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Category: Artificial Intelligence

  • MIL-Evening Report: In Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the US has put a conspiracy theorist in charge of public health

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University

    Overnight, Robert F. Kennedy Jr was confirmed as the secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department. Put simply, this makes him the most influential figure in overseeing the health and wellbeing of more than 330 million Americans.

    As health secretary, Kennedy will be involved in overseeing federal health agencies that regulate medical research, disease prevention, drug approvals and health-care programs.

    This includes oversight of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health, which are among the most crucial public health agencies in the country.

    Reports suggest he’ll oversee a budget in the order of US$1.8 trillion (A$2.8 trillion) annually.

    In the era of Trump 2.0, there’s little that shocks me anymore. But Kennedy would have to be the most unqualified person ever to hold this crucial role of protecting the health of the American people.

    A history of discounting science

    The absolute minimum requirement for someone occupying such as role should be an understanding of science and respect for scientific evidence and expertise. Yet, Kennedy fails spectacularly in this regard.

    Here are just some of the false claims he has made over the years:

    • Kennedy has suggested Lyme disease is likely to be an engineered bioweapon

    • he reportedly said 99% of COVID deaths occurred in people with vitamin D deficiencies

    • he has questioned the role of HIV in causing AIDS.

    None of these positions has even the smallest amount of scientific support.

    It’s hard to predict what Kennedy will do as health secretary, especially given his confirmation hearings looked to be an exercise in being vague, evasive and denying or downplaying his prior controversial statements to secure support.

    But there are three areas where his views are fairly clear and his appointment could be expected to have a significant impact. These are water fluoridation, infectious diseases research and vaccines.

    Fluoridation of water

    Kennedy has been a long-term opponent of water fluoridation, despite its proven benefits in preventing tooth decay. He has consistently questioned its safety and claimed it’s linked to a range of illnesses such as arthritis, bone cancer, IQ loss and neurodevelopmental disorders.

    While a recent review suggested a link between water fluoridation and lower IQ in children, the levels of fluoride in the water in countries included in this review were generally several times higher than the levels in public water fluoridation programs in countries such as the US and Australia. There were also other limitations that make interpreting these findings challenging.

    The CDC has identified community water fluoridation as as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century. And it continues to benefit dental health today, without any convincing evidence of possible harms.

    Nonetheless, it seems likely that in keeping with his longstanding views one of Kennedy’s first priorities will be to try to halt water fluoridation in the US.

    Infectious diseases

    Alongside his confirmation as health secretary, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing “The President’s Commission to Make America Healthy Again”, with Kennedy as the chair.

    The Make America Healthy Again movement (MAHA) is an initiative driven by Kennedy focusing on improving nutrition, increasing transparency in medical practices and reducing the corporate influence in health.

    Though premised primarily on combating chronic diseases, the movement also embraces scepticism of established medical practices, unproven alternative therapies and a general mistrust of institutions.

    What’s more, Kennedy’s focus on chronic diseases seems to be coming at the expense of continued work on infectious diseases.

    He has proposed directing the National Institutes of Health to pause infectious disease research for eight years to prioritise research into chronic diseases and alternative treatments.

    As health secretary, Kennedy has the power to shift research priorities. If he were to effectively halt infectious diseases research – in the wake of COVID and with a looming threat of future pandemics – this would be catastrophic for the US and global health.

    Vaccine scepticism

    Related to infectious diseases, there’s little doubt the area in which Kennedy has done the most damage relates to vaccines.

    He has dedicated a large part of his life to undermining public confidence in vaccines. This is despite overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrating their safety and effectiveness, and the millions of lives they’ve saved.

    Although he has subsequently denied it, Kennedy is on record as falsely stating there is no such thing as a safe and effective vaccine. Notably, he has continued to push the debunked claim that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is linked to autism, despite the single study finding this having been widely discredited.

    Kennedy’s frequent assertion that he’s not anti-vaccine, but “pro-safety”, is also deeply disingenuous. Being “pro-safety” is a deliberately vague notion designed to appear reasonable while at the same time undermining the scientific evidence.

    The impact of Kennedy’s appointment as health secretary on vaccine confidence will not just be limited to the US. Vaccine hesitancy has been recognised as one of the greatest threats to public health. Having a vaccine sceptic leading the US health agencies has the potential to harm vaccine uptake worldwide.

    As we’ve seen during the COVID pandemic, producing a vaccine is only half the battle. Convincing people to take it is just as important. There’s no doubt Kennedy’s influence on public health messaging could further erode vaccine confidence at a time when vaccine messaging must be clear.

    It’s bad news for the US and the world

    One of the reasons Kennedy poses such a threat to public health in the US and globally is his lack of trust in science. He believes a narrative can be crafted by picking and choosing any study that fits with his world view, regardless of its quality.

    In addition, he personifies the bad-faith tactics of conspiracy theorists globally, “selling” the flawed premise that any assertion is valid until others prove it false.

    What the world needs now is a safe pair of hands leading public health in the US. Someone who is guided by evidence – not someone who promotes anti-science propaganda and conspiracy theories.

    Hassan Vally 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. In Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the US has put a conspiracy theorist in charge of public health – https://theconversation.com/in-robert-f-kennedy-jr-the-us-has-put-a-conspiracy-theorist-in-charge-of-public-health-249601

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Partnership with Apple recognition of Alibaba’s AI capabilities

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese tech heavyweight Alibaba Group Holding Ltd will partner with US consumer electronics company Apple Inc to roll out artificial intelligence features for iPhone users in China.

    The move, industry experts said, demonstrates the growing recognition of Alibaba’s capacities and strengths in the AI-powered large language model sector.

    Joe Tsai, co-founder and chairman of Alibaba, confirmed the company’s partnership with Apple at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Thursday.

    “They (Apple) talked to a number of companies in China. In the end they chose to do business with us. They want to use our AI to power their phones,” Tsai said.

    Some media outlets reported that Apple had considered models developed by ByteDance, Alibaba, Tencent and Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, but it gave up DeepSeek as the company’s team lacked the manpower and experience needed to support a large customer.

    Both companies have submitted AI features they codeveloped for iPhones in China to the country’s regulator for approval.

    The deal comes as Apple is seeking to secure a local AI partner to boost sales of its iPhones in China, where the US tech company is facing a challenge as Apple Intelligence features are unavailable to iPhone users in the world’s largest smartphone market.

    Pan Helin, a member of the expert committee for information and communication economy under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said Alibaba has gained an upper hand in the field of LLMs, the application of AI models across industries, as well as computing power and AI infrastructure construction, which will provide a better AI experience for Apple users and help reinvigorate iPhone sales in China.

    Alibaba Cloud, the company’s cloud computing arm, recently unveiled its latest AI model, Qwen2.5-Max, which boasts enhanced math and coding capabilities and has outperformed other leading AI models such as US-based OpenAI’s GPT-4o and DeepSeek’s V3.

    The company’s Qwen model offers a low-cost DeepSeek alternative as US computer scientists have successfully developed a new reasoning model that has been trained for less than $50 with the help of Alibaba’s open-source technology.

    Lu Yanxia, research director at market research company IDC China, said Alibaba enjoys a huge consumer base in China and large amounts of user data based on its vibrant e-commerce ecosystem, and these advantages will help Apple better understand the personalized needs of users.

    Industry experts also said the e-commerce giant has a deep understanding of users’ shopping and payment habits, which could help it train models and deliver more customized AI services.

    Apple is facing mounting challenges from local rivals. Data from market consultancy Counterpoint Research showed that Huawei reclaimed the top spot in China’s smartphone market in the fourth quarter of 2024, capturing 18.1 percent of the market share.

    Xiaomi secured the second spot in the quarter with a 17.2 percent market share, while Apple held 17.1 percent, experiencing a sharp 18.2 percent decline in sales.

    Analysts at Morgan Stanley said Alibaba’s partnership with Apple would be a critical catalyst for the latter’s competitive edge in China, and suggested it could solve Apple’s iPhone sales slump in the country.

    Industry insiders said AI capabilities on smartphones will drive upgrades and represent a significant opportunity for both vendors and application developers alike. Shipments of AI-powered smartphones across the globe are expected to rise by 73.1 percent year-on-year in 2025, according to a report from IDC.

    The triple-digit growth in 2024 will be followed by four consecutive years of double-digit growth as handset manufacturers look to incorporate generative AI features across their device offerings, the consultancy said.

    By 2028, IDC forecasts that global shipments of generative AI smartphone will reach 912 million units, with the compound annual growth rate hitting 78.4 percent between 2024 and 2028.

    MIL OSI China News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: AI surge fuels optimism on A-share market

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    While the surge of Chinese domestic artificial intelligence companies has led to upbeat sentiment in the A-share market recently, the inflow of more long-term and patient capital and improving fundamentals will be the major drivers of the market’s bullish performance in a more sustained manner, said experts.

    Although the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index and Shenzhen Component Index declined 0.42 percent and 0.77 percent, respectively, on Thursday, trading remained vibrant, as the combined trading value at the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses topped 1.8 trillion yuan ($250 billion), up 5.9 percent from a day earlier. This marked the 17th consecutive trading day that the trading value stood above the 1-trillion-yuan level.

    Zhang Jiqiang, head of the research institute of Huatai Securities, said that trading capital in the A-share market has increased significantly since Spring Festival. The activity level of financing transactions has reached a new high since mid-November. The net inflow of retail funds exceeded 40 billion yuan from Feb 5 to 7, the highest level since mid-November.

    The performance of property developers, which are market heavyweights, was worth noticing on Thursday when the A-share market fluctuated. The sector rallied for the second consecutive day by 0.79 percent. These companies have seen their prices rise 6.3 percent since trading resumed on Feb 5 after the Spring Festival holiday.

    This can be largely attributed to the progress that leading property developers have made in addressing their debt pressures.

    Shenzhen-based China Vanke announced on Monday that Shenzhen Metro, its largest shareholder, plans to provide a 2.8-billion-yuan loan, with which Vanke will repay debt in the open market.

    Country Garden, another major developer, said on Jan 9 that it has proposed a deal to restructure offshore debt worth $10.3 billion, providing its creditors with multiple options including converting debt into cash and extending the maturity. At the end of November, Sunac China Holdings proposed restructuring plans for 10 debts in the onshore market, of which eight have been supported until now.

    Gloomy expectations about US tariff policies and A-share companies’ business results suppressed market sentiment before the holiday, but since these have been released after the holiday, and catalyzed by the DeepSeek surge, market sentiment has been buoyed, said Zhang from Huatai Securities.

    Similarly, China’s hedge fund managers’ confidence index for A shares rose 2.2 percent on a monthly basis in February, with technology companies as their focus, according to private market tracker Simuwang.

    Qiu Xiang, chief strategist at CITIC Securities, said the revaluation of A-share AI companies has served as a major catalyst of sentiment in the first half of February. During this period, risk appetite picked up, with the bullish sentiment immediately priced in and trading activities being quite extreme.

    As such a mood gradually cools down, investors’ defensive demand will increase and less-volatile stocks will be more preferred, he said.

    Indeed, companies that previously benefited from the DeepSeek surge underwent some significant price adjustments on Thursday. Zhejiang Daily Digital Culture Group and MeiG Smart Technology, which both touched the daily price increase limit of 10 percent for six consecutive days since Spring Festival, saw their prices plunge 7.18 percent and 9.54 percent, respectively, on Thursday.

    The current success of DeepSeek is mainly represented by spiking user traffic. The success of AI companies in the medium term is defined by the proliferation of AI-related devices and the wider application of AI, said Chen Guo, chief strategist at China Securities.

    Companies’ improving profitability is also key to the sustained bullish performance of these listed AI companies, he said.

    Zhang, from Huatai Securities, said the medium- and long-term bull market in A-shares is inseparable from the recovered trading enthusiasm of foreign investors and the inflow of more long-term capital.

    The guideline to promote the inflow of more medium to long-term capital released by top regulators earlier this year is likely to usher in the inflow of more annuity, which has a higher risk appetite, as well as more insurance capital by lowering the latter’s investment risks, he said.

    The People’s Bank of China, the nation’s central bank, said on Thursday that it will continue to complete the design of various tools to facilitate the high-quality development of the Chinese capital market.

    As of the end of January, it has conducted two operations under the Securities, Funds and Insurance Companies Swap Facility, totaling 105 billion yuan. This has led to a significant increase in the scale of proprietary stock investment by securities companies.

    MIL OSI China News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Elon Musk to withdraw bid for OpenAI’s nonprofit

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    In a recent court filing, lawyers for Elon Musk said Musk will withdraw his 97.4 billion U.S. dollars bid for OpenAI’s nonprofit if its board of directors preserves the charity’s mission and stop the company’s conversion to a for-profit.

    “Should … the charity’s assets proceed to sale, a Musk-led consortium has submitted a serious offer … that would go to the charity in furtherance of its mission,” the filing wrote, adding that if OpenAI’s board “is prepared to preserve the charity’s mission and stipulate to take the for sale sign off its assets by halting its conversion, Musk will withdraw the bid.”

    The filing, submitted Wednesday to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claims that Musk’s offer is “serious” and that the nonprofit “must be compensated by what an arms-length buyer will pay for its assets.”

    A team of investors led by Musk submitted a 97.4 billion U.S. dollars bid to buy the nonprofit that controls OpenAI.

    Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 alongside Sam Altman and others but left the company in 2018. The Musk-led team is positioning the move as an effort to refocus OpenAI on open-sourced artificial intelligence (AI).

    In a statement, Andy Nussbaum, the counsel representing OpenAI’s board, said Musk’s bid “doesn’t set a value” for OpenAI and OpenAI is “not for sale.”

    In a filing on Wednesday, attorneys for OpenAI called Musk’s move “an improper bid to undermine a competitor.”

    MIL OSI China News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Exposes More Jaw-Dropping Wasteful Foreign Aid at USAID

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – During a U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing, Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) exposed millions of dollars of waste at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
    Ernst has been leading the fight to combat waste at USAID and recently sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio a letter detailing the repeated stonewalling by the rogue agency to mislead, lie, and deceive the American people about how their tax dollars are spent.
    “Imagine how much more good work could be done if we used those dollars that, instead, ended up enriching terrorists and mad scientists in adversarial countries,” said Ernst. “It’s no surprise that Washington insiders are more upset at DOGE for trying to stop wasteful spending than at USAID for misusing their constituents’ tax dollars. The question that we really should be asking at this point isn’t why USAID’s grants are being scrutinized, but why it took so long.”

    Click here to watch Senator Ernst’s remarks.
    Ernst highlighted several of the worst examples of waste at USAID, including $20 million for Sesame Street in Iraq, more than $9 million intended for Syrian civilians that wound up in the hands of violent terrorists, $27 million for deportation services, including Barbie doll gift bags, and $69,000 for dance classes in Wuhan, China.
    She also questioned investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger about why USAID is so secretive in its spending.
    Ernst closed the hearing by blasting Washington insiders for being more concerned with blocking transparency efforts than preventing waste.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Wright Acts to “Unleash Golden Era of American Energy Dominance”

    Source: US Department of Energy

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright signed his first Secretarial Order today directing the Department of Energy to take immediate action to unleash American Energy in accordance with President Trump’s executive orders.

    SECRETARIAL ORDER

    FEBRUARY 5, 2025
    FROM:                       CHRIS WRIGHT
                                       SECRETARY OF ENERGY
    SUBJECT:                  Unleashing the Golden Era of American Energy Dominance

    As Secretary of Energy, it is an immense privilege to serve alongside each of you at such a consequential moment in American history. Energy is the essential ingredient that enables everything we do. A highly energized society can bring health, wealth, and opportunity for all. At the Department, we have an opportunity to promote energy abundance, demonstrate leadership in scientific and technological innovation, steward and strengthen our weapons stockpiles, and meet Cold War legacy waste clean-up commitments.

    President Trump has outlined a bold and ambitious agenda to unleash American energy at home and abroad to restore energy dominance. To compete globally, we must expand energy production and reduce energy costs for American families and businesses. America must lead the world in innovation and technology breakthroughs, which includes accelerating the work of the Department’s National Laboratories. We must also permit and build energy infrastructure and remove barriers to progress, including federal policies that make it too easy to stop projects and far too difficult to complete projects.

    We must pursue a culture of transparency, performance, and common sense to succeed. Accordingly, the Department will take the following initial actions:

    1. Advance Energy Addition, Not Subtraction: 

    Great attention has been paid to the pursuing of a net-zero carbon future. Net-zero policies raise energy costs for American families and businesses, threaten the reliability of our energy system, and undermine our energy and national security. They have also achieved precious little in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. The fact is that energy matters, and we need more of it, not less. Going forward, the Department’s goal will be to unleash the great abundance of American energy required to power modern life and to achieve a durable state of American energy dominance.

    2. Unleash American Energy Innovation: 

    The Department’s Research and Development (R&D) enterprise is the envy of the world. We must focus our time and resources on technologies that will advance basic science, grow America’s scientific leadership, reduce costs for American families, strengthen the reliability of our energy system, and bolster America’s manufacturing competitiveness and supply chain security. As such, the Department’s R&D efforts will prioritize affordable, reliable, and secure energy technologies, including fossil fuels, advanced nuclear, geothermal, and hydropower. 
    The Department must also prioritize true technological breakthroughs – such as nuclear fusion, high-performance computing, quantum computing, and AI – to maintain America’s global competitiveness. To that end, the Department will comprehensively review its R&D portfolio. As part of that review, the Department will rigorously enforce project milestones to ensure that taxpayer resources are allocated appropriately and cost-effectively consistent with the law.

    3. Return to Regular Order on LNG Exports: 

    America is blessed with abundant energy resources – we are the world’s top oil and gas producer and a net energy exporter for the first time in decades. Our energy abundance is an asset, not a liability. On January 20, the Department resumed consideration of pending applications to export American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries without a free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S. in accordance with the Natural Gas Act. Proper consideration of LNG export applications is required by law and shall proceed accordingly.

    4. Promote Affordability and Consumer Choice in Home Appliances: 

    A top priority of the Trump Administration is to ensure that American families can choose from a range of affordable home appliances and products. Therefore, the Department will initiate a comprehensive review of the DOE Appliance Standards Program. Any standards should include a cost-benefit analysis considering the upfront cost of purchasing new products and reflecting actual cost savings for American families. The Department will pursue a commonsense approach that does not regulate products that consumers value out of the market; instead, affordability and consumer choice will be our guiding light.

    5. Refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR): 

    As President Trump has stated, the SPR is a national asset that protects our security in times of crisis. It must be refilled. Unfortunately, the SPR is currently at historically low levels. We will not permit this to become a new status quo. Moreover, the Department will review SPR infrastructure and develop appropriate plans to safeguard this important strategic asset.

    6. Modernize America’s nuclear stockpile: 

    We urgently need to modernize the nation’s nuclear weapons systems. The Department will continue its critical mission of protecting our national security and nuclear deterrence in the development, modernization, and stewardship of America’s atomic weapons enterprise, including the peaceful use of nuclear technology and nonproliferation.

    7. Unleash Commercial Nuclear Power in the United States: 

    The long-awaited American nuclear renaissance must launch during President Trump’s administration. As global energy demand continues to grow, America must lead the commercialization of affordable and abundant nuclear energy. As such, the Department will work diligently and creatively to enable the rapid deployment and export of next-generation nuclear technology.

    8. Strengthen Grid Reliability and Security: 

    Fortifying America’s electric grid is critical to the reliable and secure delivery of electricity. Under President Trump’s Executive Order, “Declaring a National Energy Emergency,” the Department will identify and exercise all lawful authorities to strengthen the nation’s grid, including the backbone of the grid, our transmission system. This is an imperative as we consider current and anticipated load growth on our nation’s electric utilities. Moreover, after two decades of very slow demand growth, electricity demand is forecast to soar in the coming years. The Department will bring a renewed focus to growing baseload and dispatchable generation to reliably meet growing demand.

    9. Streamline Permitting and Identify Undue Burdens on American Energy:

    A burdensome federal permitting process undermines America’s competitiveness and national security. Pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Orders, the Department will prioritize more efficient permitting to enable private sector investments and build the energy infrastructure needed to make energy more affordable, reliable, and secure. To that end, the Department will identify and exercise its legal authorities to expedite the approval and construction of reliable energy infrastructure.

    The Department’s mission is vital to American security and prosperity. Working together, we will accelerate American science, reduce energy costs for American families and businesses, and strengthen the reliability and security of our nation’s energy system — all in our quest to better human lives. I look forward to working with you on this noble mission.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: ​’Ne Zha 2′ hits staggering 10B yuan milestone, climbs global box office chart

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    After breaking all box office records in China, including hitting the 10 billion yuan ($1.37 billion) milestone on Thursday, the Chinese smash animated film “Ne Zha 2” has now set its sights on shattering records worldwide.

    The characters Ne Zha and Ao Bing are projected on the towers of the Tianfu International Financial Center in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Feb. 13, 2025. The film’s director and his company are based in Chengdu, and two cities in the province claim to be the birthplace of the Ne Zha legend. [Photo/China.org.cn]

    When the historic moment arrived for the film to become the first to surpass 10 billion yuan at China’s box office, it was more than a filmmaking achievement or cultural phenomenon — it was a source of national pride for Chinese filmmakers, the industry and the public. 

    The China Film Association promptly issued a congratulatory message, stating: “This film has created a box office miracle, promoting excellent traditional Chinese culture and the modern zeitgeist, innovating the form of contemporary Chinese cinema, showcasing the relentless artistic pursuit of Chinese filmmakers, and greatly boosting the film industry’s confidence. The glory of ‘Ne Zha 2’ is a highlight for Chinese cinema and, more importantly, a significant moment marking its rise from plateau to peak.”

    Directed by Yang Yu, better known as Jiaozi, the film follows the mythological figures Ne Zha and Ao Bing, who are reborn in bodies formed from lotuses after a catastrophe and must team up to face threats from vengeful dragon kings and a scheming god. It combines visually spectacular animation with a folklore-inspired narrative, delivering a blend of action, humor, heart and traditional Chinese culture. It involved five years of meticulous efforts from a 4,000-strong crew, as well as the combined forces of 138 Chinese animation and special effects companies.

    During the Spring Festival holiday, the film grossed nearly 5 billion yuan in seven days, but its momentum shows no signs of slowing, thanks to the enthusiasm of Chinese audiences. It surpassed the previous record holder “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” which took 5.77 billion yuan, on Feb. 6 to become the highest-grossing domestic film of all time. Since then, it has gone on to quickly set several other records. It is now the most-watched film ever by total viewers in Chinese box office history, with more than 200 million admissions registered by Feb. 13.

    For the premium large format market, IMAX reported Thursday that “Ne Zha 2” had earned 562 million yuan in IMAX box office revenue within just 15 days of its release, surpassing “Avengers: Endgame” to become the highest-grossing IMAX release ever in China.

    Audience members attend the premiere of “Ne Zha 2” in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

    Meanwhile, “Ne Zha 2” has also broken several records on the world stage. According to Maoyan Pro, the film is now the highest-grossing film in a single market worldwide, surpassing the $936.66 million record set by “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” in North America. On Feb. 8, it became the world’s first film to break into the $1 billion club in a single market, showcasing the immense potential of the Chinese market.

    Besides setting the single-market record, it is also the third-fastest film to reach the $1 billion mark worldwide, achieving the feat in just 12 days, following “Avengers: Endgame” (five days) and “Avengers: Infinity War” (11 days). By Feb. 14, with its China-only total, it became the third-highest-grossing animated feature worldwide in history and has already climbed to 17th on the global box office chart, including both animated and live-action films.

    A trailer for “Ne Zha 2” is displayed in Times Square, New York, Feb. 6, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

    Closely following its staggering box office growth has become a daily source of interest and entertainment for many fans, while analysts, big data algorithms and AI models continue to revise their projections daily. The latest projection, released Tuesday night by Maoyan Pro, suggests the film could reach 16 billion yuan for its entire run in the Chinese mainland alone — a figure beyond even the wildest imagination of those in the Chinese film industry. If it manages to reach this milestone, it would become the highest-grossing animated film of all time and the fifth-highest-grossing film in history, behind only the two “Avatar” installments, “Avengers: Endgame” and “Titanic.” These achievements would be remarkable for a Chinese film in a ranking dominated by Hollywood juggernauts. Notably, all of this would be accomplished solely with its China total, without contributions from overseas markets, unlike other global top-grossers that rely heavily on international markets.

    The potential for the film’s worldwide earnings is also being unleashed. “Ne Zha 2” began its global rollout on Feb. 13 through distributor CMC Pictures in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, followed by the United States and Canada on Feb. 14, with reports that most showings are selling out quickly. The film will also be released in other international territories, including Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Greece later this year.

    Performers stage a dragon dance outside the TCL Chinese Theatre at the premiere of “Ne Zha 2” in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

    A grand North American premiere of “Ne Zha 2” was held at the fully packed landmark TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Feb. 8, receiving rave reviews. Hollywood producer Robert King praised the film’s quality and scale, noting that Chinese films have made significant strides in storytelling in recent years. Georges Chamchoum, executive director of the Asian World Film Festival, expressed deep appreciation for the cultural evolution of Chinese cinema. Meanwhile, Oscar-winning producer Andre Morgan, known for producing “Million Dollar Baby,” described the movie as “unbelievable.”

    MIL OSI China News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Aiming for a company where all individuals and teams keep going and taking on challenges: Elise Neel

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: Aiming for a company where all individuals and teams keep going and taking on challenges: Elise Neel

    Leading strategies and innovations at Panasonic Well
    Elise Neel
    Panasonic Well LLCGlobal Head of Strategy & Innovation
    After serving as an executive in multiple companies, including her role as CEO of a digital mapping company, Elise Neel as a Senior Vice President of Verizon spearheaded the transformation of one of the largest and most profitable telecommunications company in the world, successfully shifting its focus towards software and service offerings. Under her leadership, her team developed over 130 patents in five years, 80% in the areas of artificial intelligence. Elise is the author of three of the AI-based patents. In October 2023, she joined Panasonic Well and currently supervises a broad range of areas, including portfolio and business strategy, new business development, innovation, ecosystem development, corporate development, marketing, and branding.

    Accelerating both internal and external collaboration, essential for innovations

    At Panasonic Well, one of the strategies we have focused on is expanding innovations through collaboration within and outside of the Panasonic Group. We have an expat program where many members from Japan come to Panasonic Well in the US for multiple years to accelerate learning and sharing of technologies, strategies, and ideas. Some of those expats were involved in the creation of Umi, a holistic digital family wellness platform and coach unveiled at CES 2025. We also provide opportunities for sharing know-how and cross-learning through Dojo programs.*1 In FY2025, we hope to increase programs like these.＊1: Programs for Panasonic Well employees to visit the Panasonic Group’s global sites and disseminate state-of-the-art technologies from Silicon Valley in the US throughout the Group.

    We have also been committed to building a business ecosystem.*2 A recent example is our global partnership with Anthropic, a leading AI safety and research company. We have tenaciously advocated for the adoption of ethical, safe and privacy-friendly AI tooling and platforms, not only for Panasonic Well but also across relevant departments in the Panasonic Group. Our efforts have led to the global strategic partnership with Anthropic announced at CES. Now under Panasonic Go, the strategic growth and transformation initiative announced at CES 2025, the Panasonic Group will endeavor to build a system to enhance the use of AI to drive increased efficiency and new revenue streams leveraging safe, reliable and ethical AI. Partnerships like Anthropic are just one example, of many, that we will have.＊2: A large economic network of various companies and organizations that collaborate to create greater value.

    You need not be ashamed of failure. Be ashamed to stop trying

    I’m in a position to support our staff in bringing about innovations. As part of my responsibilities, I always keep in mind the need to mitigate their fear of doing something different from others or encountering failure. I try to encourage them by stating, “You need not be ashamed of failures. Be ashamed to stop trying.” In Panasonic Well, there are people who started a company and those companies did not succeed. However, despite their past failures, they remain passionate and now lead our teams. They do not linger on disappointment but launch a counterattack. This is the most respectable attitude, and I hope to continue supporting such people.
    As for me, I try to join hands with many positive people. Even when you face a challenge, you can move ahead if everyone else can help others move together. I also make a point of expressing my gratitude to my team. Meanwhile, to keep going, it is important to maintain creativity by activating the brain and relaxing. I encourage my team to have such opportunities. For me, one of the ways is by ‘dancing’. Actually, the people dancing to Steve Aoki’s DJ performance right before the opening keynote at CES were me and my team.

    Ensuring a harmonious balance between the introduction of advanced technology and human-centered AI
    When I saw visitors and the media express understanding the opportunities we presented at CES, tears filled my eyes, recalling our hard work. However, it was only the beginning of our endeavor. I genuinely believe that Umi will prove quite effective in changing behaviors, including the activities and nutrition of all family members, because we created our service based on a comprehensive understanding of the problems and needs of families. I hope that Umi will expand globally.

    Through the opportunity at Panasonic Well, I helped to lead initiatives to further improve the lives of families while using responsible, ethical, and safe AI. Now through Panasonic Go, I look forward to the opportunity to extend this work and apply my experience in business transformation. I believe the onset of AI can help transform Panasonic Group to deliver greater value to our customers and help us work more efficiently as a team, and am excited to support Panasonic Group’s efforts to change people’s lives, communication, business, and society at large through the use of advanced technology and human-centered AI.

    The content in this website is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.Please note that German, French and Chinese versions are machine translations, so the quality and accuracy may vary.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Demands Fair, Reciprocal Trade

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Today, President Donald J. Trump unveiled a plan for fair, free, reciprocal trade as he makes clear to the world that the United States will no longer tolerate being ripped off. The U.S. has one of the most open economies in the world, yet our trading partners keep their markets closed to U.S. exports — and reciprocal trade will finally correct that imbalance.
    President Trump’s plan to restore fairness and put American workers first was met with immediate praise:
    Renewable Fuels Association: “For almost a decade now, we have spent precious time and resources fighting back against an unfair and unjustified tariff regime imposed by Brazil’s government on U.S. ethanol imports. What’s more ironic is that these tariff barriers have been erected against U.S. ethanol imports while our country has openly accepted—and even encouraged and incentivized—ethanol imports from Brazil. As the two largest ethanol producers on the planet, we long enjoyed a cooperative free-trade relationship with Brazil involving ethanol, relying on each other when there were shortfalls or disruptions in the U.S. or Brazilian marketplace. However, that bilateral cooperation was abandoned by Brazil in 2017, when they instituted a tariff rate quota scheme, and eventually adopted a tariff in 2020. The Brazilian tariff on U.S. ethanol now stands at 18 percent and has virtually eliminated all market access for U.S. ethanol producers. We thank President Trump for taking this action and hope this reciprocal tariff will help encourage a return to free and fair ethanol trade relationship with Brazil.”
    American Iron and Steel Institute: “AISI applauds President Trump’s action today ordering the development of a comprehensive plan for restoring fairness in U.S. trade relationships and countering non-reciprocal trading arrangements. American steel producers know well the negative impact of foreign unfair trade practices, including subsidies, currency manipulation and other unfair and discriminatory policies and practices, on domestic industries and their workers … We look forward to working with the Secretary of Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative and other key administration officials as they develop their plan of action to ensure reciprocity in international trade and to preserve the competitiveness of the American steel industry and other sectors.”
    Growth Energy: “While American biofuel producers have been almost entirely blocked off from the Brazilian market, Brazilian producers have enjoyed unfettered access to the U.S. In some cases, certain policies in the U.S. even incentivize the use of imported Brazilian ethanol instead of ethanol produced here in the U.S. This runs contrary to putting America first, and is exactly why President Trump is taking steps to address this issue. Thank you, President Trump for taking action and pushing for a level playing field for American ethanol producers.”
    Small Business Administration: “President Trump is right: restoring a level playing field on trade will unlock the next blue collar boom – creating jobs and powering our economy through ‘Made in America.’ Huge news for Main Street!”
    Energy Secretary Chris Wright: “President’s Trump’s ‘Fair and Reciprocal Plan’ on trade puts the American people first. As a former businessman, it’s great to see our country being run like a business and fighting for fairness on trade– it’s the American way!”
    Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum: “President Trump is making America strong again. His Fair and Reciprocal Plan is commonsense: if you impose tariffs on us, we will impose tariffs on you in return.”
    Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: “Bravo, President Trump! Thank you for announcing the Fair and Reciprocal Plan, which is based on legislation we worked on together in your first term. Unfair trade practices have hurt America’s transportation and infrastructure sectors for too long. President Trump’s trade plan will strengthen supply chains, boost infrastructure investments, and expand American transportation solutions. We promised a golden age of transportation, and I will not rest until America’s transportation system is great again!”
    Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner: “For too long Washington has put foreign interests above Americans — that ends today. @POTUS’ Fair and Reciprocal Plan will put American workers on a level playing field.”
    EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin: “The American people elected @POTUS with a mandate to grow our economy and bring back American manufacturing. When it comes to Reciprocal tariffs, no one should ever underestimate President Trump’s vision, long game, and determination to deliver the Great American Comeback.”
    Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA): “For too long, foreign countries have exploited America through unfair trade practices. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs aim to confront these countries, protecting American workers and businesses through trade that is fair again. The Trump policies are focused on leveling the playing field and putting America FIRST.”
    Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN): “The globalist approach to trade threw our workers under a bus driven by their foreign competitors. President Trump’s America First trade plan corrects this injustice that our industries and workers have faced for decades. The reciprocal tariffs announced today will bring back fairness and prosperity and stop Americans from being taken advantage of.”
    Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): “President Trump is putting American workers and farmers first. He will end unfair trade deals and prioritize goods made in America! With President Trump at the negotiating table, we are going to get the best possible deal.”
    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “Most countries charge us far more in tariffs than we charge them. Those days are over. I applaud President Trump’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs against our trading partners. Whatever tariffs they put on American products, we will put on their products. This will be a game changer. Simple and brilliant.”
    Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS): “Gone are the days of unfair trade deals that give foreign nations the upper hand. Today, President Trump put the world on notice: America will no longer be taken advantage of.”
    Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE): “The average weighted tariff on foreign products coming into the U.S. is 1.5%, yet the average tariff on U.S. products globally is 6%. President Trump promised to bring those numbers closer to balance. These tariffs are a step toward accomplishing that goal.”
    Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL): “President Trump’s fight for a level playing field and reciprocal treatment is common sense. The U.S. is done treating others better than they’re treating us. President Trump understands the art of the deal, and thanks to his strong leadership, we’re getting better deals that will help our businesses and grow our economy!”
    Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL): “President Trump is brokering deals that put American farmers, manufacturers, and producers first. America has some of the best and brightest manufacturers and there’s no reason we can’t produce most things right here at home.”
    Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN): “The master negotiator strikes again. @POTUS is realigning the playing field with countries that have taken advantage of us for far too long and delivering on his promise to put America FIRST.”
    Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI): “President Trump is wasting no time leveling the playing field. I am optimistic the pressure applied by the ongoing tariff negotiations will lead to a wave of investment across the U.S. @POTUS is keeping his promise to put our economy first.”
    Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO): “President Trump understands that American workers and manufacturers can outcompete those of any other nation. But for far too long they have been held back by a lack of reciprocity because other countries impose much higher tariffs and other barriers than the United States imposes on imports. President Trump’s Executive Order helps deliver a level playing field for American workers and manufacturers.”
    Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL): “President Trump has just announced RECIPROCAL TARIFFS for countries unfairly treating American products! If you want to sell to the USA, we must have access to your market as well. What is fair, is fair!”
    Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): “We will no longer tolerate being ripped-off by the rest of the world. Under President Trump, government is putting the American people first again. And that means RECIPROCAL TARIFFS”
    Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA): “Brazil imposes an 18% tariff on U.S. ethanol while we only charge Brazil 2.5%. In 2024, that imbalance resulted in our nation importing $200 million in Brazilian ethanol while Brazil only imported $52 million in U.S. ethanol. Our farmers deserve better!”
    Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD): “The days of America being taken advantage of are over. The “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” will put the American worker first and bring fairness back to international trade.”
    Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN): “Our nation has been at the bad end of business deals regarding trade practices with other countries for far too long. That’s coming to an end. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are putting the world on notice — the gravy train is over, and we won’t be taken advantage of anymore.”
    Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): “President Trump is a strong leader – he’s not allowing the world to take advantage of the United States any longer. These reciprocal tariffs will incentivize other nations to level the playing field and remove long-standing, exorbitant tariffs. America FIRST!”
    Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV): “President Trump just announced plans to implement reciprocal tariffs on the foreign countries who are ripping us off. I’m proud to be leading this effort in Congress.”
    Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL): “I thank President Trump for standing up for American workers with his bold plan to restore balance and fairness to the marketplace. He and his administration understand that our workers deserve trade policies that are fair and beneficial to all.  For far too long, blue-collar communities in the United States have been ripped off by foreign competitors benefiting from manipulative trade practices. If other countries believe they can continue to cheat the American people of their share of prosperity, they are sadly mistaken. President Trump has the right plan to secure our economy, restore fairness to international trade, and bring back good-paying jobs to the United States.”
    Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX): “American workers, farmers, and manufacturers finally have a President who fights for them! I applaud President Trump’s plan to combat unfair trade practices. Our best days are still ahead of us!”
    House Republican Study Committee: “The Trump administration just announced reciprocal tariffs for countries like China that rip off the United States. It’s past time to flip the script on this. President Trump is trying to restore fairness in trade, ensuring that other countries are held to account for slapping tariffs on American goods. Gone are the days of our great nation being taken advantage of. Period.”
    President Trump’s plan to restore fairness and put American workers first was met with immediate praise:
    Renewable Fuels Association: “For almost a decade now, we have spent precious time and resources fighting back against an unfair and unjustified tariff regime imposed by Brazil’s government on U.S. ethanol imports. What’s more ironic is that these tariff barriers have been erected against U.S. ethanol imports while our country has openly accepted—and even encouraged and incentivized—ethanol imports from Brazil. As the two largest ethanol producers on the planet, we long enjoyed a cooperative free-trade relationship with Brazil involving ethanol, relying on each other when there were shortfalls or disruptions in the U.S. or Brazilian marketplace. However, that bilateral cooperation was abandoned by Brazil in 2017, when they instituted a tariff rate quota scheme, and eventually adopted a tariff in 2020. The Brazilian tariff on U.S. ethanol now stands at 18 percent and has virtually eliminated all market access for U.S. ethanol producers. We thank President Trump for taking this action and hope this reciprocal tariff will help encourage a return to free and fair ethanol trade relationship with Brazil.”
    American Iron and Steel Institute: “AISI applauds President Trump’s action today ordering the development of a comprehensive plan for restoring fairness in U.S. trade relationships and countering non-reciprocal trading arrangements. American steel producers know well the negative impact of foreign unfair trade practices, including subsidies, currency manipulation and other unfair and discriminatory policies and practices, on domestic industries and their workers … We look forward to working with the Secretary of Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative and other key administration officials as they develop their plan of action to ensure reciprocity in international trade and to preserve the competitiveness of the American steel industry and other sectors.”
    Growth Energy: “While American biofuel producers have been almost entirely blocked off from the Brazilian market, Brazilian producers have enjoyed unfettered access to the U.S. In some cases, certain policies in the U.S. even incentivize the use of imported Brazilian ethanol instead of ethanol produced here in the U.S.,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “This runs contrary to putting America first, and is exactly why President Trump is taking steps to address this issue. Thank you, President Trump for taking action and pushing for a level playing field for American ethanol producers.”
    Small Business Administration: “President Trump is right: restoring a level playing field on trade will unlock the next blue collar boom – creating jobs and powering our economy through “Made in America.” Huge news for Main Street!”
    Energy Secretary Chris Wright: “President’s Trump’s ‘Fair and Reciprocal Plan’ on trade puts the American people first. As a former businessman, it’s great to see our country being run like a business and fighting for fairness on trade– it’s the American way!”
    Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum: “President Trump is making America strong again. His Fair and Reciprocal Plan is commonsense: if you impose tariffs on us, we will impose tariffs on you in return.”
    Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: “Bravo, President Trump! Thank you for announcing the Fair and Reciprocal Plan, which is based on legislation we worked on together in your first term. Unfair trade practices have hurt America’s transportation and infrastructure sectors for too long. President Trump’s trade plan will strengthen supply chains, boost infrastructure investments, and expand American transportation solutions. We promised a golden age of transportation, and I will not rest until America’s transportation system is great again!”
    Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner: “For too long Washington has put foreign interests above Americans — that ends today. @POTUS’ Fair and Reciprocal Plan will put American workers on a level playing field.”
    EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin: “The American people elected @POTUS with a mandate to grow our economy and bring back American manufacturing. When it comes to Reciprocal tariffs, no one should ever underestimate President Trump’s vision, long game, and determination to deliver the Great American Comeback.”
    Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA): “For too long, foreign countries have exploited America through unfair trade practices. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs aim to confront these countries, protecting American workers and businesses through trade that is fair again. The Trump policies are focused on leveling the playing field and putting America FIRST.”
    Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN): “The globalist approach to trade threw our workers under a bus driven by their foreign competitors. President Trump’s America First trade plan corrects this injustice that our industries and workers have faced for decades. The reciprocal tariffs announced today will bring back fairness and prosperity and stop Americans from being taken advantage of.”
    Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): “President Trump is putting American workers and farmers first. He will end unfair trade deals and prioritize goods made in America! With President Trump at the negotiating table, we are going to get the best possible deal.”
    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “Most countries charge us far more in tariffs than we charge them. Those days are over. I applaud President Trump’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs against our trading partners. Whatever tariffs they put on American products, we will put on their products. This will be a game changer. Simple and brilliant.”
    Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS): “Gone are the days of unfair trade deals that give foreign nations the upper hand. Today, President Trump put the world on notice: America will no longer be taken advantage of.”
    Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE): “The average weighted tariff on foreign products coming into the U.S. is 1.5%, yet the average tariff on U.S. products globally is 6%. President Trump promised to bring those numbers closer to balance. These tariffs are a step toward accomplishing that goal.”
    Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL): “President Trump’s fight for a level playing field and reciprocal treatment is common sense. The U.S. is done treating others better than they’re treating us. President Trump understands the art of the deal, and thanks to his strong leadership, we’re getting better deals that will help our businesses and grow our economy!”
    Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL): “President Trump is brokering deals that put American farmers, manufacturers, and producers first. America has some of the best and brightest manufacturers and there’s no reason we can’t produce most things right here at home.”
    Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN): “The master negotiator strikes again. @POTUS is realigning the playing field with countries that have taken advantage of us for far too long and delivering on his promise to put America FIRST.”
    Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI): “President Trump is wasting no time leveling the playing field. I am optimistic the pressure applied by the ongoing tariff negotiations will lead to a wave of investment across the U.S. @POTUS is keeping his promise to put our economy first.”
    Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO): “President Trump understands that American workers and manufacturers can outcompete those of any other nation. But for far too long they have been held back by a lack of reciprocity because other countries impose much higher tariffs and other barriers than the United States imposes on imports. President Trump’s Executive Order helps deliver a level playing field for American workers and manufacturers.”
    Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL): “President Trump has just announced RECIPROCAL TARIFFS for countries unfairly treating American products! If you want to sell to the USA, we must have access to your market as well. What is fair, is fair!”
    Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): “We will no longer tolerate being ripped-off by the rest of the world. Under President Trump, government is putting the American people first again. And that means RECIPROCAL TARIFFS”
    Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA): “Brazil imposes an 18% tariff on U.S. ethanol while we only charge Brazil 2.5%. In 2024, that imbalance resulted in our nation importing $200 million in Brazilian ethanol while Brazil only imported $52 million in U.S. ethanol. Our farmers deserve better!”
    Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD): “The days of America being taken advantage of are over. The “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” will put the American worker first and bring fairness back to international trade.”
    Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN): “Our nation has been at the bad end of business deals regarding trade practices with other countries for far too long. That’s coming to an end. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are putting the world on notice — the gravy train is over, and we won’t be taken advantage of anymore.”
    Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): “President Trump is a strong leader – he’s not allowing the world to take advantage of the United States any longer. These reciprocal tariffs will incentivize other nations to level the playing field and remove long-standing, exorbitant tariffs. America FIRST!”
    Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV): “President Trump just announced plans to implement reciprocal tariffs on the foreign countries who are ripping us off. I’m proud to be leading this effort in Congress.”
    Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL): “I thank President Trump for standing up for American workers with his bold plan to restore balance and fairness to the marketplace. He and his administration understand that our workers deserve trade policies that are fair and beneficial to all.  For far too long, blue-collar communities in the United States have been ripped off by foreign competitors benefiting from manipulative trade practices. If other countries believe they can continue to cheat the American people of their share of prosperity, they are sadly mistaken. President Trump has the right plan to secure our economy, restore fairness to international trade, and bring back good-paying jobs to the United States.”
    Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX): “American workers, farmers, and manufacturers finally have a President who fights for them! I applaud President Trump’s plan to combat unfair trade practices. Our best days are still ahead of us!”
    House Republican Study Committee: “The Trump administration just announced reciprocal tariffs for countries like China that rip off the United States. It’s past time to flip the script on this. President Trump is trying to restore fairness in trade, ensuring that other countries are held to account for slapping tariffs on American goods. Gone are the days of our great nation being taken advantage of. Period.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: EzFill Holdings Announces Pricing of $15 Million Public Offering and Closing of Share Exchange with NextNRG

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EzFill Holdings, Inc. (“EzFill” and the “Company”) (Nasdaq: EZFL), a leading mobile fueling company, today announced the pricing of a public offering of 5,000,000 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $3.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $15,000,000, before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. In addition, EzFill has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 750,000 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any.

    EzFill today also announced the closing of its previously announced share exchange agreement with NextNRG Holding Corp. Effective February 14, 2025, the Company will change its name from “EzFill Holdings, Inc.” to “NextNRG, Inc.” The Company’s common stock will cease trading under the ticker symbol “EZFL” and begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “NXXT” and the new CUSIP number 652941105 as of the commencement of trading on February 14, 2025. The offering is expected to close on February 18, 2025, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

    The Company intends to use the proceeds to expand its business, repay outstanding indebtedness, and general corporate purposes, including working capital.

    ThinkEquity is acting as sole book-runner for the offering.

    Anthony, Linder & Cacomanolis, PLLC is acting as legal counsel to EzFill and Loeb & Loeb LLP is acting as legal counsel to ThinkEquity in connection with the offering.

    A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-275761) relating to the shares was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and a post-effective amendment thereto became effective on February 13, 2025. This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus, when available, may be obtained from ThinkEquity, 17 State Street, 41st Floor, New York, New York 10004. The final prospectus will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About NextNRG, Inc. (f/k/a EzFill Holdings, Inc.)
    NextNRG Holding Corp. (NextNRG) and EzFill have merged to form a combined entity focused on renewable energy, mobile fueling, and next-generation energy infrastructure. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies, NextNRG is developing an integrated ecosystem that combines solar energy generation, battery storage, wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging, and on-demand fuel delivery.

    At the core of NextNRG’s strategy is the deployment of NextNRG Smart Microgrids, which utilize AI-driven energy management alongside solar power and battery storage to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs, and improve grid resiliency. These microgrids are designed to serve commercial properties, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, parking garages, rural and tribal lands, recreational facilities, and government properties, expanding energy accessibility while supporting decarbonization initiatives.

    Following the merger with EzFill, NextNRG is integrating sustainable energy solutions into mobile fueling operations. The company will provide renewable energy to its fueling partners, supporting more efficient fuel delivery while advancing clean energy adoption. It continues to expand its growing fleet of fuel delivery trucks and national footprint, including the acquisition of Yoshi Mobility’s fuel division, further solidifying its position as a leader in the on-demand fueling industry.

    By combining renewable energy innovation with mobile fueling expertise, NextNRG is building a sustainable energy ecosystem that bridges traditional fuel needs with AI-powered clean energy solutions.

    The combined entity, NextNRG, will trade under the symbol NXXT on the Nasdaq Capital Market. To find out more visit NextNRG.com.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, EzFill’s expectations regarding the completion, timing and size of the proposed offering, EzFill’s expectations with respect to granting the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase additional shares and EzFill’s anticipated use of the net proceeds from the proposed offering. Any statement describing EzFill’s goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions, or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Words such as “expect,” “intends,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those related to EzFill’s business and macroeconomic and geopolitical events. These and other risks are described in the prospectus related to the proposed offering to be filed with the SEC. EzFill’s forward-looking statements involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although EzFill’s forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by EzFill. Except as required by law, EzFill undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements.

    Investor Relations Contact:

    Jeff Ramson, CEO
    PCG Advisory, Inc. 
    jramson@pcgadvisory.com

    The MIL Network –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Five best articles in Russian for 13.02.2025

    MIL Analysis: Here are the top five Russian language articles published today. The analysis consists of five articles that are prioritized at the moment.

    In today’s analysis, trends such as trust and consumer protection are highlighted.

    In addition, counterfeiting for 2024 is summarized.

    Education and social services are increasingly evolving and providing new opportunities to teach science to young people. Also, NSU CII staff is focusing on urban infrastructure in the form of new solutions using AI.

    Ethiopian master’s student Yared Dejene Jifar told in an interview why he decided to study in Russia.

    You can read one of the articles below.

    1. Financial News: Good faith behavior is a pledge of confidence in the financial market.

    The Bank of Russia has defined the basic principles of good behavior on the financial market. They are aimed at promoting business and ethical standards, creating a trusting environment and protecting the rights and interests of consumers.

    2. Financial news: Counterfeit rubles have become less common in Russia: 2024 results.

    In 2024, the level of counterfeiting reached its lowest value in recent years: 1 counterfeit per 1 million banknotes in circulation. A total of 8,240 pieces of counterfeit Russian banknotes and coins were detected in the banking system.

    3. The National Research University Higher School of Economics discussed tools of academic development and ways to involve young people in science.

    Higher School of Economics – The round table “Academic Development in the University Today and Tomorrow” was held. The participants discussed the tools of academic development used in various subject areas and ways to involve young people in science, one of which is holding regular scientific seminars. The best practices of Vyshka’s divisions were presented.

    4. How to fix defects in urban infrastructure with the help of artificial intelligence, NSU scientists came up with.

    Employees of the Novosibirsk State University Artificial Intelligence Center (NSU AIC) received a patent for a utility model of an electronic computing device for detecting defects in urban infrastructure and making decisions on their elimination.

    5. Ethiopian Master’s student Yared Dejene Jifar: “I dreamed of studying in Russia”.

    Ethiopian master’s student Yared Dejene Jifar earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Adams Science and Technology University (ASTU). Inspired by stories of friendship between the countries, he decided to continue his studies in Russia. In the interview, Yared talked about the adjustment process in a different country and shared his plans for the future.

    Learn more about MIL’s content and data services by visiting milnz.co.nz.

    Regards MIL!

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Southeast Asia provides fertile ground for women to benefit from AI

    Source: United Nations 2-b

    By Miklos Gaspar

    25 December 2024 Economic Development

    Artificial intelligence or AI technology can help to protect vulnerable women, give women a voice in male-dominated communities and increase training opportunities in Southeast Asia thanks to innovative approaches by United Nations agencies.

    With AI enabled technology becoming commonplace, the UN System is beginning to take advantage of the latest digital tools to bring gender equality closer to reality

    Southeast Asia, a middle-income region with widespread internet coverage and relatively high digital literacy levels, is fertile ground for AI enabled development. Here are three examples of initiatives that could help large numbers of women in their private and professional lives in the coming years.

    The Philippines: Training entrepreneurs in remote areas

    The Philippines is made up of an archipelago of thousands of islands that can be costly and difficult to reach from the country’s urban centres. This has meant that inhabitants of the more remote islands have often not been able to fully benefit from training opportunities offered by the UN and its partners.

    Since December 2023, however, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has been supporting business owners, particularly women entrepreneurs, with the help of the latest AI chatbots.

    “In many cases, trainers no longer need to travel to remote villages in far-flung islands and mountains,” says ILO Technical Specialist Hideki Kagohashi. “The trainer is a mobile phone chatbot.”

    On Siargao Island, this chatbot is providing women selling coconut products with technical advice, and helping women entrepreneurs create digital marketing posts for Facebook, drastically reducing the time needed for daily posting from a few hours to just 10-20 minutes.

    “Previously entrepreneurs often stopped posting because it took too much time over too long of a period to have demonstratable results,” Kagohashi explains. “But now with generative AI they can swiftly create higher quality content with relevant picture or video, more varied posts daily, complete with audience targeting for tone and content, leading to higher online engagement and increased sales.”

    The project is still in pilot phase, but ILO and its partners will scale up AI-enabled coaching to reach at least 15,000 small and medium-sized businesses nationwide over the next three years.

    UNFPA Thailand

    High school students in Phuket, Thailand, use a UNFPA-backed chatbot.

    Thailand: Protection for vulnerable women and girls

    For around a year, the AI-powered SoSafe platform has been providing Thai women with tailored advice on social issues including unintended pregnancies, sexual harassment, and domestic violence, amongst others. Primarily used by women and girls in vulnerable situations, SoSafe contains verified information for youth, women and the elderly about their social benefits and rights.

    The impact has been palpable: SoSafe is accessible to 600,000 users across 14 pilot provinces, has improved communication between affected women and support services and has led to over 1,000 cases of domestic violence being reported to the authorities.

    The platform, delivered by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), in cooperation with Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency and other partners, detects keywords and provides automated responses to offer users timely support. The information on SoSafe comes from government databases and reliable sources, which helps ensure that users receive accurate information.

    UNDP Indonesia

    Village leaders in Indonesia testing STRIVE, a UNDP-backed AI tool

    Indonesia: A stronger voice in the community

    In Indonesia’s 75,000 villages, decisions tend be made by middle-aged men, who are more likely to attend open debates and meetings.

    “Participation in village meetings is male dominated, and open voting can lead to stigmatization of those who may not agree with the head of the village, suppressing open discussion,” explains Dhany Oktaviany, the project manager of Social Innovation Platform (SIP).

    SIP, a project run by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in support of Indonesia’s Ministry of Village, aims to change this situation. As part of SIP, an AI-enabled digital tool gathers the aspirations of villagers and generates recommendations for subsequent village planning.

    The application allows the village to send ideas in a wide variety of ways, from photos and videos to text and audio. They can also submit ideas anonymously, allowing different viewpoints to be expressed.

    Reforming the UN

    “Across the Asia Pacific region, we are working to build the capacity of the UN system to take advantage of the latest technological trends and thereby accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals,” says David McLachlan-Karr, Director for Asia and the Pacific of the UN Development Coordination Office. “These projects are a great example of technological innovation at the UN, which is at the heart of the Secretary General’s reform agenda to make the UN more fit for the needs of the 21st century.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tackling AI security risks to unleash growth and deliver Plan for Change

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    UK’s AI Safety Institute becomes ‘UK AI Security Institute’.

    • UK’s AI Safety Institute becomes ‘UK AI Security Institute’ – strengthening protections against the risks AI poses to national security and crime
    • Institute bolstered by new criminal misuse team, partnering with the Home Office, to research a range of crime and security issues which could harm UK citizens
    • New agreement reached with AI giant Anthropic on AI opportunities to help grow the economy as part of our Plan for Change

    Safeguarding Britain’s national security – a key pillar of the government’s Plan for Change – and protecting citizens from crime – will become founding principles of the UK’s approach to the responsible development of artificial intelligence from today (Friday 14 February), as the Technology Secretary sets out his vision for a revitalised AI Security Institute in Munich. 

    Speaking at the Munich Security Conference and just days after the conclusion of the AI Action Summit in Paris, Peter Kyle has today recast the AI Safety Institute the ‘AI Security Institute’. This new name will reflect its focus on serious AI risks with security implications, such as how the technology can be used to develop chemical and biological weapons, how it can be used to carry out cyber-attacks, and enable crimes such as fraud and child sexual abuse.

    The Institute will also partner across government, including with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the Ministry of Defence’s science and technology organisation, to assess the risks posed by frontier AI.   

    As part of this update, the Institute will also launch a new criminal misuse team which will work jointly with the Home Office to conduct research on a range of crime and security issues which threaten to harm British citizens.  

    One such area of focus will be the use of AI to make child sexual abuse images, with this new team exploring methods to help to prevent abusers from harnessing the technology to carry out their appalling crimes. This will support work announced earlier this month to make it illegal to own AI tools which have been optimised to make images of child sexual abuse.   

    This means the focus of the Institute will be clearer than ever. It will not focus on bias or freedom of speech, but on advancing our understanding of the most serious risks posed by the technology to build up a scientific basis of evidence which will help policymakers to keep the country safe as AI develops. To achieve this, the Institute will work alongside wider government, the Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR), and the national security community; including building on the expertise of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the UK’s national technical authority for cyber security, including AI.

    The announcement comes just weeks after the government set out its new blueprint for AI to deliver a decade of national renewal, harnessing the technology to deliver on the Plan for Change. A revitalised AI Security Institute will ensure we boost public confidence in AI and drive its uptake across the economy so we can unleash the economic growth that will put more money in people’s pockets.

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle said: 

    The changes I’m announcing today represent the logical next step in how we approach responsible AI development – helping us to unleash AI and grow the economy as part of our Plan for Change.

    The work of the AI Security Institute won’t change, but this renewed focus will ensure our citizens – and those of our allies – are protected from those who would look to use AI against our institutions, democratic values, and way of life.

    The main job of any government is ensuring its citizens are safe and protected, and I’m confident the expertise our Institute will be able to bring to bear will ensure the UK is in a stronger position than ever to tackle the threat of those who would look to use this technology against us.

    As the AI Security Institute bolsters its security focus, the Technology Secretary is also taking the wraps off a new agreement which has been struck between the UK and AI company Anthropic.

    This partnership is the work of the UK’s new Sovereign AI unit, and will see both sides working closely together to realise the technology’s opportunities, with a continued focus on the responsible development and deployment of AI systems.

    This will include sharing insights on how AI can transform public services and improve the lives of citizens, as well as using this transformative technology to drive new scientific breakthroughs. The UK will also look to secure further agreements with leading AI companies as a key step towards turbocharging productivity and speaking fresh economic growth – a key pillar of the government’s Plan for Change.

    Chair of the AI Security Institute Ian Hogarth said: 

    The Institute’s focus from the start has been on security and we’ve built a team of scientists focused on evaluating serious risks to the public.

    Our new criminal misuse team and deepening partnership with the national security community mark the next stage of tackling those risks.

    Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of Anthropic said:

    AI has the potential to transform how governments serve their citizens. We look forward to exploring how Anthropic’s AI assistant Claude could help UK government agencies enhance public services, with the goal of discovering new ways to make vital information and services more efficient and accessible to UK residents.

    We will continue to work closely with the UK AI Security Institute to research and evaluate AI capabilities in order to ensure secure deployment.

    Today’s reset for the AI Security Institute comes just weeks after the UK government kickstarted the year by setting out a new blueprint for AI to spark a decade of national renewal. 

    Thanks to the work of the Institute, the UK now stands ready to fully realise the benefits of the technology while bolstering our national security as we continue to harness the age of AI.

    Further Information:

    • The agreement between the UK and Anthropic on AI opportunities.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

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

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    Published 14 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: China ready to work with Britain to consolidate bilateral ties: FM

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that China is willing to collaborate with Britain to consolidate the positive momentum towards stabilizing and improving bilateral relations.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said this during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

    Wang first conveyed the cordial greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Starmer, saying the successful meeting between Xi and Starmer at the end of last year has launched the process of improving and developing China-Britain relations.

    Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the recent China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue has produced fruitful results and exchanges at all levels have been resumed, Wang said.

    This demonstrates the huge potential of practical cooperation between the two countries, and also fully proves that the Labour government’s rational and pragmatic policy towards China is in line with the interests of the country and people and conforms to the trend of the times, he said.

    He said China stands ready to work with Britain to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen and expand cooperation in infrastructure, trade and investment, clean energy and other fields, bringing more benefits to the people of both countries.

    Wang noted that the world is becoming volatile and changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Britain should strengthen strategic communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust, demonstrate their responsibilities as major countries, and deepen cooperation in key areas concerning the future of humanity, including climate change, artificial intelligence, and green development, thus to contribute greater certainty and stability to the world, he said.

    Starmer asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings to Xi, noting that the current cooperation between Britain and China in various fields has made positive progress. He added that he looks forward to candid and constructive dialogues between the two countries to promote the sustained and stable development of Britain-China relations.

    During his visit to Britain, Wang also met with Jonathan Powell, British prime minister’s national security adviser, and co-chaired the 10th China-UK Strategic Dialogue with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: An unexpected anomaly was found in the Pacific Ocean – and it could be a global time marker

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominik Koll, Honorary Lecturer, Australian National University

    View of the Pacific Ocean from the International Space Station. NASA

    Earth must have experienced something exceptional 10 million years ago. Our study of rock samples from the floor of the Pacific Ocean has found a strange increase in the radioactive isotope beryllium-10 during that time.

    This finding, now published in Nature Communications, opens new pathways for geologists to date past events gleaned from deep within the oceans.

    But the cause of the beryllium-10 anomaly remains unknown. Could it have been major shifts in global ocean currents, a dying star, or an interstellar collision?

    Extremely slow rocks deep in the ocean

    I am on a hunt for stardust on Earth. Previously, I’ve sifted through snow in Antarctica. This time, it was the depths of the ocean.

    At a depth of about 5,000 metres, the abyssal zone of the Pacific Ocean has never seen light, yet something does still grow there.

    Ferromanganese crusts – metallic underwater rocks – grow from minerals dissolved in the water slowly coming together and solidifying over extremely long time scales, as little as a few millimetres in a million years. (Stalactites and stalagmites in caves grow in a similar way, but thousands of times faster.)

    This makes ferromanganese crusts ideal archives for capturing stardust over millions of years.

    The age of these crusts can be determined by radiometric dating using the radioactive isotope beryllium-10. This isotope is continuously produced in the upper atmosphere when highly energetic cosmic rays strike air molecules. The strikes break apart the main components of our air – nitrogen and oxygen – into smaller fragments.

    Both stardust and beryllium-10 eventually find their way into Earth’s oceans where they become incorporated into the growing ferromanganese crust.

    Ferromanganese crust sample VA13/2-237KD analysed in this work. The anomaly was discovered in this crust at a depth of about 30mm – representing 10 million years.
    Dominik Koll

    One of the largest ferromanganese crusts was recovered in 1976 from the Central Pacific. Stored for decades at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources in Hanover, Germany, a 3.7kg section of it became the subject of my analysis.

    Much like tree rings reveal a tree’s age, ferromanganese crusts record their growth in layers over millions of years. Beryllium-10 undergoes radioactive decay really slowly, meaning it gradually breaks down over millions of years as it sits in the rocks.

    As beryllium-10 decays over time, its concentration decreases in deeper, older sediment layers. Because the rate of decay is steady, we can use radioactive isotopes as natural stopwatches to discern the age and history of rocks – this is called radioactive dating.

    A puzzling anomaly

    After extensive chemical processing, my colleagues and I used accelerator mass spectrometry – an ultra-sensitive analytical technique for longer-lived radioactive isotopes – to measure beryllium-10 concentrations in the crust.

    This time, my research took me from Canberra, Australia to Dresden, Germany, where the setup at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf was optimised for beryllium-10 measurements.

    The results showed that the crust had grown only 3.5 centimetres over the past 10 million years and was more than 20 million years old.

    However, before I could return to my search for stardust, I encountered an anomaly.

    Initially, as I searched back in time, the beryllium-10 concentration declined as expected, following its natural decay pattern – until about 10 million years ago. At that point, the expected decrease halted before resuming its normal pattern around 12 million years ago.

    This was puzzling: radioactive decay follows strict laws, meaning something must have introduced extra beryllium-10 into the crust at that time.

    Scepticism is crucial in science. To rule out errors, I repeated the chemical preparation and measurements multiple times – yet the anomaly persisted. The analysis of different crusts from locations nearly 3,000km away gave the same result, a beryllium-10 anomaly around 10 million years ago. This confirmed that the anomaly was a real event rather than a local irregularity.

    Ocean currents or exploding stars?

    What could have happened on Earth to cause this anomaly 10 million years ago? We’re not sure, but there are a few options.

    Last year, an international study revealed that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current – the main driver of global ocean circulation – intensified around 12 million years ago, influencing Antarctic ocean current patterns.

    Could this beryllium-10 anomaly in the Pacific mark the beginning of the modern global ocean circulation? If ocean currents were responsible, beryllium-10 would be distributed unevenly on Earth with some samples even showing a lack of beryllium-10. New samples from all major oceans and both hemispheres would allow us to answer this question.

    Another possibility emerged early last year. Astrophysicists demonstrated that a collision with a dense interstellar cloud could compress the heliosphere – the Sun’s protective shield against cosmic radiation – back to the orbit of Mercury. Without this barrier, Earth would be exposed to an increased cosmic ray flux, leading to an elevated global beryllium-10 production rate.

    A near-Earth supernova explosion could also cause an increased cosmic ray flux leading to a beryllium-10 anomaly. Future research will explore these possibilities.

    The discovery of such an anomaly is a windfall for geological dating. Various archives are used to investigate Earth’s climate, habitability and environmental conditions over different timescales.

    To compare ice cores with sediments, ferromanganese crusts, speleothems (stalagmites and stalactites) and others, their timescales need to be synchronous. Independent time markers, such as Miyake events or the Laschamp excursion, are invaluable for aligning records thousands of years old. Now, we may have a corresponding time marker for millions of years.

    Meanwhile, my search for stardust continues, but now keeping an eye out for new 10-million-year-old samples to further pin down the beryllium-10 anomaly. Stay tuned.

    This research was conducted at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. Dominik Koll received funding from AINSE.

    – ref. An unexpected anomaly was found in the Pacific Ocean – and it could be a global time marker – https://theconversation.com/an-unexpected-anomaly-was-found-in-the-pacific-ocean-and-it-could-be-a-global-time-marker-249695

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pressed by Sen. Murray, McMahon Can’t Name a Single Requirement of Landmark Education Law; Murray Grills McMahon on Trump Plans to Dismantle Education Department, DOGE Access to Sensitive Student Data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray questions Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), pressed Linda McMahon, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Education Secretary, on how she would approach the job of leading our nation’s Department of Education as President Trump calls the Department a “con job,” says he wants it closed “immediately”, hopes McMahon will “put herself out of a job,” and as Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE have already begun illegally gutting the Department.

    Senator Murray began by pressing McMahon on whether she will ensure enacted funding gets out to serve students as directed and on DOGE staffers setting up camp at the Department of Education, where they have reportedly fed sensitive personal and financial data from the department into artificial intelligence software. “They’ve already been given access to highly-sensitive student data, and have already started holding back money that Congress decided, on a bipartisan basis, was needed to help our schools and students,” Murray said.

    “We are also hearing, as you know, about an Executive Order coming any day that will seek to dismantle the Department of Education. These are bipartisan laws–you indicated that you understood that… if confirmed, do you commit to getting every dollar we have invested in our students and schools out to them?”

    McMahon responded that the DOGE staffers were “doing an audit,” to which Murray pressed further: “I understand an audit. But when Congress appropriates money, it is the administration’s responsibility to put that out as directed by Congress, who has the power of the purse. So what will you do if the President or Elon Musk tells you not to spend money Congress has appropriated to you?”

    McMahon said at first that the Department would “certainly spend” money Congress passed, before immediately following up with: “But I do think it is worthwhile to take a look at the programs before money goes out the door. It’s much easier—it is much easier to stop the money as it’s going out the door than it is to claw it back.”

    Murray made clear in response: “The process by law is that you look at that, you make recommendations to Congress. …. So, I mean the question really is–who decides how much federal funding public schools get in Seattle, where it’s already been allocated… Elon Musk or Congress?”

    Murray continued her questioning by asking Ms. McMahon about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), bipartisan legislation to rewrite the No Child Left Behind Act that Murray negotiated while Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee. The legislation gave states more flexibility in using federal education funds, eliminated one-size-fits-all mandates, and established strong federal guardrails to hold states and schools accountable. Murray argued that the Department of Education must do more to implement the law—pointing out that less than 42 percent of schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement had a plan that met all requirements of the law, and the recent National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that our lowest-performing students continue to fall furthest behind and exacerbate pre-pandemic achievement gaps.

    “What specific actions will you take to implement the ESSA law?” Murray asked. “Can you name a couple of the requirements that are in that law that you will make sure are implemented?”

    When McMahon declined to name a single requirement of ESSA, Murray pressed on: “Do you know what the requirements are? Do you know about the requirements for targeted support and improvement schools, or the annual report card requirement? Can you name any of the requirements?”

    When McMahon demurred, Murray asked again about any provisions she could name.

    McMahon responded, “No, I want to study it further and get back to you on that.”

    Next, Murray asked about reports that Elon Musk and his DOGE staff have been given access to the personal information of students and their families—including their Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, date of birth, and what college they are enrolled in. While DOGE’s access is temporarily paused due to litigation, Murray noted, “There is a real potential for that kind of information to be abused, or for students’ privacy to be placed in jeopardy if the courts end up ruling against the students. And we know that DOGE could use that highly personal information to then target students and target their families or cut off access to Pell Grants for students at a college that someone perceives opposes, maybe, President Trump’s policies.”

    “So I want to ask you, do you believe that DOGE employees should have access to private student data?”

    When McMahon suggested that DOGE employees are operating “under certain restraints,” Murray pressed on: “I have to tell you it is deeply concerning that we have DOGE staffers—we don’t know who they are, they’re not held accountable—getting access to students’ private information. I think that should frighten everyone.”

    A senior member and former chair of the HELP Committee, Senator Murray has championed students and families at every stage of her career—fighting to help ensure every child in America can get a high-quality public education. Among other things, Senator Murray negotiated the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), landmark legislation that she got signed into law, replacing the broken No Child Left Behind Act. As a longtime appropriator, she has successfully fought to boost funding to support students and invest in our nation’s K-12 schools, and she has secured significant increases to the Pell Grant so that it goes further for students pursuing a higher education. Senator Murray also successfully negotiated the FAFSA Simplification Act, bipartisan legislation to reform the financial aid application process, simplify the FAFSA form for students and parents, and significantly expand eligibility for federal aid.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justified Accord 2025 hones warfighting capabilities, enhances multinational crisis response readiness

    Source: United States Army

    1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Brigadier Gen. Paul Koech, chief of training at Kenya Defence Headquarters, formally opens exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25) by signing a proclamation at the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 10, 2025. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Trish Basile, chief of the Kenya U.S. Liaison Office (KUSLO), and KDF Col. Jonathan Rungwe, commandant of HPSS, stand together as witnesses during the signing ceremony at HPSS. JA25 is the premier U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) exercise in East Africa, designed to enhance multinational combat readiness, strengthen crisis response capabilities and empower allies and partners in the region. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, JA25 integrates high-intensity training scenarios that sharpen warfighting skills, increase operational reach and enhance the ability to execute complex joint and multinational operations. The exercise runs from Feb. 10–21, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Solomon Navarro)

    (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Solomon Navarro)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Kenya Defence Forces Brigadier Paul Koech, chief of training at Kenya Defence Headquarters, delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25) at the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 10, 2025. JA25 is the premier U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) exercise in East Africa, designed to enhance multinational combat readiness, strengthen crisis response capabilities and empower allies and partners in the region. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, JA25 integrates high-intensity training scenarios that sharpen warfighting skills, increase operational reach and enhance the ability to execute complex joint and multinational operations. The exercise runs from Feb. 10–21, 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class. Solomon Navarro) VIEW ORIGINAL

    NAIROBI, Kenya — Approximately 1,300 personnel from over 15 countries will participate in Justified Accord 2025, U.S. Africa Command’s largest military exercise in East Africa, from Feb. 10-21, 2025. Hosted in Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, this annual exercise strengthens the ability of participating forces to respond to regional security threats, humanitarian crises and peacekeeping missions.

    Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), this is Kenya’s fourth year in a row hosting the exercise.

    This year features the first-ever night iteration of air-to-ground integration operations where partner countries control Kenyan air assets to provide air support of multinational land forces.

    Also for the first time, U.S. and Kenya military healthcare providers will conduct a real-world veterinary civic action program, to provide essential veterinary services to livestock. This fosters positive relations with local Kenyans and builds readiness when encountering animals on the battlefield.

    1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Capt. James Dewy, a physician assistant with the 8th Medical Brigade, a U.S. Army Reserve unit, identifies organs using a sonogram with Kenya Defence Forces medics during Justified Accord 2025 (JA25) at the Counter Insurgency Terrorism and Stability Operations center in Nanyuki, Kenya, Feb. 11, 2025. JA25 is the premier U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) exercise in East Africa, designed to enhance multinational combat readiness, strengthen crisis response capabilities and empower allies and partners in the region. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, JA25 integrates high-intensity training scenarios that sharpen warfighting skills, increase operational reach and enhance the ability to execute complex joint and multinational operations. The exercise runs from Feb. 10–21, 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Josiah Jenkins) VIEW ORIGINAL
    2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Kenya Defence Force (KDF) medics joined the medics with 8th Medical Brigade and 1st Battalion 182nd Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts National Guard, to conduct a casualty evacuation rehearsal during exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25) at the Counter Insurgency Terrorism and Stability Operations Center in Nanyuki, Kenya, Feb. 12, 2025. JA25 is the premier U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) exercise in East Africa, designed to enhance multinational combat readiness, strengthen crisis response capabilities and empower allies and partners in the region. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted by Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, JA25 integrates high-intensity training scenarios that sharpen warfighting skills, increase operational reach and enhance the ability to execute complex joint and multinational operations. The exercise runs from Feb. 10–21, 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Brown) VIEW ORIGINAL
    3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Kenya Defence Force (KDF) medics joined the medics with 8th Medical Brigade and 1st Battalion 182nd Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts National Guard, to conduct a casualty evacuation rehearsal during exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25) at the Counter Insurgency Terrorism and Stability Operations Center in Nanyuki, Kenya, Feb. 12, 2025. JA25 is the premier U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) exercise in East Africa, designed to enhance multinational combat readiness, strengthen crisis response capabilities and empower allies and partners in the region. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted by Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, JA25 integrates high-intensity training scenarios that sharpen warfighting skills, increase operational reach and enhance the ability to execute complex joint and multinational operations. The exercise runs from Feb. 10–21, 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Brown) VIEW ORIGINAL
    4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Kenya Defence Force (KDF) medics joined the medics with 8th Medical Brigade and 1st Battalion 182nd Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts National Guard, to conduct a casualty evacuation rehearsal during exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25) at the Counter Insurgency Terrorism and Stability Operations Center in Nanyuki, Kenya, Feb. 12, 2025. JA25 is the premier U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) exercise in East Africa, designed to enhance multinational combat readiness, strengthen crisis response capabilities and empower allies and partners in the region. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted by Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, JA25 integrates high-intensity training scenarios that sharpen warfighting skills, increase operational reach and enhance the ability to execute complex joint and multinational operations. The exercise runs from Feb. 10–21, 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Brown)
    1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Exercise planners representing multiple nations pose for a photo to announce the official start of exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25) at the Humanitarian Peace Support School in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 10, 2025. JA25 is the premier U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) exercise in East Africa, designed to enhance multinational combat readiness, strengthen crisis response capabilities and empower allies and partners in the region. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, JA25 integrates high-intensity training scenarios that sharpen warfighting skills, increase operational reach and enhance the ability to execute complex joint and multinational operations. The exercise runs from Feb. 10–21, 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Solomon Navarro)
    2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Trish Basile, Chief of the Kenya United States Liaison Office (KUSLO), and Col. Jonathan Rungwe, Commandant of the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS), welcome a Swiss service member with a handshake during the opening ceremony of Exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25) at HPSS in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 10, 2025. JA25 is the premier U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) exercise in East Africa, designed to enhance multinational combat readiness, strengthen crisis response capabilities and empower allies and partners in the region. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, JA25 integrates high-intensity training scenarios that sharpen warfighting skills, increase operational reach and enhance the ability to execute complex joint and multinational operations. The exercise runs from Feb. 10–21, 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo Sgt. 1st Class Solomon Navarro) VIEW ORIGINAL

    JA25 reinforces the commitment of the U.S. and its partners to joint military readiness, crisis response and multinational cooperation.

    “It’s a great honor to take part in exercise Justified Accord 2025. We give much appreciation to the U.S. for their partnership in training and the exchange of knowledge and skills,” said KDF Brigadier William Kamwoiro, commander of the 2nd Brigade and KDF exercise director. “The training in small team tactics, optics, as well as combat medics will serve to ensure seamless cooperation and effective support in future joint tasks and duties.”

    For photos, videos and articles from the exercise, please visit the Justified Accord DVIDS feature page and the Kenyan Ministry of Defence website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mast Delivers Opening Remarks at HFAC Hearing on the USAID Betrayal

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-321-9747

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast delivered opening remarks at a full committee hearing on the United States Agency for International Development’s betrayal of America.

    WATCH HERE

    -Remarks as delivered-

    We are here today, very simply, because many of the people and many of the programs in USAID have literally betrayed America. My colleagues to my left will say that I am lying about these programs, and I know they damn well wish that I was lying. The programs USAID and the State Department have spent money on are indefensible, they hurt America’s standing around the globe, and I think the fact is clear that America would have been better off if your money had been simply thrown into a fireplace.

    Instead, the Biden administration spent it imposing their far-left-wing ideology onto other nations. Under them, USAID spent:

    – $2 million for sex change surgeries in Guatemala.

    – $22 million to increase tourism in Tunisia and Egypt, that’s not lifesaving.

    – $520 million to pay consultants to teach people in Africa about climate change, that’s not medicine.

    – $4.5 million to teach people in Kazakhstan how to fight back against internet trolls, that’s not lifesaving.

    –  $20,000 to help LGTB individuals vote in the Honduran elections, that’s not medicine.

    –  $5.5 million to improve the lives of LGBT individuals in Uganda.

    –  $14 million to identify LGBT leaders in Cambodia.

    –  $425,000 to train Indonesian coffee companies on how to be more gender friendly.

    –  $15 million for condoms to the Taliban.

    And I have pages and pages more. That is not diplomacy. It’s a slap in the face to every American who got up this morning and went to work. To this moment, you haven’t seen or heard any of my colleagues on the left apologizing for this being wrong or wasteful.

    Instead, their biggest concern is that the person assembling a team to make sure these programs are not funded is a billionaire named Elon Musk. They’re so out of touch; they think these programs are bringing other countries closer to us and our adversaries are going to get a foothold if these programs don’t continue.

    That is not what competing looks like for the United States of America. On the contrary, last month when I participated in a Q&A with my colleague here to the left in the U.S. Institute of Peace, which will have to explain their funding, the Ugandan Ambassador stood up and said these programs were not doing anything to improve relations between our nations.

    Take a look at the video.

    These programs will not continue. They’re going to come to an end. Yet my colleagues to the left are arguing for these programs to continue, arguing for the people who put these programs in place to go back to work, and arguing for the agency that did this to continue wasting your money.

    They’re going to argue that President Trump doesn’t have the authority to do this, but the fact is of those who were in Congress, all but three of them, voted to give him the authority in 2024. It says very specifically in SFOPS Appropriations Act that the administration may potentially “expand, eliminate, consolidate, or downsize covered departments, agencies, or organizations.” That’s the language of the authority.

    It’s not just the content of USAID that is the betrayal. It’s the larceny that USAID has conducted. Crooked NGOs around Washington, D.C. swindling American taxpayers out of their money. A recent audit found that USAID’s implementing partners were using as much as 50% of their grant for overhead costs not lifesaving measures.

    The administration has said that the aid pause is temporary, and they have proven it. The recipients of USAID programs, they can apply for a waiver. I have a list with me. Many have applied. Many have been denied and some have received wavers that proved that their work was lifesaving.

    Let me give a warning to my colleagues, it will be short-sighted of you to turn a blind eye to USAID’s betrayal and more broadly to the betrayal within the State Department. Because we are going to bring in the people who put these programs in place. We are going to show to the American people exactly what they were doing. The videos, the documents, the everything. They are going to see it.

    Like $25,000 for a drag show seminar for Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador and we are going to show you that video.

    We will be writing these programs out of law as we conduct our first full State Department review since 2002.

    I would say that when done right, foreign aid can be one of the best tools. It can help strengthen our relationships with our allies that need a hand up and it can help countries realize that America is the best partner.

    But it is only true if we understand a couple of things:

    – What does America actually need from each country or region?

    – What does that country or region actually want from the United States of America? Because it’s not these things.

    – And it’s only fair to Americans if we can prove that a dollar better spent going abroad than staying in the pocket of an American who is right now hustling and grinding it out of work.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes to Hold Community Hearing Highlighting Current Immigration Actions

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (February 13, 2025) — On Friday, Feb. 14, at 12:00 p.m., Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes (D–Duluth), will hold a community hearing to highlight current immigration actions in Georgia. The hearing will also inform community members of their rights and discuss alternative paths forward for immigration policy.

    EVENT DETAILS:                      

    • Date: Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
    • Time: 12:00 p.m.
    • Location: Georgia State Capitol, Room 450, 206 Washington St, Atlanta, GA 30334
    • This event is open to the public.

    ABOUT THE MEETING:
    During the hearing, Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes will meet with attorneys and representatives from various civil rights groups and community groups to discuss the issue.

    MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
    We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    # # # #

    Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes represents the 7th Senate District, which includes a portion of Gwinnett County. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.5263 or by email at NabilahIslamParkes@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Moran Lays out Legislative Proposal to Move the Food for Peace Program to USDA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran

    WASHINGTON. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today spoke on the Senate floor about legislation he introduced with Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Roger Marshall, M.D., (R-Kan.) and Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01) that would move the administration of the Food for Peace program to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Sen. Moran also highlighted the importance of Food for Peace for national security, feeding the hungry and providing a market for Kansas farmers.

    “In conjunction with the President’s action, I’ve introduced a bill with Sen. John Hoeven and Sen. Roger Marshall and Rep. Tracey Mann to move Food for Peace from the turbulent USAID and move it to the Department of Agriculture in an effort to prevent waste and bring the program closer to farmers that depend upon it,” said Sen. Moran. “By placing Food for Peace under USDA’s authority, we can make certain that the program is in good hands and can continue to bring revenue to American agriculture.”

    “Just a little over an hour ago, the Senate confirmed the new Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins,” continued Sen. Moran. “I have no doubt she will be an excellent advocate for our nation’s farmers, and I appreciate the conversations we’ve already had on this legislation and her excitement to work on this proposal with me.”

    “In rural America, food assistance programs like Food for Peace put American-grown products in the hands of the hungry, and this food is a tangible extension of the hard work and dedication of farmers and ranchers,” concluded Sen. Moran. “I’m pleased to help find ways to make our delivery of food aid more effective, more efficient and remove the challenges and things that we’ve seen that are so disturbing. Food for Peace bolters the farmers who feed us, creates a more stable world and feeds the hungry.”

    Click HERE to watch Sen. Moran’s Floor Speech

     

    Remarks as delivered:

    “Today, I want to speak about a program that has shaped our nation’s humanitarian efforts and made a significant impact on my home state of Kansas, a program called Food for Peace.

    “In 1953, agricultural surpluses had reached an all-time high, but the price of storing excess commodities was too expensive to rationalize, and it was at risk of going to waste.

    “Kansas farmers, like Cheyenne County’s Peter O’Brien, worked hard to cultivate and grow these commodities. Looking for a solution, Peter suggested at a local farm bureau meeting that maybe the excess food could be sent to countries in need. Peter understood that out of our abundance, we have a moral duty and opportunity to feed the hungry. His idea sparked the origin of a program we now know as Food for Peace.

    “Another Kansan, one of my predecessors, Andy Schoeppel, led the Food for Peace Act in the Senate, which was signed into law by President Eisenhower, another Kansan, in 1954. And Senator Bob Dole from Russell, Kansas later championed the reauthorization of Food for Peace.

    “The program’s premise was simple but impactful: by leveraging the food surpluses that we produce in Kansas and across the nation, we could address famine around the world while creating new markets for our commodities and bolstering our agricultural economy.

    “The first shipments of American wheat and corn were sent to Korea and Greece in 1954, and by the end of Food for Peace’s initial year of operation, it had fed 1.2 million people. Over the last 70 years, the program has fed more than 4 billion people in more than 50 countries, all with American grown commodities.

    “Hunger, whether driven by price increases or food shortages, can act as a catalyst for protests and armed conflict.

    “We’ve seen how food can be used as a weapon of war as radical Islamic groups in Syria use food as a means to recruit soldiers. We’ve witnessed regions of the world that are critical to America’s strategic interest sent into chaos due to people not having access to affordable food.

    “In a turbulent world stricken with conflict, American leadership is more than just our military and our economic might. Food aid provided by the United States reduces despair and increases stability within fragile countries by enabling economic productivity and minimizing the risk of radicalization.

    “For countless individuals around the world, their survival is dependent upon the resources provided by the American people. These vulnerable populations rely on the strength and prosperity of the United States.

    “However, much work remains in the ongoing battle against hunger, and part of that battle is improving the process and programs that administer our aid.

    “Food for Peace is administered by the USAID, and the inefficiency of USAID has been growing concern. The agency struggles with bureaucratic delays, mismanagement, and a lack of coordination, which undermines its ability to deliver effectively aid to those in need. This inefficiency not only waste taxpayer dollars, but also diminishes the impact of Americans’ foreign aid in addressing global crisis.

    “Reports suggest that millions of taxpayer dollars have been allocated to promoting tourism in Lebanon and Egypt, funding the purchase of electric vehicles for Vietnam and inadvertently supporting the cultivation of opium in Afghanistan. Even more concerning, it has been confirmed that $9 million intended for civilian food and medical supplies in Syria fell into the hands of terrorist organizations linked to Al-Qaeda due to the failed oversight of USAID.

    “Amid these concerns of corruption, President Trump has taken steps to dismantle USAID. In conjunction with the President’s action and with approval of the White House policy team, I’ve introduced a bill with Senator John Hoeven and Senator Roger Marshall, and Representative Tracey Mann to move Food for Peace from the turbulent USAID program and move it to the Department of Agriculture in an effort to prevent waste and bring the program closer to farmers that depend upon it.

    “USDA has a long and proven history of managing agricultural policy and programs that support American farmers, food distribution systems and global security efforts. USDA has boots on the ground and the infrastructure already in place to support the logistics for food assistance. The agency understands how to move crops efficiently, sustainably and quickly.

    “This knowledge is indispensable when responding to international crises, where speed and reliability can mean the difference between life and death. By placing Food for Peace under USDA’s authority, we make certain that the program is in good hands and can continue to bring revenue to American agriculture.

    “As just a little over an hour ago, the Senate confirmed the new Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins. I have no doubt she will be an excellent advocate for our nation’s farmers, and I appreciate the conversations we’ve already had on this legislation. The Secretary has told me she’s excited about this proposal and looks forward to working together on this issue.

    “We produce more than we can consume in this nation, so without programs to export to, our ability to make a living in agriculture in Kansas and across the country disappears.

    “In FY2023 alone, $713 million of U.S.-grown commodities were purchased by the Food for Peace program, putting money in the in money back into the hands of farmers.

    “In rural America, food assistance programs like Food for Peace put American grown products in the hands of the hungry, and this food is a tangible extension of the hard work and dedication of farmers and ranchers.

    “I’m pleased to help find ways to make our delivery of food aid more effective, more efficient and remove the challenges and, things that we’ve seen that are so disturbing.

    “America is the greatest country on earth and the most prosperous.

    “Food for Peace bolters the farmers who feed us, creates a more stable world, and feeds the hungry.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: $TOCKHOLDER ALERT: The M&A Class Action Firm Encourages Shareholders of EMKR, CCRN, WMPN, ALVR to Act Now

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm by ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating:

    • EMCORE Corporation (NASDAQ: EMKR), relating to its proposed merger with Velocity One Holdings, LP. Under the terms of the agreement, EMCORE stockholders will receive $3.10 per share of EMCORE common stock they own.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for February 27, 2025.

    Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/emcore-corporation-emkr/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCRN), relating to the proposed merger with Aya Healthcare. Under the terms of the agreement, shares of Cross Country will be converted into the right to receive $18.61 in cash.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for February 28, 2025.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/cross-country-healthcare-inc-ccrn/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • William Penn Bancorporation (Nasdaq: WMPN), relating to its proposed merger with Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of William Penn will receive 0.4260 shares of Mid Penn common stock for each share of William Penn common stock. Additionally, all options of William Penn will be rolled into Mid Penn equivalent options. The implied transaction value is approximately $13.58 per William Penn share.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for April 2, 2025.

    Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/william-penn-bancorporation-wmpn/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • AlloVir, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALVR), relating to its proposed merger with Kalaris Therapeutics. Under the terms of the agreement, AlloVir will acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interest of Kalaris. Upon completion, pre-Merger AlloVir stockholders are expected to own approximately 25.05% of the combined company.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for March 12, 2025.

    Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/allovir-inc-alvr/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE THE SAME. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

    1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
    2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
    3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?

    About Monteverde & Associates PC

    Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

    No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

    Contact:
    Juan Monteverde, Esq.
    MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
    The Empire State Building
    350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
    New York, NY 10118
    United States of America
    jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
    Tel: (212) 971-1341

    Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

    The MIL Network –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Fairfax India Holdings Corporation: Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

    (Note: All dollar amounts in this press release are expressed in U.S. dollars except as otherwise noted. The financial results are derived from unaudited financial statements prepared using the recognition and measurement requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS®Accounting Standards”), except as otherwise noted. This press release contains certain non-GAAP and other financial measures, including book value per share and cash and marketable securities, that do not have a prescribed meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and may not be comparable to similar financial measures presented by other issuers. See “Glossary of non-GAAP and other financial measures” at the end of this press release for further details.)

    TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fairfax India Holdings Corporation (TSX: FIH.U) announces fiscal year 2024 net losses of $41.2 million ($0.30 net loss per diluted share), compared to net earnings of $371.8 million in fiscal year 2023 ($2.72 net earnings per diluted share). At December 31, 2024 the company’s book value per share decreased 4.1% to $20.96 from $21.85 at December 31, 2023 primarily due to unrealized foreign currency translation losses as the U.S. dollar strengthened against the Indian rupee.

    Highlights for 2024 included the following:

    • Net realized gains on investments of $218.9 million primarily related to realized gains on sales of NSE ($167.3 million) and partial sales of CSB Bank ($43.0 million).
    • Excluding reversals of prior period unrealized gains primarily related to the sales of NSE ($167.2 million) and CSB Bank ($56.3 million), the company recorded a net change in unrealized gains on investments of $55.1 million, principally from increases in the fair values of the company’s listed investment in IIFL Capital (formerly IIFL Securities) ($183.9 million) and private company investments in BIAL ($78.6 million), Maxop ($43.1 million) and Jaynix ($34.5 million), partially offset by decreases in the fair value of the company’s listed investments in IIFL Finance ($124.2 million) and CSB Bank ($62.2 million), and private company investment in Sanmar ($95.1 million).
    • Interest and dividend income of $61.5 million primarily related to dividends received from Seven Islands ($29.9 million) and Saurashtra ($4.4 million), and interest earned on bonds ($16.3 million), primarily Government of India bonds.
    • On October 11, 2024 the company completed its previously announced investment in Global Aluminium Private Limited for a purchase price of $82.7 million (7.0 billion Indian rupees).
    • On December 3, 2024 the company entered into an agreement to acquire an additional 10.0% equity interest in BIAL through its wholly-owned subsidiary for purchase consideration of $255.0 million (to be paid in three installments over 18 months, with the initial installment of $84.2 million to be paid on closing). On January 28, 2025 the company obtained shareholder approval for a one-time deviation from its investment concentration restriction in order to complete the additional BIAL purchase. The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2025.
    • The company continued to buy back shares under its normal course issuer bid and during 2024 purchased for cancellation 559,047 subordinate voting shares at a net cost of $8.4 million ($15.07 per subordinate voting share).

    Fairfax India is in strong financial health, with cash and marketable securities at December 31, 2024 of $214.4 million and an undrawn $175.0 million revolving credit facility.

    FAIRFAX INDIA HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    95 Wellington Street West, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2N7 Telephone: 416-367-4755

    There were 135.0 million and 135.5 million weighted average common shares outstanding during the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. At December 31, 2024 there were 104,839,462 subordinate voting shares and 30,000,000 multiple voting shares outstanding.

    Unaudited balance sheets, earnings (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) information follow and form part of this press release.

    Fairfax India Holdings Corporation is an investment holding company whose objective is to achieve long term capital appreciation, while preserving capital, by investing in public and private equity securities and debt instruments in India and Indian businesses or other businesses with customers, suppliers or business primarily conducted in, or dependent on, India.

         
    For further information, contact:   John Varnell, Vice President, Corporate Affairs
        (416) 367-4755
         

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements may relate to the company’s or an Indian Investment’s future outlook and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, growth strategy, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividends, plans and objectives of the company. Particularly, statements regarding future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities of the company, an Indian Investment, or the Indian market are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate” or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”.

    Forward-looking statements are based on our opinions and estimates as of the date of this press release, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following factors: oil price risk; geographic concentration of investments; foreign currency fluctuation; volatility of the Indian securities markets; investments may be made in foreign private businesses where information is unreliable or unavailable; valuation methodologies involve subjective judgments; financial market fluctuations; pace of completing investments; minority investments; reliance on key personnel and risks associated with the Investment Advisory Agreement; disruption of the company’s information technology systems; lawsuits; use of leverage; significant ownership by Fairfax may adversely affect the market price of the subordinate voting shares; weather risk; taxation risks; emerging markets; MLI; economic risk; trading price of subordinate voting shares relative to book value per share risk; and economic disruptions from the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in the company’s annual information form dated March 8, 2024 which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the company’s website at www.fairfaxindia.ca. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the company. These factors and assumptions, however, should be considered carefully.

    Although the company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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 forward-looking statements. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

       
    Information on 
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    as at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023
    (unaudited – US$ thousands)
      December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
    Assets    
    Cash and cash equivalents   59,322   174,615
    Bonds   180,507   63,263
    Common stocks   3,381,206   3,581,043
    Total cash and investments   3,621,035   3,818,921
             
    Interest and dividends receivable   8,849   1,367
    Income taxes refundable   174   220
    Other assets   722   1,027
    Total assets   3,630,780   3,821,535
         
    Liabilities    
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   1,300   912
    Accrued interest expense   8,611   8,611
    Income taxes payable   5,379   —
    Payable to related parties   10,099   120,858
    Deferred income taxes   149,780   108,553
    Borrowings   498,349   497,827
    Total liabilities   673,518   736,761
         
    Equity    
    Common shareholders’ equity   2,826,495   2,958,718
    Non-controlling interests   130,767   126,056
    Total equity   2,957,262   3,084,774
        3,630,780   3,821,535
             
    Book value per share $ 20.96 $ 21.85
     
    Information on
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS)
    for the fourth quarters and years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited – US$ thousands except per share amounts)
                           
      Fourth quarter   Year ended December 31,  
        2024     2023   2024     2023  
    Income                      
    Interest   4,049     3,511   19,504     16,833  
    Dividends   32,769     12,208   41,946     28,831  
    Net realized gains on investments   217     145,758   218,871     193,203  
    Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (23,929 )   44,581   (167,654 )   361,702  
    Net foreign exchange gains (losses)   (10,282 )   322   (12,616 )   (1,713 )
        2,824     206,380   100,051     598,856  
    Expenses        
    Investment and advisory fees   10,415     10,720   40,405     39,382  
    Performance fee   —     27,849   —     69,385  
    General and administration expenses   1,572     1,884   7,914     12,672  
    Interest expense   6,380     6,380   25,521     25,521  
        18,367     46,833   73,840     146,960  

    Earnings (loss) before income taxes

    		  

    (15,543

    )

    		  

    159,547

    		  

    26,211

    		    

    451,896

    		  
    Provision for income taxes   15,444     22,794   58,948     68,050  
    Net earnings (loss)   (30,987 )   136,753   (32,737 )   383,846  

    Attributable to:

    		        
    Shareholders of Fairfax India   (35,782 )   134,968   (41,173 )   371,770  
    Non-controlling interests   4,795     1,785   8,436     12,076  
        (30,987 )   136,753   (32,737 )   383,846  

    Net earnings (loss) per basic and diluted share

    $

    (0.27

    )

    $

    1.00

    $

    (0.30

    )

    $

    2.72

    		  
    Shares outstanding (weighted average)   134,994,563     135,464,165   135,165,840     136,818,139  
                           
    Information on
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
    for the fourth quarters and years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited – US$ thousands)
             
      Fourth quarter   Year ended December 31,  
      2024   2023   2024   2023  
                     
    Net earnings (loss) (30,987 ) 136,753   (32,737 ) 383,846  
    Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes                
    Item that may be subsequently reclassified to net earnings (loss)                
    Unrealized foreign currency translation losses, net of income taxes of nil (2023 – nil) (63,961 ) (6,485 ) (85,545 ) (18,614 )
    Comprehensive income (loss) (94,948 ) 130,268   (118,282 ) 365,232  

    Attributable to:

    		                
    Shareholders of Fairfax India (96,918 ) 128,727   (122,993 ) 353,913  
    Non-controlling interests 1,970   1,541   4,711   11,319  
      (94,948 ) 130,268   (118,282 ) 365,232  

    GLOSSARY OF NON-GAAP AND OTHER FINANCIAL MEASURES 
    Management analyzes and assesses the financial position of the consolidated company in various ways. Certain of the measures included in this press release, which have been used consistently and disclosed regularly in the company’s Annual Reports and interim financial reporting, do not have a prescribed meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Those measures are described below.

    Book value per share – The company considers book value per share a key performance measure in evaluating its objective of long term capital appreciation, while preserving capital. This measure is also closely monitored as it is used to calculate the performance fee, if any, to Fairfax Financial Holdings. This measure is calculated by the company as common shareholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding.

    Cash and marketable securities – This measure is calculated by the company as the sum of cash, cash equivalents, short term investments, Government of India bonds and Other Public Indian Investments, in addition to short term receivables from investment custodians relating to dividends received on behalf of the company. The company uses this measure to monitor short term liquidity risk.

    The MIL Network –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: PDF Solutions® Announces Record 2024 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Total Revenues

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDF Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDFS), a leading provider of comprehensive data solutions for the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.

    Financial Highlights of Fourth Quarter 2024

    • Record quarterly total revenues of $50.1 million, up 22% over last year’s comparable quarter
    • Record quarterly analytics revenue of $47.9 million, up 22% over last year’s comparable quarter
    • GAAP gross margin of 68% and non-GAAP gross margin of 72%
    • GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.01 and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.25

    Financial Highlights of Full Year 2024

    • Record full year total revenues of $179.5 million, up 8% over last year
    • Record full year analytics revenue of $169.3 million, up 11% over last year
    • GAAP gross margin of 70% and non-GAAP gross margin of 74%
    • GAAP diluted EPS of $0.10 and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.84
    • Backlog of $221.4 million as of December 31, 2024

    Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $50.1 million, compared to $46.4 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $41.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Analytics revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $47.9 million, compared to $44.8 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $39.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Integrated Yield Ramp revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $2.2 million, compared to $1.7 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $2.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Total revenues for the full year 2024 and 2023 were $179.5 million and $165.8 million, respectively.

    GAAP gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 68%, compared to 73% for the third quarter of 2024 and 68% for the fourth quarter of 2023. GAAP gross margin for the full year 2024 and 2023 was 70% and 69%, respectively.

    Non-GAAP gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 72%, compared to 77% for the third quarter of 2024 and 72% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP gross margin for the full year 2024 and 2023 was 74% and 73%, respectively.

    On a GAAP basis, net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $0.5 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.2 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, and net income of $0.9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2023. On a GAAP basis, net income for the full year 2024 was $4.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to net income of $3.1 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the full year 2023.

    Non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $9.9 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $9.9 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, and non-GAAP net income of $5.7 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP net income for the full year 2024 was $32.6 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $28.5 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, for the full year 2023.

    Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2024, were $114.9 million.

    Financial Outlook

    “We are pleased with the progress we are making with our customers. During the fourth quarter of 2024, we completed an ongoing manufacturing evaluation of an eProbe machine earlier than the customer’s schedule, resulting in the sale to this new leading edge customer, booked multiple Exensio deals, and saw growth in our Cimetrix connectivity business from runtime licenses. In 2025, we expect our full year revenues to grow at a rate approaching 15% year over year,” said John Kibarian, CEO and President.

    Conference Call

    As previously announced, PDF Solutions will discuss these results on a live conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time / 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time today. To participate on the live call, analysts and investors should pre-register at: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI1b05df01d9534a648d4fd2cd753be31c. Registrants will receive dial-in information and a unique passcode to access the call. We encourage participants to dial into the call ten minutes ahead of the scheduled time. The teleconference will also be webcast simultaneously on the Company’s website at https://ir.pdf.com/webcasts. A replay of the conference call webcast will be available after the call on the Company’s investor relations website. A copy of this press release, including the disclosure and reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP measures, which non-GAAP measures may be used periodically by PDF Solutions’ management when discussing financial results with investors and analysts, will also be available on PDF Solutions’ website at http://www.pdf.com/press-releases following the date of this release.

    Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Commentary Available Online

    A Management Report reviewing the Company’s fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K and published on the Company’s website at http://ir.pdf.com/financial-reports. Analysts and investors are encouraged to review this commentary prior to participating in the conference call.

    Information Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    In addition to providing results that are determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), PDF Solutions also provides certain non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP gross profit and margin exclude stock-based compensation expense and the amortization of acquired technology under costs of revenues. Non-GAAP net income excludes stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired technology under costs of revenues, amortization of other acquired intangible assets, and the effects of certain non-recurring items, such as expenses for certain legal proceedings, non-recurring legal, tax and accounting service-related costs, loss on damaged equipment in-transit, net of recovery from previously written-off property and equipment, and their related income tax effects, as applicable, as well as adjustments for the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and reconciling items. These non-GAAP financial measures are used by management internally to measure the Company’s profitability and performance. PDF Solutions’ management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the Company’s ongoing operations in light of the fact that none of these categories of expense and income has a current effect on the future uses of cash (with the exception of expenses related to certain legal proceedings and non-recurring legal, tax and accounting services) nor do they impact the generation of current or future revenues. These non-GAAP results should not be considered an alternative to, or a substitute for, GAAP financial information, and may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In particular, these non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for GAAP measures of income or loss as a measure of performance, or to cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities as a measure of liquidity. Since management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to measure profitability and performance, PDF Solutions has included these non-GAAP measures to give investors an opportunity to see the Company’s financial results as viewed by management. A reconciliation of the comparable GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures is provided at the end of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented below.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release and the planned conference call include forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s future expected business performance and financial results, including expectations about total revenue growth for 2025 and other statements identified by words such as “could,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms, that are subject to future events and circumstances. Other than statements of historical fact, all statements contained in this press release and the planned conference call are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially include risks associated with: the effectiveness of the Company’s business and technology strategies; current semiconductor industry trends and competition; rates of adoption of the Company’s solutions by new and existing customers; project milestones or delays and performance criteria achieved; cost and schedule of new product development and investments in research and development; the continuing impact of macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, changing interest rates and tariffs, the evolving trade regulatory environment and geopolitical tensions, and other trends on the semiconductor industry, the Company’s customers, operations, and supply and demand for its products; supply chain disruptions; the success of the Company’s strategic growth opportunities and partnerships; recent and future acquisitions, strategic alliances and relationships and the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and technologies; whether the Company can successfully convert backlog into revenue; customers’ production volumes under contracts that provide Gainshare; the sufficiency of the Company’s cash resources and anticipated funds from operations; the Company’s ability to obtain additional financing if needed and its ability to use support and updates for certain open-source software; and other risks set forth in PDF Solutions’ periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to such reports. The forward-looking statements made in this press release and the conference call are made as of the date hereof, and PDF Solutions does not assume any obligation to update such statements nor the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in such statements. The Company has not filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. As a result, all financial results described in this earnings release should be considered preliminary, and are subject to change to reflect any necessary adjustments or changes in accounting estimates, that are identified prior to the time the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K.

    About PDF Solutions

    PDF Solutions (Nasdaq: PDFS) provides comprehensive data solutions designed to empower organizations across the semiconductor and electronics industry ecosystem to improve manufacturing yield, product quality and operational efficiency leading to increased profitability. The Company’s products and services are used by Fortune 500 companies across the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem to achieve smart manufacturing goals by connecting and controlling manufacturing equipment, collecting data generated during manufacturing and test operations, and using advanced analytics and machine learning models to enable profitable, high-volume manufacturing.

    Founded in 1991, PDF Solutions is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. The Company (directly or through one or more subsidiaries) is an active member of SEMI, INEMI, TPCA, IPC, the OPC Foundation, and DMDII. For the latest news and information about PDF Solutions or to find office locations, visit https://www.pdf.com.

    PDF Solutions and the PDF Solutions logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of PDF Solutions, Inc. or its subsidiaries.

    Company Contacts:    
    Adnan Raza   Sonia Segovia
    Chief Financial Officer   Investor Relations
    Tel: (408) 516-0237   Tel: (408) 938-6491
    Email: adnan.raza@pdf.com   Email: sonia.segovia@pdf.com
         

    PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands)

                 
           December 31, 
        2024   2023
                 
    ASSETS            
    Current assets:            
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 90,594     $ 98,978  
    Short-term investments     24,291       36,544  
    Accounts receivable, net     73,649       44,904  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     17,445       17,422  
    Total current assets     205,979       197,848  
    Property and equipment, net     48,465       37,338  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets, net     4,029       4,926  
    Goodwill     14,953       15,029  
    Intangible assets, net     12,307       15,620  
    Deferred tax assets, net     43       157  
    Other non-current assets     29,513       19,218  
    Total assets   $ 315,289     $ 290,136  
                 
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY            
    Current liabilities:            
    Accounts payable   $ 8,255     $ 2,561  
    Accrued compensation and related benefits     16,855       14,800  
    Accrued and other current liabilities     8,752       4,633  
    Operating lease liabilities ‒ current portion     1,675       1,529  
    Deferred revenues ‒ current portion     24,930       25,750  
    Billings in excess of recognized revenues     75       1,570  
    Total current liabilities     60,542       50,843  
    Long-term income taxes     2,915       2,972  
    Non-current operating lease liabilities     3,504       4,657  
    Other non-current liabilities     2,291       2,718  
    Total liabilities     69,252       61,190  
                 
    Stockholders’ equity:            
    Common stock and additional paid-in capital     502,908       473,301  
    Treasury stock, at cost     (159,352 )     (143,923 )
    Accumulated deficit     (93,988 )     (98,045 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (3,531 )     (2,387 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     246,037       228,946  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 315,289     $ 290,136  
     

    PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                   
      Three months ended   Year ended
        December 31,    September 30,    December 31,    December 31,    December 31, 
        2024     2024     2023        2024     2023  
                                 
    Revenues:                              
    Analytics   $ 47,926     $ 44,750     $ 39,128     $ 169,253     $ 152,085  
    Integrated yield ramp     2,159       1,659       1,997       10,212       13,750  
    Total revenues     50,085       46,409       41,125       179,465       165,835  
                                   
    Costs and Expenses:                              
    Costs of revenues     15,901       12,484       13,194       54,144       51,749  
    Research and development     14,417       13,516       12,308       53,566       50,736  
    Selling, general, and administrative     19,073       18,094       16,194       69,924       62,216  
    Amortization of acquired intangible assets     182       196       306       896       1,285  
    Interest and other expense (income), net     (962 )     (1,511 )     (1,020 )     (5,644 )     (5,020 )
    Income before income tax benefit (expense)     1,474       3,630       143       6,579       4,869  
    Income tax benefit (expense)     (935 )     (1,424 )     744       (2,522 )     (1,764 )
    Net income   $ 539     $ 2,206     $ 887     $ 4,057     $ 3,105  
                                   
    Net income per share:                              
    Basic   $ 0.01     $ 0.06     $ 0.02     $ 0.11     $ 0.08  
    Diluted   $ 0.01     $ 0.06     $ 0.02     $ 0.10     $ 0.08  
                                   
    Weighted average common shares used to calculate net income per share:                              
    Basic     38,783       38,710       38,269       38,602       38,015  
    Diluted     39,104       39,105       38,814       39,047       38,937  
     

    PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP GROSS MARGIN TO NON-GAAP GROSS MARGIN (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands)

                                             
      Three months ended     Year ended
        December 31,    September 30,    December 31,    December 31,    December 31, 
        2024   2024   2023   2024   2023
                                           
    GAAP                                        
    Total revenues   $ 50,085     $ 46,409     $ 41,125     $ 179,465     $ 165,835  
    Costs of revenues     15,901       12,484       13,194       54,144       51,749  
    GAAP gross profit   $ 34,184     $ 33,925     $ 27,931     $ 125,321     $ 114,086  
    GAAP gross margin     68 %     73 %     68 %     70 %     69 %
                                             
    Non-GAAP                                        
    GAAP gross profit   $ 34,184     $ 33,925     $ 27,931     $ 125,321     $ 114,086  
    Adjustments to reconcile GAAP to non-GAAP gross margin:                                        
    Stock-based compensation expense     1,336       1,366       1,147       5,087       4,169  
    Amortization of acquired technology     583       584       586       2,335       2,266  
    Non-GAAP gross profit   $ 36,103     $ 35,875     $ 29,664     $ 132,743     $ 120,521  
    Non-GAAP gross margin     72 %     77 %     72 %     74 %     73 %
     

    PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS) TO NON-GAAP NET INCOME (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                     
      Three months ended   Year ended
        December 31,    September 30,    December 31,    December 31,    December 31, 
        2024   2024   2023   2024   2023
                                   
    GAAP net income   $ 539     $ 2,206     $ 887     $ 4,057     $ 3,105  
    Adjustments to reconcile GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income:                                
    Stock-based compensation expense     6,507       6,730       5,923       25,047       21,484  
    Amortization of acquired technology under costs of revenues     583       584       586       2,335       2,266  
    Amortization of other acquired intangible assets     182       196       306       896       1,285  
    Expenses for certain legal proceedings (1)     69       —       75       69       2,600  
    Non-recurring legal, tax and accounting service-related costs     940       —       —       940       209  
    Loss on damaged equipment in-transit, net of (recovery) from previously written-off property and equipment     663       (55 )     —       608       (105 )
    Tax impact of valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and reconciling items (2)     375       262       (2,060 )     (1,335 )     (2,374 )
    Non-GAAP net income   $ 9,858     $ 9,923     $ 5,717     $ 32,617     $ 28,470  
                                     
    GAAP net income per diluted share   $ 0.01     $ 0.06     $ 0.02     $ 0.10     $ 0.08  
    Non-GAAP net income per diluted share   $ 0.25     $ 0.25     $ 0.15     $ 0.84     $ 0.73  
                                     
    Weighted average common shares used in GAAP net income per diluted share calculation     39,104       39,105       38,814       39,047       38,937  
    Weighted average common shares used in non-GAAP net income per diluted share calculation     39,104       39,105       38,814       39,047       38,937  

    (1) Represents legal costs and expenses related to certain litigation and an arbitration proceeding which are expected to continue until these matters are resolved.
    (2) The difference between the GAAP and non-GAAP income tax provisions is primarily due to the valuation allowance on a GAAP basis and non-GAAP adjustments. For example, on a GAAP basis, the Company does not receive a deferred tax benefit for foreign tax credits or research and development credits after the valuation allowance. The Company’s non-GAAP tax rate and resulting non-GAAP tax expense is not calculated with a full U.S. federal or state valuation allowance due to the Company’s cumulative non-GAAP income and management’s conclusion that it is more likely than not to utilize its net deferred tax assets (DTAs). Each reporting period, management evaluates the need for a valuation allowance and may place a valuation allowance against its U.S. net DTAs on a non-GAAP basis if it concludes it is more likely than not that it will not be able to utilize some or all of its U.S. DTAs on a non-GAAP basis.

    The MIL Network –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Securing DeepSeek and other AI systems with Microsoft Security

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Securing DeepSeek and other AI systems with Microsoft Security

    A successful AI transformation starts with a strong security foundation. With a rapid increase in AI development and adoption, organizations need visibility into their emerging AI apps and tools. Microsoft Security provides threat protection, posture management, data security, compliance, and governance to secure AI applications that you build and use. These capabilities can also be used to help enterprises secure and govern AI apps built with the DeepSeek R1 model and gain visibility and control over the use of the seperate DeepSeek consumer app. 

    Secure and govern AI apps built with the DeepSeek R1 model on Azure AI Foundry and GitHub 

    Develop with trustworthy AI 

    Last week, we announced DeepSeek R1’s availability on Azure AI Foundry and GitHub, joining a diverse portfolio of more than 1,800 models.   

    Customers today are building production-ready AI applications with Azure AI Foundry, while accounting for their varying security, safety, and privacy requirements. Similar to other models provided in Azure AI Foundry, DeepSeek R1 has undergone rigorous red teaming and safety evaluations, including automated assessments of model behavior and extensive security reviews to mitigate potential risks. Microsoft’s hosting safeguards for AI models are designed to keep customer data within Azure’s secure boundaries. 

    With Azure AI Content Safety, built-in content filtering is available by default to help detect and block malicious, harmful, or ungrounded content, with opt-out options for flexibility. Additionally, the safety evaluation system allows customers to efficiently test their applications before deployment. These safeguards help Azure AI Foundry provide a secure, compliant, and responsible environment for enterprises to confidently build and deploy AI solutions. See Azure AI Foundry and GitHub for more details.

    Build transformative AI apps with Azure AI Foundry

    Start with Security Posture Management

    AI workloads introduce new cyberattack surfaces and vulnerabilities, especially when developers leverage open-source resources. Therefore, it’s critical to start with security posture management, to discover all AI inventories, such as models, orchestrators, grounding data sources, and the direct and indirect risks around these components. When developers build AI workloads with DeepSeek R1 or other AI models, Microsoft Defender for Cloud’s AI security posture management capabilities can help security teams gain visibility into AI workloads, discover AI cyberattack surfaces and vulnerabilities, detect cyberattack paths that can be exploited by bad actors, and get recommendations to proactively strengthen their security posture against cyberthreats.

    Figure 1. AI security posture management in Defender for Cloud detects an attack path to a DeepSeek R1 workload.

    By mapping out AI workloads and synthesizing security insights such as identity risks, sensitive data, and internet exposure, Defender for Cloud continuously surfaces contextualized security issues and suggests risk-based security recommendations tailored to prioritize critical gaps across your AI workloads. Relevant security recommendations also appear within the Azure AI resource itself in the Azure portal. This provides developers or workload owners with direct access to recommendations and helps them remediate cyberthreats faster. 

    Safeguard DeepSeek R1 AI workloads with cyberthreat protection

    While having a strong security posture reduces the risk of cyberattacks, the complex and dynamic nature of AI requires active monitoring in runtime as well. No AI model is exempt from malicious activity and can be vulnerable to prompt injection cyberattacks and other cyberthreats. Monitoring the latest models is critical to ensuring your AI applications are protected.

    Integrated with Azure AI Foundry, Defender for Cloud continuously monitors your DeepSeek AI applications for unusual and harmful activity, correlates findings, and enriches security alerts with supporting evidence. This provides your security operations center (SOC) analysts with alerts on active cyberthreats such as jailbreak cyberattacks, credential theft, and sensitive data leaks. For example, when a prompt injection cyberattack occurs, Azure AI Content Safety prompt shields can block it in real-time. The alert is then sent to Microsoft Defender for Cloud, where the incident is enriched with Microsoft Threat Intelligence, helping SOC analysts understand user behaviors with visibility into supporting evidence, such as IP address, model deployment details, and suspicious user prompts that triggered the alert. 

    Figure 2. Microsoft Defender for Cloud integrates with Azure AI to detect and respond to prompt injection cyberattacks.

    Additionally, these alerts integrate with Microsoft Defender XDR, allowing security teams to centralize AI workload alerts into correlated incidents to understand the full scope of a cyberattack, including malicious activities related to their generative AI applications. 

    Figure 3. A security alert for a prompt injection attack is flagged in Defender for Cloud

    Secure and govern the use of the DeepSeek app

    In addition to the DeepSeek R1 model, DeepSeek also provides a consumer app hosted on its local servers, where data collection and cybersecurity practices may not align with your organizational requirements, as is often the case with consumer-focused apps. This underscores the risks organizations face if employees and partners introduce unsanctioned AI apps leading to potential data leaks and policy violations. Microsoft Security provides capabilities to discover the use of third-party AI applications in your organization and provides controls for protecting and governing their use.

    Secure and gain visibility into DeepSeek app usage 

    Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps provides ready-to-use risk assessments for more than 850 Generative AI apps, and the list of apps is updated continuously as new ones become popular. This means that you can discover the use of these Generative AI apps in your organization, including the DeepSeek app, assess their security, compliance, and legal risks, and set up controls accordingly. For example, for high-risk AI apps, security teams can tag them as unsanctioned apps and block user’s access to the apps outright.

    Figure 4. Discover usage and control access to Generative AI applications based on their risk factors in Defender for Cloud Apps.

    Comprehensive data security 

    In addition, Microsoft Purview Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) for AI provides visibility into data security and compliance risks, such as sensitive data in user prompts and non-compliant usage, and recommends controls to mitigate the risks. For example, the reports in DSPM for AI can offer insights on the type of sensitive data being pasted to Generative AI consumer apps, including the DeepSeek consumer app, so data security teams can create and fine-tune their data security policies to protect that data and prevent data leaks. 

    Figure 5. Microsoft Purview Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) for AI enables security teams to gain visibility into data risks and get recommended actions to address them.

    Prevent sensitive data leaks and exfiltration  

    The leakage of organizational data is among the top concerns for security leaders regarding AI usage, highlighting the importance for organizations to implement controls that prevent users from sharing sensitive information with external third-party AI applications.

    Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) enables you to prevent users from pasting sensitive data or uploading files containing sensitive content into Generative AI apps from supported browsers. Your DLP policy can also adapt to insider risk levels, applying stronger restrictions to users that are categorized as ‘elevated risk’ and less stringent restrictions for those categorized as ‘low-risk’. For example, elevated-risk users are restricted from pasting sensitive data into AI applications, while low-risk users can continue their productivity uninterrupted. By leveraging these capabilities, you can safeguard your sensitive data from potential risks from using external third-party AI applications. Security admins can then investigate these data security risks and perform insider risk investigations within Purview. These same data security risks are surfaced in Defender XDR for holistic investigations.

    Figure 6. Data Loss Prevention policy can block sensitive data from being pasted to third-party AI applications in supported browsers.

    This is a quick overview of some of the capabilities to help you secure and govern AI apps that you build on Azure AI Foundry and GitHub, as well as AI apps that users in your organization use. We hope you find this useful!

    To learn more and to get started with securing your AI apps, take a look at the additional resources below:  

    Learn more with Microsoft Security

    To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and X (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington joins landmark multistate lawsuit to stop Elon Musk’s unconstitutional power grab

    Source: Washington State News

    OLYMPIA — Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown today joined 13 other attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s unlawful delegation of executive power to Elon Musk — the world’s richest man who is unelected, unconfirmed and upending the federal government.

    The lawsuit argues that President Trump has violated the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution by creating a new federal department without congressional approval, and by granting Musk sweeping powers over the entire federal government without the advice and consent of the Senate or accountability to the people of the United States. 

    “Elon Musk has amassed — or simply taken for himself — unaccountable power to walk into any federal agency, fire people, eliminate programs authorized by Congress, and access confidential personal and national security information without regard for the consequences,” Brown said. “Washingtonians will not stand by while their safety and freedoms are threatened by a lawless administration intent on shredding the Constitution line by line.”

    “Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration is unconstitutional,” said Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson. “If the President wants Musk or any other powerful billionaire to have a significant role in running our government, he can and should appoint them as the Constitution requires.”

    The lawsuit highlights how, with the president’s approval, Musk has unraveled federal agencies, accessed sensitive data, and caused widespread disruption for state and local governments, federal employees, and the American people. The complaint further asserts that Musk’s actions violate the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which ensures that executive appointments are subject to congressional oversight and Senate confirmation.

    Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency has targeted federal agencies that provided over $20 billion in federal grants to Washington last year alone. Among other unlawful acts, he effectively shut down USAID, which provides grants that Washington State University and Washington farmers rely on to study and prevent deadly livestock diseases, protect Washington against disease outbreaks in other parts of the world, and strengthen food security. In the past days, he has threatened to close the Department of Education, which provided $2.5 billion to Washington last year for special education programs, school lunches, and academic assistance to students.

    “Musk’s seemingly limitless and unchecked power to strip the government of its workforce and eliminate entire departments with the stroke of a pen, or click of a mouse, is unprecedented,” the lawsuit states. “The sweeping authority now vested in a single unelected and unconfirmed individual is antithetical to the nation’s entire constitutional structure.”

    Defendants’ actions threaten the financial and operational stability of the states by disrupting billions of dollars in federal funding essential for law enforcement, healthcare, education, and other critical services. State agencies depend on federal funds and cooperative agreements, and the termination of these partnerships would result in severe budget shortfalls, staffing crises, and the potential loss of key programs. Similarly, the proposed elimination of the U.S. Department of Education would strip away federal civil rights oversight in schools, leaving states with uncertain legal authority to address discrimination cases involving students with disabilities and enforce Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and disability protections.

    Beyond financial and regulatory harms, the reckless expansion of DOGE’s authority endangers cybersecurity and erodes public trust. DOGE operatives have reportedly accessed federal financial databases containing sensitive state tax records and banking information without proper oversight, increasing the risk of cyberattacks, data breaches, and foreign exploitation.

    The manipulation of federal IT infrastructure by unauthorized individuals threatens not only state financial security but also the integrity of critical national systems. As reports of unauthorized access to Treasury databases emerge, citizens have expressed growing fear that their private financial data is at risk, leading to a chilling effect on participation in state-administered federal programs. The plaintiff states are now forced to contend with both immediately.

    Washington and its partner states seek a court ruling declaring Musk’s actions unconstitutional and invalidating them, and issuing an injunction barring him from issuing further unlawful orders.

    The New Mexico Department of Justice leads this lawsuit with Arizona and Michigan as co-leads. Washington also joins New Mexico, Arizona, Michigan, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Vermont.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the State of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan Convicted on Federal Conspiracy and Bribery Charges

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago today convicted former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives MICHAEL J. MADIGAN on conspiracy and bribery charges for using his official position to corruptly solicit and receive personal financial rewards for himself and his associates.

    Madigan, 82, of Chicago, was convicted on ten counts against him, including one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, four counts of using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity, three counts of wire fraud, and two counts of bribery.  The jury acquitted Madigan on four counts of using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity, two bribery counts, and an attempted extortion count.  U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey declared a mistrial on six other counts for which the jury did not reach a unanimous verdict – one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, one count of bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, and one count of using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity.

    The jury returned its verdicts against Madigan after a four-month trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.  Each wire fraud count is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while each bribery count is punishable by up to ten years.  The maximum for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and each count of using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity is five years.

    Judge Blakey also declared a mistrial as to all six deadlocked counts against a co-defendant, MICHAEL F. MCCLAIN, 77, of Quincy, Ill.  McClain was charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, one count of bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, and one count of using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity.

    Evidence at trial revealed that Madigan, who served as House Speaker and occupied a number of other political roles, conspired with others to cause the utility company Commonwealth Edison to make monetary payments to Madigan’s associates as a reward for their loyalty to Madigan, in return for performing little or no legitimate work for the business.  The true nature of the payments was to influence and reward Madigan in connection with specific legislation ComEd sought in the Illinois General Assembly.

    Madigan was also convicted of scheming to accept legal work unlawfully steered to his private law firm and his son by an Alderman of the Chicago City Council, in exchange for Madigan’s assistance in inducing the Governor of Illinois to appoint the Alderman to a compensated State Board position.

    The verdicts were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amarjeet S. Bhachu, Diane MacArthur, Sarah E. Streicker, and Julia Schwartz.

    MIL Security OSI –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Prestige Wealth Inc. Announces First Half of Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Prestige Wealth Inc. (Nasdaq: PWM) (the “Company” or “Prestige Wealth”), a wealth management and asset management services provider based in Hong Kong, today announced its unaudited financial results for the six months ended March 31, 2024.

    Mr. Kazuho Komoda, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Reflecting upon the first half of fiscal year 2024, we made many strategic layouts including exploring the path of using technology method to scale up wealth management business, preparing for expanding business areas and actively seeking talents for business upgrade. Meanwhile, we also maintain stable growth in our existing business and garnered an increase of our total revenues from compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023.”

    Mr. Komoda continued, “Benefited from our efforts and status of listed company, we have access to better business resources, advanced technology, and financing capabilities to hedge against negative macroeconomic impacts. In fact, we have also made many significant strategic initiatives in fiscal year 2024, including acquisitions and post IPO financing. This presents us with immense opportunities, and we want to assure our clients and shareholders that we are in prime position to harness these prospects. We will continue to strive to create value for all shareholders.”

    First Half of Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

        For the Six Months Ended March 31,  
        2024     2023     Change     Change  
        USD     USD     USD     %  
        (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)              
    Selected Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income Data:                        
    Net revenues   497,629     312,964     184,665     59.01  
    Operation cost and expenses   (1,105,629 )   (311,871 )   793,758     254.51  
    (Loss) Income from operations   (608,000 )   1,093     (609,093 )   (55,726.72 )
    Other income   118,580     3,335     115,245     (3,455.59 )
    (Loss) Income before income taxes   (489,420 )   4,428     (493,848 )   (11,152.85 )
    Income taxes (expenses) benefits   (14,009 )   21,132     (35,141 )   (166.29 )
    Net (loss) income   (503,429 )   25,560     (528,989 )   (2,069.60 )
    (Loss) Earnings per ordinary share – basic and diluted   (0.055 )   0.003     (0.058 )   (1,933.33 )
                             

    Net Revenues

    Net revenues were $497,629 in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $312,964 in the six months ended March 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to increase in net revenue from asset management services, partially offset by the decrease in net revenue from wealth management services.

    • Net revenue from wealth management services was $11,685 in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $74,875 in the six months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease number of cases of referrals.
    • Net revenue from asset management services was $485,944 in the six months ended March 31, 2024, increased from $238,089 in the six months ended March 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to the Company provided asset management related advisory services to new client.

    Operating Costs and Expenses

    Operating costs and expenses are primarily comprised of selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1,105,629 in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $311,871 in the six months ended March 31, 2023. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was mainly due to the increases in wages & salaries from senior management, depreciation of right-of-use assets and audit fee.

    (Loss) Income from operations

    Loss from operations was $608,000 in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to an income from operations of $1,093 in the six months ended March 31, 2023.

    Income Tax (Expenses) Benefits

    Income tax expenses were $14,009 in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to an income tax benefit of $21,132 in the six months ended March 31, 2023, primarily because the Company had net taxable profits from one of its subsidiaries.

    Net (Loss) Income

    Net loss was $503,429 in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to a net income of $25,560 in the six months ended March 31, 2023.

    Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

    Basic and diluted loss per share was $0.055 in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to basic and diluted earnings per share $0.003 in the six months ended March 31, 2023.

    Balance Sheet

    As of March 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $294,548, compared to $431,307 as of September 30, 2023.

    Cash Flow

    Net cash used in operating activities was $2,995,580 in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $454,660 in the six months ended March 31, 2023, mainly due to increase in prepayment.

    Net cash used in investing activities was $2,862,641 in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $1,414,297 in the six months ended March 31, 2023, due to decease in loan and interest repayment from a related party.

    Net cash used in financing activities was $nil in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to net cash used by investing activities of $545,499 in the six months ended March 31, 2023, due to decease in deferred offering cost.

    Recent Accounting Pronouncements

    On November 27, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. ASU 2023-07 is designed to improve the reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM. All public entities will be required to report segment information in accordance with the new guidance starting in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, with early adoption permitted. The Group is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard and does not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

    In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 expands existing income tax disclosures for rate reconciliations by requiring disclosure of certain specific categories and additional reconciling items that meet quantitative thresholds and expands disclosures for income taxes paid by requiring disaggregation by certain jurisdictions. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Group is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard and does not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

    Recent Developments

    On November 4, 2024, the Company completed its acquisition of all shares of SPW Global Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, which in turn wholly owns Wealth AI PTE LTD. or Wealth AI, a company incorporated under the laws of Republic of Singapore. Wealth AI is a company based in Singapore that offers personalized, cost-effective wealth management solutions using artificial intelligence. Founded by AI experts from top technology companies in 2022, Wealth AI is dedicated to the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in wealth management.

    On December 16, 2024, the Company completed its acquisition of all shares of InnoSphere Tech Inc. (“InnoSphere Tech”), a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. InnoSphere Tech is a technology company that leverages its advantages in web scraping technology to collect data on finance, wealth management, and related industries according to international standards. Through the accumulation and processing of large amounts of data, its system can train a specialized large model tailored for the wealth management industry, providing robust foundational support to clients in the financial sector that surpasses traditional general-purpose large models.

    On December 16, 2024, the Company also completed its acquisition of all shares of Tokyo Bay Management Inc. (“Tokyo Bay”), a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. Tokyo Bay is a company based in Tokyo, Japan. Founded by experienced professionals, the Tokyo Bay team has accumulated extensive premium client resources and local market knowledge over the past years, providing wealth management services, family affairs services, lifestyle management services and related value-added services to high-net-worth clients in Japan.

    About Prestige Wealth Inc.

    Prestige Wealth Inc. is a wealth management and asset management services provider based in Hong Kong, assisting its clients in identifying and purchasing well-matched wealth management products and global asset management products. With a focus on quality service, the Company has retained a loyal customer base consisting of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients in Asia. Through the Company’s wealth management service, it introduces clients to customized wealth management products and provides them with tailored value-added services. The Company provides asset management services via investment funds that it manages and also provides discretionary account management services and asset management-related advisory services to clients. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: http://ir.prestigewm.hk/index.html.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions in this prospectus. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    PRESTIGE WEALTH INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
        March 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2023    		  
        (Unaudited)        
    CURRENT ASSETS                
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 294,548     $ 431,307  
    Restricted cash     200,000       200,000  
    Accounts receivable     350,826       273,257  
    Contract asset     3,002       91,565  
    Note Receivables     1,037,199       3,755,794  
    Amounts due from related parties     1,619,590       1,592,593  
    Right-of-use assets, current     213,978       213,814  
    Income tax receivable     45,783       29,279  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets     2,765,857       66,484  
    Total current assets     6,530,783       6,654,093  
                     
    NON-CURRENT ASSETS                
    Right-of-use asset, non-current   $ 42,247     $ 140,898  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets     68,672       68,620  
    Total non-current assets   $ 110,919     $ 209,518  
    Total assets   $ 6,641,702     $ 6,863,611  
                     
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
    Current Liabilities                
    Income tax payable   $ 37,345     $ 27,648  
    Lease liability, current     237,535       220,101  
    Amounts due to related parties     190,844       —  
    Deferred tax liabilities     11,858       14,415  
    Other payables and accrued liabilities     435,228       257,906  
    Total current liabilities   $ 912,810     $ 520,070  
                     
    NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES                
    Lease liability, non-current   $ 49,095     $ 160,996  
    Total non-current liabilities   $ 49,095     $ 160,996  
    Total liabilities   $ 961,905     $ 681,066  
                     
    Shareholders’ equity                
    Ordinary share ($0.000625 par value, 1,600,000,000 shares authorized, 9,150,000 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024; $0.000625 par value, 160,000,000 shares authorized, 9,150,000 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2023)*   $ 5,719     $ 5,719  
    Additional paid in capital     2,570,664       2,570,664  
    Retained earnings     3,139,565       3,642,994  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (36,151 )     (36,832 )
    Total shareholders’ equity   $ 5,679,797     $ 6,182,545  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 6,641,702     $ 6,863,611  
                     
    * The shares are presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the Company’s share subdivision on July 15, 2022.                
                     
    PRESTIGE WEALTH INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
        For the six months ended
    March 31,    		  
        2024     2023  
        (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
    Net revenue            
    Wealth management services            
    Referral fees   $ 11,685     $ 74,875  
                     
    Asset management services                
    Advisory service fees     459,974       212,486  
    Management fees     25,970       25,603  
    Subtotal     485,944       238,089  
    Total net revenue     497,629       312,964  
                     
    Gross Margin     497,629       312,964  
                     
    Operation cost and expenses                
    Selling, general and administrative expenses     1,105,629       311,871  
    Total operation cost and expenses     1,105,629       311,871  
                     
    (Loss) Income from operations     (608,000 )     1,093  
                     
    Other income     118,580       3,335  
                     
    (Loss) Income before income taxes     (489,420 )     4,428  
    Income taxes (expenses) benefits     (14,009 )     21,132  
                     
    Net (loss) income   $ (503,429 )   $ 25,560  
                     
    Other comprehensive (loss) income                
    Foreign currency translation adjustment     681       6,016  
    Total comprehensive (loss) income   $ (502,748 )   $ 31,576  
                     
    (Loss) Earnings per ordinary share                
    Basic and diluted   $ (0.055 )   $ 0.003  
                     
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding*                
    Basic and diluted     9,150,000       8,000,000  
                     

    The MIL Network –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sullivan Legislation Strengthens U.S./Israel Alliance, Reinstates “Peace Through Strength” Policies in the Middle East

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
    02.13.25
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), introduced a package of three bills focused on promoting stability and security in the Middle East: the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act, the United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025, and the Stop the ICC. These bills work to strengthen the U.S.-Israel military alliance, bolster the U.S. sanctions regime against Iran—the architect of chaos in the Middle East—and prohibit U.S. funding of or cooperation with the antisemitic International Criminal Court (ICC). Much of Sullivan’s Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act dovetails with President Trump’s recent executive orders on Iran and Israel.
    “Taken together, this suite of bills sends a clear message that the United States stands firmly with Israel,” said Senator Sullivan. “The Biden administration refused to enforce the comprehensive Iran sanctions that President Trump enacted during his first term. As a result, Iran was given more than $70 billion and used this windfall to spread terror across the Middle East and in Israel. Congress needs to send a clear message that this must stop. Further, to better protect our interests at home and strengthen our alliance with Israel, we must strengthen the U.S.-Israel security partnership and stand with Israel against antisemitic institutions that threaten the existence of our closest ally in the Middle East. It’s time to return to ‘peace through strength’ in the Middle East and stand stronger than ever against the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies that are threatening Israel and American interests throughout the region.” 
    See below for summaries of Senator Sullivan’s legislation.
    Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act
    This legislation supports the return to a maximum pressure posture toward Iran by strengthening the U.S. sanctions regime against Iran by filling the gaps on existing sanctions legislation and mandating rigorous enforcement of sanctions. Specifically, the legislation expands the range of sanctions to encompass the full logistical chain of Iranian energy exports, it creates an interagency task force to constantly track Iranian illicit activities, and it sunsets the timeline to issue sanctions waivers. It also includes provisions to encourage a new multilateral contact group with like-minded nations to coordinate international sanctions enforcement efforts.
    Specifically, the bill takes several important measures:
    Imposes secondary sanctions on the entire logistical chain of foreign entities supporting Iran’s illicit oil sales, including Chinese banks, maritime insurance providers, and flagging registries, as well as the executive-level leadership in those corporations and their immediate family members. It also imposes sanctions on family members of individuals in Iran sanctioned for terrorism, ballistic missile production, or weapons of mass destruction (WMD) facilities.
    Creates an interagency Iran sanctions working group tasked with constantly tracking illicit transfers of Iranian oil, gas, and related products, with a periodic reporting plan to outline efforts to keep abreast of the evolving sanctions-evasion efforts, and identify new sanctions designations packages.
    Creates a multilateral contact group for harmonizing and enforcing international sanctions on Iran.
    Directs the provision of a private sector reporting mechanism, which financially incentivizes private sector counterparts to share information about illicit Iranian transfer operations.
    Initiates a periodic (180-day) review by the President to justify maintaining existing waivers on eligible nations’ purchase of Iranian oil, accompanied by a detailed, credible plan to phase out the need for waivers for each applicable country. This would include sunset waiver authority on Iran sanctions, following a periodic congressional review.
    Sunsets the presidential sanctions waiver authority in February 1, 2029.
    This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).
    The United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
    This bill strengthens the U.S.-Israel security partnership by extending and expanding existing bilateral security initiatives. It also establishes new cooperative programs, including a broader initiative on unmanned systems, establishing a Defense Innovation Unit in Israel, and advocating for consideration of Israel’s inclusion in the National Technology Industrial Base (NTIB). Finally, it calls for greater cooperation between Israel and regional countries in advancing work on Integrated Air and Missile Defense.
    Specifically, this bill takes several important measures:
    Establishes a program between the United States and Israel on Countering Unmanned Systems (C-UxS). This entails a program of cooperation to develop, test, and deploy advanced C-UxS technologies to address threats posed by UAS, funded at $150 million per year.
    Extension and expansion of the U.S.-Israel Counter-UAS Cooperative Program. This would increase funding for the current initiative from $55 million to $75 million annually.
    Extension and expansion of the United States-Israel Anti-Tunneling Cooperative Program. Extends the authorization of the U.S.-Israel Anti-Tunneling Cooperative Program to Dec 31, 2028 and increases the authorization to $80 million per year.
    Authorizes cooperation between the United States and Israel on emerging defense technologies for 5 years (United States-Israel Future of Warfare Act).  Provides $47.5 million a year to encourage further defense collaboration with Israel in areas of emerging technologies, including autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum, and biotechnology.
    Reauthorizes the War Reserves Stockpile Authority – Israel (WRSA-I); extends the authorization of WRSA-I, which expires at the end of 2026, through January 1, 2029.
    Establishes a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) office in Israel. A DIU office in Israel will work with the Israeli Minister of Defense and private sector to counter Iran’s development of dual-use defense technologies.
    Israel-National Technology Industrial Base (NTIB) Engagement. This requires the Secretary of Defense to engage with his or her Israeli counterpart to initiate a discussion on the process of Israeli ascension into NTIB. 
    Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD). This requires the Secretary of Defense to provide a report on strengthening IAMD in the Middle East.
    This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).
    Stop the ICC Act
    This bill prohibits funding for and cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), based on its antisemitic efforts to prosecute top Israeli officials and create a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas, a terrorist organization. It also prohibits U.S. economic support for the Palestinian Authority (PA) based on its cooperation with the ICC’s investigations against Israeli officials. Specifically, it instructs the President to freeze property assets and deny visas to any foreigners who materially or financially contributed to the ICC’s efforts to “investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute a protected person.” Protected persons are defined as all current and former military and government officials of the U.S. and allies that have not consented to the court’s jurisdiction, such as Israel.  The legislation covers the 32-member NATO and the 19 major non-NATO countries, which include Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, and Egypt. It would also rescind any funds the U.S. has designated for the ICC and prohibit any future money for the court.
    Background:  In May 2024, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced that he was seeking warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leadership. In November 2024, the court issued warrants for Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Gallant and Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
    This legislation is cosponsored by Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Diginex announces new AI functionality after winning Government recognition for AI-powered compliance innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex Limited” or the “Company”), a Cayman Islands-based impact technology company specializing in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, today announced the development of new AI functionality which is expected to be built leveraging OpenAI’s platform. The Company anticipates that the deployment of this AI feature will contribute to revenue growth starting in 2025 by enhancing diginexESG‘s value proposition and driving increased customer adoption. The initial focus will be on helping companies comply with sustainability disclosure requirements set by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which are increasingly being mandated for companies involved in global ESG reporting. These features will provide rapid data extraction, improved compliance, and enhanced risk assessment for users of the Company’s ESG SaaS reporting product, diginexESG.

    This AI functionality positions diginexESG to capture the growing demand for ESG reporting solutions – a market projected to reach between USD 1.5 billion and USD 4.35 billion by 2027, with an expected CAGR of 15.9% to 30% according to industry research from Verdantix – and is alongside the Company’s recent selection by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) of Hong Kong for the Green and Sustainable Fintech PoC program. The FSTB, which oversees financial and treasury policy for the Hong Kong SAR Government, launched this program to support innovative green fintech solutions with measurable environmental and financial impact. This builds on previous recognition where, in December 2023, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, named Diginex as winner of the “Sustainability or Climate-related Disclosure and Reporting” category.

    The FSTB launched this program to accelerate the development and commercial adoption of green fintech solutions by technology firms and research institutions. “We are thrilled to receive this endorsement and support from FSTB, which underscores the importance of AI technology in addressing significant challenges within the ESG and sustainability industry,” said Mark Blick, Chief Executive Officer of Diginex Limited. “We will be accelerating our efforts to deliver innovative AI-powered functionality that will support companies with their ESG, Climate and Supply Chain data collection and reporting while improving efficiency and customer experience. We plan to collaborate closely with leading global financial institutions to introduce this new feature to their clients.”

    About Diginex Limited

    Diginex Limited is a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands in 2024, with subsidiaries located in Hong Kong, United Kingdom and United States of America. Diginex Limited conducts operations through its wholly owned subsidiary Diginex Solutions (HK) Limited, a Hong Kong corporation (“DSL”) and DSL is the sole owner of (i) Diginex Services Limited, a corporation formed in the United Kingdom and (ii) Diginex USA LLC, a limited liability company formed in the State of Delaware. DSL commenced operations in 2020, is headquartered in Hong Kong, and is a software company that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. DSL is an impact technology business that helps organizations to address the some of the most pressing ESG, climate and sustainability issues, utilizing blockchain, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate social responsibility and climate action.

    Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://www.diginex.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements concerning the Company’s product offerings, business strategy, projections and future growth. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Company’s business strategy will be successful. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email:ir@diginex.com

    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global

    The MIL Network –

    February 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: ConnectM Announces Receipt of Notice from Nasdaq That ConnectM has Regained Compliance with Nasdaq Rule

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNTM) (“ConnectM” or the “Company”), a technology company focused on the electrification economy, had previously announced that on December 6, 2024, it received a notice from the Staff of the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq stating that because the Company had not filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024 (the “Third Quarter 10-Q”), it no longer complies with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) (the “Rule”) for continued listing, which requires listed companies to timely file all required periodic financial reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    ConnectM today announced that on January 31, 2025, the Staff notified ConnectM that, based on the Company’s December 16, 2024, filing of the Third Quarter 10-Q, Staff has determined that the Company complies with the Rule. Accordingly, the matter is now closed.  

    About ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
    ConnectM is a pioneer in the electrification economy, integrating energy assets with its AI-driven technology platform. Focused on delivering solutions that drive efficiency, affordability, and sustainability, ConnectM serves home, facility, and fleet across three major segments: Building Electrification, Distributed Energy, and Transportation and Logistics. The company’s vertically integrated approach combines technology, service/distribution networks, and strategic partnerships to accelerate the transition to an all-electric energy economy.

    For more information, please visit: www.connectm.com. Stockholders looking to receive Company updates directly to their inbox should sign up here.  

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding our future financial performance and our strategy, expansion plans, future operations, future operating results, estimated revenues, losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “project” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. In addition, we caution you that the forward-looking statements regarding the Company contained in this press release are subject to the risks and uncertainties described in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 18, 2024. Such filing identifies and addresses other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and ConnectM is under no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Contact:
    Investor Relations
    Dave Gentry, CEO
    RedChip Companies, Inc.
    1-407-644-4256
    CNTM@redchip.com

    The MIL Network –

    February 14, 2025
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