Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI: ClearlyRated Announces the 2025 Best Staffing Firms for Women™ List

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PORTLAND, Ore., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ClearlyRated®, the leading provider of client, talent, and employee satisfaction surveys and service quality research for staffing agencies, announced the firms that have qualified for inclusion on its third annual Best Staffing Firms for Women™ list on ClearlyRated.com.

    “I’m excited to unveil the companies recognized on this year’s third annual Best Staffing Firms for Women list,” stated Baker Nanduru, CEO of ClearlyRated. “As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, these exceptional firms deserve applause for championing and empowering their female employees. Despite persistent challenges like pay disparity and limited advancement opportunities, these firms are at the forefront of fostering growth and elevating women in the workforce. Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to these outstanding organizations for their unwavering commitment to gender diversity and equality.”

    Staffing and recruiting firms that conducted internal employee surveys with ClearlyRated are eligible to earn the Best of Staffing® award in the Employee Satisfaction category. Within this category, firms that included identity-based demographic survey questions and met additional criteria related to female employee Net Promoter® Score (eNPS) and representation earned the prestigious designation as a member of the Best Staffing Firms for Women list.

    More than 90 staffing firms in the U.S. and Canada with close to 14,000 internal employees participated in the Best of Staffing internal employee survey for the 2025 award year, growing the ClearlyRated survey database to become the largest repository of internal employee responses on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the staffing industry. Some of the notable findings from ClearlyRated’s internal staffing employee data analysis include the following:

    • Women comprise 67% of all internal positions at staffing firms, yet half of directors and two thirds of executives are men.
    • Women working at staffing firms are:
      • 44% more likely to be detractors of their firms.
      • 49% less likely to feel they are compensated fairly.
      • 31% less likely to believe advancement is merit-based.

    Fewer than 0.2% of staffing firms in the United States and Canada qualified to earn the Best Staffing Firms for Women designation, making this a prestigious recognition for staffing firms seeking to hire and retain top internal talent.

    Want to learn more? Register for our panel discussion featuring female leaders in the staffing industry discussion ClearlyRated’s research data and sharing strategies and advice for firms and the women who work there. Click here to register.

    About ClearlyRated
    ClearlyRated is the leading CX platform designed specifically for staffing & recruiting firms. We offer firms a sophisticated alternative to manual processes and basic survey tools, then pair that with world class customer care and support. Ours is an efficient, industry-focused solution that provides data-driven insights to equip service teams with a real-time understanding of client and internal employee interactions and satisfaction.

    About Best of Staffing
    ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing® Award is the only award in the U.S. and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients, placed talent, and internal employees. Award winners are showcased by city and area of expertise on the ClearlyRated.com online business directory, which helps buyers of professional services find service leaders and vet prospective firms with the help of validated client ratings and testimonials.

    Net promoter, NPS, and Net Promoter Score are trademarks of Satmetrix Systems, Inc., Bain & Company, and Fred Reichheld.

    Contact
    Stephen Banbury, Vice President of Marketing
    p. (503) 977-6295
    stephen.banbury@clearlyrated.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Nuvini Group Announces Term Sheet for the Acquisition of B2B SaaS Platform Munddi

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ~ Strengthens Portfolio with Strategic Expansion in Latin America ~

    ~ First of Four Anticipated Acquisitions in 2025 ~

    NEW YORK, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nuvini Group Limited (Nasdaq: NVNI) (“Nuvini” or the “Company”), a leading acquirer of private B2B SaaS companies in Latin America, today announced that it has entered into a term sheet (the “Term Sheet”) for the acquisition of Munddi Soluções em Tecnologia Ltda. – ME (“Munddi”), an online platform that connects brands with consumers, suppliers, and retail chains based in São Paulo, Brazil. This acquisition, if completed, will mark the first of four planned for 2025 as part of Nuvini’s ongoing expansion strategy. The transaction is expected to close in approximately 60 days, subject to the execution of the relevant definitive transaction documents and the satisfaction of applicable conditions precedent.

    “The acquisition of Munddi is a perfect fit for our portfolio and a strong start to our 2025 acquisition pipeline,” said Pierre Schurmann, CEO of Nuvini. “Munddi’s platform aligns seamlessly with our existing companies, including Onclick, Leadlovers, and Mercos, creating new synergies that drive revenue growth and enhance our ecosystem of B2B SaaS solutions. We remain committed to our strategy of acquiring, managing, and scaling companies that add strategic value to our network.”

    Strategic Fit & Growth Potential

    After the acquisition, Munddi will strengthen Nuvini’s growing ecosystem of SaaS businesses, particularly in retail and supply chain solutions. Its integration with Onclick, Leadlovers, and Mercos will unlock cross-selling opportunities, optimize business intelligence, and expand service offerings for Latin American enterprises.

    About Munddi

    Founded in 2015, Munddi helps small retailers acquire new customers by providing strategic insights and facilitating online product sourcing from regional suppliers. The platform empowers both manufacturers and retailers with data-driven business opportunities, streamlining the connection between buyers and sellers in the retail supply chain.

    About Nuvini

    Headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, Nuvini is Latin America’s leading private serial acquirer of B2B SaaS companies. The company focuses on acquiring profitable, high-growth SaaS businesses with strong recurring revenue and cash flow generation. By fostering an entrepreneurial environment, Nuvini enables its portfolio companies to scale and maintain leadership within their respective industries. The company’s long-term vision is to buy, retain, and create value through strategic partnerships and operational expertise.

    Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements

    Any obligation of the Company under the Term Sheet is subject to, among other things, the execution of the relevant definitive transaction documents, the result of a due diligence on Munddi, the satisfaction of conditions precedent for a transaction of this nature. There can be no assurance that any definitive transaction agreements will be entered into or that the potential Munddi acquisition will be consummated on the terms set forth herein, or at all. Therefore, it is possible that such potential acquisition may never occur.

    Statements about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the potential Munddi acquisition and the Term Sheet, including the Concurrent Investment and the other terms thereof. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to negotiate and enter into a definitive agreement with respect to the potential Munddi acquisition or any other alternative proposals on terms satisfactory to the Company, as well as the desirability of any such potential Munddi acquisition compared to alternatives which may be available to the Company; if a definitive agreement is reached, the Company’s ability to complete the potential acquisition on the anticipated timeline or at all; general market conditions that could affect the consummation of the potential acquisition; if definitive documents with respect to a potential acquisition are executed, whether the parties will achieve any of the anticipated benefits of any such Proposed Transaction; and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Quarterly and Annual Reports filed with the SEC, and the risks described in other filings that the Company may make with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Investor Relations Contact
    Sofia Toledo
    ir@nuvini.co

    MZ North America
    NVNI@mzgroup.us

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI China: 6 killed in aircraft crash off Roatan Island

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Honduran National Police officers and rescue teams from the Honduran government work in rescue operations after a small plane crashed into the sea, on Roatan island, Honduras, on March 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    At least six people were killed after a small plane lost control and crashed on Monday evening upon taking off from Roatan Island in northern Honduras, said Octavio Pineda, minister of Infrastructure and Transportation of Honduras.

    The plane carried 18 people, including 15 passengers and three crew members, said the official.

    The aircraft lost power upon takeoff and fell into the sea some 1 km from the side of the airstrip, Miroslava Cerpas, the presidential commissioner of the National 911 Emergency System of Honduras told Xinhua.

    The aircraft of the Lanhsa company was carrying out a local flight from the Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport in Roatan to the city of La Ceiba.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: White House rejects demand for Statue of Liberty’s return to France

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The White House on Monday rejected a French politician’s demand for the return of the Statue of Liberty to France.

    “Absolutely not,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a televised press briefing, in response to the demand by French member of the European Parliament Raphael Glucksmann.

    “My advice to that unnamed low-level French politician would be to remind them that it’s only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now,” Leavitt said, seemingly referencing the American-French alliance during World War II against Nazi Germany.

    Glucksmann on Sunday said he does not think that the United States represents the values of the Statue of Liberty anymore and called for its return to France.

    The statue was officially unveiled on Oct. 28, 1886, in New York, gifted to America as “a symbol of freedom, inspiration, and hope,” according to the monument’s official website.

    The statue, situated at the New York Harbor, was later seen as a symbol of welcome by immigrants arriving by sea. Today, it is a top tourist site in New York City. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston arrests illegal Guatemalan alien charged with sex crimes against Massachusetts minor

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BRIGHTON, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended Sostenes Perez-Lopez, 59, an illegal Guatemalan alien charged with two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child in Brighton, Feb. 18.

    “Sostenes Perez-Lopez stands accused of some horrific crimes against a child in Massachusetts,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “We will not tolerate the victimization of our residents at the hands of alien offenders. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize the safety of our public by arresting and removing illegally present lawbreakers.”

    Perez illegally entered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location and without being inspected by a U.S. immigration official.

    ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Perez with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Nashua Street Jail Nov. 28, 2024, following Perez’ apprehension for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

    The Boston Municipal Court, Brighton Division, arraigned Perez Nov. 29, 2024, on two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. Following his arraignment, the court ordered Perez committed to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department in lieu of posting bail in the amount of $8,000.

    The Boston Municipal Court ignored the ICE detainer and released Perez on bail Dec. 12, 2024. The court fitted Perez with GPS to include special conditions pending the outcome of his case.

    ICE served Perez with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge following his arrest and he remains in ICE custody.

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

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

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Massachusetts Department of Transportation Selects Draganfly for Drone Medical Delivery Demonstration and Reports Its Successful Completion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Boston, MA., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8A) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer, is excited to announce it was selected by Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Aeronautics Division for and, successfully completed a demonstration for the simulated delivery of medical supplies for use in support of home-based healthcare.

    The medical delivery demonstrations took place between August and October 2024 and involved three selected companies, including Draganfly.

    “This medical delivery demonstration underscores the value of drones for many operational needs,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt, “Drones already have proven useful with operations, including MBTA track corridor inspections, MassDOT Highway bridge inspections, overhead project evaluations, and other needs. We continue to assess the use of drones for other purposes in the future.”

    “This demonstration project underscores our commitment to exploring the use of drones to meet critical needs, such as the timely and cost-effective delivery of supplies and devices for healthcare and emergency management, across the Commonwealth,” said MassDOT Aeronautics Acting Administrator Denise Garcia.

    “We are grateful to have been selected for this groundbreaking pilot project,” said Cameron Chell, President and CEO of Draganfly. “Our drone technology has the potential to revolutionize the delivery of medical supplies, providing timely and cost-effective solutions for home-based healthcare and emergency responses. This collaboration with MassDOT Aeronautics underscores our credibility and commitment to advancing public safety and healthcare through innovative drone solutions.”

    Draganfly’s participation in the Drone Medical Delivery Pilot is a testament to its capabilities, reputation and dedication to providing drone solutions that define industry standards, empowering global organizations, to save time, money, and lives.

    About Draganfly

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8A) is the creator of quality, cutting-edge drone solutions, software, and AI systems that revolutionize how organizations can do business and service their stakeholders. Recognized as being at the forefront of technology for over 24 years, Draganfly is an award-winning industry leader serving the public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections, security, mapping, and surveying markets. Draganfly is a company driven by passion, ingenuity, and the need to provide efficient solutions and first-class services to its customers around the world with the goal of saving time, money, and lives.

    For more information on Draganfly, please visit us at www.draganfly.com.

    For additional investor information, visit

    CSE
    NASDAQ
    FRANKFURT

    Media Contact
    email: media@draganfly.com

    Company Contact
    Email: info@draganfly.com

    This release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward-looking ‎‎‎‎information” as ‎‎‎‎defined under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information can ‎‎‎‎generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ‎‎‎‎‎“may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, ‎‎‎‎‎“estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar ‎‎‎‎terminology. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information are based on forecasts of future ‎‎‎‎results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and ‎‎‎‎assumptions that, while believed by ‎‎‎‎management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant ‎‎‎‎business, economic and ‎‎‎‎competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎include, but are not ‎‎‎‎limited to, statements with respect to the project’s ability to revolutionize the delivery of medical supplies, providing timely and cost-effective solutions for home-based healthcare and emergency responses. Forward-‎‎‎‎looking statements and information are subject to various ‎known ‎‎and unknown risks and ‎‎‎‎‎uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to ‎control or ‎‎predict, that ‎‎‎‎may cause ‎the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be ‎materially ‎‎different ‎‎‎‎from those ‎expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions ‎about ‎‎such ‎‎‎‎risks, uncertainties ‎and other factors set out here in, including but not limited to: the potential ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎impact of epidemics, ‎pandemics or other public health crises, including the ‎COVID-19 pandemic, on the Company’s business, operations and financial ‎‎‎‎condition; the ‎‎‎successful integration of ‎technology; the inherent risks involved in the general ‎‎‎‎securities markets; ‎‎‎uncertainties relating to the ‎availability and costs of financing needed in the ‎‎‎‎future; the inherent ‎‎‎uncertainty of cost estimates; the ‎potential for unexpected costs and ‎‎‎‎expenses, currency ‎‎‎fluctuations; regulatory restrictions; and liability, ‎competition, loss of key ‎‎‎‎employees and other related risks ‎‎‎and uncertainties disclosed under the ‎heading “Risk Factors“ ‎‎‎‎in the Company’s most recent filings filed ‎‎‎with securities regulators in Canada on ‎the SEDAR ‎‎‎‎website at www.sedar.com and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on EDGAR through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes ‎‎‎no obligation to update forward-‎looking ‎‎‎‎information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-‎‎‎looking information represents ‎‎‎‎‎managements’ best judgment based on information currently available. ‎‎‎No forward-looking ‎‎‎‎statement ‎can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. ‎‎‎Accordingly, readers ‎‎‎‎are advised not to ‎place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or ‎‎‎information.‎

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Defending Our Future: The Energy Transfer SLAPP Case and the Fight for Free Speech

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    I am scared. I am angry. And I am heartbroken.

    As a young climate advocate, I have always believed that speaking up can change the world. That when we raise our voices for our planet, people will listen. That when we fight for a future where clean air and water are not privileges but rights, justice will be on our side. But this lawsuit against Greenpeace International and Greenpeace entities in the USA by Energy Transfer feels like a punch to the gut—a brutal reminder that those who destroy our home will stop at nothing to silence those who protect it.

    This is not just a lawsuit. It is an attack on our future. A warning shot aimed at every single person who dares to challenge the greed that fuels the climate crisis. If they can go after Greenpeace with a $300 million lawsuit, what is stopping them from coming after me? Or you? Or the millions of young people who refuse to stand by as our future is stolen from us? 

    We are running out of time. The climate crisis is already here. It is in the super typhoons that rip through our homes, tearing apart walls and washing away entire neighborhoods. It is in the unbearable heat that suffocates our cities, turning streets into furnaces and claiming lives in deadly heat waves. It is in the rising seas swallowing entire communities, forcing families to abandon the lands their ancestors called home. It is in the devastating droughts that turn fertile lands into wastelands, leaving nothing but cracked earth and dying crops. It is in the raging wildfires that reduce forests to ash and choke the air with smoke.

    Yet instead of holding polluters accountable, they are trying to silence those who fight to protect what little we have left. What kind of world does that leave us with? One where speaking the truth is punished? Where corporations decide who gets to thrive and who gets left behind? Where the next generation inherits nothing but disasters, displacement, and destruction?

    I refuse to accept that. We refuse to accept that.

    This case is not just about Greenpeace. It is about every young person who dreams of a future worth living in. It is about our right to fight for that future without fear. It is about ensuring that the voices of the youth are not drowned out by the wealth and power of those destroying our planet.

    But let me be clear: we are not alone. We are millions, standing shoulder to shoulder, refusing to be silenced. They can try to intimidate us, but they cannot break us. And we will keep fighting—because we have no other choice. This is our home. This is our future. And we will defend it with everything we have.

    We stand with Greenpeace. We stand with every environmental defender. We stand for justice, for truth, and for a world where young people are not punished for caring about the only planet we have.

    To everyone reading this: Stand with us. Speak up. Take action—share this message, join the movement, and demand accountability. Our voices, our actions, and our solidarity are stronger than their fear tactics. The future belongs to those who refuse to be silenced. And we will not be silenced.

    The fight is far from over. Stand with us, raise your voice, and make it clear: those who seek to silence us will never succeed. We will speak. We will fight. And we will win—because justice demands it, and the planet we call home is worth fighting for.

    Activists gathered in Cebu joined the call to defend free speech. © Greenpeace

    Prince Sarmiento is a Bohol-based volunteer of Greenpeace Philippines.

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Donald Trump and Elon Musk are waging a deep and wide ‘uncivil war’

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Eli Sopow, Associate Professor, MBA Faculty of Leadership & People Management, University Canada West

    Never mind concerns about how the United States seems on the brink of another civil war. Thanks to President Donald Trump and his consigliere, Elon Musk, it’s now sinking wide and deep into what historical patterns show is an ugly “uncivil” war.

    Historians and neuro-scientists show there are well-established psychological patterns that explain how personal fear fosters anger that leads to a need for action to eliminate the fear.

    This dynamic has been evident in much of my 40 years of experience and research on public protests, including my doctorate on public order policing and subsequent ongoing analysis.

    Google Trends offers a scientifically valid rating of global search engine topics rated on a weighted scale of 100. In the U.S. on March 10, 2025, for example, the search topic “I am so angry all the time” hit the top of the 100 index, the highest in more than 20 years.

    The widespread public reaction to staffing cuts under Musk’s direction is receiving high domestic and international blowback from not only natural political critics, but Trump’s own Republicans. The reaction follows that tried-and-true trajectory of public dissent and protest escalating from fear to anger to action.

    This is evident in the reactions currently ranging from street-level public protests, a litany of court challenges and online outrage to U.S. government departments refusing to respond to the latest missive from Musk’s team demanding employees prove their worth or quit.

    Mad as hell?

    In the powerful 1976 movie Network, actor Peter Finch — playing a volcanic TV newscaster — goes berserk, rises from his desk and yells, “I’m a human being, goddamn it! My life has value … I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!” In response, thousands go to their windows and scream his rallying cry.

    A clip of the famous scene in Network when Peter Finch proclaims ‘I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!’

    In perhaps a similar vein, leaders at the Pentagon, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy recently instructed federal workers not to reply to a weekend email from the Office of Personnel Management with the subject line: “What did you do last week?”

    The fear-anger-action dynamic is now unfolding in America.

    Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah told CBS news:

    “If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it’s ‘Please put a dose of compassion in this. These are real people. These are real lives …. It’s a false narrative to say we have to cut, and you have to be cruel to do it, as well. We can do both.”

    The response from Musk and Trump to the outrage follows a proven pattern of action and anti-action my colleagues and I have termed the “4-D defense” of deny, divert, delay and destroy. We discovered this pattern through many years of research on public activism for both industry and government agencies, and it was the focus of my PhD dissertation.

    We analyzed the content of thousands of traditional news stories, public opinion surveys and the socio-demographics of fearful groups that were angry they were being impacted by actions that were unfair, unlawful, dangerous and arbitrary.

    We found that the defensive 4-D reaction works like this:

    • First deny there’s a problem.

    • When proven true, then divert the cause to someone else.

    • When proven you’re the cause, agree to remedies but delay the process as long as possible through promises and endless consultations.

    • When this is unacceptable, then destroy those protesting by besmirching their credibility and reputations with erroneous and confusing counter-facts and entangled lawsuits.

    Trump prefers the ‘destroy’ part

    Trump is quick to jump to the “destroy” part of 4-D defense through threats that have included bullying and crushing tariffs.

    Another example of this Trump tendency was a recent heated Truth Social post in which he vowed to “imprison or deport students who participate in certain protests” against his attacks on education.

    Musk responded on his social media site, X, that reactions by frightened and angry employees to arbitrary firings was “EXTREMELY troubling that some parts of government think this is TOO MUCH!! What is wrong with them?




    Read more:
    Musk’s ruthless approach to efficiency is not translating well to the U.S. government


    Musk appears to be embracing the 1911 “scientific management” style of Frederick Taylor, an American inventor and engineer who is known as the father of scientific management. He argued that the “greatest evil” in the workplace was lazy employees who were simply “replaceable cogs on a wheel.”
    When Musk asks “what is wrong with them?” in reference to the fear, anger and demands for protective action from hundreds of thousands of federal employees, he should perhaps watch Network.

    It seems they’re “mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.”

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

    ref. How Donald Trump and Elon Musk are waging a deep and wide ‘uncivil war’ – https://theconversation.com/how-donald-trump-and-elon-musk-are-waging-a-deep-and-wide-uncivil-war-251538

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden Goodness: Turning Sap into Syrup in the UConn Forest

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    On a sunny morning in late February, a group of students from the UConn Forest Crew work through the sugar maple stand, affixing taps and lines to the trees, and then running them back to a storage tank.

    They are working alongside Tom Worthley, a UConn Extension forestry educator, preparing the sugar bush for the upcoming sap season. The group is preparing the trees for the warm days and cold nights that prompt the sugar maple trees (Acer saccharum) to produce sap for transformation into maple syrup’s golden goodness.

    Each gallon of maple syrup requires about 40 gallons of sap, creating a hive of activity for the weeks-long sap season each year.

    “I’m involved because of the student experience and to promote trees and forests to people around the state, creating materials like maple syrup that link people to the resource. There’s also a lot of satisfaction that comes from having something you grew or made and can enjoy later,” Worthley says.

    Connecticut is in the heart of the sugar maple range and ranks eleventh nationally in maple syrup production. The UConn Sugar House is one of many throughout the state offering a high-quality and delicious product each year.

    Maple syrup production in the United States increased in 2024, with the highest yield from the past 25 years, due in part to an increased number of taps and favorable weather conditions.

    Despite strong promotional campaigns from Vermont, New York, and Canada, once sap is syrup, it’s basically impossible to tell where it came from. As long as the sugar producer uses high-quality production methods, all of these syrups will taste about the same.

    “All the more reason to support Connecticut maple producers,” says Worthley.

    The timeless tradition began with Indigenous cultures in North America, who moved their families to a sugar bush, or stand of sugar maple trees, in late winter as the snow began to melt.

    The sap’s sweetness was likely discovered by sap icicles on the trees, and this led to collecting sap for use throughout the year. Without pots for boiling, the Indigenous people made three types of sugar instead, and later the tradition evolved to syrup production.

    UConn’s sugar house is tucked in behind the Farm Services buildings, near where the Woodsmen Teams maintain their timber mill and practice yard.

    Extension professionals, faculty from the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, and UConn students have made syrup here for over 30 years, preparing the next generation of maple producers and selling their syrup to support the sugar house and equipment.

    “Our student-run maple program illustrates one of the great benefits that the UConn Forest provides to our campus community, the hands-on, practical educational experiences that our students can engage in,” says Robert Fahey, Goerge F. Cloutier Professor in Forestry. “Through work experiences and internships we are able to provide training that gives our students the technical skills they need as well as real-world experience conducting and managing forest-related activities such as maple-syrup production, creating value-added wood products, and trails and recreation management.”

    UConn students boiling maple sap for syrup (Contributed photo)

    For some students, this is just one element of their “forest education.”

    “It’s exciting to learn what the forest is capable of, how we utilize forests, and that it’s not just by cutting them down,” says Zach Placzek ’25 (CAHNR). Placzek’s desire to protect the forest led him to seek certification to fight fires, and he is working with the UConn fire chief to help establish a controlled burn operation to control invasive species in a recently harvested area of the forest.

    The 2,100-acre UConn Forest has several sugar bushes, and the students rest a sugar bush and use another at times as part of their forest stewardship. Sugar maple trees thrive on north facing slopes with deep soils, and while the UConn Forest has several such locations, Worthley also mentions growing more sugar maple trees, and perhaps developing or cultivating a stand closer to the sugar house.

    “The ability to produce maple syrup locally in Connecticut is one of the many positive benefits created by living in a well-forested state” says Amy Harder, associate dean for Extension. “Many producers also benefit from integrating agritourism into their operations so the public can see, smell, and taste the entire experience – something my family loves to do!”

    Sap runs just below the bark on sunny days, dripping from the taps into the buckets or lines affixed to each tree. Once the sap really starts running, the students need to empty the tank at the sugar bush daily. It’s transported back to the sugar house on campus in their 60-gallon transfer tank and pumped into another tank outside the sugar house. Gravity feeds the sap into the evaporator inside the house.

    The wood-fired pans are heated to 219 degrees Fahrenheit, boiling the water out of the sap, with steam rising through the vent in the sugar house’s roof. Sap becomes syrup as the water evaporates and the sugar content increases. Next, it’s filtered to remove any solids and then reheated to over 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Bottles are carefully filled with the 180-degree sap and turned upside down to seal the lids.

    Maple syrup comes in four colors, Golden, Amber, Dark, and Very Dark. Lighter syrup – golden and amber – is from early sap and has a milder flavor. The lighter colors are often the syrup of choice for breakfast foods, added to coffee, or drizzled over ice cream. Later season sap is darker because it has more sugars in it, and the sugars make the darker syrup with its robust flavor. Many people use darker syrups for baking and cooking, although some prefer this flavor on breakfast foods.

    Sap season wraps up by the end of March, sometimes earlier if the weather warms faster than expected. The students clean the equipment and conduct any needed repairs or maintenance on the equipment before storing it for next year. UConn’s 30-year-old evaporator is in its last season, and the off-season challenge this year is fundraising to replace it.

    “For myself, being a researcher and doing a lot of outreach work with the local professional foresters, I find immense value in having this living lecture hall to teach from,” says Amanda Bunce, a Ph.D. student studying tree biomechanics and silviculture. “Students do much better learning in the real thing than from a classroom, and I find it so much easier to share my own enthusiasm for ecology when we’re out in it.”

    Find a Sugar House near you in Connecticut by visiting Connecticut Grown

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision areas of Advancing Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate and Fostering Sustainable Landscapes at the Urban-Rural Interface.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Campaign School for Social Workers Cultivates the Candidates, Campaign Managers, and Communicators of Tomorrow

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    When Marlena Edmonson, a social worker and elementary school counselor from Indiana, considered running for political office, she thought she needed to be an expert in economics or political science if she wanted to throw her hat into the ring.

    Joshua Levin ’25 (MSW), a student at the UConn School of Social Work, had toyed with the idea of running for office, but felt like he needed more information on how to actually run an effective campaign.

    Also a student at UConn, Quinn Meehan ’26 (MSW) is passionate about making things like political social work, campaigning, and being involved in politics more accessible for those living with disabilities.

    And Kashmir Flood, a Master of Social Work student at the Columbia University School of Social Work, sees herself incorporating political work and social work practice together in some way – whether by running for office herself or supporting candidates in the future.

    For many of the 130 social workers and students who traveled to Hartford on the first weekend in March and spent two days in a chilly, windowless conference room at the Downtown Marriott hotel in Hartford, the idea of launching, running, or participating in a campaign for political office had seemed like a daunting task.

    How do you get started?

    Why are the rules so complicated?

    And, if I run for office, will I really have to call people on the phone to ask them for money?

    But travel they did, from 20 different states and the District of Columbia – some coming from as far as California, New Mexico, Iowa, and Arkansas – to take part in the 29th iteration of the Campaign School for Social Workers, presented by the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work and to learn, step-by-step, the ins and outs of running a political campaign at any level of government.

    Founded in 1995 by the late former UConn School of Social Work dean, Nancy A. Humphreys, her namesake institute works to increase the political participation and power of social workers and the communities they serve.

    Since 1996, the Campaign School has trained thousands of social workers, students, and faculty from both the U.S. and abroad on what it’s like to get involved in politics as volunteers, staff, advocates, and candidates; to navigate systemic barriers; and to uphold the social work profession’s values and code of ethics while participating in the political process.

    Charles Lewis, founder and director of the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy in Washington D.C.; Kimberly Hardy, second vice chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party and president of the Society for Spirituality and Social Work; Connecticut State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey; and Tanya Rhodes Smith, outgoing director of the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work at UConn, speak at a panel during Humphreys Institute Campaign School, held on March 7 and 8, 2025. (Thomas Rettig/UConn Photo)

    Despite the typical public perception of what social workers do, notes the Humphreys Institute’s outgoing director Tanya Rhodes Smith, social work was founded as a political profession and has always been committed to not only working with individuals, but also to working on solutions to the complex issues impacting the communities that they serve.

    And a big part of that is, and always has been, the profession’s active and visible role in the political process.

    “Democracy reflects the priorities of those who show up,” Rhodes Smith told the participants on the first day of this year’s Campaign School, “and hint: it’s a small group of people. So, it matters who votes, who holds office, who works on campaigns, and who donates money.”

    The skills that make someone a great social worker, Rhodes Smith explained, also make someone a great candidate, and learning how to take part in politics and campaigning is as much about developing leadership skills as it is figuring out financing rules and putting out yard signs.

    She also warned that Day One of campaign school would be “like drinking out of a firehose.”

    “But we’re going to teach you to live your life as a candidate, so that you will be ready when you decide or are asked to run or serve by others,” Rhodes Smith said.

    Have a Plan. Write it Down.

    “Close your eyes,” ordered Kate Coyne-McCoy, the person who’s been holding that proverbial firehose at nearly every Campaign School.

    “Imagine you’re back in grade school, and you take the bus to your friend Susie’s house, and you go in, and you call your mother, and you say, ‘Mom, I’m at Susie’s and I just invited myself to dinner.’ If you’re like my mother, there’s an audible gasp. You don’t invite yourself to dinner,” Coyne-McCoy continued.

    “Now, open your eyes. It’s 2025. You’re not just going to invite yourself to dinner. When you get there, you’re going to ask for money.”

    Coyne-McCoy is a social worker who has trained more than 9,000 individuals to run for elected office, is a former Congressional candidate herself, and served as the chief trainer for the Harvard Square to the Oval Office program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School.

    And fundraising, she told the participants, is the barrier to most candidacies – the thing you don’t want to do more than anything.

    “You cannot get elected to anything if you don’t have the money to communicate with the people you need to,” Coyne-McCoy said. “I know that 90 percent of you are sitting here saying, ‘Nope.’ You can – you all can. But are you willing to do it?”

    Though this year marked Coyne-McCoy’s final Campaign School training, she didn’t try to ease the water pressure from her firehose of information. Day One was a nonstop onslaught starting with becoming a candidate, ending with volunteer recruitment, and covering everything in between.

    The depth and breadth of the material was surprising to some of the attendees.

    “I was afraid it would be more local, and not enough of the others,” said Edmonson, who is interested in running for federal office. “But I feel like I got what I needed.”

    You cannot get elected to anything if you don’t have the money to communicate with the people you need to. I know that 90 percent of you are sitting here saying, ‘Nope.’ You can – you all can. But are you willing to do it? &#8212 Kate Coyne-McCoy

    “I didn’t think it was to be this amount of information at this level of expertise,” Meehan said. “I didn’t think it was going to be complete experts in the field, from so many different organizations, and so, that was really what impressed me.”

    Early on in the day, Coyne-McCoy – who spent all of Day One on her feet, roaming around the room while barreling through her training materials and engaging the participants as they peppered her with questions and hypothetical scenarios – explained that it doesn’t matter what office someone is running for: They need to a have a campaign plan and write it down.

    That plan needs to include details on their campaign team, their fundraising and budget, messaging, research, and their timeline.

    Over the rest of the day, she’d periodically quiz the participants on these essentials.

    “What’s the most important part about campaign planning?” she’d call out.

    As the day went on, the chorus of voices that responded grew stronger and louder as they’d answer back.

    “Have a plan. Write it down.”

    The day also included a messaging component where the participants worked to craft their own personal story, a 90-second pitch that explained why they were running and why someone should vote for them – something not just valuable on a campaign, but also in their lives and as social workers.

    “Telling your story is about you,” Coyne-McCoy explained. “It’s the thing you should do when you walk into a job interview. It’s what you would do when you walk into a legislator’s office.”

    A few participants shared their stories, including a young woman who beat addiction and wants to see those who lack access to health care find the services they need.

    And a teacher who saw the lack of resources her students experienced and saw how it made them feel – as though they didn’t matter.

    And a social worker and teenage mother who wants her peers to join her in consistently upholding the values and ethics of the social work profession.

    That code of ethics – a set of standards set forth by the National Association of Social Workers – was a consistent theme of this year’s Campaign School, Rhodes Smith said, because whether seeking to serve in local, state, or federal office, the code can be applied to help social workers navigate all types of challenges, including conflicts with values that might occur in politics.

    “Politics and campaigns exist in a partisan context, but the code rises above party,” she said, “and it’s our superpower and guide through every sticky situation or ethical dilemma.”

    ‘Any one of you could do it’

    The firehose of Day One gave way to a quieter, more thoughtful approach on Day Two, where discussions started a day dedicated to processing everything learned the day before and figuring out how participants might apply it in their own lives.

    In-depth discussions with social workers serving in various elected offices were encouraging but realistic about what it means to both run for and hold office.

    “We need to demystify how to run for office,” said Justin Roias, a city councilor in Providence. “It feels complicated, and that feels intentional. There’s a lot of things hidden that you need to learn yourself. But once you do, you’ll get there.”

    “When I think about local politics, I think about cultivating future leaders,” said Kai Belton, a state representative from Middletown. “And then, I’m looking in this room full of social workers, and I’m like, oh my god, this is amazing. I can’t tell you how many of my colleagues up at the legislature say, ‘Kai, we need more social workers up here.’

    UConn Social Work Student Jacob Pierce – with Tanya Rhodes Smith, outgoing director of the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work – at the Humphreys Institute Campaign School on March 7, 2025. (Thomas Rettig/UConn Photo)

    “There are so many people who want to see you win, and you will have the support that you need. I think that this looks intimidating, but it’s really not, and I think that any one of you could do it.”

    Discussions with community organizers and panelists looking to navigate power imbalances and improve representation in politics stressed the importance of perseverance.

    “Embrace the long game,” encouraged Katrina Huff-Larmond, a city councilor in Randolf, Massachusetts. “We have to understand that what we are fighting for is not going to happen tomorrow. And there’s so much work we need to do in the community, it’s going to take time. We can’t give up.”

    The day concluded as participants revisited their personal stories – with some choosing to share and present them while standing at the podium before their peers – and with a challenge from Rhodes Smith: To share what their next step would be when they left campaign school.

    Edmonson plans to get in touch with a local official to talk about her potential future campaign.

    Meehan wants to work with a co-organizer to help mobilize people with disabilities and help them register to vote, especially people living in institutions.

    Others plan to attend local board or city council meetings, volunteer, get involved.

    For Flood, the weekend helped her find the connection and encouragement that she needed.

    “I knew it would make me want to think about ways that I could find myself in social work and politics,” Flood said, “but it just really solidified for me that, ok, this is really what I want to do. And I didn’t think I could have any more fire in my belly than I do now. So, I’m so happy and really excited.”

    And Levin, who said he plans refer back to his notes from the weekend for a while to come, said anyone considering committing the time to go to Campaign School should, “Do it.”

    “It’s so easy to convince ourselves to not do something,” Levin said. “There’s always going to be 1,000 reasons to not do something, but that one reason is definitely more important.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Study of Hashtag – #childhoodcancer – Shows Families Leading the Conversation

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Fourteen minutes ago, the nonprofit advocacy group Children’s Cancer Cause posted on the social media app X that members were on Capitol Hill asking Congress for funding to fight #childhoodcancer.

    Three days ago, a special education teacher from Texas posted about a young girl, Caitlyn, who twice survived #childhoodcancer, along with a difficult bone marrow transplant. She included a link to the girl’s GoFundMe account.

    Seventeen hours ago, the chairman and CEO of a cancer response team sought prayers for Kellan, who’s in a battle with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and by virtue of his courage is heralded a “#childhoodcancer warrior.”

    These are just three posts from a search of the hashtag on X (formerly Twitter) in late February, a snapshot of the thousands – many, many thousands – shared on the app over the years. A new study from UConn researchers looked at 1,000 posts from October to December 2022 to understand who’s leading the conversation about childhood cancer and what they’re saying.

    “We found the largest number of tweets on childhood cancer were not from health care professionals, like oncologists. They were not from nonprofit organizations, like American Cancer Society. They were from individuals – parents, caregivers, and family members. These were the people actually doing the most in terms of raising awareness,” says Sherry Pagoto, allied health sciences professor and director of the UConn Center for mHealth & Social Media.

    Pagoto and human development and family sciences professor Keith Bellizzi, along with four students from the high school, undergrad, and graduate levels, recently published, “A Content Analysis of #Childhoodcancer Chatter on X,” in the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology.

    They found that “educational” tweets and ones that discussed “science” accounted for a combined 28.1% of posts about childhood cancer. Next came “fundraising” with 21.2% of tweets – Twitter did not become X until mid-2023, after the study. “Advocacy” was most prominent in 20.2% of tweets, and “motivational” posts comprised 17.5%.

    “Cancer disrupts lives, bringing uncertainty and hardship to individuals and their families,” Bellizzi says. “These findings highlight how different stakeholders may reclaim a sense of control in a situation that often feels uncontrollable. By turning to social media, they are not just sharing stories, they are actively shaping the conversation, raising funds, spreading awareness, and building a supportive community.”

    The study says a total of 3,217 tweets were captured from that three-month period in late 2022 by searching on the hashtag, so researchers pared down the total and randomly selected 1,000 to review. They came from 454 unique accounts.

    We can study all these different sources of data, but social media gives us a unique form of data by showing us how patients, caregivers, and health care professionals talk about health in their natural environment. &#8212 Professor Sherry Pagoto

    Among those accounts, researchers found that family members of children with cancer accounted for most of the content on childhood cancer, making up 41.5% of the tweets that were reviewed. Nonprofit organizations were next at 38.6%, followed by health professionals at 8.7%, academic and/or medical centers at 4.2%, and for-profit companies at 3.5%.

    “We can study human behavior in a lot of ways,” Pagoto says. “We can do surveys. We can do focus groups. We can take blood samples. We can study all these different sources of data, but social media gives us a unique form of data by showing us how patients, caregivers, and health care professionals talk about health in their natural environment.”

    Cameron Cordaway ’23 (CLAS), who majored in physiology and neurobiology and worked on the study her last year at UConn, says she wasn’t surprised to find individuals sharing their stories, sometimes in great detail, on social media.

    After all, sharing experiences with others in a digital way is second nature for her generation, she says.

    “When I got into dental school, the first thing I did was text my whole family and post it on social media,” Cordaway says of her acceptance to the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, where she’ll begin studies this fall. “For my generation, our whole lives are on social media. It’s second nature when something happens in your life to tell people on your phone in some way.”

    She continues, “Something as heavy as a cancer diagnosis, while it might not be the first thing you would post in public, people definitely would use social media to communicate, inform, and educate about it. It’s also a good way to let people know, ‘Hey, this is what’s going on with me. This is why I haven’t reached out or why I haven’t been as present.’”

    Pagoto says she and Bellizzi conceived the project after noticing that a father chronicling his young son’s cancer journey on Twitter had become a trending topic on the site.

    “It really enraptured Twitter users for months, as people watched from afar as this father shared his family’s journey through his child’s cancer treatment,” Pagoto says, explaining that got her thinking about how social media was being used among those thinking about, dealing with, and focused on childhood cancer.

    (Amanda Alamsyah / Adobe Stock)

    She and Bellizzi turned to digital natives like Cordaway, Cindy Pan ’24 MPH, clinical psychology grad student Jessica Foy, and Andie Napolitano ’28 (CAHNR) who was a high school junior when she worked on the project.

    Napolitano, who was a student at Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge, says the school offers a science research program that allows young teens in their sophomore year to start working with university-based researchers.

    That year she worked with a professor from the University of New Haven, she says. The last two years of high school, though, were spent with Pagoto and Bellizzi.

    She says she liked the idea of a research project dealing with social media and wanted to use the experience to test drive UConn as a potential for her undergraduate work. A bonus was that like the other students, she could be part of the project from start to finish.

    Pagoto notes that many research studies take many years to complete, thus students see only a small piece during the year or two they’re on board.

    Since tweets are in the public domain and searching Twitter back then was easy, data collection was almost effortless, and the four students could quickly get to work analyzing the tweets.

    That’s the fun stuff, they say.

    “I have an interest in social media research because people spend so much time on it and so many think it’s a bad thing and that only misinformation spreads online,” Napolitano says.

    Doing a project that looks at its benefits especially appealed to her.

    Pagato says that in addition to X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok also get heavy use from people using the platforms to talk about their other physical issues and even mental health problems.

    “There are influencers with Tourette syndrome, depression, cancer, and any condition you can imagine, and, yes, while there is misinformation on social media, there’s also community on social media and these influencers are sharing their experiences and garnering support,” she explains.

    “It’s a little like, ‘Here’s my experience. I have this diagnosis, and this is what my life is like,’” she continues. “Health influencers on social media destigmatize many disorders that have been hiding in the shadows, particularly mental health disorders.”

    Those with similar diagnoses, she says, can learn from others about what to expect, how to cope with side effects, how to find clinical trials, and what questions to ask.

    “Patients have a lot to say about their experience. They’re the ones who must live with the disease. Their voices matter. I wonder if that’s what draws them to social media – to be heard. Oftentimes, we’ll hear in studies that patients don’t feel heard by their doctors. They may not even feel heard by their family members,” Pagoto says.

    Napolitano agrees.

    “In today’s mainstream media environment, for a lot of reasons, stories don’t get heard. Social media is a way for people to make themselves be heard,” she says.

    And that includes the mother of a son treated for neuroblastoma in 1999 who posted four hours ago in a conversation about bringing a newborn into a crowded airport that she had to protect her young son from viral exposures the first eight years of his life: “This is what having a child w/ #childhoodcancer or a #survivor with vulnerable health is like.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New non-executive directors join Defra board

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New non-executive directors join Defra board

    Sachin Jogia and Indro Mukerjee appointed to the departmental board

    The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today (18 March 2025) announced the appointment of two new non-executive board members – Sachin Jogia and Indro Mukerjee. 

    Non-executive board members are senior figures from outside government, appointed to provide challenge to government departments. All non-executive board member appointments are made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. 

    Sachin and Indro begin their appointments today, with their terms lasting for three years. 

    The Defra board provides strategic, corporate leadership to the department and has particular responsibility for monitoring performance and delivery. 

    Biographies

    Sachin Jogia

    Sachin Jogia has a technology and product leadership background across global organisations, most recently as Group Director of Technology Strategy and Transformation at Sky.

    Previously, he was Chief Technology Officer at Ofcom, overseeing innovation across the areas they regulate including online safety, broadcasting and telecoms. Before that, he spent nine years at Amazon in the UK and USA, most recently as General Manager for Alexa Smart Home International.

    Sachin was the founding Chairman of the British Heart Foundation’s Technology Advisory Group and has championed initiatives supporting disadvantaged communities, including Amazon Future Engineer. He is a Trustee and non-executive director at City Year UK, a founding member of the Corporate Advisory Board at Save The Children UK and has mentored Imperial College students and senior leaders with BeTheBusiness.

    Indro Mukerjee

    Indro was CEO of Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, for three and half years until September 2024.

    He is a highly experienced business leader, with CEO experience across technology and industrial businesses from multinationals to startups and private equity-backed ventures.

    With a global career spanning Asia, the US, and Europe, Indro has led innovation, fast growth, spinouts, M&A, and business transformation across many different business situations. He has been strongly committed to supporting skills development, including co-founding and chairing the UK Electronics Skills Foundation.

    He has an engineering degree from Oxford University, a graduate of the Wharton Advanced Management Program, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an elected Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Academy of Medical Sciences.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ambitions are high as UK celebrates a year in Horizon Europe

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Ambitions are high as UK celebrates a year in Horizon Europe

    Hundreds of researchers, business leaders and academics gather at the Oval in London to mark a year of UK success in Horizon – and plan for much more.

    • Hundreds of researchers, business leaders and academics gather at the Oval in London to mark a year of UK success in Horizon – and plan for much more
    • £80 billion Horizon Europe programme is the world’s largest international research endeavour, and an important part of the UK’s relationship with Europe
    • International research collaboration is a key driver of economic growth, and the government’s Plan for Change

    More than 500 of the UK’s leading researchers, businesspeople and scientists will gather at London’s Oval today (Tuesday 18 March) to celebrate the successes that have already been delivered since the UK associated to the Horizon Europe programme, last year. They’ll also hear advice from industry experts, European diplomats, and leading academics on how to seize the opportunities for funding and collaboration that Horizon offers, with £80 billion up for grabs through the programme.

    Initial signs suggest UK association is trending in the right direction. Recent ERC Synergy Grants saw awards made to 18 UK-hosted projects, the second highest number. Horizon is giving British researchers and innovators access to funding, so they can tackle some of the biggest issues facing society, from breakthroughs in healthcare, to putting AI to work across the economy. All of this stands to unleash growth and create jobs in high-potential new industries, all of which supports the growth goals at the heart of the government’s Plan for Change.

    In 2025, the government is doubling down on its efforts to help the UK’s brightest minds access the opportunities on offer through Horizon, through a new PR blitz, networking events in Italy, Germany and Spain for British businesspeople and researchers, and grants to help cover the businesses cover the cost of attending R&D events across Europe.

    Science Minister Lord Vallance, who will speak at today’s Showcase, said:

    Science is stronger when we work together with others, and as new technologies like AI develop rapidly international collaboration on research is more important than ever before.

    Investing in R&D unlocks the door to more productive businesses, highly skilled and paid jobs, economic growth, and innovations that improve our lives and health. We need to go even further to seize the opportunity our association to Horizon represents and then reap the benefits.

    Besides Lord Vallance’s keynote, attendees at the Showcase will also hear from UKRI’s International Champion Professor Christopher Smith, DSIT’s Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Chris Johnson, and Cyril Robin-Champigneul from the EU’s delegation to the UK. That will be supplemented by sessions with experts from the UKRI on how to build the best bids for Horizon grants, and networking opportunities.

    DSIT Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Chris Johnson said:

    Over the last year we’ve seen some initial green shoots of recovery when it comes to UK participation in Horizon Europe. Events like today are an important chance to build on that positive momentum, and learn from the experience of those who’ve already been successful in building bids for funding.

    In 2025 and beyond, we want more researchers and businesses to seize the benefits of Horizon, to accelerate the discoveries that will boost our economy, and deliver new technologies that will improve all our lives.

    UKRI International Champion Professor Christopher Smith said:

    Today’s gathering at the Oval is a testament to the extraordinary progress we’ve made since associating to the Horizon Europe programme. The collaboration and innovation fostered through Horizon Europe are driving breakthroughs that will shape our future, from healthcare advancements, to climate monitoring, to AI integration across industries.

    As we look ahead, it’s crucial that we continue to leverage these opportunities to work collaboratively with our international partners, advancing research, fostering innovation, and supporting our vibrant research community.

    Businesses up and down the country are already carrying out cutting-edge R&D thanks to Horizon backing, as well as building consortia with partners in countries ranging from Canada to South Korea, and beyond.

    We know from recent history that the UK can be a leader in this area. We have 4 of the top 10 universities in the world, and the second-highest number of Nobel prize winners globally. A quarter of projects in which the UK participated, funded through Horizon Europe’s predecessor, were UK-led. 

    Further information, including practical support on how to apply, is available on the Horizon Hub – found on Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation websites. UKRI also host regular events that help guide businesses and researchers through the opportunities on offer and the application process. 

    Potential applicants can find Horizon Europe calls (funding opportunities) open to UK-based applicants using the European Commission’s funding and tender opportunities portal. They can apply for Horizon Europe funding through the European Commission’s funding and tenders portal, where the original funding call is found. More information on how to submit applications are available on the European Commission’s website.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 300

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Edmiston Drive Capital Corp. Announces LOI with Canada Nickel Company

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Edmiston Drive Capital Corp. (“EDCC” or the “Company“) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter of intent effective March 17, 2025 (the “LOI“) setting out the terms of a proposed business combination (the “Transaction“) with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canada Nickel Company (“CNC“).

    Under the terms of the LOI, Canada Nickel will grant net smelter return royalty interests on all of its regional exploration properties in the Timmins District (excluding the Crawford Project and the Dargavel and Kingsmill targets located on the original Project 81 patents) to a wholly-owned subsidiary (“RoyaltyCo“), and RoyaltyCo will amalgamate with a wholly-owned subsidiary of EDCC in exchange for a cash payment to CNC of C$8 million and the issuance of 8.9 million common shares of EDCC to CNC. As conditions precedent to the Transaction, EDCC expects to complete: a) a one for ten consolidation of its share capital and b) a private placement financing with gross proceeds of at least C$9 million as set out further below.

    Bruce Langstaff, the Chairman of EDCC, said: “We are pleased to enter into this transaction with Canada Nickel. We look forward to the advancement of the Timmins Camp as a source of nickel and other critical minerals for Canada and the world. Further, we are excited to accelerate our plans to develop a targeted portfolio of mineral royalty interests that will create long term value for our shareholders.”

    Transaction Structure

    EDCC expects that the Transaction will be structured as a three‐cornered amalgamation pursuant to which RoyaltyCo will amalgamate with a wholly‐owned subsidiary of EDCC and EDCC will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of RoyaltyCo from CNC in exchange for the issuance of an aggregate of 8,900,000 common shares of EDCC (each, an “EDCC Share“) to CNC. The Transaction remains subject to the negotiation of definitive documentation, the receipt of all applicable regulatory and third-party approvals and the satisfaction of other closing conditions set forth in the LOI.

    The Transaction will constitute a change of business for the Company, as EDCC was previously a non-resource issuer and upon completion of the Transaction, proposes to focus on mineral royalty acquisitions and other forms of financing for mineral exploration and development. The Transaction is not expected to be subject to the approval of shareholders of EDCC, on the basis that (i) shareholder approval is not required for a three‐cornered amalgamation under applicable corporate law; (ii) the Transaction is not a “related party transaction” and no other circumstances exist which may compromise the independence of the Company or other interested parties with respect to the Transaction; and (iii) the Company is not and will not be subject to a cease trade order and will not otherwise be suspended from trading on completion of the Transaction.

    Concurrent Financing

    As a condition precedent to the closing of the Transaction, EDCC plans to complete a non-brokered private placement (the “Private Placement“) of a combination of common and preferred shares to raise aggregate proceeds of $9 million.

    Following the completion of the Transaction, the net proceeds of the Private Placement are anticipated to be used to fund the payment to CNC contemplated by the LOI and for general corporate purposes.

    Conditions to Completion

    Completion of the Transaction is subject to several conditions. The Transaction cannot close until all required regulatory approvals are obtained. There can be no assurance that EDCC and/or CNC will receive such approvals on acceptable terms, or at all. Other conditions to the completion of the Transaction include, if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close unless and until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will receive such approvals as proposed, or at all. Further, there can be no assurance that the proposed private placement financing will be completed on terms that are attractive to EDCC, or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, neither CNC nor EDCC can make any representation or warranty as to the completeness or the accuracy of any information regarding the Transaction. Trading in the securities of EDCC should be considered highly speculative. Neither the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization or any securities exchange has expressed an opinion on the merits of the proposed Transaction or has approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

    On behalf of the Board of Directors

    Bruce Langstaff
    Executive Chairman
    info@copland-road.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains statements about the Company’s expectations regarding the proposed Transaction of the Company and the Private Placement which are forward‐looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward‐looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward‐looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward‐looking statements include general business, economic, competitive and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive all applicable regulatory and third party approvals, and availability of financing. The forward‐looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward‐looking statements or information, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Alectra’s Mike Matthews receives EDA “Chair’s Citation Award” for outstanding leadership and dedication to the electricity industry

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mike Matthews, Executive Vice President of Asset Strategy and Operations at Alectra Utilities, has been awarded the esteemed “Chair’s Citation Award” by the Electricity Distributors Association (EDA). This award recognizes Mike’s outstanding leadership, dedication and contributions to Ontario’s electricity sector over his 35-year career.

    Presented in memory of Dr. Robert H. Hay, the “Chair’s Citation Award” acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service to the EDA and the electricity industry. Mike was celebrated for his commitment to advancing grid modernization, fostering industry collaboration, and driving innovation.

    “Mike has been influential in shaping the evolution of Ontario’s electricity industry,” said Brian Bentz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alectra Inc. “His leadership, technical expertise, and dedication to strengthening our grid have not only benefited Alectra but have also helped drive meaningful progress across the sector. This recognition is well deserved and we congratulate Mike on this outstanding achievement.”

    Throughout his career, Mike has played a key role in major industry milestones, including the creation of Alectra Utilities in 2017 through the merger of five utilities. Over eight years at Alectra, he provided meaningful leadership in capital planning, grid modernization and developing Alectra’s distribution system plan – a cornerstone of the company’s future cost-of-service rate applications.

    Mike has also made significant contributions to the EDA, serving on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Upper Canada District Executive. His leadership as Chair of the EDIST Organizing Committee from 2015 to 2022 helped shape one of the industry’s most important technical conferences, fostering dialogue on emerging technologies and best practices.

    Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mike has been a dedicated community leader, volunteering for 17 years with the Markham Waxers Minor Hockey Association. His passion for mentorship and community service has positively impacted young athletes and families in the region.

    “I am deeply honoured to receive this award from the EDA,” said Mike Matthews, Executive Vice President of Asset Strategy and Operations, Alectra Utilities. “Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible colleagues, partners and industry leaders. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of so many dedicated individuals working to advance our industry.”

    Alectra congratulates Mike Matthews for his contributions in shaping the future of the energy sector.

    About Alectra Inc. Family of Companies

    Serving more than one million homes and businesses in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe area, Alectra Utilities is now the largest municipally-owned electric utility in Canada, based on the total number of customers served. We contribute to the economic growth and vibrancy of the 17 communities we serve by investing in essential energy infrastructure, delivering a safe and reliable supply of electricity, and providing innovative energy solutions.

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/alectranews

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alectranews/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alectranews/?hl=en

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/16178435/admin/

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alectranews.bsky.social

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/alectranews

    Media Contact:

    Ashley Trgachef, Media Spokesperson
    ashley.trgachef@alectrautilities.com | Telephone: 416.402.5469 | 24/7 Media Line: 1.833.MEDIA-LN

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Subtext Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Subtext has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025. This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations to set new standards and achieve remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy. Alongside the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company recognizes 609 organizations across 58 sectors and regions.

    “We are honored to be recognized by Fast Company for our innovative approach to connecting media companies with their audiences through text messaging,” said Subtext CEO and Cofounder, Mike Donoghue. “We are witnessing one of the most seismic shifts the media industry has ever seen, taking place in real time. As AI continues to make our communication less human and social algorithms make it more difficult to forge enduring connections, we’re proud to live out our mission of connecting our clients with their audiences in a more direct and human way. It is now a business imperative that media companies build trust and equity in the communities they foster and, in doing so, create experiences that cannot be replicated elsewhere. By empowering our clients to own their audience relationships, Subtext is helping to ensure that trusted, meaningful connections between media companies and their audiences remain strong and resilient, in the face of rapid change.”

    Recent company milestones include a 95% increase in year-on-year revenue and a 240% surge in subscribers. This growth underscores the platform’s effectiveness in helping media companies adapt to changing revenue and engagement strategies. Subtext’s partnerships with major media organizations such as Condé Nast, Washington Post, and Hearst, has enabled them to establish personal connections with readers and reduce subscriber churn by 50-60% on average. Additionally, media organizations see a significant boost in engagement, with a 5x increase in CTR compared to email, highlighting the platform’s ability to not only reach audiences but also drive meaningful interactions. The platform’s innovative features, including its new survey feature which allows users to gain a deeper understanding of their subscribers, have further enhanced its value proposition for media companies seeking to engage their audiences more effectively.

    Subtext’s impact extends beyond the media industry, as it addresses broader societal challenges like improving emergency response and combating misinformation. During natural disasters, Subtext has enabled newsrooms to deliver critical information to those without internet access, demonstrating the platform’s potential to bridge information gaps and support community resilience.

    The World’s Most Innovative Companies stands as Fast Company’s hallmark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To determine honorees, Fast Company’s editors and writers review companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. The result is a globe-spanning guide to innovation today, from early-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world.

    “Our list of the Most Innovative Companies offers both a comprehensive look at innovation today and a playbook for the future,” said Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan. “This year, we recognize companies that are harnessing AI in deep and meaningful ways, brands that are turning customers into superfans by overdelivering for them, and challengers that are introducing bold ideas and vital competition to their industries. At a time when the world is rapidly shifting, these companies are charting the way forward.”

    The full list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies honorees can now be found at fastcompany.com. It will also be available on newsstands beginning March 25.

    Fast Company will host the Most Innovative Companies Summit and Gala for honorees on June 5. The summit features a day of inspiring content, followed by a creative black-tie gala including networking, a seated dinner, and an honoree presentation.

    About Subtext

    Subtext is an award-winning conversation platform that connects publishers, creators, and brands with their audiences through text messaging. By making direct connections with their audience, Subtext customers can communicate one-on-one or at scale. Subtext customers include Sony Music, The Washington Post, Penguin Random House, USA Today Network, and IRONMAN. For more information, visit joinsubtext.com or request a demo.

    ABOUT FAST COMPANY
    Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow business publication Inc. For more information, please visit fastcompany.com.

    Media Contact
    Laura Stephenson
    alphagroup@karbocom.com 

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Matador Technologies Inc. to List on OTCQB

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Matador Technologies Inc. (“Matador” or the “Company”) (TSXV: MATA) is pleased to announce that it has received approval to list its common shares on the OTC Markets under the ticker symbol OTCQB:MTDTF. The Company expects trading to commence on March 18, 2025.

    The OTC listing marks a significant milestone for Matador as it executes its strategic plan to enhance liquidity, broaden its shareholder base, and provide U.S. investors with greater accessibility to its stock. The listing aligns with the Company’s commitment to expanding its presence in global capital markets while reinforcing its position within the digital asset and financial technology sectors.

    As part of this strategic expansion, Matador recognizes the growing interest in publicly traded companies operating within the bitcoin ecosystem, such as Metaplanet and Strategy, both of which hold Bitcoin on their balance sheet and actively trade in the U.S. market. Matador aims to further differentiate itself by leveraging innovative solutions that bridge traditional and digital assets, supporting consumers worldwide.

    “We are excited to list on the OTC Markets, which represents an important step in our long-term growth strategy,” said Deven Soni, CEO of Matador Technologies Inc. “Matador is Canada’s sole public company that has a focus on building technology for the precious metals space, using the Bitcoin network. We are looking forward to expanding our investor base with this OTC listing.”

    Matador Technologies Inc. will continue to trade on the TSX Venture under the ticker symbol MATA, in addition to its new OTC Markets listing.

    For additional information, please contact:

    Media Contact:
    Sunny Ray
    President
    Email: sunny@matador.network

    Phone: 647-932-2668

    About Matador Technologies Inc.
    Matador Technologies Inc. leverages blockchain technology to digitize real-world assets like gold. Focused on building innovative financial solutions, Matador is at the forefront of integrating blockchain technology to preserve and grow value. Matador’s digital gold platform aims to democratize the gold buying experience, combining the best of modern technology and time-proven assets, to create a platform that will allow users to buy, sell, and store gold 24/7 in a convenient and engaging way.     

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

    Forward Looking Statements – Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with the implementation of the Company’s treasury management strategy and the launch of its mobile application as currently proposed or at all. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including with respect to the potential acquisition of Bitcoin and/or US dollars, the pricing of such acquisitions and the timing of future operations. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Bitfarms Completes Strategic Sale of its Yguazu, Paraguay Data Center

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    -Accretive transaction valued at approximately U.S. $85 million-

    -Bitfarms to reinvest capital in U.S. growth opportunities-

    This news release constitutes a “designated news release” for the purposes of Bitfarms’ second amended and restated prospectus supplement dated December 17, 2024, to its short form base shelf prospectus dated November 10, 2023.

    TORONTO, Ontario, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ/TSX: BITF), a global Bitcoin and vertically integrated data center company, today announced the successful completion of the sale of its 200 MW data center in Yguazu, Paraguay to HIVE Digital Technologies, Ltd. (“HIVE”).

    Bitfarms CEO Ben Gagnon stated, “We are pleased to have expeditiously completed the sale of our Yguazu site to HIVE, allowing us to streamline our operations and further rebalance our portfolio towards North America. We now anticipate that our year-end 2025 proforma energy portfolio will be ~80% North American and ~20% international, marking a significant milestone in our transition from an international Bitcoin miner to a North American energy and compute infrastructure company.”

    CFO Jeff Lucas stated, “This accretive sale is expected to significantly reduce our 2025 capex requirements, while reducing our average power costs by 10%. We plan to reinvest the savings and capital from this sale towards our 1.1 GW U.S. growth pipeline for Bitcoin mining and HPC/AI infrastructure, in line with our strategy to grow in the U.S. and diversify beyond Bitcoin mining.”

    About Bitfarms Ltd.

    Founded in 2017, Bitfarms is a global Bitcoin and vertically integrated data center company that sells its computational power to one or more mining pools from which it receives payment in Bitcoin. Bitfarms develops, owns, and operates vertically integrated mining facilities with in-house management and company-owned electrical engineering, installation service, and multiple onsite technical repair centers.

    Bitfarms currently has 15 operating Bitcoin data centers in four countries: the United States, Canada, Paraguay, and Argentina. Powered predominantly by environmentally friendly hydro-electric and long-term power contracts, Bitfarms is committed to using sustainable and often underutilized energy infrastructure.

    To learn more about Bitfarms’ events, developments, and online communities:

    www.bitfarms.com
    https://www.facebook.com/bitfarms/
    https://x.com/Bitfarms_io
    https://www.instagram.com/bitfarms/
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitfarms/

    Glossary of Terms

    • HPC/AI = High Performance Computing / Artificial Intelligence
    • GW = Gigawatt

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release and are covered by safe harbors under Canadian and United States securities laws. The statements and information in this release regarding the sale of the Yguazu, Paraguay Site, the merits of the rebalancing operations to North America, the reinvestment of the proceeds of the sale for growth and projected growth, the North American energy and compute infrastructure strategy and other statements regarding future growth, plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking information. Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “prospects”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information.

    This forward-looking information is based on assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time they were made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to: the failure to receive payments owing pursuant to the sale of the Yguazu, Paraguay Site on the terms as announced or at all; the reinvestment of the proceeds of the sale may not occur on an economic basis; the anticipated benefits of the rebalancing of operations to North America and the North American energy and compute infrastructure strategy may not be realized; an inability to apply the Company’s data centers to HPC/AI opportunities on a profitable basis; a failure to secure long-term contracts associated with HPC/AI customers on terms which are economic or at all; the construction and operation of the Company’s facilities may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; the digital currency market; the ability to successfully mine digital currency; revenue may not increase as currently anticipated, or at all; it may not be possible to profitably liquidate the current digital currency inventory, or at all; a decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on operations; an increase in network difficulty may have a significant negative impact on operations; the volatility of digital currency prices; the anticipated growth and sustainability of hydroelectricity for the purposes of cryptocurrency mining in the applicable jurisdictions; the inability to maintain reliable and economical sources of power for the Company to operate cryptocurrency mining assets; the risks of an increase in the Company’s electricity costs, cost of natural gas, changes in currency exchange rates, energy curtailment or regulatory changes in the energy regimes in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates and the adverse impact on the Company’s profitability; future capital needs and the ability to complete current and future financings, including Bitfarms’ ability to utilize an at-the-market offering program ( “ATM Program”) and the prices at which securities may be sold in such ATM Program, as well as capital market conditions in general; share dilution resulting from an ATM Program and from other equity issuances; the risk that a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting could result in a misstatement of the Company’s financial position that may lead to a material misstatement of the annual or interim consolidated financial statements if not prevented or detected on a timely basis; any regulations or laws that will prevent Bitfarms from operating its business; historical prices of digital currencies and the ability to mine digital currencies that will be consistent with historical prices; and the adoption or expansion of any regulation or law that will prevent Bitfarms from operating its business, or make it more costly to do so. For further information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to the Company’s filings on www.sedarplus.ca (which are also available on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov), including the restated MD&A for the year-ended December 31, 2023, filed on December 9, 2024. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including factors that are currently unknown to or deemed immaterial by the Company. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by law. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, or any other securities exchange or regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Investor Relations Contacts:

    Tracy Krumme
    SVP, Head of IR & Corp. Comms.
    +1 786-671-5638
    tkrumme@bitfarms.com

    Media Contacts:

    Caroline Brady Baker
    Director, Communications
    cbaker@bitfarms.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MEASURES TO PREVENT DRUG ABUSE AND COMBAT ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Home Affairs

    MEASURES TO PREVENT DRUG ABUSE AND COMBAT ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE

    Posted On: 18 MAR 2025 3:26PM by PIB Delhi

    To address the problem of Drug Abuse, Government has formulated and implemented the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) under which the Government is taking a sustained and coordinated action for arresting the problem of substance abuse. This includes:

    1. Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts of the country through more than 10000 master volunteers. It has reached out to more-than 14.79 crore people including 4.96 crore youth and 2.97 crore women.
    2. 350 Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs) are supported by the Government to provide treatment for the drug victims, preventive education, awareness generation, motivational counseling, detoxification/de-addiction, after care and re-integration into the social mainstream.
    3. 46 Community based Peer led Intervention (CPLI) Centers supported by the Government focuses on vulnerable and at risk children and adolescents.
    4. 74 Outreach and Drop In Centers (ODICs) supported by the Government provide safe and secure space for treatment, rehabilitation, screening, assessment, counseling, referral, linkage for treatment and rehabilitation services for substance users.
    5. 142 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) has been established in Government hospitals through All India Institute of Medical science (AIIMS), New Delhi.
    6. 124 District De-addiction Centres (DDACs) which provides all three facilities provided by IRCA, ODIC and CPLI under one roof have been set up so far.
    7. A Toll-free Helpline for de-addiction, 14446 is operated for providing primary counseling and immediate assistance to persons seeking help.
    8. Government through its autonomous body National Institute of Social Defense (NISD) and other collaborating agencies like State Counsel of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, etc. provides for regular awareness generation and sensitization sessions for all stakeholders including students, teachers, parents.
    9. Navchetna Modules, teachers training modules have been developed by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) for sensitizing students (6th – 11th standard), teachers and parents on drug dependence, related coping strategies and life skills.

    As per latest data published by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pertaining to the year 2022; Drug-wise seizures under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act during 2018 to 2022 is at Annexure-I.

    The Government made various efforts to tackle the illegal drug trade in border areas, some of which are as under: –

    1. A 4-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism for ensuring better coordination between Central & State Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and other stakeholders in the field of controlling drug trafficking and drug abuse in India has been established. An all-in-one NCORD portal has been developed for information related to drug law enforcement.
    2. A dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) headed by Additional Director General/ Inspector General level Police Officer has been established in each State/ Union Territory to function as the NCORD Secretariat for the State/ Union Territory and follow-up on compliance of decisions taken in NCORD meetings at different levels.
    3. To monitor the investigation of important and significant seizures, a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) under the Chairmanship of Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been set up.
    4. National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been empowered under NDPS Act, 1985 in the year 2020 for investigation of narco-terrorism cases.
    5. Border Guarding Forces (Border Security Force, Assam Rifles and Sashastra Seema Bal) have been empowered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 to carry out search, seizure and arrest for illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs at international border. Further, Railway Protection Force (RPF) has also been empowered under NDPS Act to check drug trafficking along the railway routes.
    6. Narcotics Control Bureau coordinates with other agencies like, Navy, Coast Guard, Border Security Force, State ANTF, etc. to conduct joint operations to control the drug trafficking.
    7. A high level dedicated group has been created in National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in November 2022 to analyze the drug trafficking through maritime routes, challenges and solutions (Maritime Security Group – NSCS).
    8. Director General Level Talks are organized with neighboring and other countries such as Myanmar, Iran, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Singapore, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, etc. to resolve various issues on drug trafficking having international implications.
    1. As a part of international co-operation, India has signed Bilateral Agreements with 27 countries, Memorandum of Understanding with 16 countries and Agreements on Security Cooperation with 02 countries for combating illicit trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) and Chemical Precursors as well as related offences.
    2. India is closely associated with International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and all its programs viz. PEN (Pre-Export Notification), PICS (Precursors Incident Communication System), and IONICS (International Operations on New Psychoactive Substances Incident Communication System).
    3. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) co-ordinates with various international organizations such as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation- Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (SAARC-SDOMD), Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa  (BRICS), Colombo Plan, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters (ASOD), Bay of Bengal Initiative For Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-Operation  (BIMSTEC), Shanghai Cooperation Organization  (SCO), United   Nations  Office   on   Drugs  and  Crime (UNODC),

    International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), etc. for sharing information and intelligence to combat trans-national drug trafficking.

    1. NCB India takes part in real-time information sharing with various Drug Liaison Officers of other countries such as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of the United States of America, the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of Canada, Australian Federal Police (AFP) of Australia, Office Anti-Stupefiants (OFAST) of France, etc for operational and intelligence information.

    This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

    *****

    RK/VV/ASH/RR/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2112236)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom honors fallen San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy

    Source: US State of California 2

    Mar 17, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement regarding the death of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Hector Cuevas Jr.:

    “Jennifer and I are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Deputy Cuevas. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues as they navigate this unimaginable time. His dedication to protecting and serving his community was remarkable, and we are eternally grateful for his service.”

    On March 17, 2025, Deputy Cuevas was in pursuit of a vehicle when he was involved in a traffic crash at an intersection in Victorville, California. He suffered fatal injuries as a result of the collision.

    Deputy Cuevas, 36, was a six-year veteran of law enforcement. He had been assigned to the Victorville Station for the past three years. Prior to his employment with the sheriff’s department, Deputy Cuevas was an officer with the Upland Police Department.

    He is survived by his wife, two children, his parents and a sister and brother.

    In honor of Deputy Cuevas, flags at the State Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space will be flown at half-staff.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    News Lo que necesita saber: California tiene un nuevo compañero en Sonora, México para impulsar el desarrollo de recursos energéticos renovables, la resiliencia de la cadena de suministro y el transporte limpio. To read this release in English, click here. Sacramento,…

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his appointment of 10 Superior Court Judges: two in Alameda County; three in Los Angeles County; one in Merced County; one in Orange County; two in San Bernardino County; and one in San Francisco County.Alameda…

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring March 17, 2025 through March 23, 2025, as United States Navy Week.The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONCalifornia proudly plays a crucial role…

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces judicial appointments 3.17.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Mar 17, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his appointment of 10 Superior Court Judges: two in Alameda County; three in Los Angeles County; one in Merced County; one in Orange County; two in San Bernardino County; and one in San Francisco County.

    Alameda County Superior Court

    Doris Ng, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Ng has served as a Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Labor since 2023. She served multiple roles at the California Department of Industrial Relations, including Chief Counsel from 2020 to 2023 and Staff Attorney in 2007 and from 2013 to 2020. Ng worked as Supervising Attorney at the Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach from 2011 to 2013 and as a Staff Attorney at the Bay Area Legal Aid from 2008 to 2011. She was a Supervising Clinical Attorney at the Women’s Employment Rights Clinic from 2003 to 2007 and a Staff Attorney at Equal Rights Advocates from 1998 to 2003. Ng was an Associate at Rosen, Bien and Asaro from 1996 to 1998 and an Associate at Gough & Cohen from 1994 to 1995. Ng received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gregory Syren. Ng is a Democrat.

    Jonathan Wolff, of Contra Costa County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Wolff has served as Chief Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Law Division at the California Attorney General’s Office since 2017, where he has held several other positions, including Senior Assistant Attorney General from 2008 to 2016, Supervising Deputy Attorney General from 2003 to 2008, and Deputy Attorney General from 2001 to 2003. He was an Associate at Kelly, Gill, Sherburne & Herrera, LLP from 1998 to 2001. Wolff received a Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Frank Roesch. Wolff is a Democrat.

    Los Angeles County Superior Court

    William Shin, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Shin has served as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Attorney General’s Office since 2005 and as a Staff Judge Advocate and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at the California Air National Guard since 2019. Shin was an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate at the United States Air Force Reserve from 2011 to 2019. He was a Deputy District Attorney at the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office from 2004 to 2005 and an Associate at Franscell Strickland Roberts & Lawrence from 2001 to 2004. Shin received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Julie Fox Blackshaw. Shin is a Democrat.

    Kimberly Dotson, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Dotson has served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles Superior Court since 2018. She was a Deputy Public Defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office from 2002 to 2018. Dotson received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Lee R. Bogdanoff. Dotson is a Democrat.

    Faye Chen Barnouw, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Barnouw has served as an Assistant Regional Director at the Federal Trade Commission since 2019, and was an Attorney there from 2001 to 2019.  She was a Trial Attorney with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission from 1997 to 2001, and an Associate at Parker Milliken Clark O’Hara & Samuelian from 1994 to 1997. She served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Warren J. Ferguson at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1993 to 1994. Barnouw received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Deborah L. Sanchez. Barnouw is a Democrat.
     

    Merced County Superior Court

    Chamandeep Johal, of Merced County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Merced County Superior Court. Johal has served as a Commissioner at the Mariposa County Superior Court since 2023 and as a Family Law Facilitator at the Merced County Superior Court since 2018. She was the Principal Attorney at Johal Law from 2010 to 2018. She was a Partner at Connich & Grewal, LLP from 2008 to 2010 and an Associate at the Law Offices of Michael J. Connich from 2004 to 2008. Johal received a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Donald Proietti. Johal is registered as no party preference.
     

    Orange County Superior Court

    Jennifer McCartney, of Orange County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court. McCartney has worked as the Firm Director at the Children’s Law Center of California since 2019. She has held several roles at the Children’s Law Center of California since 2006, including Supervising Attorney from 2016 to 2019, Writ Attorney from 2015 to 2019, and Staff Attorney from 2006 to 2015. McCartney received a Juris Doctor degree from Whittier Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Nathan R. Scott to the Court of Appeal. McCartney is a Democrat.

    San Bernardino County Superior Court

    Cecilia Joo, of Riverside County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Joo has served as a Commissioner at the San Bernardino Superior Court since 2023. She has served in several roles at the San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office since 2007, including Supervising Deputy District Attorney and Deputy District Attorney. Joo received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of LaVerne College of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael R. Libutti. Joo is non-partisan.

    Dina Amani, of Riverside County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Amani has served as a Commissioner at the San Bernardino Superior Court since 2019. She was the Principal Owner at Farhat Law Firm, APC from 2014 to 2019. Amani was an Associate at Ewaniszyk Law Firm from 2005 to 2019 and an Associate at Rosin & Associates from 2003 to 2004. She was a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch from 2000 to 2002. She worked as an Intern Law Clerk at the Chicago Stock Exchange in 1999. Amani was an Associate at Cline & Associates from 1997 to 1998. Amani received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of LaVerne College of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Brian S. McCarville. Amani is a Democrat.
     

    San Francisco County Superior Court

    Julia Cervantes, of San Francisco, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Francisco County Superior Court. Cervantes has served as Managing Attorney at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office since 2023. She was the District Attorney Representative at the San Francisco Innocence Commission from 2022 to 2023. Cervantes has held several positions at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, including Lead Attorney from 2022 to 2023, Managing Attorney from 2020 to 2021, and Assistant District Attorney from 2011 to 2020. She served as Vice President of the San Francisco County Juvenile Probation Commission in 2022. She was a Deputy District Attorney at the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office from 2021 to 2022. Cervantes received a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard B. Ulmer. Cervantes is a Democrat.

    The compensation for each of these positions is $244,727.

    Press Releases, Recent News

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: IMPORT OF CRITICAL MINERALS FOR EVs

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 18 MAR 2025 3:23PM by PIB Delhi

    The country is greatly dependent on other Asian countries for raw materials, mineral processing, battery and other basic requirements for production and promotion of e-vehicles in the country, since the basic raw material for production of electric vehicles is lithium and other critical materials. At present, investments in manufacturing and overall value addition for Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACCs) are negligible in India and almost entire domestic demand of ACCs is still being met through imports. In order to reduce dependency of imported ACC battery for electric vehicles, the Government on 12th May, 2021 approved a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for manufacturing of Advance Chemistry Cell (ACC) in the country. The total outlay of the scheme is Rs.18,100 Crore for a period of 5 years. The scheme envisages to establish a competitive ACC battery manufacturing set up in the country (50 GWh).

    As per the information received from Ministry of Mines, the Union Cabinet has approved the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) on 29th January, 2025, for a period of seven years from 2024-25 to 2030-31, with a proposed expenditure of Rs.16,300 crore and an expected investment of Rs.18,000 crore by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and other stakeholders. The NCMM aims to secure a long-term sustainable supply of critical minerals and strengthen India’s critical mineral value chains encompassing all stages from mineral exploration and mining to beneficiation, processing, and recovery from end-of-life products.

    In order to boost domestic production and reduce India’s dependence on imported lithium, cobalt and other key materials required for EV batteries, the Government of India has taken significant steps, which are as under:

    The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR) has been amended through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023 w.e.f. 17.08.2023. The Amendment Act, 2023 provides for:

    1. A list of 24 critical and strategic minerals in Part D of Schedule-I.
    2. Omission of six minerals from the list of 12 atomic minerals in Part B of Schedule-I namely Lithium, Titanium, Beryl and beryllium bearing minerals, Niobium, Tantalum and Zirconium bearing minerals and their inclusion in the list of aforesaid 24 critical and strategic minerals.
    3. Section 11D of the Act, which empowers Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for critical & strategic minerals specified in Part D of the Schedule-I.
    4. Exploration license for 29 minerals included in Schedule-VII of the Act.

    In addition, Ministry of Mines has been empowered to auction blocks for grant of Exploration License through an order dated 21st October, 2024 under Section 20A of MMDR Act 1957. Central Government has successfully auctioned 24 blocks of critical and strategic minerals in 04 tranches in 2024.

    The exploration of critical minerals has been significantly increased. Over the past three years, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has undertaken 368 exploration projects focused on critical and strategic minerals. In the FY 2024-25, 195 projects are being executed, and 227 projects have been approved for the upcoming financial year.

    100% FDI is allowed under “Automatic” route for mining and exploration of metal and non-metal ores. A foreign company may incorporate an Indian subsidiary company or invest in an existing Indian Company to become eligible for grant of mining and exploration rights.

    To support the critical minerals sector, Government has eliminated customs duties on 25 minerals and reduced Basic Customs Duties (BCD) on 2 minerals in the Union Budget for 2024-25.

    In the Union Budget 2025-26, the Government proposed to fully exempt cobalt powder and waste, the scrap of lithium-ion battery, Lead, Zinc and 12 more critical minerals to secure their availability for manufacturing in India and promote more jobs for India’s youth.

    Ministry of Mines is engaged in various multilateral and bilateral platforms for strengthening the critical minerals value chain, focussing on multiple objectives, including the processing and recycling of critical minerals such as Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), the UK-India Technology Security Initiative (TSI) and others.

    The Ministry of Mines has taken a significant step to acquire overseas mineral assets through the establishment of a joint venture company, KhanijBidesh India Ltd. (KABIL).  Its overarching mission is to identify and acquire overseas mineral assets that hold critical and strategic significance, specifically targeting minerals like Lithium, Cobalt and others. KABIL has signed an Exploration and Development Agreement with CAMYEN, a state-owned enterprise of Catamarca province of Argentina, for Exploration and mining of Five Lithium Brine Block in Argentina with an area of around 15,703 Ha.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

    ****

    TPJ/NJ

    (Release ID: 2112232) Visitor Counter : 68

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LOW PRICE STEEL

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 18 MAR 2025 1:59PM by PIB Delhi

    Steel is a deregulated sector and steel prices are determined by demand supply dynamics of market forces, global market conditions, trends in price of raw materials, logistics cost, power and fuel cost, etc. The Government acts as a facilitator, by creating a conducive policy environment for the development of steel sector including small and medium producers in the country. Government has taken following steps to facilitate the reduction of Steel imports and to improve the competitiveness of domestic steel manufacturers to reduce dependency on imports:-

     

    1. Launch of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Specialty Steel to promote the manufacturing of ‘Specialty Steel’ within the country and reduce imports by attracting capital investments. The anticipated additional investment under the PLI Scheme for Specialty Steel is Rs 27,106 crores with downstream capacity creation of around 25 million tonnes (MT) for specialty steel.
    2. Introduction of steel Quality Control Orders thereby banning sub-standard/ defective steel products in domestic market as well as imports to ensure the availability of quality steel to the industry, users and public at large.
    3. Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) has been revamped and SIMS 2.0 was launched on 25.07.2024 for more effective monitoring of imports to address the concerns of domestic steel industry.
    4. Implementation of Domestically Manufactured Iron & Steel Products (DMI&SP) Policy for promoting ‘Made in India’ steel for Government procurement.
    5. Anti Dumping Duty (ADD) measures pertaining to some steel products like seamless tubes, pipes and hollow profiles of iron, alloy, or non-alloy steel (other than cast iron and stainless steel) (from China PR), electro-galvanized steel (from Korea RP, Japan, Singapore), stainless-steel seamless tubes and pipes (from China PR), welded stainless steel pipes and tubes (from Vietnam and Thailand) are in place currently.
    6. Countervailing Duty (CVD) is in place for Welded Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes from China and Vietnam.

     

    There is sufficient reserve of iron ore in the country to meet the current demand/consumption by domestic steel industry. The production of Iron Ore in FY 2024 was more than 270 Million tons and the export were approximately 46 Million tons while the import was 4.9 Million tons, as per the data provided by IBM.

    The Government has taken various steps to increase supply of minerals which include, inter-alia, Mining and Mineral Policy reforms to ensure enhanced production, early auction& operationalization of mines with expired leases, ease of doing business, seamless transfer of all valid rights & approvals, incentivizing for starting of mining operation & dispatch, transferring of mining leases, allowing captive mines to sell upto 50% of the minerals produced, enhancing the exploration activities etc.

    Government has notified the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy in November, 2019. The policy provides a framework to facilitate and promote establishment of metal scrapping centres in India for scientific processing and recycling of ferrous scrap generated from various sources.

    The details of country-wise imports of finished steel including from China since 2014 are at Annexure.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

    ****

    TPJ/NJ

    Annexure

    Country Wise Import of Finished Steel from 2014-15 to 2023-24 – Quantity (in ‘000 tonnes)

    S. NO.

    Country Name

    2014-15

    2015-16

    2016-17

    2017-18

    2018-19

    2019-20

    2020-21

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

    1

    CHINA

    3,576

    4,087

    2,153

    1,901

    1,539

    1,207

    843

    833

    1,407

    2,687

    2

    KOREA

    1,869

    3,005

    2,103

    2,473

    2,931

    2,687

    1,947

    2,009

    2,228

    2,670

    3

    JAPAN

    1,583

    2,158

    1,136

    1,176

    1,271

    1,018

    560

    664

    841

    1,274

    4

    VIETNAM

    25

    8

    16

    203

    167

    86

    133

    75

    320

    737

    5

    TAIWAN

    190

    202

    247

    271

    262

    165

    186

    194

    163

    185

    6

    NEPAL

    96

    54

    10

    9

    3

    6

    6

    9

    59

    120

    7

    INDONESIA

    14

    243

    46

    107

    228

    464

    79

    241

    148

    94

    8

    GERMANY

    149

    197

    153

    145

    166

    135

    146

    151

    112

    80

    9

    THAILAND

    16

    42

    40

    44

    85

    52

    50

    25

    53

    58

    10

    RUSSIA

    226

    364

    291

    150

    126

    71

    63

    55

    313

    53

    11

    UAE

    34

    36

    30

    24

    21

    21

    21

    24

    12

    52

    12

    AUSTRIA

    19

    127

    160

    13

    13

    13

    71

    9

    10

    52

    13

    SAUDI ARABIA

    4

    1

    1

    6

    22

    8

    36

    14

    9

    39

    14

    ITALY

    55

    28

    33

    110

    58

    81

    33

    34

    31

    23

    15

    USA

    120

    82

    75

    127

    74

    65

    54

    29

    17

    20

    16

    SWEDEN

    26

    21

    29

    33

    24

    23

    27

    39

    48

    20

    17

    HONGKONG

    1

    1

    3

    1

    1

    0

    0

    0

    1

    18

    18

    BELGIUM

    126

    96

    76

    99

    118

    74

    56

    28

    33

    17

    19

    ROMANIA

    11

    2

    2

    5

    2

    3

    1

    1

    2

    17

    20

    FRANCE

    156

    66

    174

    76

    58

    56

    121

    58

    77

    15

    21

    OMAN

    0

    46

    1

    9

    7

    4

    12

    5

    7

    11

    22

    KUWAIT

    2

    0

    0

    2

    5

    8

    3

    3

    3

    9

    23

    SOUTH AFRICA

    71

    52

    23

    40

    41

    22

    15

    8

    5

    7

    24

    FINLAND

    12

    12

    9

    13

    14

    9

    5

    5

    7

    6

    25

    CANADA

    7

    7

    5

    15

    13

    20

    17

    10

    11

    6

    26

    MALAYSIA

    96

    53

    29

    32

    50

    51

    42

    8

    20

    6

    27

    SPAIN

    30

    28

    25

    30

    25

    32

    20

    27

    21

    5

    28

    U.K.

    30

    31

    16

    43

    20

    17

    11

    6

    5

    4

    29

    CZECH REP

    2

    2

    6

    3

    3

    2

    0

    1

    2

    4

    30

    SINGAPORE

    81

    106

    108

    72

    117

    139

    43

    8

    6

    4

    31

    OTHERS

    691

    556

    225

    251

    371

    230

    153

    96

    50

    29

    TOTAL

    9,320

    11,712

    7,224

    7,483

    7,835

    6,768

    4,752

    4,669

    6,022

    8,320

    Source :Joint Plant Committee(JPC)

    *****

    (Release ID: 2112155) Visitor Counter : 19

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Vigyan Dhara: A Catalyst for India’s Scientific Progress

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 18 MAR 2025 12:29PM by PIB Delhi

    Strengthening India’s Scientific Future

    The Government of India has significantly increased the allocation for the Vigyan Dhara scheme, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing the country’s scientific research, innovation, and technological development ecosystem. The budget has witnessed a substantial rise from Rs. 330.75 crore in 2024-25 to Rs. 1425.00 crore in 2025-26. The proposed outlay for the implementation of the unified scheme ‘Vigyan Dhara’ is Rs.10,579.84 crore for the period of 2021-22 to 2025-26, aligning with the 15th Finance Commission. This increased investment underscores the government’s dedication to fostering science and technology as a foundation for national progress.

    The Birth of Vigyan Dhara

    The Vigyan Dhara scheme came into force with effect from 16.01.2025.  It merges three key umbrella schemes into one, focusing on:

    Science and Technology (S&T) Institutional and Human Capacity Building: This component focuses on strengthening India’s scientific infrastructure and human resource pool. It aims to build and enhance research and development (R&D) labs across academic institutions, creating a robust environment for scientific research.

    Research and Development (R&D): Vigyan Dhara emphasises research in various critical areas, including basic research, translational research in sustainable energy and water, and access to international mega facilities. This component also fosters collaborative research through international bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

    Innovation, Technology Development, and Deployment: This segment of the scheme aims to drive innovation at all levels, from schools to higher education and the industry. It seeks to promote technology development and deployment, with a particular focus on increasing collaboration between academia, government, and industry, as well as supporting startups.

    This strategic integration enhances efficiency in fund utilization and establishes synchronization among the sub-schemes and programs, ensuring a more streamlined approach to achieving scientific progress in India.

    Key Focus Areas of Vigyan Dhara

    1. Capacity Building

    • Establishing advanced research laboratories in academic institutions
    • Supporting faculty development and student research
    • Promoting international scientific collaborations

     

    2. Research and Development

    • Encouraging basic research with access to international mega facilities
    • Supporting translational research in areas such as sustainable energy, water, etc.
    • Fostering collaborative research through international bilateral and multilateral cooperation
    • Contributing to building a critical human resource pool to expand the nation’s R&D base and improve the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) researcher count.

     

    3. Innovation and Technology Development

    • Supporting startups and entrepreneurs in science and technology
    • Facilitating technology transfer and commercialization
    • Promoting the development of indigenous technologies
    • Reinforcing innovation efforts from school-level education to higher education, industries, and startups through targeted interventions

     

    4. Promoting Gender Parity in Science and Technology

    • Implementing focused programs to increase the participation of women in S&T fields
    • Ensuring gender equality in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) through strategic interventions

     

    5. International Collaboration

    • Promoting joint research projects
    • Facilitating knowledge exchange with international researchers
    • Strengthening India’s position as a global scientific leader.

     

    Key Impacts:

    ❖ Enhanced collaboration between academia, government, and industry

    ❖ Increased participation of women in S&T fields.

    ❖ Strengthened R&D capabilities, aligned with global standards and national priorities.

     

    All the programs under the Vigyan Dhara scheme are aligned with the 5-year goals of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), contributing towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Furthermore, the Research and Development (R&D) component of the scheme is structured to align with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), ensuring that India’s scientific research follows globally prevailing standards while adhering to national priorities.

    As of March 2025, 57,869 individual beneficiaries have availed the scheme. The beneficiaries include young students in the age group of 10-15 years and studying in class VI to X availing the benefits under INSPIRE-MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) program. This initiative nurtures a scientific mindset, encourages research careers, and fosters innovation among students.

    In Telangana alone, 4002 beneficiaries have availed of the scheme, with Rs. 3.3 crore utilized as of 10.03.2025. The increased budget allocation will further strengthen state-level scientific initiatives, enabling more individuals and institutions to benefit.

    Vigyan Dhara operates as a central sector scheme, implemented across the country. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has taken proactive measures to raise awareness through:

    • Extensive media coverage across print, social, and digital platforms
    • A dedicated web portal providing comprehensive information on various programs
    • Active engagement with stakeholders to disseminate knowledge about the scheme’s benefits.

     

    Rising Scientific Publications

    As per the latest Science & Engineering Indicators report from the National Science Foundation, USA, India has shown a consistent rise in scientific publications. The details are as follows:

    The government has taken several steps to strengthen the research ecosystem and encourage researchers for scientific publications, including:

    • Successive increases in budget allocations for scientific research
    • Establishment of Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) through the ANRF Act 2023
    • Creation of Centres of Excellence
    • Instituting research fellowships and research programs
    • Encouraging industry participation in R&D
    • Providing extramural project funding and fellowship schemes through DST, DBT, and CSIR

    Research funding supports areas such as clean energy, water, nano and advanced materials, cyber-physical systems, quantum science, geospatial technology, biotechnology, and industrial technologies. The outcomes of these initiatives include scientific publications, intellectual property creation (patents), technology transfers, and industrial designs. Additionally, researchers are encouraged to conduct research publications and generate intellectual property, as these are key performance indicators for career progression.

     

     A Transformative Vision for India’s Future

    Vigyan Dhara is set to revolutionize India’s scientific landscape by fostering innovation, strengthening research capabilities, and promoting technological advancements. The government’s increased budget allocation signifies a clear commitment to advancing India’s position as a global leader in science and technology while ensuring inclusive participation and alignment with the nation’s long-term development goals.

    References

    Click here to see PDF.

    ******

    Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Anchal Patiyal

    (Release ID: 2112121) Visitor Counter : 40

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SAMOA ESTABLISHES DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BELIZE.

    Source: Government of Western Samoa

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    [PRESS RELEASE – 27th February 2025.] – The Independent State of Samoa and Belize have formally established diplomatic relations, effective 25 February 2025. The Joint Communiqués were signed at the Permanent Mission of Belize in New York by H.E. Mr. Carlos Fuller, Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations, and H.E Mr. Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, Permanent Representative of Samoa to the United Nations.

    The establishment of diplomatic relations will not only enhance existing ties but pave the way for greater cooperation between the two countries and peoples.

    Samoa and Belize have maintained cordial relations through collaboration within the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), the Group of 77 and China, the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), the United Nations, and other international organizations. Both countries share a strong commitment to addressing climate change, promoting sustainable development and advancing ocean issues.

    END.

    SOURCE – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Bringing the Heat: Abigail Howard Leads Thermal Systems for Artemis Rovers, Tools

    Source: NASA

    Depending on where you stand at the lunar South Pole, you may experience temperatures of 130°F (54°C) during sunlit periods, or as low as -334°F (-203°C) in a permanently shadowed region. Keeping crews comfortable and tools and vehicles operational in such extreme temperatures is a key challenge for engineers at Johnson Space Center working on elements of NASA’s Artemis campaign.
    Abigail Howard is part of that innovative team. Since joining Johnson in 2019, she has conducted thermal analysis for projects including the lunar terrain vehicle (LTV), pressurized rover, VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover), and Gateway – humanity’s first lunar space station. Her work explores how different materials and components respond to different temperatures and how to manage heat transfer in products and structures.
    She currently serves as the passive thermal system manager for the Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, leading a small team of thermal analysts. Together, they provide expertise on passive thermal design, hardware, modeling, and testing to vendors and international partners that are developing rovers and tools for human exploration of the lunar surface.

    Howard said her sudden shift from thermal analysis engineer to thermal system manager involved a steep learning curve. “Every day was like drinking through a firehose. I had to learn very quickly about systems engineering tasks, project phases, and leadership, while also learning about many new thermal approaches and designs so that I could provide good insight to project leadership and program vendors and partners,” she said. “Having a good group of senior engineers and friends to lean on and building up my team helped me get through it, but the single most important thing was not giving up. It gets easier and persistence pays off!”

    Howard feels fortunate to have worked on many interesting projects at NASA and presented her work at several conferences. Top achievements include watching her first NASA project launch successfully on Artemis I and supporting the LTV Source Evaluation Board as the thermal representative. “Something I’m really proud of is obtaining funding for and managing a test that looked at thermal performance of dust mitigation for spacecraft radiators,” she added.

    She believes interesting and challenging work is important but says the biggest determinant to professional success and satisfaction is your team and your team lead. “Having a really great team and team lead on Gateway thermal taught me the kind of leader and teammate I want to be,” she said.
    Howard encourages fellow members of the Artemis Generation to not let imposter syndrome get in their way. “Focus on the evidence of your abilities and remember that no one is in this alone,” she said. “It’s okay to ask for help.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Updates Flood Maps in Alameda County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Updates Flood Maps in Alameda County

    FEMA Updates Flood Maps in Alameda County

    OAKLAND, Calif

     – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has delivered preliminary flood maps for Alameda County and the cities of Alameda, Oakland, and Piedmont, California

    The maps identify revised flood hazards along Peralta Creek and the Byron Tract delta

    The new maps will help building officials, contractors and homeowners make effective mitigation decisions, thereby contributing to safer and more disaster resilient communities

    Before the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) become effective, a 90-day appeal period will run from March 29, 2025, to June 28, 2025

    During this time, residents and businesses with supporting technical and scientific data—such as detailed hydraulic or hydrologic studies—may appeal the flood risk information

    The preliminary maps are available for review at hazards

    fema

    gov/femaportal/prelimdownload/

    Flood hazards are dynamic and change over time due to factors such as weather patterns, erosion, and community development

    FEMA and Alameda County officials worked together to provide updated information that accurately reflects the flood risk

    These updates may also impact future building standards and insurance requirements

    This local mapping project is part of FEMA’s nationwide effort to increase flood risk awareness and support actions that reduce the impact of flooding on new and existing structures

    FEMA encourages residents to review the preliminary flood maps to understand local flood risks, potential future insurance requirements, and to raise any concerns about the information provided

    Flooding is the most common and widespread weather-related natural disaster in the United States

    Ninety-eight percent of counties have experienced a flood event, highlighting the importance of understanding and preparing for flood risks

    For more information, contact Moses Tsang at Alameda County Public Works Agency at (510) 670-5553 or moses@acpwa

    org

     ###FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters

     Follow FEMA Region 9 online at x/femaregion9

    brandi

    richard…
    Tue, 03/18/2025 – 00:11

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: KE Holdings Inc. Announces a Final Cash Dividend of US$0.4 Billion in Aggregate

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BEIJING, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KE Holdings Inc. (“Beike” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BEKE; HKEX: 2423), a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services, today announced that its board of directors (the “Board”) approved a final cash dividend (the “Dividend”) of US$0.12 per ordinary share, or US$0.36 per ADS, to holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs of record as of the close of business on April 9, 2025, Beijing/Hong Kong Time and New York Time, respectively, payable in U.S. dollars. The aggregate amount of the Dividend to be paid will be approximately US$0.4 billion, which will be funded by cash surplus on the Company’s balance sheet.

    For holders of ordinary shares, in order to qualify for the Dividend, all valid documents for the transfer of shares accompanied by the relevant share certificates must be lodged for registration with the Company’s Hong Kong branch share registrar, Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, at Shops 1712-1716, 17th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 9, 2025 (Beijing/Hong Kong Time). Dividend to be paid to the Company’s ADS holders through the depositary bank will be subject to the terms of the deposit agreement. The payment date is expected to be on or around April 22, 2025 for holders of ordinary shares and on or around April 25, 2025 for holders of ADSs.

    Under the Company’s current dividend policy, the Board has discretion on whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. In addition, the Company’s shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by the Board. If the Company decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will be based upon the Company’s future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the Board may deem relevant.

    About KE Holdings Inc.

    KE Holdings Inc. is a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services. The Company is a pioneer in building infrastructure and standards to reinvent how service providers and customers efficiently navigate and complete housing transactions and services in China, ranging from existing and new home sales, home rentals, to home renovation and furnishing, and other services. The Company owns and operates Lianjia, China’s leading real estate brokerage brand and an integral part of its Beike platform. With more than 23 years of operating experience through Lianjia since its inception in 2001, the Company believes the success and proven track record of Lianjia pave the way for it to build its infrastructure and standards and drive the rapid and sustainable growth of Beike.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. Beike may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about KE Holdings Inc.’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Beike’s goals and strategies; Beike’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in the Company’s revenues, costs or expenditures; Beike’s ability to empower services and facilitate transactions on Beike platform; competition in the industry in which Beike operates; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the industry; Beike’s ability to protect the Company’s systems and infrastructures from cyber-attacks; Beike’s dependence on the integrity of brokerage brands, stores and agents on the Company’s platform; general economic and business conditions in China and globally; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in KE Holdings Inc.’s filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and KE Holdings Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    For more information, please visit: https://investors.ke.com.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    In China:
    KE Holdings Inc.
    Investor Relations
    Siting Li
    E-mail: ir@ke.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Jenny Cai
    Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
    E-mail: ke@tpg-ir.com

    In the United States:
    Piacente Financial Communications
    Brandi Piacente
    Tel: +1-212-481-2050
    E-mail: ke@tpg-ir.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: KE Holdings Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Unaudited Financial Results and a Final Cash Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BEIJING, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KE Holdings Inc. (“Beike” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BEKE and HKEX: 2423), a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and also announced a final cash dividend.

    Business and Financial Highlights for the Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024

    • Gross transaction value (GTV)1 in 2024 was RMB3,349.4 billion (US$458.9 billion), an increase of 6.6% year-over-year. GTV of existing home transactions was RMB2,246.5 billion (US$307.8 billion), an increase of 10.8% year-over-year. GTV of new home transactions was RMB970.0 billion (US$132.9 billion), a decrease of 3.3% year-over-year. GTV of home renovation and furnishing was RMB16.9 billion (US$2.3 billion), an increase of 27.3% year-over-year. GTV of emerging and other services was RMB116.0 billion (US$15.9 billion), an increase of 17.6% year-over-year.
      In the fourth quarter of 2024, GTV was RMB1,143.8 billion (US$156.7 billion), an increase of 55.5% year-over-year. GTV of existing home transactions was RMB744.8 billion (US$102.0 billion), an increase of 59.1% year-over-year. GTV of new home transactions was RMB355.3 billion (US$48.7 billion), an increase of 49.3% year-over-year. GTV of home renovation and furnishing was RMB5.3 billion (US$0.7 billion), an increase of 34.7% year-over-year. GTV of emerging and other services was RMB38.3 billion (US$5.3 billion), an increase of 50.0% year-over-year.
    • Net revenues in 2024 were RMB93.5 billion (US$12.8 billion), an increase of 20.2% year-over-year.
      In the fourth quarter of 2024, net revenues were RMB31.1 billion (US$4.3 billion), an increase of 54.1% year-over-year.
    • Net income in 2024 was RMB4,078 million (US$559 million), a decrease of 30.8% year-over-year. Adjusted net income2in 2024 was RMB7,211 million (US$988 million), a decrease of 26.4% year-over-year.
      In the fourth quarter of 2024, net income was RMB577 million (US$79 million), a decrease of 13.9% year-over-year. Adjusted net income was RMB1,344 million (US$184 million), a decrease of 21.6% year-over-year.
    • Number of stores was 51,573 as of December 31, 2024, a 17.7% increase from one year ago. Number of active stores3 was 49,693 as of December 31, 2024, an 18.3% increase from one year ago.
    • Number of agents was 499,937 as of December 31, 2024, a 16.9% increase from one year ago. Number of active agents4 was 445,271 as of December 31, 2024, a 12.1% increase from one year ago.
    • Mobile monthly active users (MAU)5 averaged 43.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, relatively flat compared to 43.2 million in the same period of 2023.

    Mr. Stanley Yongdong Peng, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Beike, commented, “in 2024, China’s real estate industry is accelerating towards an advanced stage, with customer demand shifting towards reducing decision-making risks and pursuing higher living quality. We empower service providers with technology, enabling optimal decision-making and driving the industry’s leap toward higher service efficiency.”

    “Under the strategy of active growth and ecosystem optimization, we achieved significant growth in several key metrics in 2024. The number of active stores on the platform reached nearly 49,700, an 18.3% increase year-on-year, while the number of active agents surpassed 445,000, a 12.1% increase year-on-year. The total GTV was RMB3,349.4 billion, with net revenues hitting a historic high of RMB93.5 billion, a 20.2% increase year-on-year. GTV of existing home transactions grew 10.8% year-on-year, while net revenues from new home transaction services increased by 10.1% year-on-year. The home renovation and furnishing services saw continuous improvement in scale and delivery capability, achieving net revenues of RMB14.8 billion, a 36.1% year-on-year increase. The home rental services managed over 430,000 units by the end of 2024, generating net revenues of RMB14.3 billion, a 135.0% year-on-year increase, with refined operations improving customer experience. Our Beihaojia business explored driving product strength and reduce risks in the new home industry through the C2M (customer to manufacturing) model.”

    “Looking ahead, we remain committed to our strategic direction of becoming ‘more technology-driven and more human-centric.’ AI-powered technology will enable deeper insights into personalized customer needs and redefine the boundaries of service providers’ capabilities, while a human-centered approach will highlight the value of service. We believe that the integration of technology and human touch will drive a step-change in consumer experience and service efficiency, unlocking new possibilities for the residential services industry,” concluded Mr. Peng.

    Mr. Tao Xu, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Beike, added, “in 2024, both the existing and new home markets saw a significant recovery following the stimulus policies introduced in September. The total volume of existing home transactions saw year-on-year growth in 2024, and structurally, the proportion of existing home transactions within the overall real estate market further increased.

    Facing market opportunities, we continued to make breakthroughs in scale in 2024. Our full-year net revenues reached RMB93.5 billion, up 20.2% year-over-year. Net revenues from existing and new home transaction services both grew year-over-year. Net revenues from non-housing transaction services grew by 64.2% year-over-year, accounting for 33.8% of total net revenues, serving as a new growth engine. Our earnings quality improved as well. Net operating cash inflow in 2024 was RMB9.45 billion, 1.3 times our adjusted net income for the year.

    We placed great emphasis on shareholder returns. We have in aggregate repurchased shares with a total consideration of approximately US$716 million in 2024, which accounted for approximately 3.9% of the Company’s total issued shares at the end of 2023. Meanwhile, we are here to declare our final cash dividend, with an aggregate amount of approximately US$0.4 billion, reaffirming our commitment to sharing long-term value with our shareholders.

    We believe our outstanding financial management capabilities will safeguard our ‘one body, three wings’ strategy and facilitate the steady growth of all business lines.”

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

    Net Revenues

    Net revenues increased by 54.1% to RMB31.1 billion (US$4.3 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB20.2 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the increase of total GTV and the expansion of home rental business. Total GTV increased by 55.5% to RMB1,143.8 billion (US$156.7 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB735.6 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the recovery of housing transaction market driven by the supportive policies and the Company’s proactive growth strategy and enhanced capabilities in market coverage.

    • Net revenues from existing home transaction services were RMB8.9 billion (US$1.2 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024, increased by 47.5% from RMB6.0 billion in the same period of 2023. GTV of existing home transactions increased by 59.1% to RMB744.8 billion (US$102.0 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB468.1 billion in the same period of 2023. The higher growth rate in GTV compared to net revenues in existing home transaction services was primarily attributable to a decrease in the commission rate of existing home sales transaction services, driven by a strategic scaling-down of certain value-added services offerings as the Company prioritized service quality assurance to ensure the premium offerings maintain their value proposition to customers.

      Among that, (i) commission revenue was RMB7.4 billion (US$1.0 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024, increased by 53.0% from RMB4.9 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the increase of GTV of existing home transactions served by Lianjia stores of 65.7% to RMB311.7 billion (US$42.7 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB188.1 billion in the same period of 2023, partially offset by the decrease in the commission rate of existing home sales transaction services charged by Lianjia stores which was driven by a strategic scale back certain value-added services offerings; and

      (ii) revenues derived from platform service, franchise service and other value-added services, which are mostly charged to connected stores and agents on the Company’s platform increased by 25.0% to RMB1.5 billion (US$0.2 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB1.2 billion in the same period of 2023, mainly due to an increase of GTV of existing home transactions served by connected agents on the Company’s platform of 54.7% to RMB433.2 billion (US$59.3 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB280.0 billion in the same period of 2023, partially offset by incentive-based reductions in platform service and franchise service fees for connected stores.

    • Net revenues from new home transaction services increased by 72.7% to RMB13.1 billion (US$1.8 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB7.6 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily due to the increase of GTV of new home transactions of 49.3% to RMB355.3 billion (US$48.7 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB238.0 billion in the same period of 2023, and the improved monetization capability. Among that, the GTV of new home transactions facilitated on Beike platform through connected agents, dedicated sales team with the expertise on new home transaction services and other sales channels increased by 51.6% to RMB287.5 billion (US$39.4 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB189.7 billion in the same period of 2023, and the GTV of new home transactions served by Lianjia brand increased by 40.4% to RMB67.8 billion (US$9.3 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB48.3 billion in the same period of 2023.
    • Net revenues from home renovation and furnishing increased by 12.8% to RMB4.1 billion (US$0.6 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB3.6 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to a) the increase of orders driven by the synergetic effects from customer acquisition and conversion between home transaction services and home renovation and furnishing business and b) a larger contribution from furniture and home furnishing sales in categories such as customized furniture, soft furnishings, and electrical appliances.
    • Net revenues from home rental services increased by 108.7% to RMB4.6 billion (US$0.6 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB2.2 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the increase of the number of rental units under the Carefree Rent model.
    • Net revenues from emerging and other services were RMB0.4 billion (US$0.1 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to RMB0.7 billion in the same period of 2023.

    Cost of Revenues

    Total cost of revenues increased by 59.1% to RMB24.0 billion (US$3.3 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB15.1 billion in the same period of 2023.

    • Commission – split. The Company’s cost of revenues for commissions to connected agents and other sales channels increased by 71.7% to RMB8.7 billion (US$1.2 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024, from RMB5.1 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily due to the increase in net revenues from new home transaction services derived from transactions facilitated through connected agents and other sales channels.
    • Commission and compensation – internal. The Company’s cost of revenues for internal commission and compensation increased by 64.8% to RMB6.5 billion (US$0.9 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB3.9 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily due to an increase in the net revenues from existing and new home transactions derived from transactions facilitated through Lianjia agents and the increase in fixed compensation costs mainly driven by the increased number of Lianjia agents and improved benefits for them.
    • Cost of home renovation and furnishing. The Company’s cost of revenues for home renovation and furnishing increased by 9.8% to RMB2.9 billion (US$0.4 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB2.6 billion in the same period of 2023, which was in line with the growth of net revenues from home renovation and furnishing.
    • Cost of home rental services. The Company’s cost of revenues for home rental services increased by 101.8% to RMB4.4 billion (US$0.6 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB2.2 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the growth of net revenues from home rental services.
    • Cost related to stores. The Company’s cost related to stores increased by 8.1% to RMB0.8 billion (US$0.1 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB0.7 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the increased number of Lianjia stores.
    • Other costs. The Company’s other costs increased to RMB0.7 billion (US$0.1 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB0.5 billion in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the increased tax and surcharges in line with the increased net revenues and an increase in provision and funding costs of financial services.

    Gross Profit

    Gross profit increased by 39.4% to RMB7.2 billion (US$1.0 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB5.1 billion in the same period of 2023. Gross margin was 23.0% in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 25.5% in the same period of 2023, primarily due to a) a lower contribution margin of existing home transaction services led by the increased fix compensation costs as percentage of net revenues from existing home transaction services and b)a lower contribution margin of emerging and other services.

    Income from Operations

    Total operating expenses increased by 15.8% to RMB6.2 billion (US$0.8 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB5.3 billion in the same period of 2023.

    • General and administrative expenses were RMB3.0 billion (US$0.4 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with RMB2.6 billion in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the increase in personnel costs, partially offset by the decrease of share-based compensation expenses.
    • Sales and marketing expenses increased by 12.7% to RMB2.3 billion (US$0.3 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB2.1 billion in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the increase in sales and marketing expenses for home renovation and furnishing business.
    • Research and development expenses increased by 38.4% to RMB739 million (US$101 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB534 million in the same period of 2023, primarily due to the increased headcount of research and development personnel and the increased technical service costs.

    Income from operations was RMB1,011 million (US$139 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to loss from operations of RMB173 million in the same period of 2023. Operating margin was 3.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to negative 0.9% in the same period of 2023, primarily due to the improved operating leverage in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to the same period of 2023.

    Adjusted income from operations6 was RMB1,755 million (US$240 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to RMB856 million in the same period of 2023. Adjusted operating margin7 was 5.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 4.2% in the same period of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA8 was RMB2,343 million (US$321 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to RMB1,700 million in the same period of 2023.

    Net Income

    Net income was RMB577 million (US$79 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to RMB670 million in the same period of 2023, primarily due to an increase in income tax expenses.

    Adjusted net income was RMB1,344 million (US$184 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to RMB1,714 million in the same period of 2023.

    Net Income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s Ordinary Shareholders

    Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders was RMB570 million (US$78 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to RMB670 million in the same period of 2023.

    Adjusted net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders9 was RMB1,336 million (US$183 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to RMB1,713 million in the same period of 2023.

    Net Income per ADS

    Basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders10 were RMB0.51 (US$0.07) and RMB0.49 (US$0.07) in the fourth quarter of 2024, respectively, compared to RMB0.58 and RMB0.56 in the same period of 2023, respectively.

    Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders11 were RMB1.19 (US$0.16) and RMB1.14 (US$0.16) in the fourth quarter of 2024, respectively, compared to RMB1.49 and RMB1.44 in the same period of 2023, respectively.

    Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Short-Term Investments

    As of December 31, 2024, the combined balance of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments amounted to RMB61.6 billion (US$8.4 billion).

    Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

    Net Revenues

    Net revenues increased by 20.2% to RMB93.5 billion (US$12.8 billion) in 2024 from RMB77.8 billion in 2023, primarily attributable to the increase of net revenues from new home transaction services and the expansion of home renovation and furnishing and home rental business. Total GTV increased by 6.6% to RMB3,349.4 billion (US$458.9 billion) in 2024 from RMB3,142.9 billion in 2023, primarily attributable to the Company’s proactive growth strategy and enhanced capabilities in market coverage.

    • Net revenues from existing home transaction services were RMB28.2 billion (US$3.9 billion) in 2024, relatively flat compared with RMB28.0 billion in 2023. GTV of existing home transactions increased by 10.8% to RMB2,246.5 billion (US$307.8 billion) in 2024 from RMB2,028.0 billion in 2023.

      Among that, (i) commission revenue increased by 1.0% to RMB23.1 billion (US$3.2 billion) in 2024, from RMB22.9 billion in 2023, primarily attributable to the GTV of existing home transactions served by Lianjia stores increased by 8.4% to RMB918.5 billion (US$125.8 billion) in 2024 from RMB847.6 billion in 2023, mainly offset by a lower commission rate of existing home transaction services charged by Lianjia stores in Beijing; and

      (ii) revenues derived from platform service, franchise service and other value-added services, which are mostly charged to connected stores and agents on the Company’s platform were RMB5.1 billion (US$0.7 billion) in 2024, relatively flat compared with RMB5.1 billion in 2023, while the GTV of existing home transactions served by connected agents on the Company’s platform increased by 12.5% to RMB1,328.0 billion (US$181.9 billion) in 2024 from RMB1,180.4 billion in 2023. The increase was mainly offset by the decrease in revenues from certain value-added services which were not directly driven by GTV of existing home transactions served by connected agents.

    • Net revenues from new home transaction services increased by 10.1% to RMB33.7 billion (US$4.6 billion) in 2024 from RMB30.6 billion in 2023, primarily due to the improved monetization capability, which was partially offset by the decrease of GTV of new home transactions of 3.3% to RMB970.0 billion (US$132.9 billion) in 2024 from RMB1,003.0 billion in 2023. Among that, the GTV of new home transactions facilitated on Beike platform through connected agents, dedicated sales team with the expertise on new home transaction services and other sales channels decreased by 3.1% to RMB784.4 billion (US$107.5 billion) in 2024 from RMB809.9 billion in 2023, and the GTV of new home transactions served by Lianjia brand decreased by 3.9% to RMB185.6 billion (US$25.4 billion) in 2024 from RMB193.2 billion in 2023.
    • Net revenues from home renovation and furnishing increased by 36.1% to RMB14.8 billion (US$2.0 billion) in 2024 from RMB10.9 billion in 2023, primarily attributable to a) the increase of orders driven by the synergetic effects from customer acquisition and conversion between home transaction services and home renovation and furnishing business, b) a larger contribution from furniture and home furnishing sales in categories such as customized furniture, soft furnishings, and electrical appliances, and c) the shortened lead time driven by enhanced delivery capabilities.
    • Net revenues from home rental services increased by 135.0% to RMB14.3 billion (US$2.0 billion) in 2024 from RMB6.1 billion in 2023, primarily attributable to the increase of the number of rental units under the Carefree Rent model.
    • Net revenues from emerging and other services increased by 8.8% to RMB2.5 billion (US$0.3 billion) in 2024 from RMB2.3 billion in 2023, primarily attributable to the increase of net revenues from financial services.

    Cost of Revenues

    Total cost of revenues increased by 25.8% to RMB70.5 billion (US$9.7 billion) in 2024 from RMB56.1 billion in 2023.

    • Commission – split. The Company’s cost of revenues for commissions to connected agents and other sales channels increased by 11.5% to RMB22.8 billion (US$3.1 billion) in 2024 from RMB20.4 billion in 2023, primarily due to the increase in net revenues from new home transaction services derived from transactions facilitated through connected agents and other sales channels.
    • Commission and compensation – internal. The Company’s cost of revenues for internal commission and compensation increased by 11.1% to RMB18.9 billion (US$2.6 billion) in 2024 from RMB17.0 billion in 2023, primarily due to an increase in the net revenues from new home transactions derived from transactions facilitated through Lianjia agents and the increase in fixed compensation costs mainly driven by the increased number of Lianjia agents and improved benefits for them.
    • Cost of home renovation and furnishing. The Company’s cost of revenues for home renovation and furnishing increased by 32.8% to RMB10.2 billion (US$1.4 billion) in 2024 from RMB7.7 billion in 2023, which was in line with the growth of net revenues from home renovation and furnishing.
    • Cost of home rental services. The Company’s cost of revenues for home rental services increased by 121.0% to RMB13.6 billion (US$1.9 billion) in 2024 from RMB6.2 billion in 2023, primarily attributable to the growth of net revenues from home rental services.
    • Cost related to stores. The Company’s cost related to stores was RMB2.9 billion (US$0.4 billion) in 2024, relatively flat compared with RMB2.9 billion in 2023.
    • Other costs. The Company’s other costs increased by 13.6% to RMB2.1 billion (US$0.3 billion) in 2024 from RMB1.9 billion in 2023, mainly due to the increased tax and surcharges in line with the increased net revenues and an increase in provision and funding costs of financial services.

    Gross Profit

    Gross profit increased by 5.6% to RMB22.9 billion (US$3.1 billion) in 2024 from RMB21.7 billion in 2023. Gross margin was 24.6% in 2024, compared to 27.9% in 2023, primarily due to a) a lower contribution ratio of net revenues from existing home transaction services with a relatively higher margin than other revenue streams; and b) a lower contribution margin of existing home transaction services led by the increased fix compensation costs as percentage of net revenues from existing home transaction services.

    Income from Operations

    Total operating expenses increased by 13.3% to RMB19.2 billion (US$2.6 billion) in 2024 from RMB16.9 billion in 2023.

    • General and administrative expenses increased by 8.8% to RMB9.0 billion (US$1.2 billion) in 2024 from RMB8.2 billion in 2023, mainly due to the increase in personnel costs.
    • Sales and marketing expenses increased by 17.0% to RMB7.8 billion (US$1.1 billion) in 2024 from RMB6.7 billion in 2023, mainly due to the increase in sales and marketing expenses for home renovation and furnishing business.
    • Research and development expenses increased by 17.9% to RMB2.3 billion (US$0.3 billion) in 2024 from RMB1.9 billion in 2023, primarily due to the increased headcount of research and development personnel and the increased technical service costs.

    Income from operations was RMB3,765 million (US$516 million) in 2024, compared to RMB4,797 million in 2023. Operating margin was 4.0% in 2024, compared to 6.2% in 2023, primarily due to a lower gross margin partially offset by the improved operating leverage in 2024, compared to 2023.

    Adjusted income from operations was RMB6,890 million (US$944 million) in 2024, compared to RMB8.7 billion in 2023. Adjusted operating margin was 7.4% in 2024, compared to 11.2% in 2023. Adjusted EBITDA was RMB9,534 million (US$1,306 million) in 2024, compared to RMB11.3 billion in 2023.

    Net Income

    Net income was RMB4,078 million (US$559 million) in 2024, compared to RMB5,890 million in 2023.

    Adjusted net income was RMB7,211 million (US$988 million) in 2024, compared to RMB9,798 million in 2023.

    Net Income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s Ordinary Shareholders

    Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders was RMB4,065 million (US$557 million) in 2024, compared to RMB5,883 million in 2023.

    Adjusted net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders12 was RMB7,198 million (US$986 million) in 2024, compared to RMB9,792 million in 2023.

    Net Income per ADS

    Basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders13 were RMB3.58 (US$0.49) and RMB3.45 (US$0.47) in 2024, respectively, compared to RMB5.01 and RMB4.89 in 2023, respectively.

    Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders14 were RMB6.33 (US$0.87) and RMB6.10 (US$0.84) in 2024, respectively, compared to RMB8.34 and RMB8.13 in 2023, respectively.

    Share Repurchase Program

    As previously disclosed, the Company established a share repurchase program in August 2022 and upsized and extended it in August 2023 and August 2024, under which the Company may purchase up to US$3 billion of its Class A ordinary shares and/or ADSs until August 31, 2025, subject to obtaining another general unconditional mandate for the repurchase from the shareholders of the Company at the next annual general meeting to continue its share repurchase after the expiry of the existing share repurchase mandate granted by the annual general meeting held on June 14, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, the Company in aggregate has purchased approximately 109.1 million ADSs (representing approximately 327.4 million Class A ordinary shares) on the New York Stock Exchange with a total consideration of approximately US$1,625.4 million under this share repurchase program since its launch.

    Final Cash Dividend

    The Company is pleased to announce that its board of directors (the “Board”) has approved a final cash dividend (the “Dividend”) of US$0.12 per ordinary share, or US$0.36 per ADS, to holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs of record as of the close of business on April 9, 2025, Beijing/ Hong Kong Time and New York Time, respectively, payable in U.S. dollars. The aggregate amount of the Dividend to be paid will be approximately US$0.4 billion, which will be funded by cash surplus on the Company’s balance sheet.

    For holders of ordinary shares, in order to qualify for the Dividend, all valid documents for the transfer of shares accompanied by the relevant share certificates must be lodged for registration with the Company’s Hong Kong share registrar, Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, at Shops 1712-1716, 17th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 9, 2025 (Beijing/Hong Kong Time). Dividend to be paid to the Company’s ADS holders through the depositary bank will be subject to the terms of the deposit agreement. The payment date is expected to be on or around April 22, 2025 for holders of ordinary shares, and on or around April 25, 2025 for holders of ADSs.

    Under the Company’s current dividend policy, the Board has discretion on whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. In addition, the Company’s shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by the Board. If the Company decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will be based upon its future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the Board may deem relevant.

    Conference Call Information

    The Company will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 (8:00 P.M. Beijing/Hong Kong Time on Tuesday, March 18, 2025) to discuss the financial results.

    For participants who wish to join the conference call using dial-in numbers, please complete online registration using the link provided below at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled call start time. Dial-in numbers, passcode and unique access PIN would be provided upon registering.

    Participant Online Registration:

    English Line: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10045435-su5md1.html

    Chinese Simultaneous Interpretation Line (listen-only mode): https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10045436-c4n72s.html

    A replay of the conference call will be accessible through March 25, 2025, by dialing the following numbers:

    United States: +1-855-883-1031
    Mainland, China: 400-1209-216
    Hong Kong, China: 800-930-639
    International: +61-7-3107-6325
    Replay PIN (English line): 10045435
    Replay PIN (Chinese simultaneous interpretation line): 10045436

    A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company’s investor relations website at https://investors.ke.com.

    Exchange Rate

    This press release contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (“US$”) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB7.2993 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on December 31, 2024, in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. For analytical presentation, all percentages are calculated using the numbers presented in the financial information contained in this earnings release.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    The Company uses adjusted income (loss) from operations, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating its operating results and formulating its business plan. Beike believes that these non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in the Company’s business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that the Company includes in its net income (loss). Beike also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about its results of operations, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by its management in formulating its business plan. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that these non-GAAP financial measures exclude share-based compensation expenses that have been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in the Company’s business.

    The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to gross profit, net income (loss) or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of its operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review these non-GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to the Company’s data. Beike encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. Adjusted income (loss) from operations is defined as income (loss) from operations, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, and (iii) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets. Adjusted operating margin is defined as adjusted income (loss) from operations as a percentage of net revenues. Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, (v) impairment of investments, and (vi) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments. Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is defined as net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, (v) impairment of investments, (vi) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments, and (vii) effects of non-GAAP adjustments on net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) income tax expense, (ii) share-based compensation expenses, (iii) amortization of intangible assets, (iv) depreciation of property, plant and equipment, (v) interest income, net, (vi) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (vii) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, and (viii) impairment of investments. Adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is defined as adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating adjusted net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted.

    Please see the “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” included in this press release for a full reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to its respective comparable GAAP measure.

    About KE Holdings Inc.

    KE Holdings Inc. is a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services. The Company is a pioneer in building infrastructure and standards to reinvent how service providers and customers efficiently navigate and complete housing transactions and services in China, ranging from existing and new home sales, home rentals, to home renovation and furnishing, and other services. The Company owns and operates Lianjia, China’s leading real estate brokerage brand and an integral part of its Beike platform. With more than 23 years of operating experience through Lianjia since its inception in 2001, the Company believes the success and proven track record of Lianjia pave the way for it to build its infrastructure and standards and drive the rapid and sustainable growth of Beike.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release, as well as Beike’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Beike may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about KE Holdings Inc.’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Beike’s goals and strategies; Beike’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in the Company’s revenues, costs or expenditures; Beike’s ability to empower services and facilitate transactions on Beike platform; competition in the industry in which Beike operates; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the industry; Beike’s ability to protect the Company’s systems and infrastructures from cyber-attacks; Beike’s dependence on the integrity of brokerage brands, stores and agents on the Company’s platform; general economic and business conditions in China and globally; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in KE Holdings Inc.’s filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and KE Holdings Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    In China:
    KE Holdings Inc.
    Investor Relations
    Siting Li
    E-mail: ir@ke.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Jenny Cai
    Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
    E-mail: ke@tpg-ir.com

    In the United States:
    Piacente Financial Communications
    Brandi Piacente
    Tel: +1-212-481-2050
    Email: ke@tpg-ir.com

    Source: KE Holdings Inc.

    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data)
        As of
    December 31,
      As of
    December 31,
        2023   2024
        RMB   RMB   US$
                 
    ASSETS            
    Current assets            
    Cash and cash equivalents   19,634,716   11,442,965   1,567,680
    Restricted cash   6,222,745   8,858,449   1,213,603
    Short-term investments   34,257,958   41,317,700   5,660,502
    Financing receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB122,482 and RMB147,330 as of December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively   1,347,759   2,835,527   388,466
    Accounts receivable and contract assets, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB1,681,127 and RMB1,636,163 as of December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively   3,176,169   5,497,989   753,221
    Amounts due from and prepayments to related parties   419,270   379,218   51,953
    Loan receivables from related parties   28,030   18,797   2,575
    Prepayments, receivables and other assets   4,666,976   6,252,700   856,615
    Total current assets   69,753,623   76,603,345   10,494,615
    Non-current assets            
    Property, plant and equipment, net   1,965,098   2,400,211   328,828
    Right-of-use assets   17,617,915   23,366,879   3,201,249
    Long-term investments, net   23,570,988   23,790,106   3,259,231
    Intangible assets, net   1,067,459   857,635   117,496
    Goodwill   4,856,807   4,777,420   654,504
    Long-term loan receivables from related parties   27,000   131,410   18,003
    Other non-current assets   1,473,041   1,222,277   167,451
    Total non-current assets   50,578,308   56,545,938   7,746,762
    TOTAL ASSETS   120,331,931   133,149,283   18,241,377
     
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data)
     
        As of
    December 31,
      As of
    December 31,
        2023   2024
        RMB   RMB   US$
                 
    LIABILITIES            
    Current liabilities            
    Accounts payable   6,328,516   9,492,629   1,300,485
    Amounts due to related parties   430,350   391,446   53,628
    Employee compensation and welfare payable   8,145,779   8,414,472   1,152,778
    Customer deposits payable   3,900,564   6,078,623   832,768
    Income taxes payable   698,568   1,028,735   140,936
    Short-term borrowings   290,450   288,280   39,494
    Lease liabilities current portion   9,368,607   13,729,701   1,880,961
    Contract liability and deferred revenue   4,665,201   6,051,867   829,102
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   5,695,948   7,268,505   995,782
    Total current liabilities   39,523,983   52,744,258   7,225,934
    Non-current liabilities            
    Deferred tax liabilities   279,341   317,697   43,524
    Lease liabilities non-current portion   8,327,113   8,636,770   1,183,233
    Other non-current liabilities   389   2,563   352
    Total non-current liabilities   8,606,843   8,957,030   1,227,109
    TOTAL LIABILITIES   48,130,826   61,701,288   8,453,043
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data)
        As of
    December 31,
      As of
    December 31,
        2023     2024  
        RMB   RMB   US$
                 
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY            
    KE Holdings Inc. shareholders’ equity            
    Ordinary shares (US$0.00002 par value; 25,000,000,000 ordinary shares authorized, comprising of 24,114,698,720 Class A ordinary shares and 885,301,280 Class B ordinary shares. 3,571,960,220 Class A ordinary shares issued and 3,443,860,844 Class A ordinary shares outstanding(1)as of December 31, 2023; 3,479,616,986 Class A ordinary shares issued and 3,337,567,403 Class A ordinary shares outstanding(1)as of December 31, 2024; and 151,354,549 and 145,413,446 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively)   475     461     63  
    Treasury shares   (866,198 )   (949,410 )   (130,069 )
    Additional paid-in capital   77,583,054     72,460,562     9,927,056  
    Statutory reserves   811,107     926,972     126,995  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income   244,302     609,112     83,448  
    Accumulated deficit   (5,672,916 )   (1,723,881 )   (236,171 )
    Total KE Holdings Inc. shareholders’ equity   72,099,824     71,323,816     9,771,322  
    Non-controlling interests   101,281     124,179     17,012  
    TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   72,201,105     71,447,995     9,788,334  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   120,331,931     133,149,283     18,241,377  

    (1)  Excluding the Class A ordinary shares registered in the name of the depositary bank for future issuance of ADSs upon the exercise or vesting of awards granted under our share incentive plans and the Class A ordinary shares repurchased but not cancelled in the form of ADSs.

    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data)


      For the Three Months Ended   For the Year Ended
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      RMB   RMB   US$   RMB   RMB   US$
                           
    Net revenues                      
    Existing home transaction services 6,049,963     8,922,030     1,222,313     27,954,135     28,201,003     3,863,522  
    New home transaction services 7,574,098     13,076,767     1,791,510     30,575,778     33,653,403     4,610,497  
    Home renovation and furnishing 3,640,928     4,106,834     562,634     10,850,497     14,768,947     2,023,337  
    Home rental services 2,194,485     4,580,502     627,526     6,099,747     14,334,479     1,963,816  
    Emerging and other services 744,752     438,974     60,139     2,296,775     2,499,666     342,453  
    Total net revenues 20,204,226     31,125,107     4,264,122     77,776,932     93,457,498     12,803,625  
    Cost of revenues                      
    Commission-split (5,073,602 )   (8,709,790 )   (1,193,236 )   (20,419,577 )   (22,766,957 )   (3,119,060 )
    Commission and compensation-internal (3,917,437 )   (6,456,881 )   (884,589 )   (17,015,927 )   (18,903,786 )   (2,589,808 )
    Cost of home renovation and furnishing (2,628,015 )   (2,884,614 )   (395,190 )   (7,705,325 )   (10,229,696 )   (1,401,463 )
    Cost of home rental services (2,166,138 )   (4,370,712 )   (598,785 )   (6,163,044 )   (13,619,506 )   (1,865,865 )
    Cost related to stores (727,054 )   (785,966 )   (107,677 )   (2,872,093 )   (2,854,988 )   (391,132 )
    Others (547,934 )   (746,958 )   (102,333 )   (1,882,952 )   (2,138,510 )   (292,973 )
    Total cost of revenues(1) (15,060,180 )   (23,954,921 )   (3,281,810 )   (56,058,918 )   (70,513,443 )   (9,660,301 )
    Gross profit 5,144,046     7,170,186     982,312     21,718,014     22,944,055     3,143,324  
    Operating expenses                      
    Sales and marketing expenses(1) (2,080,363 )   (2,344,000 )   (321,127 )   (6,654,178 )   (7,783,341 )   (1,066,313 )
    General and administrative expenses(1) (2,647,739 )   (2,961,294 )   (405,695 )   (8,236,569 )   (8,960,747 )   (1,227,617 )
    Research and development expenses(1) (533,620 )   (738,683 )   (101,199 )   (1,936,780 )   (2,283,424 )   (312,828 )
    Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets (55,441 )   (115,179 )   (15,779 )   (93,417 )   (151,576 )   (20,766 )
    Total operating expenses (5,317,163 )   (6,159,156 )   (843,800 )   (16,920,944 )   (19,179,088 )   (2,627,524 )
    Income (loss) from operations (173,117 )   1,011,030     138,512     4,797,070     3,764,967     515,800  
    Interest income, net 311,963     283,417     38,828     1,263,332     1,260,163     172,642  
    Share of results of equity investees (18,130 )   6,144     842     9,098     10,192     1,396  
    Impairment loss for equity investments accounted for equity method (4,187 )           (10,369 )        
    Fair value changes in investments, net 4,127     125,333     17,171     78,320     312,791     42,852  
    Impairment loss for equity investments accounted for using Measurement Alternative (16,605 )   (971 )   (133 )   (28,800 )   (9,408 )   (1,289 )
    Foreign currency exchange loss (174,459 )   (6,805 )   (932 )   (93,956 )   (34,674 )   (4,750 )
    Other income, net 832,103     192,069     26,313     1,869,300     1,566,038     214,546  
    Income before income tax expense 761,695     1,610,217     220,601     7,883,995     6,870,069     941,197  
    Income tax expense (91,632 )   (1,032,969 )   (141,516 )   (1,994,391 )   (2,791,889 )   (382,487 )
    Net income 670,063     577,248     79,085     5,889,604     4,078,180     558,710  
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data)

      For the Three Months Ended   For the Year Ended
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      RMB   RMB   US$   RMB   RMB   US$
                           
    Net income attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders (458 )   (7,256 )   (994 )   (6,380 )   (13,280 )   (1,819 )
    Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc. 669,605     569,992     78,091     5,883,224     4,064,900     556,891  
    Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders 669,605     569,992     78,091     5,883,224     4,064,900     556,891  
                           
    Net income 670,063     577,248     79,085     5,889,604     4,078,180     558,710  
    Currency translation adjustments (138,522 )   348,802     47,786     574,223     217,142     29,748  
    Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments, net of reclassification 133,067     (15,206 )   (2,083 )   82,800     147,668     20,230  
    Total comprehensive income 664,608     910,844     124,788     6,546,627     4,442,990     608,688  
    Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders (458 )   (7,256 )   (994 )   (6,380 )   (13,280 )   (1,819 )
    Comprehensive income attributable to KE Holdings Inc. 664,150     903,588     123,794     6,540,247     4,429,710     606,869  
    Comprehensive income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders 664,150     903,588     123,794     6,540,247     4,429,710     606,869  
     
    For the Three Months Ended
      For the Year Ended
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      RMB   RMB   US$   RMB   RMB   US$
                           
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing net income per share, basic and diluted                      
    —Basic 3,449,700,565   3,356,948,233   3,356,948,233   3,521,379,938   3,409,772,592   3,409,772,592
    —Diluted 3,557,221,957   3,525,088,426   3,525,088,426   3,611,653,020   3,537,408,029   3,537,408,029
                           
    Weighted average number of ADS used in computing net income per ADS, basic and diluted                      
    —Basic 1,149,900,188   1,118,982,744   1,118,982,744   1,173,793,313   1,136,590,864   1,136,590,864
    —Diluted 1,185,740,652   1,175,029,475   1,175,029,475   1,203,884,340   1,179,136,010   1,179,136,010
                           
    Net income per share attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders                      
    —Basic 0.19   0.17   0.02   1.67   1.19   0.16
    —Diluted 0.19   0.16   0.02   1.63   1.15   0.16
                           
    Net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders                      
    —Basic 0.58   0.51   0.07   5.01   3.58   0.49
    —Diluted 0.56   0.49   0.07   4.89   3.45   0.47
                           
    (1) Includes share-based compensation expenses as follows:  
    Cost of revenues 138,967   135,358   18,544   502,523   521,293   71,417
    Sales and marketing expenses 51,347   53,410   7,317   180,465   197,320   27,033
    General and administrative expenses 580,363   360,801   49,430   2,345,895   1,821,817   249,588
    Research and development expenses 47,761   45,499   6,233   186,666   185,645   25,433
                           
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS

    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data)

      For the Three Months Ended   For the Year Ended
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      RMB   RMB   US$   RMB   RMB   US$
                           
    Income (loss) from operations (173,117 )   1,011,030     138,512     4,797,070     3,764,967     515,800  
    Share-based compensation expenses 818,438     595,068     81,524     3,215,549     2,726,075     373,471  
    Amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement 155,039     33,695     4,616     613,307     247,862     33,957  
    Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets 55,441     115,179     15,779     93,417     151,576     20,766  
    Adjusted income from operations 855,801     1,754,972     240,431     8,719,343     6,890,480     943,994  
                           
    Net income 670,063     577,248     79,085     5,889,604     4,078,180     558,710  
    Share-based compensation expenses 818,438     595,068     81,524     3,215,549     2,726,075     373,471  
    Amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement 155,039     33,695     4,616     613,307     247,862     33,957  
    Changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration 546     27,960     3,831     (26,315 )   24,371     3,339  
    Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets 55,441     115,179     15,779     93,417     151,576     20,766  
    Impairment of investments 20,792     971     133     39,169     9,408     1,289  
    Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments (6,561 )   (6,495 )   (890 )   (26,243 )   (26,399 )   (3,617 )
    Adjusted net income 1,713,758     1,343,626     184,078     9,798,488     7,211,073     987,915  
                           
    Net income 670,063     577,248     79,085     5,889,604     4,078,180     558,710  
    Income tax expense 91,632     1,032,969     141,516     1,994,391     2,791,889     382,487  
    Share-based compensation expenses 818,438     595,068     81,524     3,215,549     2,726,075     373,471  
    Amortization of intangible assets 158,339     38,041     5,212     627,146     268,684     36,810  
    Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 196,436     238,496     32,674     775,042     743,728     101,890  
    Interest income, net (311,963 )   (283,417 )   (38,828 )   (1,263,332 )   (1,260,163 )   (172,642 )
    Changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration 546     27,960     3,831     (26,315 )   24,371     3,339  
    Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets 55,441     115,179     15,779     93,417     151,576     20,766  
    Impairment of investments 20,792     971     133     39,169     9,408     1,289  
    Adjusted EBITDA 1,699,724     2,342,515     320,926     11,344,671     9,533,748     1,306,120  
                           
    Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders 669,605     569,992     78,091     5,883,224     4,064,900     556,891  
    Share-based compensation expenses 818,438     595,068     81,524     3,215,549     2,726,075     373,471  
    Amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement 155,039     33,695     4,616     613,307     247,862     33,957  
    Changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration 546     27,960     3,831     (26,315 )   24,371     3,339  
    Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets 55,441     115,179     15,779     93,417     151,576     20,766  
    Impairment of investments 20,792     971     133     39,169     9,408     1,289  
    Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments (6,561 )   (6,495 )   (890 )   (26,243 )   (26,399 )   (3,617 )
    Effects of non-GAAP adjustments on net income attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders (7 )   (7 )   (1 )   (28 )   (28 )   (4 )
    Adjusted net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders 1,713,293     1,336,363     183,083     9,792,080     7,197,765     986,092  
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS (Continued)

    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data)

      For the Three Months Ended   For the Year Ended
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      RMB   RMB   US$   RMB   RMB   US$
                           
    Weighted average number of ADS used in computing net income per ADS, basic and diluted                      
    —Basic 1,149,900,188   1,118,982,744   1,118,982,744   1,173,793,313   1,136,590,864   1,136,590,864
    —Diluted 1,185,740,652   1,175,029,475   1,175,029,475   1,203,884,340   1,179,136,010   1,179,136,010
                           
    Weighted average number of ADS used in calculating adjusted net income per ADS, basic and diluted                      
    —Basic 1,149,900,188   1,118,982,744   1,118,982,744   1,173,793,313   1,136,590,864   1,136,590,864
    —Diluted 1,185,740,652   1,175,029,475   1,175,029,475   1,203,884,340   1,179,136,010   1,179,136,010
                           
    Net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders                      
    —Basic 0.58   0.51   0.07   5.01   3.58   0.49
    —Diluted 0.56   0.49   0.07   4.89   3.45   0.47
                           
    Non-GAAP adjustments to net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders                      
    —Basic 0.91   0.68   0.09   3.33   2.75   0.38
    —Diluted 0.88   0.65   0.09   3.24   2.65   0.37
                           
    Adjusted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders                      
    —Basic 1.49   1.19   0.16   8.34   6.33   0.87
    —Diluted 1.44   1.14   0.16   8.13   6.10   0.84
                           
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

    (All amounts in thousands)   

      For the Three Months Ended   For the Year Ended
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      RMB   RMB   US$   RMB   RMB   US$
                           
    Net cash provided by operating activities 1,767,804     5,202,518     712,740     11,414,244     9,447,137     1,294,255  
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 3,712,203     (2,015,584 )   (276,133 )   (3,977,440 )   (9,378,025 )   (1,284,784 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (1,475,585 )   1,109,860     152,050     (7,218,210 )   (5,794,635 )   (793,862 )
    Effect of exchange rate change on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (142,337 )   184,196     25,237     44,608     169,476     23,216  
    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash 3,862,085     4,480,990     613,894     263,202     (5,556,047 )   (761,175 )
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the period 21,995,376     15,820,424     2,167,389     25,594,259     25,857,461     3,542,458  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period 25,857,461     20,301,414     2,781,283     25,857,461     20,301,414     2,781,283  
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED SEGMENT CONTRIBUTION MEASURE

    (All amounts in thousands)                 

        For the Three Months Ended   For the Year Ended
        December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2024
        RMB   RMB   US$   RMB   RMB   US$
    Existing home transaction services                        
    Net revenues   6,049,963     8,922,030     1,222,313     27,954,135     28,201,003     3,863,522  
    Less: Commission and compensation   (3,355,714 )   (5,315,541 )   (728,226 )   (14,762,910 )   (16,016,079 )   (2,194,194 )
    Contribution   2,694,249     3,606,489     494,087     13,191,225     12,184,924     1,669,328  
    New home transaction services                        
    Net revenues   7,574,098     13,076,767     1,791,510     30,575,778     33,653,403     4,610,497  
    Less: Commission and compensation   (5,574,423 )   (9,723,154 )   (1,332,067 )   (22,455,253 )   (25,304,481 )   (3,466,700 )
    Contribution   1,999,675     3,353,613     459,443     8,120,525     8,348,922     1,143,797  
    Home renovation and furnishing                        
    Net revenues   3,640,928     4,106,834     562,634     10,850,497     14,768,947     2,023,337  
    Less: Material costs, commission and compensation   (2,628,015 )   (2,884,614 )   (395,190 )   (7,705,325 )   (10,229,696 )   (1,401,463 )
    Contribution   1,012,913     1,222,220     167,444     3,145,172     4,539,251     621,874  
    Home rental services                        
    Net revenues   2,194,485     4,580,502     627,526     6,099,747     14,334,479     1,963,816  
    Less: Property leasing costs, commission and compensation   (2,166,138 )   (4,370,712 )   (598,785 )   (6,163,044 )   (13,619,506 )   (1,865,865 )
    (Deficit)/Contribution   28,347     209,790     28,741     (63,297 )   714,973     97,951  
    Emerging and other services                        
    Net revenues   744,752     438,974     60,139     2,296,775     2,499,666     342,453  
    Less: Commission and compensation   (60,902 )   (127,976 )   (17,532 )   (217,341 )   (350,183 )   (47,974 )
    Contribution   683,850     310,998     42,607     2,079,434     2,149,483     294,479  

    1 GTV for a given period is calculated as the total value of all transactions which the Company facilitated on the Company’s platform and evidenced by signed contracts as of the end of the period, including the value of the existing home transactions, new home transactions, home renovation and furnishing and emerging and other services (excluding home rental services), and including transactions that are contracted but pending closing at the end of the relevant period. For the avoidance of doubt, for transactions that failed to close afterwards, the corresponding GTV represented by these transactions will be deducted accordingly.
    2 Adjusted net income (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, (v) impairment of investments, and (vi) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.
    3 Based on our accumulated operational experience, we have introduced the operating metrics of number of active stores and number of active agents on our platform, which can better reflect the operational activeness of stores and agents on our platform.
    “Active stores” as of a given date is defined as stores on our platform excluding the stores which (i) have not facilitated any housing transaction during the preceding 60 days, (ii) do not have any agent who has engaged in any critical steps in housing transactions (including but not limited to introducing new properties, attracting new customers and conducting property showings) during the preceding seven days, or (iii) have not been visited by any agent during the preceding 14 days. The number of active stores was 42,021 as of December 31, 2023.
    4 “Active agents” as of a given date is defined as agents on our platform excluding the agents who (i) delivered notice to leave but have not yet completed the exit procedures, (ii) have not engaged in any critical steps in housing transactions (including but not limited to introducing new properties, attracting new customers and conducting property showings) during the preceding 30 days, or (iii) have not participated in facilitating any housing transaction during the preceding three months. The number of active agents was 397,135 as of December 31, 2023.
    5 “Mobile monthly active users” or “mobile MAU” are to the sum of (i) the number of accounts that have accessed our platform through our Beike or Lianjia mobile app (with duplication eliminated) at least once during a month, and (ii) the number of Weixin users that have accessed our platform through our Weixin Mini Programs at least once during a month. Average mobile MAU for any period is calculated by dividing (i) the sum of the Company’s mobile MAUs for each month of such period, by (ii) the number of months in such period.
    6 Adjusted income (loss) from operations is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as income (loss) from operations, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, and (iii) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.
    7 Adjusted operating margin is adjusted income (loss) from operations as a percentage of net revenues.
    8 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) income tax expense, (ii) share-based compensation expenses, (iii) amortization of intangible assets, (iv) depreciation of property, plant and equipment, (v) interest income, net, (vi) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (vii) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets,and (viii) impairment of investments. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.
    9 Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure and defined as net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, (v) impairment of investments, (vi) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments, and (vii) effects of non-GAAP adjustments on net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.
    10 ADS refers to American Depositary Share. Each ADS represents three Class A ordinary shares of the Company. Net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted.
    11 Adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating adjusted net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.
    12 Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure and defined as net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, (v) impairment of investments, (vi) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments, and (vii) effects of non-GAAP adjustments on net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.
    13 ADS refers to American Depositary Share. Each ADS represents three Class A ordinary shares of the Company. Net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted.
    14 Adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating adjusted net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: New WSO2 Integration Offerings Maximize the Power of AI 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, TX and Barcelona, Spain, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Integration plays a critical role in enabling applications and digital services to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Today WSO2 is empowering software developers to gain new levels of productivity in creating and managing AI integrations with the introduction of its WSO2 Ballerina Integrator open-source software and Devant by WSO2 AI enterprise integration platform as a service (iPaaS). 

    WSO2 Ballerina Integrator and Devant, available now, address the dual demands around AI-enabled software integrations. They allow software developers to seamlessly switch between low-code and pro-code when creating integrations—an integration market first—while also utilizing AI-assisted development to streamline their efforts. At the same time, the products provide comprehensive support for connecting to large language models (LLMs), vector databases, and any system or application, and building AI agents that can then be used to execute intelligent integrations and power AI-driven applications.

    WSO2 is demonstrating the new WSO2 Ballerina Integrator and Devant offerings and their AI capabilities at WSO2Con 2025, which runs March 18-20, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.

    “AI-driven integrations are enabling a powerful new generation of intelligent applications and digital services, but they also bring new layers of complexity,” said Selvaratnam Uthaiyashankar, WSO2 senior vice president and general manager – integration. “With the introduction of our open-source WSO2 Ballerina Integrator and Devant AI enterprise iPaaS, we’re helping software developers to innovate new AI-driven experiences and improve their own productivity by cutting through that integration complexity.”

    WSO2 Ballerina Integrator 
    WSO2 Ballerina Integrator is a new AI-driven integration environment. It provides out-of-the-box support to connect anything—APIs, AI agents, systems, databases—across any environment and protocol, and it is complemented by 200-plus pre-built connectors. A component of the WSO2 Integrator product, it can be deployed on-premises, in a private cloud, or across hybrid environments.

    Low-Code/Pro-Code. WSO2 Ballerina Integrator is powered by Ballerina, the open-source programming language designed specifically for integration. It leverages Ballerina’s unique ability to let developers seamlessly switch between graphical low-code and textual pro-code interfaces and even view them side-by-side. 

    AI Development Assistance. Using the widely adopted Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VS Code) editor available with WSO2 Ballerina Integrator, developers can create integrations faster and tap WSO2 Copilot to further increase their productivity. For example, they can describe integration requirements in natural language to get AI-generated integration code, use an AI-powered test framework to automatically generate test cases, and utilize an AI assistant to map data fields between source and target schemas.

    AI Agent and RAG Support. WSO2 Ballerina Integrator provides out-of-the-box support for building AI agents by using built-in capabilities combined with comprehensive connectivity to LLMs, vector databases, and other systems. It also supports the development of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) applications that help LLMs to tap additional data sources to improve their accuracy. 

    Devant by WSO2
    Devant by WSO2 is the new AI enterprise iPaaS designed for the AI-native era, enabling users to build intelligent integrations using both low-code and pro-code. It simplifies the development, deployment and management of integration flows while leveraging AI for automation, optimization, and real-time insights. Devant also delivers proven performance, since it is powered by the same technology that drives the Choreo internal developer platform as a service and WSO2 Integrator, including its WSO2 Ballerina Integrator and WSO2 Micro Integrator components. 

    Built to Create and Utilize AI Functionality. Devant provides all the capabilities of WSO2 Ballerina Integrator for AI-assisted development; features for creating AI agents and RAG applications; functionality for using AI agents in integration flows; and comprehensive support for integrating third-party AI services, vector databases and other systems. This empowers developers to use integration as a foundation for building intelligent (generative AI) digital experiences, streamlining workflows, and enhancing data connectivity for smarter decision-making.

    Offering Enterprise PaaS Capabilities. Devant utilizes the same PaaS technology employed by Choreo to deliver the robust functionality organizations expect. It provides the ability to convert integrations as APIs into managed APIs, discover and reuse APIs, and create databases and message brokers. Devant also offers built-in continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) and DevOps support, zero trust security, and secret management. Additionally, it includes support for organizations and projects with configurable roles, multi-cloud and hybrid cloud deployment, and observability and usage insights.

    Integration and Deployment Flexibility. Devant is supported by more than 200 pre-built connectors along with functionality for creating custom adapters. Additionally, customers have the option of a private data plane deployment with Devant, which can be hosted in either the enterprise’s own cloud environment or WSO2’s cloud environment.

    Availability and Support
    WSO2 Ballerina Integrator 1.0 open-source software and the Devant AI enterprise iPaaS are now generally available. More details are covered in today’s integration product blog posts: WSO2 Ballerina Integrator and Devant. Additionally, developers and other technology professionals can visit WSO2’s website to download WSO2 Ballerina Integrator and try Devant for free. 

    About WSO2
    Founded in 2005, WSO2 is the largest independent software vendor providing open-source API management, integration, and identity and access management (IAM) to thousands of enterprises in over 90 countries. WSO2’s products and platforms—including our next-gen internal developer platform, Choreo—empower organizations to leverage the full potential of artificial intelligence and APIs for securely delivering the next generation of AI-enabled digital services and applications. Our open-source, AI-driven, API-first approach frees developers and architects from vendor lock-in and enables rapid digital product creation. Recognized as leaders by industry analysts, WSO2 has over 800 employees worldwide with offices in Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the UK, and the US, with nearly USD100M in annual recurring revenue. Visit https://wso2.com to learn more. Follow WSO2 on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

    The MIL Network