees, representing 50 different nationalities, working at its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. Soitec has registered over 4,000 patents.
    Soitec, SmartSiC™ and Smart Cut™ are registered trademarks of Soitec.

    For more information visit our Website and follow us on LinkedIn and X 

    #  #  #

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: UPDATE: WTW debuts new Insurance Pricing and Underwriting Technology to accelerate speed to market in Guidewire PolicyCenter

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking, and solutions company, announced the latest advancement in its Radar rating and analytics engine with the launch of its Rating, Pricing, and Underwriting acceleratori for Guidewire.

    Radar, WTW’s external rating engine, is an end-to-end solution designed specifically for the insurance sector. It provides cutting-edge analytics and decision-making for pricing and underwriting, deployed to the market in real time. Radar’s new Guidewire accelerator will streamline the integration of Radar with PolicyCenter, Guidewire’s policy administration system, allowing carriers to realize the benefits of Radar faster. The accelerator uses a highly innovative approach that draws Guidewire product definitions directly into Radar’s pricing environment, massively expediting the integration process.

    Customers’ demand for more innovative insurance solutions has increased significantly in recent years. Pricing and underwriting teams have been pushed to the limit by the need to provide new products in a competitive market while balancing regulatory requirements for rating accuracy, transparency, and fairness. Radar is a proven solution that delivers success for insurers and their customers in this challenging environment.

    Gio Smyth, Managing Director and Americas Regional Leader, Insurance Consulting and Technology, WTW, said: “WTW’s integration between Guidewire PolicyCenter and our Radar technology will enhance the operational efficiency of our shared clients by reducing implementation time and cost, enabling them to maximize the benefits of Radar. The injection of game-changing speed and accuracy into the pricing process makes it possible to update market prices in minutes rather than days, weeks, or months, giving insurers a competitive edge.”

    Will Murphy, Vice President, Global Technology Alliances, Guidewire, said: “With the launch of the Radar Accelerator from WTW, our shared customers can now quickly leverage a valuable rating solution that enables insurers to realize quicker and more accurate underwriting and pricing performance.”

    About Radar

    Smarter insights. Better results. Delivered faster.

    Radar is a complete, end-to-end analytics and model deployment solution. It was built specifically for insurers by insurance experts and continually enhanced through ongoing investment, development, and innovation.

    Radar delivers proprietary machine learning algorithms, real-time decision-making, regulatory reporting, speed, and ease of deployment.

    Radar is part of WTW’s Insurance Consulting and Technology business, which serves the insurance industry with a powerful combination of advisory services and leading-edge technology. Its mission is to innovate and transform insurance and deliver solutions that help clients better select, finance, and manage risk and capital.

    We work with clients of all sizes globally, including most of the world’s leading insurance groups. Over 1,000 client companies use our specialist insurance software on six continents. With over 1,700 colleagues in 35 markets, we continually strive to be a partner and employer of choice to the insurance industry.

    About Insurance Consulting and Technology (ICT)

    WTW’s Insurance Consulting and Technology (ICT) business has over 1,200 colleagues operating and capital, improve business performance, and create competitive advantage – by focusing on financial and regulatory reporting, enterprise risk and capital management, M&A and corporate restructuring, products, pricing, business management, and strategy.in 35 markets worldwide. ICT is a leading provider of advice, solutions, and software – primarily to the insurance industry. Its consulting services help clients manage risk

    About WTW

    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk, and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce, and maximize performance.

    Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success and provide a perspective that moves you.

    Learn more at wtwco.com.

    Media Contact

    Douglas Menelly +1 516 445 5387 | douglas.menelly@wtwco.com

    _______________
    i https://marketplace.guidewire.com/s/product/radar-accelerator-for-rating-and-pricing-for-policycenter/01t3n00000SqGjIAAV?language=en_US

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Toobit Named Best New Cryptocurrency Exchange at 2025 WeMoney Cryptocurrency Awards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands , Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global digital asset trading platform Toobit today received awards in two categories at the 2025 WeMoney Cryptocurrency Awards. In a hotly-contested year, the exchange was able to clinch the titles of Best New Cryptocurrency Exchange and Best for Derivatives.

    The annual WeMoney Cryptocurrency Awards recognise cryptocurrency platforms, exchanges, and innovators in the Australian market that offer exceptional value, asset availability, and market-leading features.

    “We are deeply honoured to be recognised by the Awards this year,” said Mike Williams, Chief Communication Officer of Toobit. “In a deeply-saturated crypto market, we are thrilled to have made such an impact. These two titles are a testament to our continued commitment towards ease-of-use, security, and innovation.”

    As described in WeMoney’s rigorous methodology, Toobit was able to secure the title of Best New Cryptocurrency Exchange through demonstrated success in international markets. Judging criteria also factors in how effective the exchange was in setting in place new industry benchmarks for Australian investors.

    For Best for Derivatives, Toobit came out on top after being evaluated on its range of assets, feature complexity, margin trading options, risk management measures, as well as its affordability and fees.

    To confirm Toobit’s win in both categories, a dedicated team of WeMoney specialists conducted a thorough and meticulous evaluation process, carefully analyzing each applicant based on customer satisfaction, platform features, and adherence to industry benchmarks.

    The process began with a comprehensive self-assessment questionnaire designed to highlight both strengths and weaknesses, followed by extensive research and detailed analysis of each platform’s overall performance.

    To learn more about the WeMoney Cryptocurrency Awards 2025, visit their website at https://www.wemoney.com.au/wemoney-crypto-awards-2025-winners

    About Toobit

    Toobit is a global crypto exchange dedicated to providing fair and transparent trading experiences. With ample liquidity and market depth, Toobit ensures efficient and secure transactions for traders worldwide and is committed to providing a secure and user-friendly environment for trading a diverse range of digital assets.

    For more information about Toobit, visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Instagram

    Contact: Davin C.

    Email: market@toobit.com

    Website: www.toobit.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Toobit. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/66e53ecc-98d5-4339-bf73-c4a1daa1fcaf

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ICC urges negotiation over retaliation on trade tariffs 

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: ICC urges negotiation over retaliation on trade tariffs 

    We use necessary cookies to make our site work. We’d also like to set optional cookies to optimize site functionality and to give you the most relevant experience. We won’t set optional cookies unless you enable them. Using this tool will set a cookie on your device to remember your preferences.

    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.

    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.

    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.

    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Allister reacts to court judgement on would be IRA murderers

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister MP:

    “When four fully armed terrorists go out on a murder mission, that mission includes their escape plan. If the continuing threat posed by such fully armed would be murderers is neutralised, then that is a service to the public to whom they are a danger.

    “Today we had another illustration of the coronial system – which Labour is pledged to continue – putting the security forces, but never the terrorists, in the dock!”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: How Yeomadon Farm used EWCO funding to create woodland

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    How Yeomadon Farm used EWCO funding to create woodland

    Yeomadon Farm used their England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) funding to improve the landscape for business and recreation.

    Yeomadon Farm has been in Rob Moore’s family since the early 1900s and has seen a range of uses, including dairy, beef farming and a successful holiday cottage business.

    More recently, Rob and his wife Catherine have replaced their cattle with trees. They want their land to be more compatible with their holiday cottage enterprise by reducing heavy machinery around the cottages and, in time, to provide a woodland for the guests to enjoy.

    Conifer saplings grow on the the newly planted site at Yeomadon Farm. Copyright Yeomadon Farm.

    Yeomadon Farm facts

    • location: Devon / Cornwall county border
    • size: 18 hectares
    • type: conifer woodland with broadleaf edges
    • species: Sitka spruce, lodgepole pine, Norway spruce, western red cedar, hazel, silver birch, sessile oak, common alder and wild cherry
    • date planted: February 2022
    • grant: England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)
    • main objective: to improve the landscape to complement an existing holiday cottage business

    Moving towards forestry

    While Rob and Catherine didn’t have any prior experience of forestry, the family didn’t let this stand in their way. They chose to create woodland to complement their already thriving holiday cottage business, which has a focus on nature-based activities, such as fishing and local walks.

    They will also be looking for the woodland to generate income for them in the future.

    Rob Moore, owner of Yeomadon Farm, said:

    Our initial thought was if we could turn this agricultural land into forestry without it costing us anything, then we’ll be happy.

    Financially supported woodland creation

    After first hearing about the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) in the Mole Valley newsletter, Rob and Catherine were keen to explore using their land to create woodland. They had some initial conversations with land agent Pryor and Rickett Silviculture about what this might look like, including which fields they had earmarked for planting.

    Their agent managed the woodland creation process from initial site visits, arranging involvement from a Forestry Commission woodland officer and the completion of the EWCO grant application, through to sourcing and planting the saplings.

    For Rob and Catherine, this process was really positive. They felt having an agent to guide them through the grant application was invaluable and made the financial side of the process much more straightforward.

    The scheme was eligible for an ‘additional contribution’ for water quality, a one-off payment available through EWCO where a woodland’s location and design deliver public benefits. In this case, for promoting drainage for the site’s waterlogged soils.

    The agents, along with the local woodland officer, helped Rob and Catherine select which trees to plant. This decision was largely based on what would be most suitable for the ground, which tends to get water-logged. They also wanted to ensure a mix of species to offer resilience against our changing climate and the threat of pests and diseases.

    The centre of the woodland is made up of Sitka spruce, Norway spruce, lodgepole pine and western red cedar, with a surrounding ring of mixed native broadleaf species close to the fishing lakes. The agents arranged contractors to hand plant 33,000 trees, which took 3 weeks.

    Rob and Catherine Moore with a conifer sapling planted at Yeomadon Farm. Copyright Yeomadon Farm.

    Catherine Moore, owner of Yeomadon Farm, said:

    We didn’t need to do anything. If we had to do the whole process all by ourselves, we wouldn’t have known where to start!

    Saving costs during the establishment process

    Rob and Catherine were able to make savings by doing much of the maintenance work themselves. Rob sprayed the surrounding ground around the new trees, which ensured growth wasn’t hampered by the grass or weeds. The process took him 8 days and saved on the expense of additional labour costs.

    Similarly, they put in the fencing themselves. They used a total of 1,800 metres of deer fencing and gates, with additional rabbit netting. As the woodland grows, they will seek additional advice on how it can provide further income. For now, they both agree that it stacks up financially.

    Deer fencing with rabbit netting to protect the new saplings. Copyright Yeomadon Farm.

    Benefits for nature, people and the planet

    Rob and Catherine have noticed some additional benefits to the wildlife and biodiversity of the area. They stated that “it may be that we’re just noticing the wildlife more than we used to, or that it’s flourishing now that we’re disturbing the land less, but we don’t remember seeing sparrowhawks before!” In addition, the woodland will, in time, be open for the guests at the holiday cottages to enjoy.

    The Yeomadon Farm scheme was celebrated in the Devon Woodland Awards ‘New Woodland on Farm’ category, where Rob and Catherine won silver. The judges praised the scheme and the ingenuity in designing and using specialist equipment for planting and maintenance.

    Top tips

    1. Consider using an agent. Rob and Catherine were completely new to forestry when they started on this journey and found it invaluable having an agent to navigate them through the process.

    2. Don’t underestimate the labour required in getting the scheme up and running. Factor these costs into your planning as they could make a big difference.

    3. Think about planning ahead. Work out how to manage the grass and what machinery you might need as these could all add up in terms of cost and overall finances.

    4. Consider your financing options in the short-term to cover the up-front costs of planting your new woodland. This is because EWCO payments are received once all capital work has been completed and evidence is reviewed.

    You can also see the brochure version of this story: Yeomadon Farm: woodland creation case study (PDF, 14.9 MB, 4 pages).

    Read more about woodland creation and tree planting grants.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A926 Emergency Gas Repair Works

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    Due to emergency gas repair works, it has been necessary to close a 420-metre section of the A926 to all traffic between Rattray and Alyth at Pictfield, from 9.30am on Thursday 6 February 2025 until such times as the repairs are completed by SGN.

    Vehicles will be diverted during the closure via the A93, A923, A94 and B954. Emergency service access will be maintained throughout.  

    Unfortunately, the closure will have a significant impact on local Stagecoach bus services 57 and 57A.  Dundee and Perth bound services will operate to/from Blairgowrie Wellmeadow and will not operate via Rattray, New Alyth, and Alyth.  The operator has advised it will only be able to offer a limited shuttle bus service for Alyth to link passengers with services which will be diverted via Coupar Angus and Meigle during the closure. As a result, there will be no early morning commuter journeys or late evening service available. Please see the shuttle bus timetable (PDF, 110 KB) for further details. 

    A number of school transport contracts will also be affected, as outlined in the table below: 

    Contract 

    Revised Operation  

    XBG/003 (Stagecoach): Alyth (Fire Station) – New Alyth – Blairgowrie High School 

    Contract will operate New Alyth (0810-15) – Alyth Fire Station (0820) then diversion route via B954 – A94 – Coupar Angus – A923 to/from Blairgowrie High School. 

    XBG/004 (Stagecoach): Alyth Square – Blairgowrie High School 

    Contract will operate from Alyth Square (Usual pickup time, will be monitored if time change is required) then diversion route via B954 – A94 – Coupar Angus – A923 to/from Blairgowrie High school. Feeder contracts ABG/001 & ABG/002 (KM Taxis) will be revised to meet any change to connecting times. 

    XBG/005 (Stagecoach): Alyth – Rattray – Blairgowrie – St Johns Academy 

    Alyth will not be served, and contract will commence from Rattray Cross (0747). Alternative arrangements have been made for pupils from Alyth on Contract XSB/011 departing Alyth Square (0740). 

    XBG/011 (Smith and Sons): Meigle – Alyth – A926 – St Stephens Primary School 

    Contract will operate A926/Thorn Farm road end – Alyth – Meigle – then diversion route via B954 – A94 – Coupar Angus – A923 to/from St Stephens Primary School. Operator/Driver to liaise with parents regarding any revised pick-up times. 

    Service 57 (Stagecoach): Dundee – Alyth – Rattray – Blairgowrie (High School) – Perth  

    Service will not operate between Meigle (0814), Alyth (0823) & Rattray for Blairgowrie High School (0850). Pupils from Alyth are requested to travel on the Contract buses they are allocated to. 

    Last modified on 06 February 2025

    Share this page

    Print

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s press encounter on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Good morning. 

    I wanted to say a few words about the deeply concerning situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    We are at a pivotal moment and it is time to rally together for peace. 

    Tomorrow, leaders from the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community will take part in a Summit in Tanzania. 

    The focus will be addressing the crisis in the face of the offensive by the M23, supported by the Rwandan Defence Forces.

    Next week, in Addis Ababa, I will take part in a Summit-level meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council where this crisis will be also front and centre.

    In advance of these crucial gatherings, I want to make a special appeal for peace.  

    Thousands of people have been killed – including women and children – and hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes in the eastern DRC.

    We also see the continued threat by other armed groups, either Congolese or foreign.

    All of this is having an enormous human toll. 

    We have countless reports of human rights abuses, including sexual and gender-based violence, forced recruitment, and the disruption of lifesaving aid.

    The humanitarian situation in and around Goma is perilous.

    Hundreds of thousands of people are on the move, with many of the previous sites hosting displaced people north of the city now looted, destroyed or abandoned. 

    Healthcare facilities are overwhelmed. 

    And other basic services – including schools, water, electricity, phone lines and the internet – are severely limited.

    Meanwhile, the conflict continues to rage in South Kivu and risks engulfing the entire region. 

    I want to pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives, including MONUSCO blue helmets and regional forces. 

    And I express my solidarity with the Congolese people who find themselves yet again the victims of a seemingly endless cycle of violence.

    As the Summit in Tanzania gets underway, and as I prepare to leave for Addis Ababa, my message is clear: 

    Silence the guns. 

    Stop the escalation.

    Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    Uphold international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

    There is no military solution.

    It is time for all the signatories of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region to honour their commitments.

    It is time for mediation.  It is time to end this crisis.  It is time for peace. 

    The stakes are too high.

    We need the active and constructive role of all players — namely neighbouring countries, subregional organizations, the African Union and the United Nations.

    Let us all act together for peace.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI: Result of AGM

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    6 February 2025

    HARGREAVE HALE AIM VCT PLC
    (the “Company”)

    Result of 2025 Annual General Meeting

    Hargreave Hale AIM VCT plc, announces that at the Company’s 2025 Annual General Meeting held at 12:30pm on Thursday 6 February 2025, all resolutions were passed by way of a poll and the results of the poll, including the proxy votes received, are set out below.

    Resolutions 1 to 12 (inclusive) were proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 13 and 14 (inclusive) were proposed as special resolutions.

    As previously announced, Angela Henderson, Independent Non-Executive Director, did not seek-re-election at the AGM and accordingly resigned from the Company on 6 February 2025.

    In accordance with UK Listing Rule 6.4.2 copies of all the resolutions passed, other than ordinary business, will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

    Resolution Votes For* % Votes Against % Total votes validly cast Total votes cast as % of issued share capital Votes Withheld**
    01 Receive annual accounts for period ended 30 September 2024 15,267,328 99.46 82,798 0.54 15,350,126 4.19% 110,499
    02 Approve directors’ remuneration report 13,778,201 90.28 1,483,475 9.72 15,261,676 4.17% 198,949
    03 Approve the remuneration policy 13,693,713 90.05 1,513,769 9.95 15,207,482 4.15% 253,143
    04 Reappoint BDO LLP as auditors 15,004,735 98.39 245,840 1.61 15,250,575 4.17% 210,050
    05 Re-elect David Brock as a director 13,086,237 86.15 2,104,276 13.85 15,190,513 4.15% 270,112
    06 Re-elect Oliver Bedford as a director 13,092,485 86.23 2,091,241 13.77 15,183,726 4.15% 276,899
    07 Re-elect Justin Ward as a director 14,491,468 96.11 587,178 3.89 15,078,646 4.12% 381,979
    08 Re-elect Megan McCracken as a director 14,356,920 94.39 853,809 5.61 15,210,729 4.16% 249,896
    9 Re-elect Busola Sodeinde as a director 14,365,124 94.58 823,894 5.42 15,189,018 4.15% 271,607
    10 To approve the final dividend 15,320,714 99.75 39,092 0.25 15,359,806 4.20% 100,819
    11 To authorise the directors to offer a scrip dividend alternative 14,942,049 98.37 248,261 1.63 15,190,310 4.15% 270,315
    12 To authorise the directors to allot Ordinary shares 14,685,856 96.62 513,749 3.38 15,199,605 4.15% 261,020
    13 To authorise the directors to allot equity securities for cash 12,125,476 81.07 2,831,033 18.93 14,956,509 4.09% 504,116
    14 To allow the Company to make market purchases of its own shares 14,971,554 97.66 358,878 2.34 15,330,432 4.19% 130,193

    * Includes discretionary votes

    ** A vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the votes for or against a resolution.

    Notes:

    As at close of business on 5 February 2025, the Company’s issued share capital comprised 365,665,633 Ordinary Shares and the total number of voting rights in the Company were 365,665,633 shares.

    END

    For further information, please contact:

    JTC (UK) Limited
    Uloma Adighibe
    Alexandria Tivey
    HHV.CoSec@jtcgroup.com
    +44 203 892 3877
    +44 203 832 3891

    LEI: 213800LRYA19A69SIT31        

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Awaab’s Law to force landlords to fix dangerous homes

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    From October, social landlords to be forced to investigate and fix dangerous damp and mould in set time periods and repair all emergency hazards within 24 hours

    • From October, social landlords will be forced to investigate and fix dangerous damp and mould in set time periods, as well as repair all emergency hazards within 24 hours
    • Government to introduce vital legislation in honour of two-year-old Awaab Ishak who tragically died following prolonged exposure to damp and mould
    • Major step forward in mission to transform housing safety and quality

    Landmark reforms to force landlords to fix dangerous homes or face the full force of the law will be introduced for the first time later this year.

    As part of the government’s mission to transform the safety and quality of social housing, Awaab’s Law will come into force from October, ensuring social landlords have to investigate and fix dangerous damp and mould within a set amount of time as well as repair all emergency hazards within 24 hours.  Landlords who fail to comply face being taken to court, with social tenants able to use the full powers of the law to hold them to account.

    Awaab’s Law will be introduced through a phased approach to ensure it is applied as effectively as possible. This means that the protections it provides to damp and mould will be introduced quickly, which would not have been possible if the government applied the law to a wider group of hazards from the outset. This will also allow the government to test and learn so that the reforms benefit social tenants and secure the lasting legacy that Awaab Isaak’s family have fought so hard for. 

    The vital reforms will help drive a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of social housing, supporting the government’s pledge through the Plan for Change to deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation and build 1.5 million homes.

    The law is a lasting legacy to two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died after being exposed to mould at his Rochdale home in December 2020. In the wake of this tragedy, Awaab’s family has fought to secure justice, not only for their son but for all those who live in social housing.

    Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:

    “We have a moral duty to ensure tragedies like the death of Awaab Ishak never happen again.

    “Landlords cannot be allowed to rent out dangerous homes and shamelessly put the lives of their tenants at risk.

    “Our new laws will force them to fix problems quickly, so that people are safe in their homes and can be proud to live in social housing.”

    From October, Awaab’s Law will force landlords to fix damp and mould as well as carry out emergency repairs. We will then take a step-by-step approach to make the law stronger over time so that landlords will be legally required to fix all dangerous hazards from 2027. These repairs will have to be delivered within set timescales to ensure that landlords are meeting their responsibilities.

    However, social landlords must continue to fix dangerous issues in their homes before Awaab’s Law is fully implemented. They already have a duty to keep their homes fit for human habitation and to remedy disrepair, and they must also ensure that their homes meet the Decent Homes Standard. Awaab’s Law will set clearer and stronger laws to ensure that tenants are living in safe homes.

    Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said:

    “Awaab Ishak’s family have tenaciously and courageously fought to secure justice, not only for their son but for all those who live in social housing.

    “Awaab’s Law will help to drive a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of social housing, ensuring tenants are treated with fairness and respect”.

    In the coming months we will bring forward further reforms designed to drive up standards across social housing and to build greater trust and transparency between landlords and tenants. This government will:

    • Introduce powers through the Renters’ Rights Bill to extend Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector. We will consult on how to apply Awaab’s Law to privately rented homes in a way that works for the sector and is fair and proportionate for tenants and landlords.
    • Consult on a new Decent Homes Standard and minimum energy efficiency standards, to ensure tenant’s homes are made safe, warm, and free from disrepair.
    • Legislate to require social landlords to carry out electrical safety checks at least every five years, as well as mandatory appliance inspections on all electrical appliances that are provided by the landlord.

    Notes to editors

    • We are intending to lay the Awaab’s Law regulations in parliament as quickly as we can to secure these protections and provide the sector with clarity and time to prepare ahead of requirements which will come into force in October of this year. 
    • In 2023, 7% of social rented homes had a damp problem and 4% had hazards rated at the most dangerous ‘category 1’ level.
    • Our phased approach will work as follows:

    • From October 2025 social landlords will have to address damp and mould hazards that present a significant risk of harm to tenants to fixed timescales.
    • From October 2025 social landlords will also have to address all emergency repairs including for damp and mould or other hazards as soon as possible and within no longer than 24 hours.
    • In 2026, requirements will expand to apply to a wider range of hazards. In addition to damp and mould, the hazards we expect to extend Awaab’s Law to in this second stage of implementation include excess cold and excess heat; falls; structural collapse; fire, electrical and explosions; and hygiene hazards.
    • Then in 2027, the requirements of Awaab’s Law will expand to the remaining hazards as defined by the HHSRS (excluding overcrowding). The full list of hazards can be found in schedule 1 to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) Regulations 2005.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Charity regulator convenes discussions on safe delivery of urgent Middle East aid

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Charity Commission hosted a roundtable meeting today (6 February 2025) bringing together major international aid charities and government departments to discuss the pressing need to secure the flow of aid to the Middle East.

    Leaders of organisations including the Disasters Emergency Committee were joined by senior officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Home Office and HM Treasury.

    Leaders of umbrella bodies NCVO and Bond also participated in the meeting, held in central London.

    Discussion centred on how partners across civil society and government can work effectively to accelerate delivery of aid to the Middle East within a strong regulatory framework.

    Representatives explored the practical operating challenges of seeking to support those living in areas devastated by the impact of recent events in the region. They discussed the importance of regulatory compliance, including with the various legal duties and challenges affecting charities working in the Middle East.

    Following the meeting, the Commission undertook to work with other government departments to publish further guidance to support charities of all sizes seeking to operate in the region.

    Chief Executive Officer of the Charity Commission, David Holdsworth, said:

    The role of aid charities will be crucial not only to providing immediate humanitarian support to people in the region, but to the long, complex process of rebuilding Gaza, Syria and other war-torn areas.

    As the charity regulator our role is to enable as well as to enforce. In convening today’s roundtable the Commission sought to bring together key players for an honest conversation about the challenges and risks involved in delivering international aid in such circumstances.

    All were united by an ambition to help ensure that the UK and its citizens can effectively help bring aid to a region in desperate need.

    The Commission stands ready to support however it can within its regulatory remit and we will shortly publish further advice to charities working in this area.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors

    1. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society. Find out more: About us – The Charity Commission – GOV.UK

    Press office

    Email pressenquiries@charitycommission.gov.uk

    Out of hours press office contact number: 07785 748787

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Canada: More support for Jasper’s recovery

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: More sheriffs will safeguard court visitors

    A graduating class of 24 B.C. sheriffs will soon begin their careers keeping people safe at courthouses throughout the province.

    Niki Sharma, Attorney General, welcomed the graduates from the Justice Institute of British Columbia’s winter class at a ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. They will be assigned to work in courthouses throughout the Province, including Victoria, Nanaimo, Penticton, Oliver, Quesnel, Dawson Creek, Terrace, Fort St. John and the Lower Mainland.

    Without sheriffs, court matters cannot proceed. Sheriffs maintain a safe environment for everyone delivering justice services in 90 court locations throughout B.C. They are highly trained peace officers who provide protective services for the Crown, judiciary, defence, court staff, the public and all participants in the justice system. Sheriffs also protect court users, transport accused and convicted people to and from correctional institutions, and perform other duties.

    The winter class will continue training until March 6, 2025. Their first day on duty will be March 7. The next sheriff-recruit training class will start in the spring.

    The BC Sheriff Service (BCSS) is recognized as an international leader in providing protective and enforcement services for the justice system. The BCSS is the oldest-law enforcement agency in B.C.

    The Province is collaborating with the BCSS to enhance recruitment, retention and training. The BCSS is focusing on deployment and growth opportunities, and implementing a more-competitive pay and benefits framework for sheriffs.

    Learn More:

    To watch a video about working as a B.C. sheriff, visit: https://youtu.be/rdhf8trOoSM

    To explore career opportunities with the BCSS, visit:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/careers-myhr/job-seekers/featured-careers/deputy-sheriff

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Call With Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Department of Defense Spokesman John Ullyot provided the following readout:

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh held an introductory call today to reaffirm their shared commitment to the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership. The leaders agreed to pursue an ambitious agenda to accelerate our operational cooperation and defense industrial and technology collaboration to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific. The Secretary noted he looks forward to holding the next 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and concluding the next ten-year U.S.-India Defense Framework this year.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley, Marshall Demand Answers from Ford for Terminating Jack Cooper Partnership, Destroying Hundreds of Missouri Jobs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Wednesday, February 05, 2025

    U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) sent a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley, demanding an explanation behind his company’s abrupt decision to terminate its long-standing labor partnership with Jack Cooper, a Kansas City-based company. Ford’s decision now leaves 400 Kansas City-area employees without a job.

    The Senators call out Ford for prematurely ending its contract with Jack Cooper before the deadline and without explanation. 

    “For over four decades, Jack Cooper has been a reliable partner to Ford, fulfilling all performance standards and playing an important role in Ford’s success. To end such a relationship without a clear and justified cause strikes us as a profound betrayal of American workers, who have buoyed Ford for nearly half a century,” the lawmakers wrote.  

    “At this point, one must question whether Ford is abandoning its historical commitment to American workers and sacrificing quality and reliability in favor of cost-cutting. . . . The workers at Jack Cooper and their families are still waiting for answers,” the senators concluded.

    Full text of the letter is here or below. 

    February 4, 2025

    James Farley, Jr.
    P.O Box 6248 
    Dearborn, MI 48126 

    Dear Mr. Farley,

    We write today in response to Ford’s recent decision to terminate its long-standing contract with a great Kansas City company, Jack Cooper. This abrupt decision threatens the livelihoods of nearly 2000 dedicated union workers and their families, casting a dark shadow over Ford’s claimed commitment to “serving all of our stakeholder groups.”

    For over four decades, Jack Cooper has been a reliable partner to Ford, fulfilling all performance standards and playing an important role in Ford’s success. To end such a relationship without a clear and justified cause strikes us as a profound betrayal of American workers, who have buoyed Ford for nearly half a century.

    With this decision, Ford has undermined the job security and economic stability of hard-working union members and contradicted the ethos of economic loyalty and family values that the company purports to uphold. At this point, one must question whether Ford is abandoning its historical commitment to American workers and sacrificing quality and reliability in favor of cost-cutting. 

    To that end, we request, at a minimum, that you confirm Ford Motor Company intends to fulfill its legal obligations with respect to termination costs, pursuant to all applicable laws, resulting from Ford’s termination of its Jack Cooper contract. More importantly, we expect Ford to address this matter with the seriousness it warrants and provide a detailed explanation for its actions, not only to the affected workers but also to their families and communities who are now burdened with uncertainty and hardship. Not providing a substantive explanation for terminating the aforementioned contract adds significant insult to injury. This decision disrupts lives and erodes the community’s trust in what is supposed to be a paradigmatic American company. Yet, the workers at Jack Cooper and their families are still waiting for answers. 

    We hope that Ford can bring light to this situation and explain its plan for not hanging the Jack Cooper community out to dry. Please do so by responding to this letter, in writing, not later than February 11, 2025, with your explanation for suddenly terminating such a longstanding partnership. We look forward to your prompt response.

    Sincerely,

    Josh Hawley
    U.S. Senator 

    Roger Marshall 
    U.S. Senator

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley, Whitehouse Reintroduce Bill to Support Law Enforcement, Prevent Officer Suicides

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Wednesday, February 05, 2025

    U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today reintroduced the Supporting and Treating Officers in Crisis (STOIC) Act to expand support resources for law enforcement officers. The bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

    The bipartisan legislation would reauthorize grant funding for law enforcement family-support services and establish suicide-prevention programs and mental health services within law enforcement communities. 

    “Congress should have the backs of those who have ours,” said Senator Hawley. “Since it’s initial passage, the STOIC Act has delivered life-saving resources to law enforcement officers who combat not only crime, but also mental health challenges, in the line of duty. I invite my colleagues to join me in reauthorizing this critical legislation, so we can continue standing with our men and women in blue.”

    “Law enforcement are often the first on the scene at the most difficult moments in people’s lives. Their service comes with a heavy emotional toll, and we must help officers deal with the stress and trauma they bear to keep their communities safe,” said Senator Whitehouse. “We first passed our bipartisan STOIC Act into law in 2019 to provide more mental health resources for law enforcement, and I’m glad to renew the effort today with Senator Hawley to reauthorize this important law.”

    Senators Hawley and Whitehouse first introduced the STOIC Act in 2019, and it was signed into law later that year. 

    Last year, the STOIC Act unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and went on to pass a Senate-wide vote, clearing hurdles for the bill’s reauthorization. Today, the senators have reintroduced the legislation to pave the way for its updated passage in the 119th Congress.

    Full text of the bill can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Armed Forces to cut red tape and deliver quicker and easier recruitment service

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Joining the Armed Forces will become quicker and easier under a new first-of-its kind recruitment service that cuts red tape and transforms the way people sign up to serve. 

    • A new recruitment service will streamline the process for candidates to join the Armed Forces.
    • Launching in 2027, the first-of-its kind service will speed up recruitment to boost national security – the foundation of Government’s Plan for Change.
    • Single-entry point for prospective recruits to attract the best talent from across the country and deliver better value for taxpayer money.

    Joining the Armed Forces will become quicker and easier under a new first-of-its kind recruitment service that cuts red tape and transforms the way people sign up to serve.  

    Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard has today announced that a new, combined Armed Forces Recruitment Service (AFRS) will launch in 2027, replacing the individual schemes run by the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. The new contract will ensure better value for taxpayer money and better outcomes for our Armed Forces.  

    The first-ever tri-service recruitment programme will provide a streamlined, single-entry point for prospective recruits, with the aim of attracting the best talent from across the country into the Armed Forces to strengthen national security as the foundation of the Government’s Plan for Change.  

    The announcement follows the Defence Secretary’s commitment last year to tackle long application waiting times for the Armed Forces, with a new ambition to make a conditional offer within 10 days and confirmation of a training start date within 30 days.  

    Under the innovative new recruitment service, candidates will complete one application and one medical evaluation via a single, digital system – offering a more straightforward process that seeks to retain applicant interest. The digitally enhanced process will see applications reviewed, offers made and training begin at a faster pace than individual services currently.  

    In efforts to deliver value for money, the Ministry of Defence will mimic the Cabinet Office’s standard model services contract, allowing for decisive action on supplier-caused performance issues through profit-based performance goals and contract break-clauses. 

    Existing processes have struggled to meet the evolving needs of modern recruitment, with inefficiencies and delays leading to fewer than one in 10 applicants joining in 2023. 

    Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said:

    This Government is delivering for defence and taking decisive action to address recruitment and retention challenges within our Armed Forces. For too long, we have seen keen and capable prospective recruits failed by an outdated system, full of delays and inefficiencies.  

    Our innovative new Armed Forces Recruitment Service will help us attract top talent from across the UK – bolstering our national security as the foundation for our government’s Plan for Change.  

    By making it quicker and easier for people to sign up to serve, while maintaining the very highest standards, we will strengthen our Armed Forces and make the UK more secure. 

    Our ambition is for those who apply to serve our country to receive a conditional answer within 10 days and a training start date within 30 days. As global threats increase, we are making the changes necessary to get the brightest and best into Britain’s military.”  

    Developed in partnership with Serco, the new programme will ultimately help to ensure that the UK military remains ready to face emerging threats while enhancing the support for those who serve.   

    AFRS will also see Service Personnel playing an active role in the recruitment process, leveraging their unique skills and experience to engage the next generation of military professionals.   

    In a separate move to attract a broader range of Armed Forces recruits, the Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard has also announced today a new direct entry initiative for cyber roles. With reduced basic training, a starting salary of £40,000 and specialist cyber training, recruits will support our Forces and bolster the UK’s cyber strength.  

    The Government is committed to bettering the Armed Forces career offer and has also delivered one of the largest pay increases for the Armed Forces in the last 20 years, scrapped over 100 outdated policies that block or slow recruitment, and are establishing an Armed Forces Commissioner to champion Service Personnel and their families.  

    With recruitment across the three Forces being unified, AFRS will see all applicant data held centrally at MOD, offering improved data security and enhanced access to information.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Something for everyone this half term at Portsmouth Museums

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Portsmouth Museums has a range of activities on offer this February half term.

    Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery

    At Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery, in Museum Road, there will be arts and crafts from 17 until 21 February. Two of the days will be inspired by Ancient Sudan, following the recent opening of the British Museum Spotlight Loan: Ancient Sudan enduring heritage, while the remaining three days will look at trees and The Quietness of Feeling exhibition which focusses on the work of landscape artist Benjamin Haughton and The Arborealists. The activities are £2.50 or £1 with a Leisure Card. There will also be a fun trail around the museum, just ask at the front desk – £2 or 50p with a Leisure Card.

    To end the week on 23 February, Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery will be hosting a talk from 2-4pm on ‘The Arborealists’ by its founder Tim Craven, whose work is featured in ‘The Quietness of Feeling’ exhibition. It’s free, just drop in, maximum capacity of 40 attendees.

    Portsmouth Natural History Museum

    There’s lots going on at Portsmouth Natural History Museum, Cumberland House, in Eastern Parade, all made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, the museum has been able to fund the exhibition ‘Guermonprez’s Legacy – the Gilbert White of Bognor’, as well as an event programme through 2025.

    On 18 February, from 10am until 12pm you can learn more about minibeasts, their habitats, and their crucial role in our ecosystem at this free event. After a minibeast hunt adventure in the garden, build your own mini bug home or minibeast habitat to take away with you or put up near the museum’s minibeast hotel to encourage wildlife to the garden.

    Mineral Day will take place on 19 February from 10am until 3.30pm. You can meet mineralogists from Southampton Mineral and Fossil Society. The mineralogists will bring along a display of their own objects, as well as showing some of the minerals that they have been working on in the museum store. Bring along your own minerals for identification and get hands on with some themed activities at this free event.

    Charles Dickens’ Birthplace

    Charles Dickens’ Birthplace in Old Commercial Road will be open from 10am until 4.30pm (last entry 4pm) on 18, 20, and 22 February. Discover the place where arguably the greatest novelist of the Victorian era lived, walk in the room he was born in and explore his prized possessions.

    The D-Day Story

    At The D-Day Story, alongside the family audio guide and trails, there will be reenactors at the museum from 18 until 20 February. The popular Airfix Extravaganza returns on 21 February, to make and take home your own genuine Airfix model (cost is museum admission price plus £2 per model). No need to book, just get in early to avoid disappointment.

    Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said:

    “There’s so much happening across our fantastic museums this half term, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Law Strengthening Red Flag Law Now in Effect

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that a new law (S.3340/A.5873) designed to enhance safeguards afforded by the State’s Red Flag Law is now effective. Beginning today, courts across New York State must notify the statewide registry of orders of protection and warrants when judges issue a temporary and/or final extreme risk order of protection. This notification codifies what courts were doing in practice and aims to ensure that these orders don’t fall through the cracks. Courts statewide have ordered nearly 14,000 temporary and permanent Extreme Risk Protection Orders through February 3, 2025 — more than 12 times the number of orders issued before Governor Hochul took decisive action to strengthen State law following the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo on May 14, 2022. Governor Hochul previously signed the legislation on October 9, 2024 as part of a package of bills aimed at reducing gun violence and strengthening New York’s nation leading gun laws.

    “Public safety is my number one priority — that’s why I signed legislation strengthening our Red Flag Laws to keep weapons away from individuals who are a risk to themselves and others,” Governor Hochul said. “By empowering law enforcement and judges to take action, we’re getting guns off our streets and making our communities safer.”

    A gunman motivated by hate murdered 10 individuals, physically injured three others and terrorized a community when he drove more than 200 miles to commit an act of mass violence at the Tops Supermarket on Buffalo’s East Side. Three days after that horrific act, Governor Hochul issued Executive Order 19, directing the New York State Police to seek an ERPO when there is probable cause to believe an individual is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to themselves, or others, as defined in the State’s Mental Hygiene Law.

    Less than a month later on July 6, 2022, Governor Hochul signed a law requiring all police departments, sheriffs’ offices and district attorneys’ offices to file an ERPO petition under the same standard in State law used by the State Police. This law also expanded the list of who is eligible to file for an ERPO to include health care practitioners who have examined an individual within the last six months and required reports by mental health practitioners about potentially harmful individuals to be considered closely when determining whether to issue a firearm license.

    From August 25, 2019, through December 31, 2019, courts across the State ordered 148 temporary or permanent orders. Those numbers less than doubled for the 2020 (252 ERPOs) and 2021 (286 ERPOs) calendar years. ERPOs issued by courts increased nearly tenfold after the Governor and Legislature acted in 2022, with 2,363 orders issued that year. In 2024 alone, the number of ERPOs issued statewide totaled 5,357.

    In addition to strengthening State laws to keep firearms away from those who pose a danger to themselves and others, Governor Hochul has bolstered the State’s efforts to remove illegal guns from communities and provided record-level funding to law enforcement agencies and community organizations on the front lines of the State’s fight against gun violence.

    Law enforcement agencies across the state seized 9,408 firearms, including 769 ghost guns, last year.

    Since taking office, Governor Hochul has provided record-level funding to State agencies, local law enforcement, and community-based organizations to address the pandemic-era surge in gun violence and that investment has paid dividends.

    Gun violence in communities participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative declined to its lowest level on record last year. New York State began tracking this data in communities outside of New York City in 2006. Shooting incidents with injury declined 28 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, and the number of individuals injured declined 25 percent, with 238 fewer people harmed by gunfire.

    The Governor’s FY26 Executive Budget includes $370 million to continue the State’s multifaceted approach to reducing shootings and saving lives. That funding supports local and State law enforcement initiatives, youth employment programs and nonprofit organizations that serve and support individuals and families, and strengthen communities, including but not limited to:

    • $50 million through the Law Enforcement Technology grant program, which provides funding so police departments and sheriffs’ offices can purchase new equipment and technology to modernize their operations and more effectively solve and prevent crime.
    • $36 million for GIVE, which funds the 28 police departments and district attorneys’ offices, probation departments, and sheriffs’ offices in 21 counties outside of New York City.
    • $21 million for the SNUG Street Outreach Program, which operates in 14 communities across the State: Albany, the Bronx, Buffalo, Hempstead, Mount Vernon, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Syracuse, Troy, Utica, Wyandanch and Yonkers. The program uses a public health approach to address gun violence by identifying the source, interrupting transmission, and treating individuals, families and communities affected by the violence.
    • $18 million in continued support for the State’s unique, nationally recognized Crime Analysis Center Network, and $13 million in new funding to establish the New York State Crime Analysis and Joint Special Operations Command Headquarters, a strategic information, technical assistance and training hub for 11 Centers in the State’s network, and enhance existing partnerships and expand information sharing with the New York State Intelligence Center operated by the State Police, the locally run Nassau County Lead Development Center, and the State’s Joint Security Operations Center, which focuses on protecting the State from cyber threats.

    At the same time, the Governor’s FY26 Executive Budget proposal recognizes the equal importance of expanding services to victims and survivors of crime. Among the Governor’s proposals to increase support provided by the State Office of Victim Services are to:

    • Create a Mass Violence Crisis Response Team to ensure rapid, coordinated support that addresses the immediate needs of victims, survivors and communities in the aftermath of such events.
    • Increase existing limits on crime victim compensation for the cost of burial and funeral expenses from $6,000 to $12,000.
    • Eliminate the requirement to consider contributing conduct in death claims, which currently can reduce the amount of money OVS can provide for burial expenses, as well as other crime-related costs, including counseling, loss of support, and other assistance family members may need following a loved one’s death.
    • Expand eligibility for access to funding to pay for crime scene cleanup costs.

    Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “Extreme risk protection orders are a critical tool in protecting New Yorkers from gun violence, and this legislation will give the courts and law enforcement the tools they need to help keep people safe. Thank you to the Assembly sponsor of this legislation, my friend and colleague Assemblymember Charles Lavine, for all his hard work on this. Here in New York and in the Assembly Majority, we have fought for commonsense legislation like this to address the scourge of gun violence in our communities. We will continue working together with our partners in government to strengthen the laws we have in place, keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals and address the root causes of gun violence.”

    State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am very pleased that starting today, New Yorkers will be safer, as law enforcement throughout New York will have easier access to critical public safety information, thanks to the bill I sponsored that modernizes the state’s process for filing extreme risk protection orders. Police officers can now quickly see if someone has an outstanding ERPO and better protect victims who face an ongoing risk of violence from someone in their life –– and those who pose a risk to themselves. I thank my colleagues in the legislature and Governor Hochul for their commitment to keeping New Yorkers safe.”

    Assemblymember Charles Lavine said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s strong leadership we are making progress in the fight against gun violence. In addition to this new law which I am confident will save lives, I am encouraged to see the increasing number of ghost guns being taken off the streets. This is a direct result of my ghost guns bill which is doing what it was intended to do, that is to keep our communities safe.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Louisiana Doctor Sentenced for Illegally Distributing Over 1.8M Doses of Opioids in $5.4M Health Care Fraud Scheme

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A Louisiana physician was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison for conspiring to illegally distribute over 1.8 million doses of Schedule II controlled substances, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, and for defrauding health care benefit programs of more than $5.4 million.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Adrian Dexter Talbot M.D., 59, of Slidell, owned and operated Medex Clinical Consultants (Medex), located in Slidell. Medex was a medical clinic that accepted cash payments from individuals seeking prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances. Talbot routinely ignored signs that individuals frequenting Medex were drug-seeking or abusing the drugs prescribed. In 2015, Talbot took a full-time job in Pineville, Louisiana, and although he was no longer physically present at the Slidell clinic, he pre-signed prescriptions, including for opioids and other controlled substances, to be distributed to individuals there whom he did not see or examine. In 2016, Talbot hired another practitioner who, at Talbot’s direction, also pre-signed prescriptions to be distributed to individuals in exchange for cash deposited into a Medex bank account. The evidence also demonstrated that Talbot falsified patient records to cover up the scheme and to make it appear as though he was routinely examining the patients. With Talbot’s knowledge, these individuals filled their prescriptions using their insurance benefits, thereby causing health care benefit programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, to be fraudulently billed for controlled substances that were prescribed without an appropriate patient examination or determination of medical necessity.

    On July 22, 2024, Talbot was convicted by a jury in the Eastern District of Louisiana of one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances, four counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG)’s South Central Field Office, Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus of the FBI New Orleans Field Office, and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill made the announcement.

    HHS-OIG, VA-OIG, FBI, and the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Sara E. Porter and Gary A. Crosby II, Assistant Chief Justin Woodard, and Deputy Chief Kate Payerle of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Malaysian Armed Forces delegation visits U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    U.S. Indo-Pacific Command hosts a delegation from the Malaysian Armed Forces for the 40th iteration of the Bilateral Training and Consultative Group (BITACG), Feb. 5-6, 2025. The U.S. and Malaysia have a long-standing relationship built on cooperation in the defense domain and a partnership underscored by mutual respect. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Angel Heraldez)

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: First Flight of Illegal Aliens Arrives at Guantanamo

    Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

    The first flight of high-threat illegal aliens out of the United States arrived at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, today.

    According to the Department of Homeland Security, all 10 of those illegal aliens are part of the transnational criminal organization “Tren de Aragua.” Last month, the White House designated that group as a foreign terrorist organization. 

    “Their campaigns of violence and terror in the United States and internationally are extraordinarily violent, vicious and similarly threaten the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere,” the White House executive order reads. 

    At Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, the 10 high-threat illegal aliens who arrived today are being housed in vacant detention facilities. They are not being held alongside war on terror detainees who also reside at the installation. 

    Late last month, the White House announced in a memorandum for the defense secretary and the secretary of Homeland Security that facilities at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay should be used to house high-threat illegal aliens as they are moved from the United States back to their countries of origin. 

    “I hereby direct [DOD] and [DHS] to take all appropriate actions to expand the migrant operations center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to full capacity to provide additional detention space for high-priority criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States,” the memorandum said. 

    Many of the criminal illegal aliens being deported from the U.S. are traveling directly to their countries of origin via U.S. military aircraft. The use of military aircraft, or “gray tails” for that purpose, is new, said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. 

    In some cases, Hegseth said, where it may take longer to reach agreements or process those individuals’ return to their nations of origin, DOD needs a place to house them before they return home. 

    “We want somewhere else to hold them safely in the interim — criminal illegals — Guantanamo Bay … is a perfect place,” Hegseth said last week during an interview. He also noted that he served at that installation from 2004 to 2005. 

    “It’s folks who may be in transit to their home country or a safe, third harbor country, and it’s taking a little time to move with that processing and with the paperwork,” he said. “Better they be held at a safe location like Guantanamo Bay.” 

    Hegseth said the use of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay as a waypoint for moving high-threat illegal aliens is a “plan in movement.” 

    “We’re ramping up for the possibility to expand mass deportations because President [Donald J.] Trump is dead serious about getting illegal criminals out of our country,” he said. “And the DOD is not only willing to [but] is proud to partner with DHS to defend the sovereignty of our southern border and advance that mission.”

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Louisiana Doctor Sentenced for Illegally Distributing Over 1.8M Doses of Opioids in $5.4M Health Care Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Louisiana physician was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison for conspiring to illegally distribute over 1.8 million doses of Schedule II controlled substances, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, and for defrauding health care benefit programs of more than $5.4 million.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Adrian Dexter Talbot M.D., 59, of Slidell, owned and operated Medex Clinical Consultants (Medex), located in Slidell. Medex was a medical clinic that accepted cash payments from individuals seeking prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances. Talbot routinely ignored signs that individuals frequenting Medex were drug-seeking or abusing the drugs prescribed. In 2015, Talbot took a full-time job in Pineville, Louisiana, and although he was no longer physically present at the Slidell clinic, he pre-signed prescriptions, including for opioids and other controlled substances, to be distributed to individuals there whom he did not see or examine. In 2016, Talbot hired another practitioner who, at Talbot’s direction, also pre-signed prescriptions to be distributed to individuals in exchange for cash deposited into a Medex bank account. The evidence also demonstrated that Talbot falsified patient records to cover up the scheme and to make it appear as though he was routinely examining the patients. With Talbot’s knowledge, these individuals filled their prescriptions using their insurance benefits, thereby causing health care benefit programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, to be fraudulently billed for controlled substances that were prescribed without an appropriate patient examination or determination of medical necessity.

    On July 22, 2024, Talbot was convicted by a jury in the Eastern District of Louisiana of one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances, four counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG)’s South Central Field Office, Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus of the FBI New Orleans Field Office, and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill made the announcement.

    HHS-OIG, VA-OIG, FBI, and the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Sara E. Porter and Gary A. Crosby II, Assistant Chief Justin Woodard, and Deputy Chief Kate Payerle of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. 

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Plutus Financial Group Limited Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Hong Kong, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plutus Financial Group Limited (“the “Company”) (NasdaqCM: PLUT), a Hong Kong-based financial services company, today announced the closing of its initial public offering (the “Offering”) of 2,100,000 ordinary shares at a public offering price of $4 per ordinary share, for total gross proceeds of $8.4 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. The Offering was conducted on a firm commitment basis. The ordinary shares began trading on Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “PLUT” on February 5, 2025.

    The Company has granted the underwriter an option, exercisable within 45 days from the date of the underwriting agreement, to purchase up to an additional 315,000 ordinary shares at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and expenses.

    R.F. Lafferty & Co., Inc. acted as lead underwriter for the Offering, with Revere Securities LLC acting as co-underwriter. The Crone Law Group, P.C. served as counsel to the Company. Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP served as lead counsel to the underwriters with respect to the Offering.

    A registration statement on Form F-1, as amended (File No. 333-276791) relating to the Offering was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Company and subsequently declared effective by the SEC on February 4, 2025. The Offering was made only by means of a prospectus, forming a part of the registration statement. A final prospectus relating to the Offering was filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from R.F. Lafferty & Co., Inc., 40 Wall Street, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10005, or by telephone at (212) 293-9090.

    Before you invest in the Company, you should read the final prospectus and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the Offering. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About Plutus Financial Group Limited

    Plutus Financial Group Limited is a Hong Kong-based financial services holding company operating through two wholly-owned primary subsidiaries – Plutus Securities Limited (“Plutus Securities”) and Plutus Asset Management Limited (“Plutus Asset Management”). Plutus Securities, a securities broker licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (the “SFC”) and a Participant on the HKEx stock exchange in Hong Kong, provides quality securities dealing and brokerage, margin financing, securities custody, and nominee services. As a licensed securities broker, Plutus Securities provides a range of financial services, including:

    • Hong Kong stock trading through the internet, mobile app, and customer phone hotline
    • Margin financing;
    • Securities custody and nominee services; providing secure and reliable clearing and settlement procedures;
    • Access to debt capital markets; and
    • Equity capital markets for issuers, offer underwriting for IPO and other equity placements, and marketing, distribution and pricing of lead-managed and co-managed offerings.

    Plutus Asset Management, a wealth management and advisory firm licensed by the SFC, provides wealth management services including:

    • Professional funds management;
    • Discretionary accounts with strategies developed for customers based on individual risk tolerance and investment preferences;
    • Investment consulting and advisory services for funds managed by other companies; and
    • Investment funds, including a real estate fund, a fixed income fund, a private equity investment, and a hedge fund.

    For more information, visit the Company’s website at http://www.plutusfingroup.com./en/index.php.

    Forward-Looking Statements

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

    For more information, please contact:

    Investor Relations:
    Plutus Financial Group Limited
    Attn: Jeff Yeung
    ir@plutusfingroup.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: QXO Urges Beacon Roofing Supply to Let Shareholders Decide on Premium All Cash Offer of $124.25 per Share

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GREENWICH, Conn., Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QXO, Inc. (NYSE: QXO) today issued the following statement in response to the announcement by Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (Nasdaq: BECN) that its Board of Directors has rejected QXO’s all-cash $124.25 per share offer.

    On January 27, 2025, QXO commenced a tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of Beacon for $124.25 per share in cash, for an aggregate enterprise value of approximately $11 billion, representing a 37% premium to Beacon’s 90-day unaffected volume-weighted average price of $91.02 per share as of November 15, 2024. QXO’s offer price is also higher than Beacon’s shares have ever traded. Beacon’s Board offers no basis for its assertion that QXO’s premium offer undervalues Beacon’s shares, and the trading price of Beacon’s shares indicates that Beacon’s Board is wrong.

    “Our offer provides certainty, a significant premium in cash and the ability to close quickly with no regulatory delays, financing risks or diligence conditions,” said Brad Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of QXO. “Beacon’s filing shows no indication of an actionable third-party alternative. We have made a very compelling offer, and Beacon should let its shareholders decide what is in their best interest.”

    Notably, Beacon confirmed today it would wait to announce newly constructed 2028 financial projections until March 13, more than a month from today and more than three months from its Board’s initial rejection of QXO‘s offer. There is no reason for Beacon to introduce yet another delay by waiting to disclose its newly formulated projections.

    QXO’s tender offer will be outstanding until 12:00 midnight, New York City time, at the end of February 24, 2025, and it is prepared to complete the acquisition shortly after the tender expires, subject to the terms of the offer. The transaction is not subject to any financing conditions or due diligence conditions, and QXO expects that the waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and the Canadian Competition Act will have expired or been waived by the time the tender offer expires.

    Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is acting as lead financial advisor to QXO, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is acting as legal counsel.

    About QXO

    QXO provides technology solutions, primarily to clients in the manufacturing, distribution and service sectors. The company provides consulting and professional services, including specialized programming, training and technical support, and develops proprietary software. As a value-added reseller of business application software, QXO offers solutions for accounting, financial reporting, enterprise resource planning, warehouse management systems, customer relationship management, business intelligence and other applications. QXO plans to become a tech-forward leader in the $800 billion building products distribution industry. The company is targeting tens of billions of dollars of annual revenue in the next decade through accretive acquisitions and organic growth. Visit QXO.com for more information.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This communication contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about beliefs, expectations, targets, goals, regulatory approval timing and nominating directors are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on plans, estimates, expectations and/or goals at the time the statements are made, and readers should not place undue reliance on them. In some cases, readers can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “opportunity,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “target,” “goal,” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to: the ultimate outcome of any possible transaction between QXO, Inc. (“QXO”) and Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (“Beacon”), including the possibility that the parties will not agree to pursue a business combination transaction or that the terms of any definitive agreement will be materially different from those proposed; uncertainties as to whether Beacon will cooperate with QXO regarding the proposed transaction; the ultimate result should QXO commence a proxy contest for election of directors to Beacon’s board of directors; QXO’s ability to consummate the proposed transaction with Beacon; the conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction, including the receipt of any required shareholder approvals and any required regulatory approvals; QXO’s ability to finance the proposed transaction; the substantial indebtedness QXO expects to incur in connection with the proposed transaction and the need to generate sufficient cash flows to service and repay such debt; that operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers or suppliers) may be greater than expected following the proposed transaction or the public announcement of the proposed transaction; QXO’s ability to retain certain key employees; and general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected. QXO cautions that forward-looking statements should not be relied on as predictions of future events, and these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. Forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date each statement is made. QXO does not assume any obligation to update any of these statements in light of new information or future events, except to the extent required by applicable law.

    Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

    This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation, an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell Beacon securities. QXO and Queen MergerCo, Inc. (the “Purchaser”) filed a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 27, 2025, and Beacon filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the tender offer with the SEC on February 6, 2025. Investors and security holders are urged to carefully read the Tender Offer Statement (including the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time) and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, as these materials contain important information that investors and security holders should consider before making any decision regarding tendering their common stock, including the terms and conditions of the tender offer. The Tender Offer Statement, Offer to Purchase, Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and related materials are filed with the SEC, and investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of these materials and other documents filed by QXO and Beacon with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, the Tender Offer Statement and other documents that QXO and the Purchaser file with the SEC will be made available to all investors and security holders of Beacon free of charge from the information agent for the tender offer: Innisfree M&A Incorporated, 501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10022, toll-free telephone: +1 (888) 750-5834.

    QXO and the other participants intend to file a preliminary proxy statement and accompanying WHITE universal proxy card with the SEC to be used to solicit proxies for, among other matters, the election of its slate of director nominees at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders of Beacon. QXO strongly advises all stockholders of Beacon to read the preliminary proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to such proxy statement, and other proxy materials filed by QXO with the SEC as they become available because they will contain important information. Such proxy materials will be available at no charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and at QXO’s website at investors.qxo.com. In addition, the participants in this proxy solicitation will provide copies of the proxy statement, and other relevant documents, without charge, when available, upon request. Requests for copies should be directed to the participants’ proxy solicitor.

    Certain Information Concerning the Participants

    The participants in the proxy solicitation are anticipated to be QXO, Brad Jacobs, Ihsan Essaid, Matt Fassler, Mark Manduca and the individuals nominated by QXO (the “QXO Nominees”). QXO expects to determine and announce the QXO Nominees prior to the nomination deadline for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders of Beacon. As of the date of this communication, other than 100 shares of common stock of Beacon beneficially owned by QXO, none of the participants that have been identified has any direct or indirect interest, by security holdings or otherwise, in Beacon.

    Media Contacts

    Joe Checkler
    joe.checkler@qxo.com
    203-609-9650

    Steve Lipin / Lauren Odell
    Gladstone Place Partners
    212-230-5930

    Investor Contacts

    Mark Manduca
    mark.manduca@qxo.com
    203-321-3889

    Scott Winter / Jonathan Salzberger
    Innisfree M&A Incorporated
    212-750-5833

    The MIL Network