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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Improving Access to Scotland’s NHS: We Can Renew Scotland’s NHS and Help Our Nation Thrive

    Source: Scottish National Party

    Like all of us, the National Health Service is personal for me – I see first-hand all that it does, and has done, for my own family.

    In the last years of my beloved Mother’s life, I saw such care and attentiveness in the community and in hospital care.

    My wife would not have the capacity and capability she has in dealing with MS, had it not been for the outstanding care and insight of the National Health Service alongside, might I say, her absolutely personal determination to stay strong.

    I would not have had such joy in my life at the birth of my three children without the National Health Service.

    It is personal for all of us.

    That is why we care about it so much.

    That is why we want to see it thriving once again.

    We all know the tremendous pressures our NHS has been under in recent years.

    We see a service still reeling from the strain of a global pandemic – a pandemic that revealed the NHS’s many strengths but also exposed its underlying weaknesses.

    Weaknesses made worse by a decade and a half of austerity, and by the body blow of inflation that has meant – as we know from our own family finances – the available money delivers less.

    It is a service still beset by backlogs and delayed discharges, and struggling to meet the increasing needs of an ageing population.

    The challenges are great, of that I have no doubt. But I know also that our NHS is fundamentally resilient, fundamentally robust.

    I witnessed both these realities earlier this month when I spent a Saturday evening visiting the emergency department at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

    In the midst of both winter pressures and a particularly challenging flu season, I saw patients who waited too long to be seen, but also staff who went above and beyond.

    I saw an NHS that in the face of the storm kept on standing, kept on delivering.

    There are some who oppose the NHS model, who believe that the answer to our health challenges is a privatisation of care. They want us to believe that the health service is beyond saving, that it is on the point of collapse.

    But that is simply not true.

    There are challenges.

    Some services are struggling.

    Periods of real crisis as we have seen in recent weeks as flu cases spiked.

    The impact of these issues on too many patients is real.

    But, as I will set out today, there is nothing wrong with the National Health Service that can’t be fixed by what is right with the National Health Service.

    What is right with the National Health Service includes the thousands of health and care staff who are doing phenomenal things under enormous pressure.

    People who, time and again, display resilience, selflessness and grit, who truly go above and beyond.

    It includes innovations, such as the Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service, a new pathway that delivers significant reductions in the time from referral to diagnosis, opening the door also to faster treatment.

    It includes national public health initiatives like the HPV vaccination programme, which has resulted in no cases of cervical cancer in young women who have been fully vaccinated.

    A remarkable, utterly remarkable, life-saving achievement.

    And it includes cutting-edge research, multiple projects, looking into the ways AI can transform diagnosis and treatment in the years to come.

    The foundations on which we will build NHS recovery and renewal are strong.

    Under this Government, the NHS will always remain in the hands of the public and free at the point of use. That is non-negotiable.

    The question then becomes how do we do better?

    How do we ensure our health service is not just the best in these isles but the best it can possibly be?

    The answer to that question is not a simple one. There is no ‘magic bullet’.

    Rather, it involves progress across multiple fronts, a balancing of sometimes competing demands and interests.

    It will require choices and action by central government, yes, but that must be delivered in partnership with others – local government, the third sector, patient groups, and health and social care workers at all levels.

    It must deliver reform that is fundamentally patient-centred but do so through a health and social care system that becomes an ever more interconnected whole.

    I have said before that my approach as First Minister is to seek the right solutions, not merely the quick ones.

    I favour consensus building and collaboration over diktats from on high. For the future success of our NHS this is not only the right approach, but also the necessary approach.

    We will only succeed on this path of reform and renewal if we walk it together.

    That is why the Cabinet Secretary for Health and I meet regularly with staff in all parts of the National Health Service.

    It is why we have been engaging with health boards, local government, Health and Social Care Partnerships, the Scottish Ambulance Service, Public Health Scotland, and NHS 24.

    We have listened carefully, also, to patients and their families, to all those who depend on the NHS for lifesaving, life-enhancing care.

    We have been told all that is going well and all that must be better.

    We have heard the advice from those with direct, frontline experience. And that has helped us develop a clear understanding of where the challenges are, and what changes are needed.

    It is this kind of open, collaborative approach, with a focus on solutions, on the right answers over the easy ones, that has led to the actions I am setting out today.

    It is a set of actions with clear outcomes – tangible improvements that we can and will deliver.

    Tangible improvements to make people’s experience of the NHS in Scotland better than it is today.

    Actions made possible by the record funding we are delivering to the NHS frontline.

    Actions that will address the immediate issues in our health service – those problems of access that I know cause so much frustration, and indeed for some, unnecessary pain.

    Actions that set out a new course so we can safeguard the NHS for the long-term.

    Over the coming weeks, the Government will set out for Parliament what the different elements of our approach will mean in practice.

    And we will be reminding Members of Parliament as we do that, that the delivery of this stronger NHS depends on the safe progress of the draft Budget currently being considered by Parliament.

    The actions we will take to deliver a more accessible, more person-centred NHS have three clear purposes:

    First, to reduce the immediate pressures across the NHS.

    Second, to shift the balance of care from acute services to the community.

    Third, to use innovation – digital and technological – to improve access to care.

    Together, these will address the problems that right now, every day weigh down our National Health Service.

    They will begin to deliver the long-term, systemic improvement that is needed to ensure our health service is sustainable for the future.

    And they will make it easier for people across Scotland to live healthier lives, helping us to build a future in which health is practiced in homes and communities as much as it is practiced in surgeries and hospitals.

    So let’s talk first about those immediate problems, the crises facing too many parts of our National Health Service.

    The first and most important thing on many people’s minds is how long it can take to access services.

    Delays in access, with waiting times that are too long, and delays in discharge, because appropriate at home or in community care is not available.

    The two, of course, are fundamentally connected.

    Last year, I referred to delayed discharge as the canary in the coal mine of our National Health Service. I think of waiting times in much the same way.

    Both these delays tell us that the flow of people through the health system is not happening as it should.

    Put more simply, people are not getting the right care in the right place, at the right time.

    That is not acceptable to me.

    It is not acceptable to my Government, because it can lead to people getting sicker as they wait, and it can mean they can take longer to recover.

    It adds substantially to the stress they and their loved ones experience.

    It creates greater strain across the system, leading to more delays elsewhere, poorer outcomes for others and still further stress on services.

    It is the very definition of a vicious circle, and it has to come to an end.

    So, today, we commit to a substantial increase in capacity in order to significantly reduce people’s waits.

    The changes we propose – including an enhanced regional delivery model, alongside increased levels of activity in our National Treatment Centres – will deliver over 150,000 extra appointments and procedures – in hospitals, in communities – in the coming year.

    That includes 10,000 extra procedures through smarter working in the National Treatment Centres.

    Other sites – including Gartnavel, Inverclyde, Stracathro, Perth Royal Infirmary and Queen Margaret Hospital – will deliver 9,500 extra cataract procedures.

    As well as 2,500 extra orthopaedic appointments and procedures – operations such as hip or knee replacements.

    In this way, we will create centres of excellence, places of expertise and specialisation, where we will be better placed to capitalise on the technological innovation and the potential of AI.

    And we will cut our waiting lists.

    Cancer referrals, gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, and radiology – all benefiting from this new investment.

    Centres able to deliver more care, more quickly and more efficiently than traditional, smaller, more fragmented facilities – with transport support provided for those who need it.

    And, to ensure that they do, we will put in place clear milestones and targets for those specialities that add the most to our waiting lists.

    Our second focus will see more and better care delivered in the community.

    I spoke earlier about the importance of people receiving the right care at the right time, in the right setting.

    That right setting will always be the least intensive setting appropriate to the person’s needs.

    Sometimes that appropriate setting is in hospital. More often, it is not.

    So to strengthen and renew our NHS, we will shift more care into communities and into homes.

    As much as possible, people who do not need to be in hospital will not go to hospital, protecting those acute services for those who absolutely need them.

    This new approach will mean changing the way we deliver acute services.

    By this summer, we will have specialised staff in frailty teams, at the front door of every A&E department in Scotland.

    This will mean that frail patients, often older patients with complex needs, will bypass our busy A&Es, in order to receive the specialist care and support they need, whether in hospital or back at home.

    It will mean better care for these most vulnerable patients while reducing the pressure on our A&Es.

    Our actions will also improve the NHS’s capacity to treat people at home.

    Our Hospital at Home initiative, which allows hospital-levels of care in a person’s home, will be expanded to at least 2,000 beds by the end of 2026.

    Without the need for any new bricks and mortar, the effective capacity of every single hospital in Scotland will be expanded.

    Taken together, it is action that will ease acute pressures, reduce delays, cost less to our NHS, and most importantly, help people get better more quickly, more comfortably.

    Quality care for thousands of Scots delivered not simply close to home, but at home.

    Of course, we cannot simply shift services out of acute settings. We also need to build capacity in our primary care and community health settings.

    With this in mind, the Government has been listening carefully to the views of Scotland’s GPs.

    They have described the multiple contributions general practice can make as we shift to more community-focused care. They have argued that GPs must be given the resources they need to fulfil that role.

    We have listened, and we have been persuaded.

    As a result, our plan will ensure that a greater proportion of new NHS funding goes to primary and community care.

    GPs and services in the community will have the resources they need to play a greater role in our health system.

    This increased investment will result in GP services that are easier for people to access.

    That is important in terms of people’s confidence in the health service – indeed, difficulties making GP appointments top the list of issues that people often raise with me.

    But equally, it will make it more likely that health issues are picked up quickly and dealt with earlier.

    For there is no better way to deal with illness than to prevent it.

    Addressing conditions early and intervening to prevent diseases from progressing, prevents manageable conditions from becoming serious ones.

    It is good for patients and of vital importance for the future sustainability of our National Health Service.

    That is why our plan also includes £10.5 million to build GP capacity to intervene earlier and prevent illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease.

    But this is not only an issue of money. We must also innovate and identify new ways of working.

    For example, I want to see the NHS Scotland Pharmacy First Service expand so that community pharmacies can treat a greater number of clinical conditions and prevent the need for a GP visit in the first place.

    The third part of our approach is innovation to improve access to, and delivery of, care.

    Better use of data will ensure that more operating theatres are working at maximum capacity, with best practice approaches, approaches shown to increase productivity by 20%, rolled out across the country.

    Using existing capacity, more operations will be delivered – enabling us to also deliver shorter waiting times.

    The latest innovations in genetic testing will be harnessed to enable better targeting of medications in cases ranging from recent stroke patients to new-born infants with bacterial infections.

    Smarter care, better care.

    Building on the already successful model of digital support for mental health – a service that saw 74,000 referrals in 2023-24 – we will offer support in additional areas including dermatology and the management of long-term conditions.

    This type of care, because it is not dependent on physical attendance, at a specific time, in a specific place, is more flexible.

    It means care can be made to fit better into the lives of those who use the services.

    Again, smarter care, and better care.

    And, as a much-needed addition to improve patients’ interaction with the NHS, there will be a Scottish health and social care app.

    This ‘Digital Front Door’ will begin rollout from the end of this year, starting in Lanarkshire, and, over time, it will become an ever more central, ever more important access and management point for care in Scotland.

    This is the third in a series of speeches I have delivered in recent weeks.

    In each I have spoken about the importance of identifying clear goals, clear direction to national policy.

    If we have a clear sense of the direction we wish to travel, the levels of success we wish to achieve, and if we can unite behind these goals, then genuine progress becomes all the more possible.

    Protecting, strengthening, renewing our National Health Service – that is a goal I think we can all get behind.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK drives green growth by connecting millions to electricity across Africa

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Minister for Africa Lord Collins announces support to extend electricity access to millions across Africa.

    • Minister for Africa Lord Collins announces support to extend electricity access to millions across Africa.

    • New deal between British International Investment and UK cleantech company MOPO will connect over a million people across the DRC to renewable energy sources, delivering on the Plan for Change by unleashing the power of British technological innovation.

    • UK partnership with the African Development Bank will also channel private sector capital into African clean energy.

    Millions more people across Africa will have access to clean power thanks to UK investment, Africa Minister Lord Collins has announced.

    This comes as UK Special Representative for Climate Rachel Kyte attends the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit today [27 January] in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

    The UK is one of the largest investors in clean energy in Africa and is working in partnership to support the Mission 300 initiative, which aims to expand electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. Half of Africa’s population – 600 million people – lack vital access to electricity.

    Lord Collins is announcing a £5.3 million new deal between British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, and UK cleantech firm MOPO. 

    This investment will enable MOPO to expand its pay-per-use battery rental operations in the DRC where over 80% of the population lack access to electricity. It demonstrates how UK companies are unlocking new opportunities for growth and positive impact that the clean energy transition has to offer in the UK and beyond.

    Lord Collins will also announce new UK support of £8.5 million towards the African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to build on existing efforts between the UK and African partners to connect millions of people across the continent with clean, reliable power.

    Today’s announcement will unlock private sector investment in renewable energy projects including clean cooking and energy efficiency.

    The support, which will be delivered as part of the UK’s Africa Regional Climate and Nature Programme (ARCAN), will accelerate renewable energy adoption and improve energy efficiency, developing solar-powered mini-grids in rural communities and providing technical assistance for large-scale renewable energy projects.

     Minister for Africa Lord Collins of Highbury said:

    The UK has set a landmark goal to be the first major economy to deliver clean power by 2030, and through our Plan for Change we’ll harness technology to transform the UK into a clean energy superpower. We want to leverage this ambition with our African partners to power green growth, eradicate poverty and tackle climate change.

    Connecting the continent to clean, reliable energy is vital, and UK support is helping ensure millions are getting the access they need to prosper through planet-friendly solutions. This will also allow us to deepen our partnerships across Africa, sharing expertise, finance and innovation.

    These announcements from Lord Collins show how the UK Government is delivering on the Plan for Change, which will transform the UK into a clean energy superpower, cutting bills and guaranteeing our energy independence, while championing clean technology innovation overseas  and generating opportunities for investment and jobs in British businesses. 

    Speaking at the summit, the UK’s Special Representative on Climate, Rachel Kyte, said:

    Reliable, affordable and clean energy is the cornerstone of economic growth and development. Clean energy, through modern grids and distributed renewable energy offers an opportunity for inclusive growth. Helping end energy poverty supports growth, builds resilience and puts countries on a pathway that helps our common challenge of fighting climate change.  The UK is working with partners across Africa to connect millions of people in the region with cleaner and more efficient power. That is why I’m pleased to be at this summit, supporting Mission 300 and reaffirming our commitment to our shared sustainable development goals especially in Africa.

    At the summit, the UK’s Special Representative for Climate will set out how the UK is deepening our partnerships with African nations and multilateral institutions to fuel the clean energy revolution and stimulate growth whilst tackling the climate emergency.

    Leslie Maasdorp, BII CEO said: 

    At BII we want to use our distinctive position, and track record, to create more early-stage solutions that help expand access to energy for more Africans. This is demonstrated through our investment in MOPO, which is expected to reach over a million people in DRC where energy access is limited.

    More broadly, we welcome the partnership of African governments, as well as other institutions like the African Development Bank, in making that ambition a reality.

    Today’s announcements at the Dar Es Salaam summit also reinforce the long-standing UK-Tanzania partnership.

    Tanzania was one of the first countries to sign up to the first mission of the UK’s Global Clean Power Alliance. The two countries are working together to boost the global clean energy transition, whilst furthering trade opportunities that will create jobs and deliver economic growth.   

    Notes to Editors:

    • BII is playing its part in the overall ecosystem to meet the goals of Mission 300. Today, BII’s investments provide clean energy to over 26 million people across sub-Saharan Africa and it has ambitions to do more.
    • MOPO installs hundreds of solar powered hubs which rent MOPO batteries to customers in regions far from the main grid. MOPO was supported in its early stages to develop its technology, business model and partnerships through the FCDO’s Transforming Energy Access programme.
    • The ADB funding will be delivered through the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) and will provide concessional finance and technical assistance to mobilise finance from the private sector into innovate, clean energy projects. Investments made by SEFA with support from the UK and other donors is expected to create 1.3 million new electricity connections in Africa.
    • The Africa Regional Climate and Nature Programme (ARCAN) is part of the UK’s wider £11.6bn International Climate Finance commitment. Other projects include the Climate Adaptation and Resilience research programme (CLARE), FSD Africa and FSD Africa investments, and Cooperation in International Waters in Africa (CIWA).

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s homegrown AI video generation platform launches new version

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    ShengShu Technology, a Beijing-based AI startup, has unveiled its updated video generation model, Vidu 2.0, which can create a single 4-second video clip at 512p resolution within just 10 seconds, Science and Technology Daily reported on Monday.

    The report states that the cost of generating such a video is 2.4 yuan (about 0.33 U.S. dollars) per minute.

    Video generation models have rapidly improved in terms of quality, but the speed at which a video is generated remains a significant obstacle. Previously, free users often had to wait for hours to generate a single piece of footage.

    Launched globally in July 2024, Vidu 1.0 reduced the time to generate a single video clip to under 30 seconds, and within 100 days, it gained over 10 million users. To date, Vidu has generated over 100 million video clips.

    Vidu’s greatest breakthrough lies in its ability to establish logical relationships among multiple user-specified objects within a scene, according to Tang Jiayu, the CEO of ShengShu Technology.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM calls on China, India to foster cooperation, not division

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China and India should strive for mutual understanding, support and collaboration, rather than fostering suspicion, alienation and consuming each other, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Beijing.

    Noting that since the leaders of the two countries met in Kazan last year, the two sides have earnestly implemented the important consensus reached by the leaders, carried out active interactions at all levels, and accelerated the process of improving China-India relations, Wang said both sides should seize the opportunity to meet each other halfway and explore more substantive measures.

    The improvement and development of China-Indian relations are fully in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and are conducive to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South countries and contributing to the peace, stability, development and prosperity of Asia and the world, Wang added.

    Misri said that India and China have carried out a series of useful dialogues and communications in accordance with the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in Kazan, properly managed and resolved differences, and promoted the resumption of pragmatic cooperation in various fields.

    India is willing to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, and will fully support China’s work as the presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Misri added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi congratulates Lukashenko on reelection as Belarusian president

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory message to Alexander Lukashenko on his reelection as the president of Belarus.

    Noting that he has maintained close contact with Lukashenko in recent years, Xi said they have jointly chartered the course for and led the development of China-Belarus relations, and pushed bilateral ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership of all time high.

    Political mutual trust between the two sides has been continuously consolidated, Belt and Road cooperation has yielded fruitful results, and multilateral coordination has been effective, Xi said.

    Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Belarus relations, and would like to work with Lukashenko to continue the traditional friendship between the two countries, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to push for a greater development of China-Belarus relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Forecast wholesale power prices and retail electricity prices rise modestly in 2025

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    January 27, 2025

    In our January Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we expect that U.S. wholesale power prices will average slightly higher in 2025 in most U.S. regions than last year, except in Texas and in the Northwest. We forecast that the 11 wholesale prices we track in STEO will average $40 per megawatthour (MWh) in 2025 (weighted by demand), up 7% from 2024. We expect the 2025 average U.S. residential electricity price will be 2% higher than the 2024 average, though after accounting for inflation, our forecast for U.S. residential prices remains relatively unchanged from 2024.

    Wholesale power prices are an indicator of the cost of generating power and are generally created on an hourly or daily basis in the United States. These prices reflect the operating and fuel costs of the most expensive unit that is needed for fulfilling electricity demand at a given point in time at a defined pricing point location within the power grid, along with any costs associated with transmission congestion into that area. The cost of natural gas is a primary driver of wholesale prices in many regions because the marginal generator is often one fueled by natural gas. We expect that the cost of natural gas delivered to U.S. power generators will average $3.37 per million British thermal units in 2025, which is up 24% from last year’s average but is about the same price as in 2023.

    We expect that average wholesale power prices will range from about $30/MWh in the part of Texas where the grid is managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to $55/MWh in the Northwest region. These two regions are the only ones in which we expect lower wholesale prices this year. The Northwest region is still experiencing drought conditions, but we expect conditions to improve slightly this year with 20% more hydropower generation. Increasing generation from solar power projects is contributing to lower wholesale prices in ERCOT.

    Other regions of the country are likely to see higher wholesale prices over the next year as a result of higher costs for natural gas. We expect the largest increases (about 30%–35%) will occur in the Southwest and California regions. Forecast wholesale prices in the ISO New England region average $55/MWh in 2025, up 16% from 2024. Although we expect higher wholesale prices in 2025, they would still be lower than in 2022, when the composite average wholesale price reached $80/MWh.

    Changes in the costs of supplying electricity can take time to affect retail electricity prices because retail rates are reviewed and approved by utility regulators in many areas of the country. We expect U.S. retail electricity prices for residential customers will average 16.8 cents per kilowatthour, which would be 2% more than in 2024. After accounting for inflation, forecast U.S. residential prices in 2025 are relatively unchanged from 2024.

    Principal contributor: Tyler Hodge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moral Courage Network Founder to Visit UConn for Metanoia Program

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn is embracing its tradition of Metanoia, entering the new semester with plans for thought-provoking events next week on how to listen deeply, build trust, and create pathways to civil discourse on divisive issues.

    Professor Irshad Manji, founder and chief executive of the Moral Courage Network, will visit UConn Storrs for a series of teaching and training events on Feb. 5 and 6, including a keynote presentation that will be livestreamed for all UConn community members.

    The organization seeks to unify people with the skills needed to communicate in a polarized world, which is among the areas of focus that prompted the University to launch its current Metanoia process.

    Manji, who is a New York Times best-selling author, will introduce the UConn community to the five core skills of Moral Courage and teach participants how to use those skills to unify the University community.

    Manji’s keynote presentation is planned for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, in the Student Union Theater. A reception will be held after the keynote presentation to provide community members with more opportunities for discussion.

    The event will then be followed with additional workshops on Thursday, Feb. 6, including a screening of the Oscar-shortlisted documentary “Mississippi Turning” and interactive sessions to practice the Moral Courage skills during difficult conversations.

    Manji teaches with the Oxford Initiative for Global Ethics and Human Rights and was a prize-winning leadership professor at New York University for many years. Her latest book is “Don’t Label Me: How to Do Diversity Without Inflaming the Culture Wars.”

    UConn observed its first Metanoia in 1970 and has convened more than a dozen in the years since then to examine issues of shared importance, often involving political or racial issues that have resulted in divisions on campus and throughout the nation.

    This year’s Metanoia, which organizers announced in spring 2024, came out of a need for the UConn community to better foster an environment of equity, inclusion, and understanding when engaging in challenging conversations, organizers said.

    Planning is currently underway for additional events and people are invited to suggest an event or program in keeping with the mission of creating pathways to productive and civil discourse.

    Like other campuses nationwide, UConn has been home to a wide range of views on hotly disputed topics in recent months and years. Against that backdrop, the University Senate called for the Metanoia in spring 2024 with approval from President Radenka Maric and Provost Anne D’Alleva.

    “This will be a time for the University to come together and delve deeply into important topics and concerns. It’s meant to be an intellectual spark for the entire university: for faculty, staff, and students,” Jennifer Lease Butts, one of the organizers, told the Board of Trustees in a presentation about the Metanoia.

    Lease Butts, who is also director of the UConn Honors Program and is associate vice provost for enrichment programs, co-chairs the University’s Metanoia Committee with UConn President Emeritus Susan Herbst, who is also a professor of political science.

    “The first Metanoia in 1970 was held during a period of great positive change in the United States, but it was also an era marked by violence, incivility, and fear,” Herbst said.

    “UConn faculty and staff, who have always been outward-looking and intent on social justice, tackled those issues right here in Storrs, inspiring students – and each other – to discuss difficult issues as one community,” she added. “Let us carry on this tradition in 2025, another extraordinarily challenging year for American democracy and culture.”

    The current Metanoia kicked off with a 2024 event, “Pathways to Productive Civil Discourse,” in which participants discussed ways to communicate across differences and listen with empathy, which will be underlying themes of events throughout the coming year.

    The event was followed later in the day “UConn Strong: A Dialogue on Mental Health & Resilience,” a Democracy & Dialogues Initiative event hosted by the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute, in which students led a discussion on the escalating importance of mental health on UConn’s campuses.

    The previous events epitomized the kind of thoughtful give-and-take that the yearlong Metanoia seeks to foster and set the tone for planning future events to take place, and Metanoia committee members say they look forward to continuing this conversation with the UConn community this semester.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alum Hayley Segar Wows ‘Shark Tank’ Judges, Lands a Deal with Two of Them

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn alum and swimsuit entrepreneur Hayley Segar ’17 (CLAS) impressed ABC’s “Shark Tank” judges, and left the entrepreneurship competition with a business deal with two of them.

    Despite a case of nerves prior to the segment’s taping, Segar was confident and composed when describing onewith, a women’s swimsuit startup that eliminates seams and other uncomfortable features of swimwear. Segar has repeatedly described her business as a UConn-fueled company.

    Veteran “Shark” Barbara Corcoran and newcomer Jamie Kern Lima offered Segar $200,000, and plenty of business expertise, in exchange for a 20% stake in the company. Segar enthusiastically accepted their offer.

    Onewith has sold $2.3 million in product since its creation at the end of 2021. Following the “Shark Tank” broadcast Friday, 20,000 people visited the swimsuit website.

    ‘The Story of Every Entrepreneur’

    Segar celebrated on Saturday night with a party for more than 100 friends, family members, and business mentors, at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk. The event featured live sharks circling a tank, dinner and a prosecco bar, bags of shark-shaped candy for guests, and an immeasurable amount of excitement.

    “To be successful on ‘Shark Tank’ is so incredibly validating,’’ she said. “It feels crazy to have this out in the open now after keeping it in my mind and heart for so long.’’ A non-disclosure agreement prevented her from discussing her experience since the September taping.

    Segar, a native of New London, told her guests that the joy and excitement depicted on TV is only one part of the entrepreneurship journey.

    Segar makes her pitch (Disney/Christopher Willard)

    “I’m a private person, I keep my head down and I work hard…this is about much more than getting on a show,’’ she said. “I’ve had to fight for every aspect of my business.’’

    Becoming an entrepreneur requires sacrifices, grueling hours, and overcoming moments when all seems hopeless, she said.

    She became emotional when she shared how “Shark Tank’s” Kevin O’Leary, often a vocal critic of new entrepreneurs, told her that her presentation was the best he had seen in his years on “Shark Tank.”

    “That was the craziest moment for me. I left the tank feeling so proud and so happy,’’ she said.

    Segar described “Shark Tank” as the best experience of her life and that having two powerful strategic advisers will allow her to reach a new audience and grow her business in exciting ways.

    “With onewith, I knew instantly [that it was going to succeed]. It hit me like a freight train…it was the best possible feeling, and I hope everyone here gets to experience something like it,’’ she said.  “I think this is the story of every entrepreneur who loves what they’re doing.’’

    UConn Helped Segar Take Idea to Market

    Segar came up with the idea after an exhausting search to find flattering swimsuit to bring on a vacation to Miami. She wanted something that felt “one with’’ her body. When she couldn’t find it, she created it herself.

    Segar, who graduated from UConn in 2017 with a degree in English Language and Literature, worked in the bridal industry and as a social media influencer after college. But she returned to her alma mater to present her idea to the entrepreneurial community.

    She was given an invitation to attend the highly selective Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation’s 2020 Summer Fellowship Accelerator, a part of the School of Business, and received advice, mentoring and a $15,000 in non-dilutive startup funding.

    Through the experts at the accelerator, the UConn School of Law, and the Connecticut Small Business Development Center, she developed confidence in her abilities, as well as a network of business mentors and friends. Many of the UConn people who supported her startup attended the event on Saturday.

    “I don’t know where I’d be without your guys, you solidified my belief in me,’’ said Segar, who returns often to coach those who follow in her footsteps. “So much of what I learned in Summer Fellowship stays with me today.’’

    Hayley Segar is applauded by the guests at the celebration of her “Shark Tank” success in Norwalk (Courtesy of Hector Pachas)

    “Hayley is the type of founder that we dream of working with. She’s always eager to learn something new, and thrives on being challenged,’’ says Michelle Cote, CCEI Director of Strategic partnerships and a longtime champion of Connecticut entrepreneurs. “Hayley puts new knowledge and resources into practice immediately. She has earned every milestone that she has reached with onewith, and I can’t wait to see where she goes next!”

    ‘Shark Tank’ Has Been on Segar’s Radar

    “Shark Tank” has advanced the success of many startups, including Bambas socks, Scrub Daddy sponges, Kodiak pancakes and waffles, The Comfy, a hooded, wearable blanket, and Cousins Maine Lobster Food Trucks.

    Corcoran, founder of a New York real estate brokerage company, is an original “shark’’ investor, who has made more than 130 deals on the show, including partnered with The Comfy and Cousins Maine Lobster Food Trucks.

    Kern Lima is co-founder of IT Cosmetics, a makeup and skincare line, which she sold to L’Oreal for $1.2 billion in 2016, becoming the first women CEO of a L’Oreal brand. This is her debut season on “Shark Tank.”

    “I always knew, from the time I was a little girl, that I would start a company…I felt I was on a path to build something of my own,’’ Segar has said. On Saturday, she said she envisions herself becoming a serial entrepreneur. “I can’t not build things, it’s so fun for me,’’ she said.

    Segar’s late grandfather had encouraged her to consider appearing on “Shark Tank,” even before she had a business idea. In the final days of his life, she came up with her swimwear business concept and shared it with him in the hospital.

    But he is not the only family member who shaped Segar’s success. She credited her mom, Dawn, for packing the swimsuit orders; her grandmother for processing returns; and her dad, Chip, who went to law school while serving as a deputy police chief, for showing her how much can be accomplished in a day.

    Segar’s father wore a blazer to the party with the onewith logo printed across it; her mother, a 1989 alum of the School of Business, wore a sparkling silver jacket.

    “All of this just feels surreal,’’ Dawn said, beaming. “It’s going to take a while to sink in. It’s a really big deal and we are incredibly proud of her.’’

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: NobleAI Launches RAIR: An All-in-One, Integrated Risk Assessment & Ingredient Replacement Solution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ACI ANNUAL MEETING – NobleAI, a pioneer in AI solutions for Materials Informatics, today announced the availability of RAIR – a fully integrated Risk Assessment & Ingredient Replacement solution. Powered by NobleAI’s unique Science-Based AI model technology and delivered through our powerful cloud-based Visualizations, Insights, & Predictions (VIP) Platform, this industry-first offering uses sophisticated AI models to quickly assess product portfolios against hazardous material and regulatory restriction lists, identify safer ingredient replacements, and generate alternative formulations in minutes, instead of months in the lab.

    “Unlike traditional methods, which are expensive and time-consuming, often requiring many months and numerous personnel to manually review regulatory and restriction lists, identify problematic ingredients, and reformulate products, RAIR utilizes scientifically-infused AI models to streamline these internal processes, accelerate lab testing, and dramatically expedite risk assessment and reformulation,” said Sunil Sanghavi, CEO of NobleAI. “This empowers companies to proactively address a significant challenge that, if left unaddressed, would impede their ability to compete effectively.”

    According to a recent Lux Research eBook on The Next Era of Chemicals Innovation, “rising public awareness of health and environmental risks, along with stricter regulations, presents major challenges for the chemicals industry. As consumers demand greater transparency, developing safer chemicals is essential not only for compliance and avoiding penalties but also for protecting brand reputation.”

    Risk Assessment
    NobleAI’s Risk Assessment service offers a comprehensive evaluation of product portfolios to ensure compliance with global regulations. It predicts risks related to toxicity, biodegradability, and structural similarity to harmful chemicals, including PFAS. Hazard models are updated with the latest data and additional hazard models continue to be added, increasing the value of the service over time. This service helps companies make informed decisions and stay ahead of regulatory changes, so that they can stay compliant with evolving global standards.

    Ingredient Replacement
    NobleAI’s Ingredient Replacement tool on the VIP Platform helps data and material scientists replace hazardous or unsustainable ingredients with safer alternatives while maintaining peak product performance. It leverages predictive analytics, advanced visualization tools, and comprehensive comparison capabilities to support informed, science-based decisions. This powerful capability ensures companies can make substitutions confidently, without compromising product specs.

    Two Workflows, One Comprehensive Solution – Powered by AI for Science

    RAIR Process Overview

    Risk Assessment and Ingredient Replacement are both supported by NobleAI’s VIP Platform, which enables customers to use Science-Based AI models to analyze data, predict outcomes and solve complex product development challenges. Together, they deliver a comprehensive, integrated solution for accelerating innovation, ensuring regulatory compliance and avoiding regrettable substitutions – helping companies bring more sustainable, high-performing products to market fast without sacrificing performance.

    To learn more about NobleAI’s RAIR solution, visit https://www.noble.ai/rair-risk-assessment-ingredient-replacement.

    Meet the NobleAI team next week at the American Cleaning Institute Annual Convention in Orlando, FL (1/27 – 1/31). Join us on Thursday, Jan 30th, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., for a cocktail hour to celebrate a great week at ACI. For more details and to RSVP, visit www.noble.ai/aci2025.

    About NobleAI
    NobleAI offers commercially-proven AI solutions for Material Informatics and Energy powered by its unique Science-Based AI technology. Our Science-Based AI models are developed quickly, securely, and specifically for each customer and a specific use case. Delivered via our powerful cloud-based Visualizations, Insights, & Predictions (VIP) Platform, NobleAI delivers actionable insights to accelerate product development and reduce costs while improving product performance, sustainability, and reliability. NobleAI is supported by investments from world-class organizations such as Microsoft, Chevron and Syensqo (formerly known as Solvay), and the company’s solutions are already delivering real value in production deployments at leading chemical, material and energy companies around the globe.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a8717d3-67ad-4461-810d-f5ca24a94982

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Wyoming Department of Education Chooses BIO-key PortalGuard IDaaS Platform to Secure Identity and Access Management for Critical Systems and Data

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOLMDEL, N.J., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BIO-key® International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKYI), an innovative provider of workforce and customer Identity and Access Management (IAM) software for phoneless, tokenless, passwordless, and phishing-resistant authentication experiences, announced today that the State of Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has awarded BIO-key a contract to implement its PortalGuard IDaaS platform for up to 20,000 staff members. This solution will enhance the WDE’s security posture and improve the user experience by providing both Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Single Sign-On (SSO) access to digital resources and applications.

    The agency sought a comprehensive IAM solution to address challenges with managing multiple account credentials per user, and reducing IT Support costs, particularly for password resets. The PortalGuard deployment will also allow for advanced MFA options to improve the phish-resistance and resiliency of their systems against cyberattacks.

    PortalGuard’s SSO feature will streamline user access by allowing users to sign into multiple applications with just one set of strong credentials. PortalGuard’s strong MFA adds an extra layer of protection to guard against phishing and unauthorized access. PortalGuard’s customizable Account Dashboard gives users a centralized interface to manage their authentication preferences and authenticators, and its Application Launchpad will provide one-click access all WDE digital resources and web applications, including cloud storage services like Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, to allow seamless file access from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Additionally, PortalGuard’s customizable Administrator Dashboard gives IT teams greater control, visibility and reporting of user access patterns helping to manage security with ease.

    With PortalGuard IDaaS, our clients can continue to make improvements to their overall security posture. Expected additional benefits include a superior tailored user experience, and streamlined access procedures and compliance, a reduction in IT support calls and password reset requests leading to lower operational costs.

    “We are thrilled to partner with the WDE to help them overcome critical challenges in security and user access management,” said Mark Cochran, President of BIO-key’s PortalGuard division. “PortalGuard IDaaS was designed to deliver strong enterprise security while enhancing the end user experience. We are confident it will deliver significant value to the WDE as it has for hundreds of governmental, educational and commercial entities.”

    About BIO-key International, Inc. (www.BIO-key.com)

    BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication and cybersecurity with biometric-centric, multi-factor identity and access management (IAM) software securing access for over forty million users. BIO-key allows customers to choose the right authentication factors for diverse use cases, including phoneless, tokenless, and passwordless biometric options. Its cloud-hosted or on-premise PortalGuard IAM solution provides cost-effective, easy-to-deploy, convenient, and secure access to computers, information, applications, and high-value transactions.

    BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement

    All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). The words “estimate,” “project,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the “safe-harbor” provisions of the Act. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included within or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Engage with BIO-key

    Investor Contacts
    William Jones, David Collins
    Catalyst IR
    BKYI@catalyst-ir.com or 212-924-9800

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Oxford Lane Capital Corp. Announces Net Asset Value and Selected Financial Results for the Third Fiscal Quarter and Declaration of Distributions on Common Stock for the Months Ending April, May, and June 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oxford Lane Capital Corp. (Nasdaq: OXLC) (NasdaqGS: OXLCP) (NasdaqGS: OXLCL) (NasdaqGS: OXLCO) (NasdaqGS: OXLCZ) (NasdaqGS: OXLCN) (NasdaqGS: OXLCI) (“Oxford Lane,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) announced today the following financial results and related information: 

    • On January 24, 2025, our Board of Directors declared the following distributions on our common stock:
    Month Ending Record Date Payment Date Amount Per Share
    April 30, 2025 April 16, 2025 April 30, 2025 $ 0.09
    May 31, 2025 May 16, 2025 May 30, 2025 $ 0.09
    June 30, 2025 June 16, 2025 June 30, 2025 $ 0.09
    • Net asset value (“NAV”) per share as of December 31, 2024 stood at $4.82, compared with a NAV per share on September 30, 2024 of $4.76.
    • Net investment income (“NII”), calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), was approximately $72.4 million, or $0.20 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.
    • Our core net investment income (“Core NII”) was approximately $99.9 million, or $0.28 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.
      • Core NII incorporates all applicable cash distributions received, or entitled to be received (if any, in either case), on our collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) equity investments. See additional information under “Supplemental Information Regarding Core Net Investment Income” below.
      • We emphasize that our taxable income may differ materially from our GAAP NII and/or our Core NII, and that neither GAAP NII nor Core NII should be relied upon as indicators of our taxable income.
    • Total investment income for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 amounted to approximately $114.5 million, which represented an increase of approximately $9.3 million from the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
      • For the quarter ended December 31, 2024 we recorded investment income as follows:
        • Approximately $107.6 million from our CLO equity and CLO warehouse investments, and
        • Approximately $6.9 million from our CLO debt investments and other income.
    • Our total expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 were approximately $42.0 million, compared with total expenses of approximately $37.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
    • As of December 31, 2024, the following metrics applied (note that none of these metrics represented a total return to shareholders): 
      • The  weighted average yield of our CLO debt investments at current cost was 16.6%, down from 17.3% as of September 30, 2024.
      • The weighted average effective yield of our CLO equity investments at current cost was 16.1%, down from 16.5% as of September 30, 2024. For the December quarter, we have excluded the impact of CLO warehouse positions from the calculation.
      • The weighted average cash distribution yield of our CLO equity investments at current cost was 23.9%, down from 24.1% as of September 30, 2024.
    • For the quarter ended December 31, 2024, we recorded a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of approximately $103.7 million, or $0.29 per share, comprised of:
      • NII of approximately $72.4 million;
      • Net realized losses of approximately $3.6 million; and
      • Net unrealized appreciation of approximately $34.9 million. 
    • During the quarter ended December 31, 2024, we made additional investments of approximately $389.3 million, and received approximately $33.9 million from sales and repayments of our CLO investments.
    • For the quarter ended December 31, 2024, we issued a total of approximately 49.0 million shares of common stock pursuant to an “at-the-market” offering. After deducting the sales agent’s commissions and offering expenses, this resulted in net proceeds of approximately $248.9 million. As of December 31, 2024, we had approximately 388.9 million shares of common stock outstanding.
    • On January 24, 2025, our Board of Directors declared the required monthly dividends on our 6.25% Series 2027 Term Preferred Shares, 6.00% Series 2029 Term Preferred Shares, and 7.125% Series 2029 Term Preferred Shares as follows:
    Preferred
     Shares Type    		 Per Share Dividend Amount Declared Record Dates Payment Dates
    6.25% – Series 2027 $         0.13020833  March 17, 2025, April 16, 2025, May
    16, 2025    		 March 31, 2025, April 30, 2025, May
    30, 2025
    6.00% – Series 2029 $         0.12500000  March 17, 2025, April 16, 2025, May
    16, 2025    		 March 31, 2025, April 30, 2025, May
    30, 2025
    7.125% – Series 2029 $         0.14843750  March 17, 2025, April 16, 2025, May
    16, 2025    		 March 31, 2025, April 30, 2025, May
    30, 2025

    In accordance with their terms, each of the 6.25% Series 2027 Term Preferred Shares, 6.00% Series 2029 Term Preferred Shares, and 7.125% Series 2029 Term Preferred Shares will pay a monthly dividend at a fixed rate of 6.25%, 6.00% and 7.125%, respectively, of the $25.00 per share liquidation preference, or $1.5625, $1.5000 and $1.78125 per share per year, respectively. This fixed annual dividend rate is subject to adjustment under certain circumstances, but will not, in any case, be lower than 6.25%, 6.00% and 7.125% per year, respectively, for each of the 6.25% Series 2027 Term Preferred Shares, 6.00% Series 2029 Term Preferred Shares and 7.125% Series 2029 Term Preferred Shares.

    Supplemental Information Regarding Core Net Investment Income 

    We provide information relating to Core NII (a non-GAAP measure) on a supplemental basis. This measure is not provided as a substitute for GAAP NII, but in addition to it. Our non-GAAP measures may differ from similar measures by other companies, even in the event of similar terms being utilized to identify such measures. Core NII represents GAAP NII adjusted for additional applicable cash distributions received, or entitled to be received (if any, in either case), on our CLO equity investments. Oxford Lane’s management uses this information in its internal analysis of results and believes that this information may be informative in assessing the quality of Oxford Lane’s financial performance, identifying trends in its results and providing meaningful period-to-period comparisons.

    Income from investments in the “equity” class securities of CLO vehicles, for GAAP purposes, is recorded using the effective interest method; this is based on an effective yield to the expected redemption utilizing estimated cash flows, at current cost, including those CLO equity investments that have not made their inaugural distribution for the relevant period end. The result is an effective yield for the investment in which the respective investment’s cost basis is adjusted quarterly based on the difference between the actual cash received, or distributions entitled to be received, and the effective yield calculation. Accordingly, investment income recognized on CLO equity securities in the GAAP statement of operations differs from the cash distributions actually received by the Company during the period (referred to below as “CLO equity adjustments”). 

    Furthermore, in order for the Company to continue qualifying as a regulated investment company for tax purposes, we are required, among other things, to distribute at least 90% of our investment company taxable income annually. While Core NII may provide a better indication of our estimated taxable income than GAAP NII during certain periods, we can offer no assurance that will be the case, however, as the ultimate tax character of our earnings cannot be determined until after tax returns are prepared at the close of a fiscal year. We note that this non-GAAP measure may not serve as a useful indicator of taxable earnings, particularly during periods of market disruption and volatility, and, as such, our taxable income may differ materially from our Core NII.

    The following table provides a reconciliation of GAAP NII to Core NII for the three months ended December 31, 2024:

      Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2024
     

    Amount

    		   Per Share
    Amount
    GAAP net investment income $ 72,425,786   $ 0.20
    CLO equity adjustments   27,482,067     0.08
    Core net investment income $ 99,907,853   $ 0.28

    We will host a conference call to discuss our third fiscal quarter results today, Monday, January 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM ET. Please call 1-833-470-1428, access code number 435642 to participate. A recording of the conference call will be available for replay for approximately 30 days following the call. The replay number is 1-866-813-9403, and the replay passcode is 828365.  

    A presentation containing additional details regarding our quarterly results of operations has been posted under the Investor Relations section of our website at www.oxfordlanecapital.com. 

    About Oxford Lane Capital Corp. 

    Oxford Lane Capital Corp. is a publicly-traded registered closed-end management investment company principally investing in debt and equity tranches of CLO vehicles. CLO investments may also include warehouse facilities, which are financing structures intended to aggregate loans that may be used to form the basis of a CLO vehicle.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These factors are identified from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect subsequent events, except as may be required by law.

    Contact:
    Bruce Rubin
    203-983-5280

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: DECEMBER 2024: ELFA CapEx Finance Index Shows New Business Volumes Surged at Year-End

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • FORECAST: Growth in new business volumes suggests durable goods orders will expand by 0.35% in December
    • Total new business volume (NBV) rose by $11.4 billion, a jump of 8.1% from November to December among surveyed ELFA member companies
    • NBV expanded by 4.2% from 2023 to 2024
    • Charge-offs (losses) dropped to 0.52%, after rising in the prior month

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — “Just as we predicted last month, the equipment finance industry ended 2024 on a high note,” said Leigh Lytle, President and CEO at ELFA. “A surge in bank financing pushed new business volume to a new high, reflecting more certainty following the election and an acknowledgment that interest rates may not fall much further in 2025. I expect that momentum to continue even if activity slows a little in the months ahead – December is usually a strong month for new business activity with the end-of-quarter, end-of-year spike. The mixture of federal policies will be a big factor in 2025, and deregulation could help demand for construction and mining equipment. However, the industry is well-positioned to face a potentially turbulent 2025.”

    Bank financing drove the jump in new activity. Most of the 8.1% monthly rise in NBV came from the banking industry, which surged by 36.2% from November to December. That jump outweighed the modest 0.2% rise in new business growth for captives and the 5.3% contraction in financing activity at independents. The jump in bank lending is the largest on record and pushed the share of bank business activity to nearly 62% of total new business volume, its highest share since before the Global Financial Crisis in the mid-2000s.

    Employment contracted further. Employment in the equipment finance industry contracted again in December, with the 12-month change from December 2023 dropping by nearly 2.0%. Employment at banks and captives declined year over year by 1.2% and 7.1%, respectively. Those declines were partially offset by the 2.5% increase in headcount at independents.

    The credit approval rate ticked up but remained near its 2024 low. The average credit approval rate increased to 74.3% of all credit decisions in December, after a precipitous decline from August to November. While the overall increase was modest, approval of small ticket financing saw its biggest one-month increase since March, rising by 3.6 percentage points.

    Financial conditions remain healthy. Charge-offs dropped to 0.52% as a percentage of net receivables, a welcome decline after the November jump of 0.26 percentage points. Aging receivables over 30 days also rose slightly to 2.0%, but continue to hover near two-year lows.

    “Equipment finance activity continues to be supported by a resilient U.S. economy, which ended 2024 on strong footing,” said Tina Eickhoff, CLFP, Senior Vice President, Head of Equipment Finance, U.S. Bank. “Despite a solid year in our industry, we think there is still a lot of pent-up demand for equipment purchases in 2025. With the election behind us and a little more clarity around interest rate cuts and the economic outlook, we expect more firms to be focused on growth projects with new equipment.”

    Industry Confidence
    The Monthly Confidence Index from ELFA’s affiliate, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, rose for the third consecutive month in January, signaling that industry executives remain optimistic about 2025 despite the high uncertainty surrounding federal immigration and trade policies.

    About ELFA’s CFI
    The CapEx Finance Index (CFI), formerly the Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), is the only near-real-time index that reflects capex, or the volume of commercial equipment financed in the U.S. It is released monthly from Washington, D.C., one day before the U.S. Department of Commerce’s durable goods report. This financial indicator complements reports like the Institute for Supply Management Index, providing a comprehensive view of productive assets in the U.S. economy—equipment produced, acquired and financed. The CFI consists of two years of business activity data from 25 participating companies. For more details, including methodology and participants, visit www.elfaonline.org/CFI.

    About ELFA
    The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) represents financial services companies and manufacturers in the $1 trillion U.S. equipment finance sector. ELFA’s 575 member companies provide essential financing that helps businesses acquire the equipment they need to operate and grow. Learn how equipment finance contributes to businesses’ success, U.S. economic growth, manufacturing and jobs at www.elfaonline.org.

    Follow ELFA:
    X: @ELFAonline
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/89692/

    Media/Press Contact: Catherine Lockwood, PR Manager, ELFA, catherine@360livemedia.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5a28c88a-dd81-4000-82e4-bdef8f0fff65

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: DYOR Partners with Ava Labs, Announces Major Developments With Matt Dyor Joining as Advisor Plus Acquisition of DYOR.com

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Boston, MA, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DYOR, the innovative cryptocurrency research and analytics platform, has announced a listing partnership with Ava Labs, the company behind the Avalanche blockchain and AVAX coin, to launch on January 25th. The collaboration coincides with Ava Labs’ decision to reduce gas fees on Avalanche by one-twenty-fifth, a 96% decrease and a significant move to further drive blockchain adoption and accessibility.

     The announcement also marks a series of exciting developments for DYOR, including the acquisition of the premium domain DYOR.com and the appointment of Matt Dyor as an advisor. Dyor, who has held key roles at Google, Amazon, Microsoft and other leading tech companies, brings a wealth of expertise in scaling technology platforms and user-focused innovation.

    “What excites me the most is DYOR’s focus on bringing new users into crypto,” said Matt Dyor. “The most exciting aspect is how DYOR addresses real-world financial needs—going beyond just buying and holding crypto. By enabling smart contracts, decentralized trust, and seamless, automated payments, DYOR is bridging the gap between Web3 and traditional finance in a truly impactful way.“

    The partnership with Ava Labs underscores DYOR’s mission to empower crypto enthusiasts and institutional users with transparent tools to make informed decisions. Avery Bartlett, Head of Business Development at Ava Labs, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “Avalanche has some of the smartest devs building some of the most forward thinking applications in crypto. What we’ve been needing more of is cutting edge trader tooling for the on-chain degens that make this industry so exciting. DYOR is moving at the speed of light to deliver on some of the tooling this chain deserves. Excited for them.”

    The acquisition of DYOR.com further cements the platform’s position as a trusted resource for crypto research and education, making it more discoverable and user-friendly for audiences worldwide.

    DYOR Labs is redefining DeFi with a cutting-edge platform that empowers traders and developers alike. Offering real-time insights, advanced token data, and customizable workflows, users benefit from unmatched speed and cost efficiency. With features like fiat on/off ramps, cross-chain swaps, a native DEX, and Team Dashboards for transparency and project management, DYOR ensures seamless trading and trust-building across blockchains. Looking ahead, DYOR is set to launch AI-powered insights, gamified user engagement, on-chain ad auctions, and integrated social feeds, solidifying its position as a leader in DeFi innovation.

    As DYOR continues to expand its capabilities and partnerships, this collaboration sets the stage for a new era of transparency, accessibility, and utility in the cryptocurrency space.

    About DYOR:
    DYOR is a leading research platform dedicated to helping users make informed decisions in the cryptocurrency market. By providing verified data, analytics, and user-friendly tools, DYOR simplifies blockchain research and empowers investors, traders, and enthusiasts.

    About Ava Labs:
    Ava Labs is the team behind Avalanche, an open-source platform for launching highly decentralized applications, new financial primitives, and interoperable blockchains. The network’s speed, scalability, and eco-friendliness make it a preferred choice for Web3 developers.

    Disclaimer: 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.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Enphase Energy Announces Technology Integration into Octopus Energy Smart Tariff Program in the United Kingdom

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced today that the Enphase® Energy System has integrated into Octopus Energy’s smart tariffs, such as “Intelligent Octopus Flux” (IO Flux), which can save customers money on electricity bills.

    Last year, Enphase announced a new strategic relationship with Octopus to deploy IQ8™ Microinverters and IQ® Battery 5P™ in the U.K. Octopus Energy uses Kraken – its proprietary software platform – to manage, control, and optimize distributed energy resources (DERs), allowing customers to flexibly control Enphase’s solar and battery systems. Many Octopus customers have already integrated this technology to unlock low-cost home energy rates.

    Now, Octopus customers with Enphase solar and battery systems can benefit from Intelligent Octopus Flux – a smart import and export tariff. The product optimizes the charging and discharging of solar and battery systems, aiming to provide customers the best rates for consuming and selling electricity.

    According to Octopus, more than 40% of IO Flux customers make a profit on their energy bills’, getting paid for the energy they export rather than paying for energy import. Octopus customers with Enphase batteries can automatically charge when prices are lowest and export surplus energy during peak times, maximizing savings and supporting grid balance.

    “Intelligent Octopus Flux helps customers make the most of their solar panels, optimizing usage in real time to cut bills,” said Nick Chaset, executive vice president at Octopus Energy. “Teaming up with Enphase, renowned for its reliable, top-notch tech, means we can deliver even more value to U.K. homeowners – saving money while building a smarter, greener grid together.”

    Octopus Energy is the largest energy provider in the U.K., offering customer service and energy products to more than nine million households. The company has operations in 27 countries and its advanced data and machine learning platform, Kraken, supports more than 60 million customers worldwide.

    The third-generation Enphase Energy System with IQ Battery 5P and IQ8 Microinverters offers a significantly improved experience for homeowners and installers because of more power, resilient wired communication, and an improved commissioning experience. Homeowners can also use the Enphase® App to monitor performance and intelligently manage their systems. Enphase Energy Systems are fully G100-2 compliant to support the latest U.K. Electricity Networks Association requirements for grid connection of solar and battery storage. In addition, Enphase offers 24/7 customer support and an industry-leading warranty for both solar and battery products. This includes a 25-year warranty for all IQ8 Microinverters and a 15-year warranty for all IQ Batteries activated in the United Kingdom.

    “This partnership with Octopus Energy represents the next step in our mission to deliver more value to homeowners by combining advanced technology with innovative energy programs,” said Marco Krapels, vice president of worldwide business development at Enphase Energy. “We’re excited to work with Octopus on a global scale to provide meaningful wins for homeowners, Octopus, and all ratepayers, ultimately driving a cleaner, more cost-effective energy future.”

    Enphase Energy is also a participant in the Octopus Energy GridBoost battery program in Texas. For more information about Enphase Energy Systems in the United Kingdom, visit the website. For more information about Octopus Energy, please visit their website.

    About Enphase Energy, Inc.

    Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power—and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped more than 73 million microinverters, and approximately 4.0 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.

    ©2025 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, IQ8, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks of Enphase Energy, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    About Octopus Energy Group

    Octopus Energy is a global clean energy tech business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Under its own retail brand, Octopus delivers world-class customer service and cutting edge energy products to 9 million households globally. Its operations span 27 countries and the entire energy value chain. The group invests in, builds and flexibly manages renewable energy, operating a £7 billion portfolio of projects.

    Octopus has licensed its advanced data and machine learning platform, Kraken, to support over 60 million customer accounts worldwide through licensing deals with companies such as EDF, E.ON and Origin Energy. Kraken enables Octopus to drive the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative cleantech. Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide. For more information, check out our website.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements related to the expected capabilities and performance of Enphase Energy’s technology and products, including safety, quality and reliability; the availability and market adoption of Enphase Energy’s products in the United Kingdom; and Enphase Energy’s expectations about cost savings on electricity bills and unlocking low-cost home energy rates. These forward-looking statements are based on Enphase’s current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties including those risks described in more detail in Enphase Energy’s most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other documents filed by Enphase Energy from time to time with the SEC. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.

    Contact:

    Enphase Energy
    press@enphaseenergy.com

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Forbion BioEconomy Fund I surpasses €150 million target, raising €164.5 million with strong institutional LP support

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Forbion’s BioEconomy Fund I has raised €164.5 million to date, exceeding its €150 million target in just over a year, since launching in November 2023.
    • Institutional investors, include KfW Capital, Novo Holdings, Rentenbank, Aurae Impact and most recently ABN AMRO Bank and EIFO.
    • The fund focuses on biotech-enabled, B2B solutions that deliver sustainability at price parity or better across Food, Agriculture, Materials, and Environmental Technologies.

    NAARDEN, The Netherlands, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Forbion, a leading venture capital firm with deep biotech expertise in Europe and the US, announces that its BioEconomy Fund I has raised €164.5 million. This exceeds the fund’s €150 million target, underscoring growing investor interest in the commercial potential of biotech innovations that address global sustainability challenges.

    BioEconomy Fund I is supported by top-tier institutional investors, including KfW Capital, Novo Holdings, Rentenbank, and Aurae Impact, alongside new backers ABN AMRO Bank and EIFO. The BioEconomy Fund I anticipates a final close at or close to the hard cap of €200 million, demonstrating the growing confidence in biotech innovations that address global sustainability challenges.

    Launched in November 2023, the Forbion BioEconomy Fund I is a planetary health fund that targets business-to-business (B2B) solutions that replace unsustainable products with scalable, cost-effective alternatives. A key pillar of the fund’s strategy is ensuring these innovations achieve price parity with incumbent solutions, enabling wide-scale adoption across the fund’s four target sectors: Food, Agriculture, Materials, and Environmental Technologies industries.

    Sander Slootweg, Managing Partner and co-founder of Forbion, stated, “Exceeding €150 million in just over a year reflects the strength of our team and strategy and the confidence our investors have in our ability to execute. Their support for BioEconomy Fund I demonstrates the growing demand for scalable, cost-competitive biotech solutions that deliver both sustainability and strong returns.”

    Alex Hoffmann, General Partner, added, “Investors recognize the transformative potential of scalable biotech solutions to meet the needs of industries seeking to adopt sustainable practices. Their support empowers us to help companies scale and deliver meaningful change.”

    About Forbion BioEconomy Fund I
    BioEconomy Fund I’s focus on using biotechnology and green chemistry to deliver sustainable B2B solutions in Food, Agriculture, Materials, and Environmental Technologies is best exemplified by its initial investments in Solasta Bio and Novameat. These portfolio companies illustrate Forbion’s commitment to scalable, biotech-enabled innovation. Solasta Bio develops sustainable insect control solutions as alternatives to chemical insecticides, while Novameat advances plant-based meat production with proprietary technology designed for scalability and high-quality texture. By building on Forbion’s expertise in biotechnology, the fund aligns its investments with UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), and SDG 13 (climate action). Forbion BioEconomy Fund I aims to deliver strong financial returns while driving impactful solutions to pressing planetary challenges. Forbion announced the first close of BioEconomy Fund I at €75 million on 20 June 2024.

    About Forbion
    Forbion is a leading global venture capital firm with deep expertise in Europe and the US with offices in Naarden, The Netherlands, Munich, Germany and Boston, USA. Forbion invests in innovative biotech companies, managing approximately €5 billion across multiple fund strategies that cover all stages of (bio-) pharmaceutical drug development. In addition, Forbion leverages its biotech expertise beyond human health to address ‘planetary health’ challenges through its BioEconomy fund strategy, which invests in companies developing sustainable solutions in food, agriculture, materials, and environmental technologies. Forbion’s team consists of over 30 investment professionals that have built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with 128 investments across 11 funds. Forbion’s record of sourcing, building and guiding life sciences companies has resulted in many approved breakthrough therapies and valuable exits. Forbion typically selects impactful investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of people and the planet, as well as meet its financial return objectives. The firm is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. Forbion operates a joint venture with BGV, the manager of seed and early-stage funds, especially focused on Benelux and Germany.

    For more information, please contact:

    Forbion Investor Relations
    Email: Robbert.van.de.Griendt@forbion.com
    General Partner IR & Impact

    Forbion Communications
    Email: laura.asbjornsen@forbion.com
    Head of Communications

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Microchip Launches the Next Generation of its Low-Noise Chip-Scale Atomic Clock Featuring a Lower Profile Height of Less Than ½ Inch

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHANDLER, Ariz., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Developers need ultra-clean timing devices for aerospace and defense applications where size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints are critical. A Chip-Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) is an essential reference for these systems, providing the necessary precise and stable timing where traditional atomic clocks are too large or power-hungry and where other satellite-based references may be compromised. Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) today announces its second generation Low-Noise Chip-Scale Atomic Clock (LN-CSAC), model SA65-LN, in a lower profile height and designed to operate in a wider temperature range, enabling low phase noise and atomic clock stability in demanding conditions.

    Microchip has developed its own Evacuated Miniature Crystal Oscillator (EMXO) technology and integrated it into a CSAC, enabling the model SA65-LN to offer a reduced profile height of less than ½ inch, while maintaining a power consumption of <295 mW. The new design is optimal for aerospace and defense mission-critical applications such as mobile radar, dismounted radios, dismounted IED jamming systems, autonomous sensor networks and unmanned vehicles due to its compact size, low power consumption and high precision. Operating within a wider temperature range of -40°C to +80°C, the new LN-CSAC is designed to maintain its frequency and phase stability in extreme conditions for enhanced reliability.

    “A significant advancement in frequency technology, our next generation LN-CSAC provides exceptional stability and precision in a remarkably compact form,” said Randy Brudzinski, corporate vice president of Microchip’s frequency and time systems business unit. “This device enables our customers to achieve superior signal clarity and atomic-level accuracy, while also benefiting from reduced design complexity and lower power consumption.”

    The LN-CSAC combines the benefits of a crystal oscillator and an atomic clock in a single compact device. The EMXO offers low-phase noise at 10 Hz < -120 dBc/Hz and Allan Deviation (ADEV) stability <1E-11 at a 1-second averaging time. The atomic clock provides initial accuracy of ±0.5 ppb, low frequency drift performance of <0.9 ppb/mo, and maximum temperature-induced errors of < ±0.3ppb. Together, the LN-CSAC can save board space, design time and overall power consumption compared to designs that feature two oscillators.

    The crystal signal purity and low-phase noise of LN-CSAC are designed to ensure high-quality signal integrity, which is essential for frequency mixing. The atomic-level accuracy allows for longer intervals between calibrations, which can help extend mission durations and potentially reduce maintenance requirements.

    Microchip’s products for aerospace and defense are designed to meet the stringent requirements of these markets, offering high reliability, precision and durability. The company’s solutions include microcontrollers (MCUs), microprocessors (MPUs), FPGAs, power management, memory, security and timing devices that ensure optimal performance in mission-critical applications such as avionics, radar systems, and secure communications. Visit Microchip’s aerospace and defense solutions web page for more information.

    Development Tools

    The LN-CSAC SA65 is supported by Microchip’s Clockstudio™ Software Tool, a Graphical User Interface (GUI), to help developers toggle between the clock’s features and plot their operating parameters. A LN-CSAC Developer Kit is also available.

    Pricing and Availability

    The LN-CSAC SA65 is now available for purchase in production quantities. For additional information and to purchase, contact a Microchip sales representative, authorized worldwide distributor or visit Microchip’s Purchasing and Client Services website, www.microchipdirect.com.

    Resources

    High-res images available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to publish):

    About Microchip Technology:
    Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control and processing solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs which reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market. The company’s solutions serve over 100,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.

    Note: The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. Clockstudio is a trademark of Microchip Technology Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Franklin Electric Declares Payment of Increased Quarterly Cash Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORT WAYNE, Ind., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (NASDAQ: FELE) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.265 per share payable February 20, 2025, to shareholders of record on February 6, 2025. This represents a 6 percent increase from the prior quarterly dividend. This dividend will mark the 33rd consecutive year that Franklin Electric has increased its dividend, demonstrating its commitment to returning cash to shareholders and confidence in the outlook of the business.

    About Franklin Electric
    Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and energy. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers around the world in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications. Franklin Electric is proud to be named in Newsweek’s lists of America’s Most Responsible Companies and Most Trustworthy Companies for 2024 and America’s Climate Leaders 2024 by USA Today.

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases, raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Navigating Opportunities and Risks in Web3 Investment: Bybit at Invest Web3 Forum

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has been rising to the challenge of shifts in the global regulatory landscape to capture AI opportunities in Web3, Bybit Web3’s Jase Zhang said at a panel at the Invest Web3 Forum in Dubai on Jan. 16, 2025. 

    The panel navigated the status quo of Web3 investment landscape, exploring the intersection of Web3 and AI technologies and how the convergence could take the sector forward. During the 30-minute discussion moderated by Glass Ventures Managing Partner Cinderella Amar, Law Blocks Co-Founder Ashish Baphana, and Bybit Web3 Product Manager Jase Zhang, the panelists exchanged insights on high-growth areas within Web3, and shed light on strategies for navigating investment opportunities as well as the regulatory landscape. The conversation covered venture capital’s evolution in the decentralized space and risk mitigation approaches for investors. 

    AI Meets Web3 
    “One of the most exciting trends in Web3 is the integration of AI and Web3 combination, especially through tools like most trending DefAI and AI Agents. These innovations will change how users interact with the onchain world. Users engage with decentralized finance by combining smart decision-making, natural language interaction, and automated execution,” said Jase Zhang, Web3 Product Manager at Bybit. “At Bybit, we’re closely following market trends, such as our Web3 Swap latest token categories, recent cex listings and AI products like TradeGPT, and continuously exploring new ways to combine Web3 and AI. Moving forward, we’ll keep focusing on high-growth areas and provide more innovative AI + Web3 products and services to meet evolving market demands,” he added. 

    Exchanges and Regulators: Goals Aligned 
    Zhang also identified regulatory uncertainty as one of the biggest risks in Web3 but was hopeful it was manageable. One of the risk factors includes the absence of a uniform regulatory framework, compounded by the fast-changing nature of the industry, which created challenges for compliance and long-term planning. 

    Zhang expanded on Bybit’s commitment to fostering industry growth through regulatory compliance and collaboration with local authorities, aiming to build a secure trading environment for users. The exchange tripled its user base in 2024, increasing its contact surface with global regulators and policymakers. By working closely with regulators in Dubai, Georgia, and the Netherlands, to name a few, Bybit has strengthened its regulatory posture to meet licensing requirements, reinforcing its commitment to providing a secure and advanced trading platform for its global user base of over 60 million.

    “We aim to adapt to changes while helping shape a sustainable framework for the industry. Bybit’s approach shows that regulatory collaboration isn’t just about compliance—it’s about building trust and fostering responsible innovation,” Zhang said of the shared goals of Bybit and regulators.

    The Invest Web3 Forum successfully concluded at In5 Tech, Dubai, attended by high-profile industry leaders and Web3 visionaries who gathered at the heart of Web3 innovation in the GCC.  

    Jase Zhang, Web3 Product Manager at Bybit at the Invest Web3 Forum in Dubai on Jan. 16, 2025

    #Bybit / #TheCryptoArk / #BybitWeb3

    About Bybit
    Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 60 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open, and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

    For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com 
    For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media
    Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

    Contact

    Head of PR
    Tony Au
    Bybit
    tony.au@bybit.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d2e1d1d7-6a00-48aa-af70-11c0f980f815

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on The Kheralu Nagrik Sahakari Bank Limited, Dist. Mehsana, Gujarat

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated January 24, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.50 lakh (Rupees One Lakh Fifty Thousand only) on The Kheralu Nagrik Sahakari Bank Limited, Dist. Mehsana, Gujarat (the bank) for non-compliance with directions issued by RBI on ‘Investment by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks’ and ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

    The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charges against the bank were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

    The bank had:

    1. breached the prescribed ceiling of total investments held under Held to Maturity (HTM) category; and

    2. failed to carry out periodic review of risk categorization of certain accounts at least once in six months.

    This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2024-2025/2016

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on Marketyard Commercial Cooperative Bank Limited, Unjha, Dist. Mehsana, Gujarat

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated January 23, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹5.50 lakh (Rupees Five Lakh Fifty Thousand only) on Marketyard Commercial Cooperative Bank Limited, Unjha, Dist. Mehsana, Gujarat (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Donations / Contributions for public /charitable purposes out of profits of UCBs’, ‘Donations to Trusts and Institutions where Directors, their relatives hold position or are interested’, ‘Loans and advances to directors, their relatives, and firms / concerns in which they are interested’ and ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI, under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

    The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charges against the bank were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

    The bank had:

    1. made donation to trusts in excess of prescribed ceiling;

    2. made donations to certain trusts in which the bank’s directors were interested;

    3. sanctioned certain director related loans; and

    4. failed to carry out periodic review of risk categorization of certain accounts at least once in six months.

    This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2024-2025/2015

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s plan to eliminate FEMA is a very bad idea

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jack L. Rozdilsky, Associate Professor of Disaster and Emergency Management, York University, Canada

    A symbolic visit by an American president to a disaster site can be constructive. Former President Joe Biden’s presence at areas in the United States affected by various disasters allowed him to both show leadership and offer comfort in moments of national tragedy.

    In contrast, a bombastic President Donald Trump used his first domestic trip on Jan. 24 to tour disaster sites in North Carolina and Los Angeles while promoting his litany of grievances and rambling about his dislike of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

    It takes a perverse set of skills for a president to act in a way that squanders the opportunity to genuinely exhibit compassion for disaster victims while also lowering the morale of emergency workers at the same time.

    Trump’s announcement to overhaul or eliminate FEMA — especially in the midst of an ongoing disaster — is unreasonable and foolish.

    Trump’s criticisms

    In a Fox News interview on Jan. 22, Trump suggested that FEMA would be facing a reckoning.

    The president echoed Republican criticisms of the Hurricane Helene disaster response last September. During Hurricane Helene, Trump has used his bully pulpit to endorse or invent false or unsubstantiated claims. The federal government was also falsely accused of a lack of response following Helene.

    While touring hurricane damage in North Carolina on Jan. 24, Trump remarked:

    “Well, I’ll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA or maybe getting rid of FEMA. I think, frankly, FEMA is not good.”

    Trump indicated he would like to see state governments respond to disasters.

    The White House later clarified that an upcoming executive order would direct a council of FEMA advisers to examine the agency and come up with proposals for reform.

    Turning back the clock

    If Trump gets rid of FEMA, he’ll be turning back the clock 50 years. It is illogical to call for a return to a time with a weak and disorganized system of disaster management.

    In the 1970s, states were responsible for managing their own disasters. More than 100 different federal agencies could become involved in relief efforts. The system was reactionary and responded on a need basis, with no clear pathways for federal disaster assistance to states.

    State governors became increasingly concerned about the lack of a comprehensive national emergency policy. The dispersion of federal disaster management responsibilities among numerous federal agencies was viewed as impeding states’ own ability to manage disaster situations.

    In advocating for better disaster management, a National Association of Governors’ report entitled 1978 Emergency Preparedness Project made the case for a centralized emergency management system in the U.S.

    President Jimmy Carter acted on the recommendations of the governors with Executive Order 12127 to create FEMA in 1979. It was a cabinet-level agency until 2003, when it was merged into the Department of Homeland Security.



    Read more:
    Jimmy Carter’s death invites us to consider his legacy of nuclear emergency response and disaster management

    Duties enshrined in law

    When a large-scale disaster stretches the ability of an American city to help its citizens, a formal process exists to request aid. As a local disaster expands in size and scope, requests for more assistance can go up to higher levels of administration, from the state governor and ultimately to the president. In this process, FEMA reports to local governments.

    A presidential disaster declaration can open up access to an array of federal programs managed by FEMA to assist with response and recovery.

    FEMA was created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979.
    (J. Rozdilsky), CC BY

    The role of FEMA in supporting the declaration process are defined in provisions in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. The Stafford Act also provides for the statutory authority guiding FEMA programs like individual assistance.

    While Trump sits at the top of the executive branch, he can engage in a variety of political shenanigans to undermine FEMA, but he cannot unilaterally abolish the agency. As the agency’s duties are enshrined in law, only an act of the legislative branch can terminate FEMA.

    A turbulent history

    FEMA has existed for 46 years and faced turbulent times due to the poor decision-making by past Republican presidents. In 1980, Reagan appointed agency directors with conservative philosophies who emphasized downsizing. Under George W. Bush’s presidency, among the flurry of reactions to Sept. 11, 2001, FEMA was eviscerated and relegated from a top-level cabinet level agency to a position buried deep in the Homeland Security organizational chart.

    Trump’s aggressive posture in trying to remake government involves creating diversions, sowing chaos and overloading people with lies. Taking a cue from his former White House strategist Steve Bannon on how to deal with the media, Trump’s statements about FEMA have worked to “flood the zone with shit.”

    As with many functions of American government, emergency management is just the latest target of disorientation tactics intended to paralyze government operations.

    Jack L. Rozdilsky receives support for research communication and public scholarship from York University. He also has received research support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

    – ref. Trump’s plan to eliminate FEMA is a very bad idea – https://theconversation.com/trumps-plan-to-eliminate-fema-is-a-very-bad-idea-248293

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: ‘I’m Going to Help You Fix It’: President Trump Fulfills Promise on California Wildfire Recovery

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    On January 24, 2025, President Trump and First Lady Melania visited Los Angeles to survey wildfire damage, meet with first responders, and pledge federal support for recovery efforts, including plans to improve water access for firefighting.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoZca8jIm1Q

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Foreign Secretary marks 80th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation on Holocaust Memorial Day

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy will co-host the FCDO’s annual Holocaust Memorial Day reception with the Israeli Embassy today

    • Foreign Secretary will co-host a reception with the Embassy of Israel in the Foreign Office today
    • David Lammy will meet Holocaust survivor Janine Webber, who survived Nazi persecution in occupied Poland.
    • Senior UK delegation including HMTK will join world leaders at Auschwitz-Birkenau commemoration ceremony in Poland

    The Foreign Secretary will today co-host a reception with the Her Excellency the Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

    Prior to the commemoration, the Foreign Secretary will meet Holocaust survivor Janine Webber BEM, who survived the Holocaust as child in occupied Poland, enduring the tragic loss of her parents and brother at the hands of the Nazis.

    The commemoration will showcase innovative approaches to Holocaust education. These include Testimony 360, a virtual reality programme preserving survivor testimonies for future generations, and ‘In Their Footsteps’, a powerful exhibition featuring 3D-printed shoes that symbolise Holocaust remembrance.    

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy is expected to say:

    Never again’ is a solemn promise, which we owe to the victims, but also which we must uphold for our own sake and for the sake of future generations.

    We need Holocaust remembrance. Holocaust education. Action against antisemitism.

    It is how we build a better future for all.

    A high-level UK delegation, including senior government officials, His Majesty The King and Holocaust survivors, will join world leaders today at the Auschwitz-Birkenau commemoration ceremony in Poland today.

    As part of the UK’s commitment to Holocaust remembrance, the Prime Minister pledged at least £2.2 million in September to continue to fund the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz project, enabling UK students to visit Auschwitz and learn about the history of the Holocaust.

    Background

    • Holocaust Memorial Day is marked annually on 27 January. As set out by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, the Holocaust is central to Holocaust Memorial Day and we remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. It also commemorates the millions more people murdered through the Nazi persecution of other groups and in the more recent genocides of Rwanda, Srebrenica, and acts of genocide in Cambodia and against the Yazidi people.
    • The UK currently holds the presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, until 28 February.
    • See more information about Holocaust Memorial Day, and Janine Webber BEM.
    • All imagery from the event and the Foreign Secretary’s attendance will be available on flickr, following its conclusion.
    • Remarks from the Foreign Secretary’s speech will be available on gov.uk shortly after the event.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Enchanting exhibition invites visitors into the world of storybooks

    Source: City of Leeds

    Cherished childhood stories are being retold to visitors thanks to a nostalgic new exhibition in Leeds.

    The Story Time exhibition at Abbey House Museum features a huge variety of historic books and games, each exploring the magical world of children’s stories.

    With objects spanning hundreds of years of captivating tales, the exhibition aims to look at how reading, learning and enjoying stories has changed through the ages, and the huge influence children’s books have had on young people’s education, play and imaginations.

    Among the many objects on display is a collection of children’s books and reading primers from the early 1800s.

    Believed to be among some of the earliest books to ever be published specifically for children, the focus of the writers was to get across a strong moral message rather than create a fun story. Examples include The Mice and their Picnic – A Moral Tale, published in around 1809.

    Books of classic bedtime stories and fairytales from the 1920s and 1930s also feature, and include timeless characters such as Red Riding Hood, Mother Goose and Cinderella.

    Vintage games and jigsaws made by Leeds firm Waddingtons are also on display, including some of the original artwork for the firm’s iconic circular jigsaws from the 1960s, which were rescued from a bin by a former company employee.

    And beautiful Victorian dolls houses are displayed alongside modern classic toys based on characters and TV shows like Pinky and Perky, Stingray, Bugs Bunny, She-Ra, The Wombles, The Shoe People and The Teletubbies.

    Kitty Ross, Leeds Museums and Galleries curator of social history, who has been bringing the exhibition together, said: “Storytelling, play and reading are truly timeless elements of our childhoods which span every generation and are such an integral part of our early years.

    “What is fascinating is how our approach to these subjects has changed and evolved over time and how our enduring love of stories has been a driving force behind the creation of so many different genres of books, games, toys and entertainment.

    “Seeing all of these objects on display together really showcases the remarkable variety of storytelling across the centuries and will hopefully bring back some special memories for visitors too.”

    Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, added: “Seeing this remarkable collection of objects on display will be a wonderful trip down memory lane for visitors and will hopefully inspire different generations to think about stories and play together.

    “As a city, Leeds has also played an important role in the history of toys and games, and it’s great to see some exhibits paying tribute to that special heritage on show.”

    Story Time is open now at Abbey House Museum. For more information, including opening times and admission, please visit: Story Time | Leeds Museums and Galleries | Days out and exhibitions

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New victories: GUU experts became winners and prize winners of professional competitions

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Representatives of the State University of Management became winners of the All-Russian competition of professional industry experts “Expert Housing and Utilities – 2024”, organized by the Research Center for Municipal Economics, a long-standing partner of the State University of Management.

    The award ceremony for the winners and laureates took place at the Palace of Labor of Trade Unions on January 23, 2025.

    In two of the four competition nominations, experts from our university became winners and prize winners.

    1st place in the nomination “Best expert material on solving problems of staffing, organization and remuneration of housing and communal services organizations” was taken by the material of the associate professor of the department of state and municipal management of the State University of Management Irina Milkina “Realities of obtaining higher education for work in the housing and communal services sector”, published in the journal “Housing and communal services Expert: Economics and Law”.

    3rd place in the nomination “Best expert material on solving socio-economic problems of the urban environment (road management, comprehensive improvement, street lighting and landscaping, waste management)” was taken by the monograph “Comfortable urban environment as a factor in the well-being of city residents”, prepared by a team of authors from the Department of State and Municipal Administration: Irina Milkina, Mikhail Stadolin, Bayrta Ubushaeva and others.

    Let us recall that in September 2024, the authors of the monograph also received a 1st degree diploma at the XXIV Russian competition of educational programs and methodological support for the training, retraining and advanced training of personnel in the field of municipal administration.

    You can read the materials of the professional journal “Housing and Utilities Expert: Economics and Law” in the scientific library of the State University of Management.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 01/27/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnics awarded the Honorary Badge of St. Tatiana

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On January 25, the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyr Tatiana, Russian students celebrate their holiday. In the Resurrection Smolny Cathedral — the main church of the educational institutions of the Northern capital — the annual divine liturgy was held and the awarding of the Honorary Badge of Saint Tatiana for special contribution to the spiritual and moral education of youth and students took place. A total of 48 people were nominated for the award, including two polytechnicians.

    The event is organized by the St. Petersburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Council of Rectors of Universities of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, and the Pokrov Association for the Promotion of Spiritual and Moral Education.

    The service was led by Metropolitan Varsonofy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga. In his sermon, he spoke about the feat of the holy martyr Tatiana, the patron saint of students, and also noted the importance of education and spiritual development for young people. The event was attended by Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Natalia Chechina, heads of administrations, rectors, teachers, cadets and students, and activists of public organizations. For the first time, the service was accompanied by the choir of St. Petersburg State University.

    After the end of the service, the ceremony of awarding the Honorary Badge of Saint Tatiana for a special contribution to the spiritual and moral education of youth and active participation in the social activities of the city began. The badge was established in 1997, the laureates are students and teachers of St. Petersburg universities, representatives of youth and public organizations of our city, who have demonstrated exceptional achievements and made a contribution to educational and social work among youth.

    From the Polytechnic University, the Deputy Head of the Directorate of Cultural Programs and Youth Creativity Tatyana Barabanova was awarded the Honorary Badge of Saint Tatiana in the nomination “Mentor of Youth”.

    Tatyana participates in the organization of educational and upbringing activities of SPbPU, coordinates the activities of choral and vocal groups, the student orchestra, ensures their participation in the cultural and social life of the Polytechnic University. She successfully organizes events, festivals that promote the development of students’ creative abilities, as well as concert activities of the White Hall. In addition, Tatyana is working on a dissertation on the topic “State educational policy in the system of ensuring national security of modern Russia”, in which she examines state policy on the protection of spiritual values, ensuring the cultural sovereignty of the country, including relying on the experience of SPbPU.

    I don’t know what to rejoice more – the sign of Saint Tatiana or the opportunity to find myself on my Angel Day in front of a large icon of the great martyr and participate in a festive service in her honor. I accept all this with great gratitude. To the Polytechnic, which gave me this incredible opportunity, to the people with whom we have been working together for many years on the tasks of educating students in music, creativity, and culture, – shared Tatyana Barabanova.

    In the nomination “Youth Degree” the award went to the leading specialist of the Museum of History of SPbPU Maria Zavyalova. Maria is a postgraduate student at the Polytechnic University in the direction of “History of Science and Technology”. She began her social, educational and patriotic activities during her student years at the Military-Historical Club “Our Polytechnic”, where she supervised the direction “Historical Dance”. Maria held historical, cultural and military-patriotic events, supervised a series of excursions “Leningrad Route of Memory”, balls and dance evenings, rallies and reconstructions. She is the organizer of the “Postcard to Mom” campaign, the “Syandeba” rally, the “On the Lines of Leningrad Defense” and Mannerheim Line hikes, and actively participates in volunteer and volunteer seminars, forums and festivals.

    At the SPbPU History Museum, Maria Zavyalova conducts excursions, implements historical and educational exhibition projects, and is engaged in scientific activities. The girl is the organizer of the All-Russian action “Night of Museums”, the projects “SPbPU History Museum: Laboratories”, “School of Tour Guides”.

    It is a great pleasure to receive such a high award on the Student’s Day, in the main temple of educational institutions of St. Petersburg. Thank you to our beloved Polytechnic University for all-round support. Any project, any idea is unthinkable without a team, without like-minded people. Therefore, I would like to thank the people who were and are nearby. I hope that we will continue to implement new projects that will be useful for our students, residents of St. Petersburg and the whole country, – said Maria.

    The students’ celebration ended with a ball at the Stieglitz Academy.

    Photo archive

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Patrushev and Gleb Nikitin discussed water use issues in the Nizhny Novgorod region

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Dmitry Patrushev held a working meeting with the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev held a working meeting with the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin. They discussed a wide range of issues, including the development of agriculture in the region and the implementation of the national project “Ecological Well-Being”.

    The parties separately focused on changes in the rules for the use of water resources of the Rybinsk and Gorky reservoirs. Dmitry Patrushev drew attention to the need to adjust and update the existing rules taking into account modern socio-economic conditions.

    The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that when deciding the issue of regulating the operation of the Gorky Reservoir during a major flood, the safety of the population is a priority.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – M23 enters Goma

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Monday, 27 January 2025 war  

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – “It was a terrible night,” local sources told Fides from Goma, the capital of North Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which was conquered today, January 27, by the rebels of the M23 movement. In the Munzenze prison, where about 3,000 prisoners are held, there were hellish scenes. “Throughout the night, as the rebels approached, the prisoners started a revolt. The guards shot indiscriminately. Around 8 in the morning, the prisoners began to jump from the roof of the prison and escape. All the prisoners escaped. We do not know if it was the officers themselves who opened the doors of the prison; the fact is that it is now empty” report our sources.“At dawn, M23 troops entered the city, and now the fighting is concentrated in the airport area,” Fides sources add. Congolese troops of the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) surrendered at dawn on January 27. The Congolese authorities have confirmed the death of the military governor of the province, Péter Cirimwami, after several contradictory reports on his fate (see Fides, 24/1/2025). The defeat of the FARDC also represents a failure for the international community, which had deployed in North Kivu the blue helmets of MONUSCO (UN Mission in the DRC) and soldiers from the force of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC). At least nine South African soldiers from SAMIDRC, along with three Malawian and one Uruguayan MONUSCO blue helmets, have lost their lives in the fighting in recent hours. Some FARDC soldiers and pro-government militiamen from Wazalendo have surrendered to MONUSCO, complying with the demands of the M23, which claims to have control of traffic in Lake Kivu, thus blocking the possibility of escape through its waters. On the international level, while the Kinshasa government rejected the mediation proposed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (see Fides, 24/1/2025), Kenyan President William Ruto has announced an extraordinary summit of the East African Community (EAC) “in the next 48 hours”, with the participation of the Heads of State of the DRC and Rwanda, the latter indicated as a sponsor of the M23. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 25/1/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/CHINA – The Lunar New Year of Chinese Catholic communities: Blessing for families, visits to hospitals, works of charity

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – The great “ChunYun army”, the endless crowd of people who travel across China to celebrate the Chinese New Year with their loved ones, marks one of the most significant moments of the year. Internal migrants who work in large cities return to their places of origin for the holiday, which this year falls on January 29. For Chinese Catholic communities, the Lunar New Year is an opportunity to develop pastoral initiatives focused on friendship and sharing with everyone. In the diocese of Shanghai, more than 60 parishes have received a blessing from Bishop Joseph Shen Bin along with a printed symbol of blessing that they can hang on the doors of their homes and which have been given to all the faithful by their priests during Mass. During the homily of the Mass celebrated on Sunday 26 January in the cathedral, Bishop Joseph Shen Bin invited everyone to “renew themselves internally in the sign of the Jubilee to welcome the New Year with a completely new perspective” and to “spread the joyful good news of the Gospel and peace”. As a concrete sign of charity, the offerings of the Mass will go to the communities of Tibet affected by the earthquake. The local Catholic communities see in the most important celebration of Chinese culture a privileged occasion also on a pastoral level. In Wuhu, Anhui province, priests and nuns dedicated themselves to caring for 12 elderly and sick people in the parish during these days with special care, also organizing visits to hospitals and nursing homes to bring them the sacraments of the Eucharist, Penance and Last Rites. At the same time, priests and nuns have been recipients of good wishes and gratitude. In the diocese of Xi’an, the Seraphic Youth Group shared a moment of coexistence with priests, nuns and Bishop Anthony Dang Mingyan in the cathedral. These pastoral initiatives, inspired by the Jubilee, and organized on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, were also carried out in the parishes of the provinces of Beijing, Wenzhou, Jiangxi and Zhejiang, and in the diocese of Sanyuan (province of Shaanxi), led by Bishop Joseph Han Yingjin. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 27/01/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/PHILIPPINES – A cap on the price of rice: the government’s measure to prevent speculation

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Manila (Agenzia Fides) – In an effort to curb the rise in rice prices, the Manila government has set a limit of 58 pesos per kilogram for imported rice, after carrying out “extensive consultations” with importers, retailers and government agencies. The measure, which came into effect on January 20, provides for a gradual reduction in the cost of rice. The Minister of Agriculture, Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., explained that the initial recommended selling price will be 58 pesos per kilo, focused mainly on containing prices in the metropolitan area of Manila. Subsequently, the price will be reduced progressively: to 55 pesos on February 5, to 52 pesos on February 15 and, finally, to 50 pesos on March 1, with the expectation of reaching 49 pesos if international prices remain stable.According to Minister Laurel, “the gradual reduction will allow for an orderly transition in the market, avoiding destabilization of the rice sector and ensuring that companies can adapt without major disruption.” The recommended price of the staple food will be reviewed every month to take into account new factors affecting cereal prices. On the one hand, the Government wants to ensure that “the price of rice is fair and affordable”; on the other, it wants to ensure that the rice industry remains profitable, but avoiding speculation: “We cannot allow the greed of a few to endanger the well-being of an entire nation,” he said. The Agriculture Minister has reiterated plans to distribute subsidies to rice farmers during the planting season to increase local production of palay (unhulled rice) by 2025. The “Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund” is a government fund dedicated to rice farmers, the amount of which has been tripled to reach 30 billion pesos by 2025. This has come about following the Rice Tariff Law, enacted in 2018 and amended by Congress last December, to expand funding for the modernization of the rice industry. About 6 billion of the initial 10 billion will go to agricultural mechanization, and 4 billion to seeds. Other components to be funded include solar irrigation, diversification and financial aid to rice farmers. The aim is to help farmers get agricultural support during the planting season, including timely delivery of seeds and fertilizers, which will ensure efficient planting and increase productivity. National rice production this year is expected to be 20 million tons, compared to the 19.3 million tons estimated for the end of 2024. In the Philippines, rice production is a key aspect of the country’s food supply and economy. There are an estimated 2.4 million rice farmers in the country. “They are the backbone of the country and provide basic food for everyone. It is important to protect their work and ensure that the population can benefit from rice at a fair price,” explain the priests of the Diocese of San Jose, in the province of Nueva Ecija, in the north of the Philippines. They point out that “if rice is overpriced, it is above all the poor and the less well-off who suffer.” In the area, known as the “rice field of the Philippines”, the local Catholic Church has always supported farmers and, in recent years, has also launched training programs to teach organic farming techniques. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 27/1/2024)
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