Category: Artificial Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI: HackerRank Introduces New Benchmark to Assess Advanced AI Models

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CUPERTINO, Calif., Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HackerRank, the Developer Skills Company, today introduced its new ASTRA Benchmark. ASTRA, which stands for Assessment of Software Tasks in Real-World Applications, is designed to evaluate the capabilities of advanced AI models, such as ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini, to perform tasks across the entire software development lifecycle.

    The ASTRA Benchmark consists of multi-file, project-based problems designed to mimic real-world coding tasks. The intent of the HackerRank ASTRA Benchmark is to determine the correctness and consistency of an AI model’s coding ability in relation to practical applications.

    “With the ASTRA Benchmark, we’re setting a new standard for evaluating AI models,” said Vivek Ravisankar, co-founder and CEO of HackerRank. “As software development becomes more human + AI, it’s important that we have a very good understanding of the combined abilities. Our experience pioneering the market in assessing software development skills makes us uniquely qualified to assess the abilities of AI models acting as agents for software developers.”

    A key highlight from the benchmark showed o1 from OpenAI was the top performer, but Claude- -3.5-sonnet produced more consistent results.

    Key features of ASTRA Benchmark include:

    • Diverse skill domains: The current version includes 65 project-based coding questions, primarily focused on front-end development. These questions are categorized into 10 primary coding skill domains and 34 subcategories.
    • Multi-file project questions: To mimic real-world development, ASTRA’s dataset includes an average of 12 source code and configuration files per question as model inputs. This results in an average of 61 lines of solution code per question.
    • Model correctness and consistency evaluation: To provide a more precise assessment, ASTRA prioritizes comprehensive metrics such as average scores, average pass@1 and median standard deviation.
    • Wide test case coverage: ASTRA’s dataset contains an average of 6.7 test cases per question, designed to rigorously evaluate the correctness of implementations.
    • Benchmark Results: For a full report and analysis of the initial benchmark results, please visit hackerrank.com/ai/astra.

    Ravisankar added, “By open sourcing our ASTRA Benchmark, we’re offering the AI community the opportunity to run their models against a high-quality, independent benchmark. This supports the continued advancement of AI while fostering more collaboration and transparency in the AI community to ensure the integrity of new models.”

    For more information about HackerRank’s ASTRA Benchmark, contact rafik@hackerrank.com.

    About HackerRank
    HackerRank, the Developer Skills Company, leads the market with over 2,500 customers and a community of over 25 million developers. Having pioneered this space, companies trust HackerRank to help them set up a skills strategy, showcase their brand to developers, implement a skills-based hiring process, and ultimately upskill and certify employees…all driven by AI. Learn more at hackerrank.com.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: OTC Markets Group Welcomes Tantalus Systems Holding Inc. to OTCQX

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced Tantalus Systems Holding Inc. (TSX: GRID; OTCQX: TNTLF), a technology company dedicated to helping utilities modernize their distribution grids by harnessing the power of data, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. Tantalus Systems Holding Inc. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink® market.

    Tantalus Systems Holding Inc. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol “TNTLF.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

    Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

    “Accessing the OTCQX Market highlights Tantalus’ dedication to transparency and operational excellence while also strengthening our access to U.S. investors,” said Peter Londa, President & CEO of Tantalus. “Given that the vast majority of our utility customers and revenue is generated from the United States, we believe cross-trading between the TSX and OTCQX will enhance liquidity and reinforces our commitment to delivering long-term value for our shareholders.”

    About Tantalus Systems Holding Inc.
    Tantalus is a technology company dedicated to helping utilities modernize their distribution grids by harnessing the power of data across all their devices and systems deployed throughout the entire distribution grid. We offer a grid modernization platform across multiple levels: intelligent connected devices, communications networks, data management, enterprise applications and analytics. Our solutions provide utilities with the flexibility they need to get the most value from existing infrastructure investments while leveraging advanced capabilities to plan for future requirements. Learn more at http://www.tantalus.com/.

    About OTC Markets Group Inc.
    OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX® Best Market, OTCQB® Venture Market and Pink® Open Market.

    Our OTC Link® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

    OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN and OTC Link NQB are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

    To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

    Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

    Media Contact:
    OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Bishop Fox appoints Christopher Martin as Chief Operating Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHOENIX, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bishop Fox, the leading authority in offensive security, today announced the addition of Christopher Martin as the company’s new COO. Martin has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, scaling operations and driving growth from startups to multi-billion dollar organizations, while safeguarding culture and quality of services. Martin will be responsible for Bishop Fox Service Delivery, Finance, People, Product and R&D, reporting to Bishop Fox Co-Founder and CEO, Vinnie Liu.

    Martin joins Bishop Fox at a time that has seen the company continue its steady growth and maintain its market leadership in continuous offensive security and penetration testing services. Notably, the company saw Annual Recurring Revenues grow by nearly 60 percent, and year-over-year partner bookings increase by more than 200 percent, beating targets by more than 70 percent. Bishop Fox also expanded its European presence, and added former @Stake and Neohapsis CEO, James Mobley to its Advisory Board.

    Martin brings a wealth of experience in overseeing strong organic and inorganic growth for B2B SaaS and applied AI organizations. In particular he co-founded, grew and executed the successful acquisition of digital marketing services & consultancy firm MightyHive, and later served as public Executive Director of S4 Capital. He has held a number of executive positions including his time in the Controllership of Yahoo!’s $6 billion P&L, and later the Mergers and Acquisitions group, guiding acquisitions and operational integrations. Martin is an active investor and advisor in Applied AI and B2B SaaS startups. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Lehigh University, and MBA from The Wharton School.

    “Bishop Fox is at the forefront of the evolving offensive security landscape,” commented Martin. “Our technology-driven approach —combining elite human expertise with automation, AI-driven threat emulation, and deep integrations—delivers adaptive, real-time defense at enterprise scale. As attack surfaces expand and adversaries evolve, our ability to provide continuous, intelligence-led security validation, positions us as a strategic partner in fortifying large enterprises against emerging threats. The opportunity to redefine security resilience and drive measurable impact for our clients has never been greater.”

    “Bishop Fox has always had a focus on all around quality – quality of life, quality of work and quality of our business,” added Liu. “So, as we searched for our next COO, we needed to find someone that respected and excelled at all three. In meeting and talking with Chris, his passion for taking care of people, a focus on collaboration, and a forward-thinking mindset came through as strongly as his many career accomplishments. We’re very happy to have him on the team and look forward to continuing to build great things together.”

    About Bishop Fox

    Bishop Fox is the leading authority in offensive security, providing solutions ranging from continuous penetration testing, red teaming, and attack surface management to product, cloud, and application security assessments. We’ve worked with more than 25% of the Fortune 100, half of the Fortune 10, eight of the top 10 global technology companies, and all of the top global media companies to improve their security. Our Cosmos platform, service innovation, and culture of excellence continue to gather accolades from industry award programs including Fast Company, Inc., SC Media, and others, and our offerings are consistently ranked as “world class” in customer experience surveys. We’ve been actively contributing to and supporting the security community for almost two decades and have published more than 16 open-source tools and 50 security advisories in the last five years. Learn more at bishopfox.com or follow us on Twitter.

    Media Contact:

    Kevin Kosh, Senior Director of Communications

    kkosh@bishopfox.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Beamr to Present at the A.G.P.’s Virtual Technology Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Herzliya Israel, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beamr Imaging Ltd. (NASDAQ: BMR), a leader in video optimization technology and solutions, today announced that it will present virtually at the Alliance Global Partners (A.G.P) Technology Conference. The conference, offering investors one-on-one meetings with Beamr executives, will be held virtually Tomorrow, February 12, 2025. For more information, please visit AGP website.

    Beamr is a world leader in high-performance video processing, trusted by top media companies like Netflix and Paramount. With patented, award-winning technology, Beamr reduces video file sizes and live streams by up to 50%, while securing quality. Available on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), Beamr Cloud delivers GPU-accelerated video processing to large video users, which includes efficient upgrades to advanced video formats, and scalable video enhancements with AI-powered capabilities.

    For more details, please visit Beamr’s Investors website: https://www.investors.beamr.com/

    About Beamr

    Beamr (Nasdaq: BMR) is a world leader in content-adaptive video optimization and modernization. The company serves top media companies like Netflix and Paramount. Beamr’s inventive perceptual optimization technology (CABR) is backed by 53 patents and won the Emmy® award for Technology and Engineering. The innovative technology reduces video file size by up to 50% while guaranteeing quality.

    Beamr Cloud is a high-performance, GPU-based video optimization and modernization service designed for businesses and video professionals across diverse industries. It is conveniently available to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) customers. Beamr Cloud enables video modernization to advanced formats such as AV1 and HEVC, and is ready for video AI workflows. For more details, please visit www.beamr.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this communication may include, among other things, statements about Beamr’s strategic and business plans, technology, relationships, objectives and expectations for its business, the impact of trends on and interest in its business, intellectual property or product and its future results, operations and financial performance and condition. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company, reference is made to the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including, but not limited to, the risks detailed in the Company’s annual report filed with the SEC on March 4, 2024 and in subsequent filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
                                                   
    Investor Contact:

    investorrelations@beamr.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE scientists have taken an important step towards developing 6G communication technologies

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Researchers MIEM HSE University has demonstrated the efficient operation of a 6G wireless communication channel at sub-terahertz frequencies for the first time in Russia. The device transmits data at a speed of 12 Gbit/s and maintains signal stability, automatically switching when blocked. The indicators correspond to international 6G standards. A description of some elements of the system is presented in article, published in the electronic press archive arXiv.

    Scientists from MIEM HSE have demonstrated the efficient operation of a sixth-generation (6G) data transmission system for the first time in Russia. The experiment confirmed that the system can operate in laboratory conditions while maintaining high data transfer rates and communication stability. The demonstrator used frequencies of 141–148.5 and 151.5–164 GHz, and the data transfer rate reached 12 Gbit/s. These indicators correspond to international standards for communication channels of sixth-generation (6G) and IMT-2030 networks, in particular ETSI GR THz 002 V1.1.1 (March 2024) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ITU-R M.2160.

    The main feature of the system is the control of signal distribution in real time. If the signal is blocked, the system automatically switches to another antenna. This makes the connection stable even in difficult conditions. Some of the system components were developed at MIEM HSE and Moscow State Pedagogical University. For example, this is the RIS panel (compliant with ITU-R M.2541-0, May 2024), or frequency-selective surface, which controls the direction of signal transmission, as well as diode detectors that allow the system to operate at subterahertz frequencies.

    Currently, the system’s range is limited by the size of the room, but this can be changed by replacing the antennas. The technology can be useful in high-speed communication networks, Internet of Things systems. Scientists plan to use machine learning to improve signal distribution and protection against interference.

    “We have shown that the 6G system can reliably transmit data at the required frequencies and speeds. This is an important step for the development of communication technologies. In the future, we will work to make the system even more resilient using machine learning. For example, we plan to teach it to automatically control the signal beam so that the connection remains stable even when users are moving,” the director comments. Research Institute of Telecommunications MIEM HSE Professor Evgeny Kucheryavy.

    The development has attracted the interest of telecommunications companies. Options for creating commercial devices that can compete with foreign analogues are already being discussed.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Single dose of broadly neutralizing antibody protects macaques from H5N1 influenza

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIH-funded clinical trial will evaluate new dengue therapeutic

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    News Release

    Tuesday, February 11, 2025

    A clinical trial supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is testing an experimental treatment designed to help people suffering the effects of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease. The study is supported by NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and will involve exposing adult volunteers to a weakened strain of dengue virus that causes a mild form of the disease and administering an investigational therapeutic at various doses to assess its safety and ability to lessen symptoms.

    Dengue is transmitted via infected Aedes mosquitoes and sickens as many as 400 million people each year, primarily in tropical and subtropical parts of the world, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2024, dengue cases surged to record levels in the Americas with local U.S. transmission reported in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas. Dengue is endemic in Puerto Rico, which reported nearly 1,500 cases last year. Most people with dengue do not develop symptoms, but those who do commonly experience severe headache and body aches, nausea and vomiting, fever and rash. One in 20 people who get sick with dengue progress to severe illness, which may lead to shock, internal bleeding, and death. There is currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for dengue.

    “When caring for a patient who is critically ill with dengue, healthcare providers have few options other than providing supportive care,” said NIAID Director Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., M.P.H. “We must find safe and effective therapeutics to provide much-needed relief to people suffering from dengue.”

    The new clinical trial will test the ability of AV-1, an investigational human monoclonal antibody therapeutic developed by AbViro (Bethesda, Maryland), to mitigate clinical symptoms when administered before and after dengue virus infection. The results of a previously completed NIAID-supported Phase 1 trial indicated that AV-1 is safe in humans, providing the basis for the new clinical trial to test its safety and efficacy.

    The Phase 2 clinical trial will enroll at least 84 healthy adult volunteers at two sites: the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Immunization Research in Baltimore, and the University of Vermont Vaccine Testing Center in Burlington. Following an initial screening and physical examination, volunteers will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive AV-1 one day prior to being challenged with a mild strain of dengue virus, and the other will receive AV-1 four days after being challenged with the dengue virus. Each group will be further subdivided to receive 100 mg, 300 mg, or 900 mg of AV-1, delivered in a 60-minute intravenous infusion. For each of the three dosage levels, 12 participants will receive the investigational monoclonal antibody, and two will receive a placebo.

    Before or after AV-1 dosing, each volunteer will receive an injection of attenuated (weakened) dengue virus. In earlier studies using this challenge virus, most volunteers developed a rash, and some had other mild dengue symptoms, such as joint and muscle pain or headache. None of the volunteers developed dengue fever or severe dengue.

    Volunteers will participate in regular follow-up visits with study staff for at least 155 days to carefully monitor the effects of the investigational monoclonal antibody. Through physical exams, diary cards and blood samples, researchers will document how the volunteers’ immune systems respond to the dengue virus challenge, how quickly the virus vanishes from their bloodstream and any symptoms they may experience. The researchers will use this information to determine how AV-1 affects the volunteers’ ability to recover from dengue compared to placebo and to determine the dosages at which AV-1 may be effective.

    If AV-1 shows promising results in this clinical trial, researchers may pursue further clinical evaluations of its safety and efficacy against dengue virus. For more information about the study, visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search the identifier NCT05048875.

    NIAID conducts and supports research—at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide—to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website. 

    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks at AI Action Summit [scroll down for english]

    Source: United Nations – English

    em> 
    Excellences,
     
    Permettez-moi tout d’abord de remercier le Président Macron et le Premier ministre Modi d’avoir organisé ce Sommet pour l’action sur l’intelligence artificielle.
     
    Mesdames et Messieurs,
     
    Allons droit au but.
     
    Regardons le monde qui nous entoure au-delà de ceux qui sont dans cette salle.
     
    Notre réunion pose une question fondamentale sur notre rapport à l’intelligence artificielle.
     
    Sommes-nous prêts pour l’avenir ?
     
    La réponse s’impose d’elle-même.
     
    Non.
     
    Nous ne sommes peut-être même pas prêts pour le présent.
     
    En un battement de cils, l’Intelligence Artificielle a quitté l’univers de la science-fiction pour devenir une force puissante qui révolutionne notre monde.
     
    Transformant nos modes de vie, de travail et d’interaction.
     
    Alimentant des avancées majeures dans l’éducation, la santé, l’agriculture…
     
    Mais mettant également à l’épreuve nos valeurs communes et nos droits fondamentaux.
     
    Le pouvoir de l’intelligence artificielle impose d’immenses responsabilités.
     
    Aujourd’hui, ce pouvoir est entre les mains d’une poignée de personnes.  
     
    Tandis que certaines entreprises et certains pays se lancent dans une course effrénée avec des investissements sans précédent, la plupart des nations en développement se retrouvent laissées pour compte.
     
    Cette concentration grandissante des capacités en matière d’intelligence artificielle menace d’aggraver les clivages géopolitiques.
     
    Nous devons empêcher l’émergence d’un monde de “nantis” et de “démunis” de l’Intelligence Artificielle.
     
    Nous tous devons travailler ensemble pour que l’Intelligence Artificielle puissent combler le fossé entre les pays développés et les pays en développement – et non le creuser.
     
    Elle doit accélérer le développement durable – au lieu de perpétuer les inégalités.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    The United Nations offers an inclusive, transparent and effective platform for AI solidarity.
     
    And we are working to strengthen that platform.
     
    The Global Digital Compact, adopted at the Summit of the Future, established the first universal agreement on the governance of AI.
     
    It brings the world together around a shared vision:
     
    One where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
     
    The creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI will be central to translating this vision into reality.
     
    By pooling global expertise, this Scientific Panel will promote a common understanding of AI risks, benefits and capabilities, and opportunities and help bridge knowledge gaps.
     
    I urge everyone to support its creation without delay.
     
    Member States also agreed to establish a Global Dialogue on AI Governance – within the United Nations – to ensure that all countries have a voice in shaping the future of AI.
     
    Through the Global Dialogue, we can align governance efforts around the world and reinforce their interoperability; uphold human rights in AI applications and prevent misuse.
     
    The UN provides an inclusive forum for cooperation, complementing existing mechanisms such as the OECD AI Principles, G7 and the Global Partnership on AI – as well as regional efforts by the African Union, European Union, ASEAN and the Council of Europe.
     
    And I am confident that discussions at this Summit will help enrich this Dialogue.
     
    The Compact also calls for building AI capacity in developing nations.
     
    This is not only about technology diffusion.
     
    We need concerted efforts to build sustainable digital infrastructure at an unprecedented scale;
     
    Foster talent and train workforces to develop, deploy and maintain AI systems;
     
    And ultimately, empower peoples and nations to become not just users, but active participants in the AI revolution.
     
    A global AI capacity-building network, as proposed by my High-Level Advisory Body on AI, is an economic necessity and a moral imperative.
     
    Today’s launch of Current AI, a public interest partnership, is an important contribution.
     
    I will soon present a report on innovative voluntary financing models and capacity-building initiatives to help all countries harness AI as a force for good.
     
    Finally, we know that AI can be a force for climate action and energy efficiency.
     
    But we also know AI power-intensive systems are already placing an unsustainable strain on our planet.
     
    So it is crucial to design AI algorithms and infrastructures that consume less energy and integrate AI into smart grids to optimize power use.
     
    From data centres to training models, AI must run on sustainable energy so that it fuels a more sustainable future.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    I began with a question.  Let me end with a few more. 
     
    Who decides what problems AI should or should not resolve?
     
    Who benefits most from its deployment?
     
    Who bears the cost of its mistakes?
     
    These questions affect everyone – so the answers must also involve everyone.
     
    It is in all our interests for governments and technology leaders to commit to global guardrails, share best practices, and shape fair policy and business models.
     
    The whole world benefits when development banks and the philanthropic community provide catalytic funding to jumpstart capacity-building worldwide.
     
    And we all stand to gain when academia and thought leaders help us navigate through this complex landscape.
     
    AI is not standing still.
     
    Neither can we.
     
    Let us move for an AI that is shaped by all of humanity, for all of humanity.
     
    In other words, let’s make sure we are ready for the future… right now.
     
    Thank you.
     
    ***

     
    THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

    REMARKS AT AI ACTION SUMMIT
     
    Paris, 11 February 2025
     
    Excellencies,
     
    Let me begin by thanking President Macron and Prime Minister Modi for convening this AI Action Summit.
     
    Ladies and gentlemen,
     
    Let’s get straight to the point. 
     
    Let’s look at the world around us beyond those who are in this room.
     
    This meeting poses a fundamental question about our relationship with Artificial Intelligence:  
     
    Are we ready for the future?
     
    The answer is easy.
     
    No. 
     
    We may not even be ready for the present.
     
    In what seems like the blink of an eye, AI has gone from the stuff of science fiction to a powerful force that is transforming our world.
     
    Reshaping the way we live, work, and interact.
     
    Fueling breakthroughs in education, healthcare, agriculture…
     
    But also testing our shared values and rights.
     
    The power of AI carries immense responsibilities.
     
    Today, that power sits in the hands of a few.
     
    While some companies and some countries are racing ahead with record investments, most developing nations find themselves left out in the cold.
     
    This growing concentration of AI capabilities risks deepening geopolitical divides.
     
    We must prevent a world of AI “haves” and “have-nots”.
     
    Nous tous devons travailler ensemble pour que l’Intelligence Artificielle puissent
     
    We must all work together so that artificial can bridge the gap between developed and developing countries – not widen it.
     
    It must accelerate sustainable development – not entrench inequalities.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    The United Nations offers an inclusive, transparent and effective platform for AI solidarity.
     
    And we are working to strengthen that platform.
     
    The Global Digital Compact, adopted at the Summit of the Future, established the first universal agreement on the governance of AI.
     
    It brings the world together around a shared vision:
     
    One where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
     
    The creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI will be central to translating this vision into reality.
     
    By pooling global expertise, this Scientific Panel will promote a common understanding of AI risks, benefits, opportunities and capabilities, and help bridge knowledge gaps.
     
    I urge everyone to support its creation without delay.
     
    Member States also agreed to establish a Global Dialogue on AI Governance – within the United Nations – to ensure that all countries have a voice in shaping the future of AI.
     
    Through the Global Dialogue, we can align governance efforts around the world and reinforce their interoperability; uphold human rights in AI applications and prevent misuse.
     
    The UN provides an inclusive forum for cooperation, complementing existing mechanisms such as the OECD AI Principles, G7 and the Global Partnership on AI – as well as regional efforts by the African Union, European Union, ASEAN and the Council of Europe.
     
    And I am confident that discussions at this Summit will help enrich this Dialogue.
     
    The Compact also calls for building AI capacity in developing nations.
     
    This is not only about technology diffusion.
     
    We need concerted efforts to build sustainable digital infrastructure at an unprecedented scale;
     
    Foster talent and train workforces to develop, deploy and maintain AI systems;
     
    And ultimately, empower peoples and nations to become not just users, but active participants in the AI revolution.
     
    A global AI capacity-building network, as proposed by my High-Level Advisory Body on AI, is an economic necessity and a moral imperative.
     
    Today’s launch of the AI Foundation for Public Interest is an important contribution.
     
    I will soon present a report on innovative voluntary financing models and capacity-building initiatives to help all countries harness AI as a force for good.
     
    Finally, we know that AI can be a force for climate action and energy efficiency.
     
    But we also know AI power-intensive systems are already placing an unsustainable strain on our planet.
     
    So it is crucial to design AI algorithms and infrastructures that consume less energy and integrate AI into smart grids to optimize power use.
     
    From data centres to training models, AI must run on sustainable energy so that it fuels a more sustainable future.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    I began with a question.  Let me end with a few more. 
     
    Who decides what problems AI should or should not solve?
     
    Who benefits most from its deployment?
     
    Who bears the cost of its mistakes?
     
    These questions affect everyone – so the answers must also involve everyone.
     
    It is in all our interests for governments and technology leaders to commit to global guardrails, share best practices, and shape fair policy and business models.
     
    The whole world benefits when development banks and the philanthropic community provide catalytic funding to jumpstart capacity-building worldwide.
     
    And we all stand to gain when academia and thought leaders help us navigate through this complex landscape.
     
    AI is not standing still.
     
    Neither can we.
     
    Let us move for an AI that is shaped by all of humanity, for all of humanity.
     
    In other words, let’s make sure we are ready for the future… right now.
     
    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks at AI Action Summit [scroll down for english]

    Source: United Nations

     
    Excellences,
     
    Permettez-moi tout d’abord de remercier le Président Macron et le Premier ministre Modi d’avoir organisé ce Sommet pour l’action sur l’intelligence artificielle.
     
    Mesdames et Messieurs,
     
    Allons droit au but.
     
    Regardons le monde qui nous entoure au-delà de ceux qui sont dans cette salle.
     
    Notre réunion pose une question fondamentale sur notre rapport à l’intelligence artificielle.
     
    Sommes-nous prêts pour l’avenir ?
     
    La réponse s’impose d’elle-même.
     
    Non.
     
    Nous ne sommes peut-être même pas prêts pour le présent.
     
    En un battement de cils, l’Intelligence Artificielle a quitté l’univers de la science-fiction pour devenir une force puissante qui révolutionne notre monde.
     
    Transformant nos modes de vie, de travail et d’interaction.
     
    Alimentant des avancées majeures dans l’éducation, la santé, l’agriculture…
     
    Mais mettant également à l’épreuve nos valeurs communes et nos droits fondamentaux.
     
    Le pouvoir de l’intelligence artificielle impose d’immenses responsabilités.
     
    Aujourd’hui, ce pouvoir est entre les mains d’une poignée de personnes.  
     
    Tandis que certaines entreprises et certains pays se lancent dans une course effrénée avec des investissements sans précédent, la plupart des nations en développement se retrouvent laissées pour compte.
     
    Cette concentration grandissante des capacités en matière d’intelligence artificielle menace d’aggraver les clivages géopolitiques.
     
    Nous devons empêcher l’émergence d’un monde de “nantis” et de “démunis” de l’Intelligence Artificielle.
     
    Nous tous devons travailler ensemble pour que l’Intelligence Artificielle puissent combler le fossé entre les pays développés et les pays en développement – et non le creuser.
     
    Elle doit accélérer le développement durable – au lieu de perpétuer les inégalités.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    The United Nations offers an inclusive, transparent and effective platform for AI solidarity.
     
    And we are working to strengthen that platform.
     
    The Global Digital Compact, adopted at the Summit of the Future, established the first universal agreement on the governance of AI.
     
    It brings the world together around a shared vision:
     
    One where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
     
    The creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI will be central to translating this vision into reality.
     
    By pooling global expertise, this Scientific Panel will promote a common understanding of AI risks, benefits and capabilities, and opportunities and help bridge knowledge gaps.
     
    I urge everyone to support its creation without delay.
     
    Member States also agreed to establish a Global Dialogue on AI Governance – within the United Nations – to ensure that all countries have a voice in shaping the future of AI.
     
    Through the Global Dialogue, we can align governance efforts around the world and reinforce their interoperability; uphold human rights in AI applications and prevent misuse.
     
    The UN provides an inclusive forum for cooperation, complementing existing mechanisms such as the OECD AI Principles, G7 and the Global Partnership on AI – as well as regional efforts by the African Union, European Union, ASEAN and the Council of Europe.
     
    And I am confident that discussions at this Summit will help enrich this Dialogue.
     
    The Compact also calls for building AI capacity in developing nations.
     
    This is not only about technology diffusion.
     
    We need concerted efforts to build sustainable digital infrastructure at an unprecedented scale;
     
    Foster talent and train workforces to develop, deploy and maintain AI systems;
     
    And ultimately, empower peoples and nations to become not just users, but active participants in the AI revolution.
     
    A global AI capacity-building network, as proposed by my High-Level Advisory Body on AI, is an economic necessity and a moral imperative.
     
    Today’s launch of Current AI, a public interest partnership, is an important contribution.
     
    I will soon present a report on innovative voluntary financing models and capacity-building initiatives to help all countries harness AI as a force for good.
     
    Finally, we know that AI can be a force for climate action and energy efficiency.
     
    But we also know AI power-intensive systems are already placing an unsustainable strain on our planet.
     
    So it is crucial to design AI algorithms and infrastructures that consume less energy and integrate AI into smart grids to optimize power use.
     
    From data centres to training models, AI must run on sustainable energy so that it fuels a more sustainable future.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    I began with a question.  Let me end with a few more. 
     
    Who decides what problems AI should or should not resolve?
     
    Who benefits most from its deployment?
     
    Who bears the cost of its mistakes?
     
    These questions affect everyone – so the answers must also involve everyone.
     
    It is in all our interests for governments and technology leaders to commit to global guardrails, share best practices, and shape fair policy and business models.
     
    The whole world benefits when development banks and the philanthropic community provide catalytic funding to jumpstart capacity-building worldwide.
     
    And we all stand to gain when academia and thought leaders help us navigate through this complex landscape.
     
    AI is not standing still.
     
    Neither can we.
     
    Let us move for an AI that is shaped by all of humanity, for all of humanity.
     
    In other words, let’s make sure we are ready for the future… right now.
     
    Thank you.
     
    ***

     
    THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

    REMARKS AT AI ACTION SUMMIT
     
    Paris, 11 February 2025
     
    Excellencies,
     
    Let me begin by thanking President Macron and Prime Minister Modi for convening this AI Action Summit.
     
    Ladies and gentlemen,
     
    Let’s get straight to the point. 
     
    Let’s look at the world around us beyond those who are in this room.
     
    This meeting poses a fundamental question about our relationship with Artificial Intelligence:  
     
    Are we ready for the future?
     
    The answer is easy.
     
    No. 
     
    We may not even be ready for the present.
     
    In what seems like the blink of an eye, AI has gone from the stuff of science fiction to a powerful force that is transforming our world.
     
    Reshaping the way we live, work, and interact.
     
    Fueling breakthroughs in education, healthcare, agriculture…
     
    But also testing our shared values and rights.
     
    The power of AI carries immense responsibilities.
     
    Today, that power sits in the hands of a few.
     
    While some companies and some countries are racing ahead with record investments, most developing nations find themselves left out in the cold.
     
    This growing concentration of AI capabilities risks deepening geopolitical divides.
     
    We must prevent a world of AI “haves” and “have-nots”.
     
    Nous tous devons travailler ensemble pour que l’Intelligence Artificielle puissent
     
    We must all work together so that artificial can bridge the gap between developed and developing countries – not widen it.
     
    It must accelerate sustainable development – not entrench inequalities.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    The United Nations offers an inclusive, transparent and effective platform for AI solidarity.
     
    And we are working to strengthen that platform.
     
    The Global Digital Compact, adopted at the Summit of the Future, established the first universal agreement on the governance of AI.
     
    It brings the world together around a shared vision:
     
    One where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
     
    The creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI will be central to translating this vision into reality.
     
    By pooling global expertise, this Scientific Panel will promote a common understanding of AI risks, benefits, opportunities and capabilities, and help bridge knowledge gaps.
     
    I urge everyone to support its creation without delay.
     
    Member States also agreed to establish a Global Dialogue on AI Governance – within the United Nations – to ensure that all countries have a voice in shaping the future of AI.
     
    Through the Global Dialogue, we can align governance efforts around the world and reinforce their interoperability; uphold human rights in AI applications and prevent misuse.
     
    The UN provides an inclusive forum for cooperation, complementing existing mechanisms such as the OECD AI Principles, G7 and the Global Partnership on AI – as well as regional efforts by the African Union, European Union, ASEAN and the Council of Europe.
     
    And I am confident that discussions at this Summit will help enrich this Dialogue.
     
    The Compact also calls for building AI capacity in developing nations.
     
    This is not only about technology diffusion.
     
    We need concerted efforts to build sustainable digital infrastructure at an unprecedented scale;
     
    Foster talent and train workforces to develop, deploy and maintain AI systems;
     
    And ultimately, empower peoples and nations to become not just users, but active participants in the AI revolution.
     
    A global AI capacity-building network, as proposed by my High-Level Advisory Body on AI, is an economic necessity and a moral imperative.
     
    Today’s launch of the AI Foundation for Public Interest is an important contribution.
     
    I will soon present a report on innovative voluntary financing models and capacity-building initiatives to help all countries harness AI as a force for good.
     
    Finally, we know that AI can be a force for climate action and energy efficiency.
     
    But we also know AI power-intensive systems are already placing an unsustainable strain on our planet.
     
    So it is crucial to design AI algorithms and infrastructures that consume less energy and integrate AI into smart grids to optimize power use.
     
    From data centres to training models, AI must run on sustainable energy so that it fuels a more sustainable future.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    I began with a question.  Let me end with a few more. 
     
    Who decides what problems AI should or should not solve?
     
    Who benefits most from its deployment?
     
    Who bears the cost of its mistakes?
     
    These questions affect everyone – so the answers must also involve everyone.
     
    It is in all our interests for governments and technology leaders to commit to global guardrails, share best practices, and shape fair policy and business models.
     
    The whole world benefits when development banks and the philanthropic community provide catalytic funding to jumpstart capacity-building worldwide.
     
    And we all stand to gain when academia and thought leaders help us navigate through this complex landscape.
     
    AI is not standing still.
     
    Neither can we.
     
    Let us move for an AI that is shaped by all of humanity, for all of humanity.
     
    In other words, let’s make sure we are ready for the future… right now.
     
    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Launches STORY (IP) Launchpool & Airdrop+, Offering 68,500 IP & 50,000 USDT in Bonuses

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, the world’s leading cryptocurrency trading platform, is excited to announce the launch of its Launchpool initiative in collaboration with the renowned blockchain project STORY (IP). This initiative highlights the close partnership between MEXC and STORY, showcasing their joint efforts to expand the STORY network. By introducing two major events—a Launchpool featuring a 60,000 IP reward pool and an Airdrop+ offering 8,500 IP plus 50,000 USDT—this collaboration further accelerates the growth of the STORY network while driving innovation in the blockchain space.

    MEXC Supports the STORY Network with the Launch of IP Launchpool

    In the digital age, traditional intellectual property (IP) management faces growing challenges. Centralized platforms and complicated intermediaries often lead to inefficiencies, high costs, and trust issues for creators. As a Layer 1 blockchain built with Cosmos SDK, STORY combines DeFi and AI technologies to offer automated, transparent, and cost-effective IP management solutions. With full EVM compatibility and a modular architecture, STORY empowers creators to tokenize their IP assets, automate royalties, and simplify licensing processes. MEXC’s support of the STORY network highlights the growing importance of such innovations in blockchain.

    As a global leader in digital asset trading, MEXC consistently supports innovative blockchain projects. Its Launchpool initiative with STORY reaffirms this commitment. This collaboration not only strengthens the STORY ecosystem but also empowers global creators and developers to explore the potential of decentralized IP management. MEXC’s broad market coverage and strong liquidity offer the environment for blockchain projects like STORY to thrive and bring new possibilities to the digital economy. By allowing users to stake USDT, MX, and IP tokens to earn rewards, MEXC provides a platform for increased exposure and growth for STORY. Visit the STORY (IP) pre-market page to see this innovation in action.

    Celebrate the IP Launchpool & Airdrop+ with a Prize Pool of 68,500 IP & 50,000 USDT

    As a pioneer in the cryptocurrency industry, MEXC continues to foster innovation and support emerging blockchain ecosystems. MEXC is hosting two major STORY (IP) events: the Airdrop+ event, running from February 12, 2025, 10:00 (UTC) to February 26, 2025, 10:00 (UTC), featuring 8,500 IP plus 50,000 USDT in rewards, and the Launchpool, taking place from February 12, 2025, 10:00 (UTC) to February 15, 2025, 10:00 (UTC), with a 60,000 IP reward pool. These initiatives underscore MEXC’s ongoing commitment to advancing blockchain innovation and delivering valuable opportunities to the crypto community.

    These activities include:

    • Event 1: IP Launchpool – Stake USDT, MX & IP to Share 60,000 IP
    • Event 2: Join Airdrop+ to Share 8,500 IP & 50,000 USDT bonus
    • Perk 1: Deposit and Share 5,600 IP (New User Exclusive).
      Perk 2: Spot Challenge – Trade to Share 1,700 IP.
      Perk 3: Futures Challenge – Trade to Share 50,000 USDT in Futures Bonuses.
      Perk 4: Invite New Users and Share 1,200 IP.

    MEXC continues to expand its market share in the centralized exchange space, leveraging its first-mover advantage in listing promising and valuable projects. As one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges, with its commitment to innovation, user-centric approach, and strategic focus on early-stage token listings, MEXC remains at the forefront of the crypto industry, providing strong access to the rapidly growing blockchain ecosystem.

    About MEXC

    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto”. Serving over 30 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, frequent airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official WebsiteXTelegramHow to Sign Up on MEXC

    Contact:
    Lucia Hu
    PR Manager
    lucia.hu@mexc.com

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a2e22b1-397a-4227-8c4b-fe594bb87d87

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Calfrac Well Services Ltd. 2024 Fourth Quarter Earnings Release, Conference Call and Webcast

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Calfrac Well Services Ltd. (“Calfrac”) (TSX:CFW) intends to release its 2024 fourth quarter results before the market opens on Thursday, March 13, 2025, and has scheduled a conference call to begin at 10:00 A.M. MT (12:00 P.M. ET) on the same day.

    Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis will be posted onto Calfrac’s website and on SEDAR+ after the press release has been disseminated.

    A webcast of the conference call can be accessed through the link below:

    https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg/ShowUUID=DE553537-723A-44F8-837E-F9A9689F3C2F&LangLocaleID=1033

    A replay of the conference call will also be available on Calfrac’s website for at least 90 days.

    To participate in the Q&A session, you may dial-in (toll free) 1-800-717-1738 (or at 1-646-307-1865 for international participants) fifteen (15) minutes prior to the start of the call and ask for the Calfrac Well Services Ltd. 2024 Third Quarter Earnings Release Conference Call to register.

    About Calfrac:

    Calfrac’s common shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “CFW”.

    Calfrac provides specialized oilfield services to exploration and production companies designed to increase the production of hydrocarbons from wells with continuing operations focused throughout North America and Argentina. The Company executes on its brand promise of “Do It Safely, Do It Right, Do It Profitably” to generate long-term, sustainable returns for its shareholders.

    Further information regarding Calfrac Well Services Ltd., including the most recently filed Annual Information Form, can be accessed on Calfrac’s website at www.calfrac.com or under the Company’s public filings found at www.sedarplus.ca.

    For further information on this conference call, please contact:

    Michael Olinek
    Chief Financial Officer
    (403) 234-6673

    Suite 500, 407 – 8 Avenue S.W.
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1E5
    Website: www.calfrac.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Jitterbit’s Next AI Infusion: Build, Manage, Modify Business Applications with Natural Language Processing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ALAMEDA, Calif., Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jitterbit, a global leader in accelerating business transformation for enterprise systems, today announced its latest AI-infused capabilities within the Harmony platform, advancing AI from low-code development to natural language processing (NLP). With NLP, technical barriers are removed and users can create, modify, and expose APIs, as well as build, monitor, and manage complex applications — all through natural language commands.

    “AI acts as a bridge between IT and line-of-business users, fostering true collaboration across the enterprise,” said Jitterbit President and CEO Bill Conner. “By infusing AI natural language processing into the Harmony platform, we’re simplifying the building, integrating, connecting, and exposing of applications. What were once isolated applications now become interconnected enterprise systems, enabling seamless connections and integrations to enterprise-wide processes.”

    “AI is no longer just a tool — it’s the catalyst for seamless, end-to-end automation that drives innovation at every level of business,” said Antonio Cisternino, CIO and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Pisa. “With Jitterbit’s new AI capabilities, organizations can now gain a holistic view of their data, powered by enterprise systems that are fully automated from end to end, driving smarter decisions and accelerating business outcomes in a controlled way.”

    Building on its vision for advancing AI, Jitterbit’s integration of NLP technology into its unified, AI-infused low-code Harmony platform makes it even easier for users to automate applications and workflows by significantly reducing the development time and effort required to develop applications, manage APIs and integrate complex enterprise systems.

    “By eliminating the need for traditional coding, NLP makes developing applications, building and managing APIs, and integrating complex workflows accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise,” said Jitterbit CTO Manoj Chaudhary. “This advancement is a critical milestone on the path toward agentic AI, where systems can intelligently adapt, learn, and execute autonomously.”

    New Jitterbit AI Assistants Accelerate Application, API Management

    Jitterbit’s new AI-infused capabilities redefine how users leverage the Harmony platform to generate code faster and accelerate innovation.

    “Users can use simple natural language to create actionable code, enabling them to develop, manage, and integrate applications and systems seamlessly across the business — saving hundreds of hours in the process,” said Chaudhary.

    • AI-Infused App Builder Assistant: An AI assistant designed to effortlessly create new applications and manage and modify existing ones using natural language. This feature is now in beta and available to Jitterbit customers. General availability is planned for Q2 2025.
    • AI-Infused API Manager: Jitterbit API Manager empowers users to create APIs using an AI assistant to simplify API development and accelerate time to value. A beta program for this feature is now available with general availability planned for Jitterbit customers in Q2 2025.
    • AskJB AI: An intelligent assistant providing real-time answers, guidance, and information is generally available within the Harmony platform and Jitterbit Documentation.

    Jitterbit Introduces New Observability Tools, Cloud Datastore and Security Standards

    Building on its AI-infused capabilities, Jitterbit introduced new observability and cloud storage features as well as new security certifications in the Harmony platform — designed to give organizations unmatched visibility, streamlined data management, and enhanced protection for their critical business processes.

    • Agent Observability for Integration Performance Optimization: offers real-time visibility into the performance and behavior of private agents deployed on customer-managed servers, within firewalls, or in virtual private clouds. With pre-built dashboards for Datadog and Elasticsearch, customers can access over 50 key metrics to gain deeper operational insights addressing anomalies before they disrupt operations. A beta is now open to Jitterbit customers.
    • Cloud Datastore for Streamlined Integration Data Management: Cloud Datastore is a cloud-based storage solution that allows users to store, manage, and retrieve data within their integration workflows. It acts as a central repository for data that various Jitterbit applications, APIs and integrations built on the Harmony platform can access. The Cloud Datastore is typically used to persist data for applications that require seamless data exchange or for integrations that need temporary or long-term storage of structured or unstructured data. Cloud Datastore also is GDPR-compliant for the European Union (EU). A beta is coming to Jitterbit customers in Q1 2025.
    • Elevated Security Standards: Building on its layered security foundation, Jitterbit has attained new security certifications, including ISO 27017 and ISO 27018 compliance, along with NZISM certification for New Zealand and Australia. These certifications ensure that Jitterbit meets the highest global security standards.

    Beta Access for Jitterbit Customers

    Jitterbit customers who are interested in participating in the beta programs may contact product@jitterbit.com.

    Jitterbit Harmony
    Jitterbit Harmony is a unified AI-infused low-code platform for integration, orchestration, automation, and app development that accelerates business transformation. Consisting of iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service), API Management, App Builder (low-code application development), EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), Harmony empowers IT teams and line-of-business groups to quickly become more productive, efficient, and responsive, leading to reduced organizational friction, improved efficiency, and better business outcomes.

    About Jitterbit Inc.
    For organizations ready to modernize and innovate, Jitterbit provides a unified AI-infused low-code platform for integration, orchestration, automation, and app development that accelerates business transformation, boosts productivity, and unlocks value. The Jitterbit Harmony platform, including iPaaS, API Manager, App Builder and EDI, future-proofs operations, simplifies complexity and drives innovation for organizations globally. Learn more at www.jitterbit.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

    Media Contact:
    Laura Hunter
    Senior Director of Communications
    Jitterbit
    Laura.Hunter@jitterbit.com
    310-344-6426

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: CapitalRock spreads its wings in the realm of cryptocurrency with the latest solutions and investment plans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — World-recognized Crypto Asset Management Leader now introduces CapitalRock coin and is ready to start its trading app.

    CapitalRock is one of the leading crypto asset management companies that has come up with a huge plan to redefine the digital finance system through its advanced investment plans, strategic analysis approach, and attractive offers.

    Composed of a competent team of more than 200 experts, CapitalRock is all set to take over the crypto world.

    The prime focus of CapitalRock is to cater to the digital world with its unique crypto investment plans with keen market analysis. The efficient team is dedicated to working most professionally by keeping an eye on the latest trends and risk factors, thus making smart decisions for its Investors. The CapitalRock team involves seasoned analysts, traders, and Blockchain experts from the industry who bring their hands-on experience to make every effort to elevate the graph of CapitalRock coin.

    CapitalRock coin aka CR is the nucleus of CapitalRock’s unique work plan in the world of cryptocurrency. CR has taken the top position in the contemporary exchange market. Its top ranking has increased the company’s reputation in the market in turn, providing the investors a trustworthy platform for carrying out trade activities. Thus, both CR and the company find its way to ace the digital market.

    CapitalRock Coin (CR): A Game-Changer in Crypto

    CapitalRock coin (CR) has been launched to set a foundation for the company’s beneficial monetary plans, to take it high in the brand ranking. After wise investment planning, along with smart strategic management, CR bears the potential to bring innovation to the digital market. CR paves a lucrative path for its users from trade aspects, thus providing them a strong and durable crypto ecosystem.

    The launch of CR is completely aligned with the vision of CapitalRock which claims to provide its users not just with a financially supportive trade coin but also makes them a valuable part of the company’s mission.

    CR, being labelled as the top-ranked coin in the exchange market, has caught the attention of investors worldwide for availing a better trading experience.

    CapitalRock’s Trading Application: A Step Forward in User Experience

    In the coming future, CapitalRock is also ready to launch its highly effective trading application. This up-to-date trading app will allow both retailers and investors to make use of advanced features to increase the functionality of the coin. With the use of this app, the users through their crypto profile, will enjoy a smooth trade experience with CR.

    The application will be designed with an attractive yet easy-to-use interface, precise analysis, and authentic market data. The easy-to-use interface will allow both new traders and old crypto users to enjoy the service in its full bloom. It will enable the users to reach out to important market updates, trading trends, and analytics and will also allow them to maintain their trade portfolio and view the performance graph. These facilities will surely allow them to make wise decisions in terms of trading and investment in the digitally competitive finance market.

    Technology is a reality and it stands at the heart of the crypto asset management and our trading app is the representative of this reality. Our motto is to take crypto investments through a more user-friendly approach and this will be possible via our trading application. The CEO of CapitalRock claimed to be eagerly in the queue to embrace its beneficial impact in the digital world.

    CapitalRock’s Dedicated Team: The Driving Force Behind Success

    The CapitalRock team of over 200 potential minds is one of the leading reasons behind its successful journey. The expert data analysts, competent risk managers, and Blockchain masters put their entire efforts to keep it high in the exchange ranking by continuously devising mindful strategies and keeping a track of the associated risks. Thus CapitalRock has met all the risks and stands high in ua performance.

    The head of CapitalRock’s investment strategy department stated that the CapitalRock team is its backbone. He further mentioned that they take pride in their capabilities to cope with the trends, pinpoint risks timely, and avail the opportunities rightly by being flexible by market fluctuations. He also paid tribute to the team members’ full-time commitment and dedication to their duties and the company’s vision.

    A Vision for the Future

    With the continuous growth of the crypto market, CapitalRock stands firm with its motto to add value to the advanced digital world. The strategic plans of CapitalRock including continuous investment analysis, the launch of CR, and the most useful trading application are all its support systems that speak of its vision. The passionate team of CapitalRock is also striving to extend its global face, making new partnerships and fostering ties with organizational investors. It also has smart plans to work on Blockchain projects and make trading collaborations. The leadership of CapitalRock is giving it’s best in availing more growth opportunities to amplify its digital profile along with bringing more services and facilities for the investors.

    In the coming future, CapitalRock is also quite eager to take part in educational programs, innovative projects, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications in order to pay back to the Blockchain community in the best way.

    Commitment to Transparency and Security

    Transparency is practiced at its best at CapitalRock. As with the increasing number of users and an upsurge in digital assets, the company is subjected to more seamlessness in providing the data to its partners. Therefore, it ensures that the company’s investors feel rather more trusted while making decisions and being a part of this community.

    CapitalRock makes use of top-notch security tools i-e multi-signature wallets, two-factor authentication, and peer-to-peer encryption to keep all the investments as well as users’ personal data fully safe and secure. With frequently mushrooming crypto assets, CapitalRock has felt the need to maintain its security protocols rather than more.

    Conclusion

    With all its uniqueness, CapitalRock is determined to maintain its pre-eminent position in the crypto world. With it’s crypto coin (CR) and the trendy trading application launched, the company is doing its best to come up to the mark with all competitors and contribute in revamping the digital finance market.

    CapitalRock, with its seasoned team, smart leadership, and dedicated mindset, is laying the foundation to better standards for crypto investments, trade and exchanges. Investors can see a bright future ahead of their way in the contemporary crypto ecosystem where CapitalRock is leading their way.

    For further information regarding CapitalRock coin (CR) and trading app, keep visiting the official website.

    https://www.capitalrock.ch/
    https://t.me/capitalrock1
    https://twitter.com/CapitalRock_AG
    Contact person: Jawwad Ahmed
    Company name: CapitalRock
    Website: capitalrock.ch
    Email: admin@capitalrock.ch

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by CapitalRock. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in cloud mining and related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4c8175b0-1282-4ae3-8036-d6168fb13fbe

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Funding boost to tackle gender-based violence

    Source: Scottish Government

    Delivering Equally Safe Fund increased.

    More than 100 organisations across Scotland working to tackle violence against women and girls will share in a funding uplift of £2.4 million.

    The funding boost will bring the total Scottish Government investment in Delivering Equally Safe, which funds projects to prevent violence and support survivors, up to £21.6 million for the year ahead subject to the 2025-26 Budget being approved.

    Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart announced the funding increase on a visit to SAY Women – a Glasgow charity offering safe accommodation and emotional support for young survivors of sexual abuse who are facing homelessness.

    Ms Stewart said:

    “Grassroots organisations across Scotland are at the heart of tackling violence against women and girls. Their work is fundamental to creating a country free from gender-based abuse.

    “This funding boost will support these organisations, will help prevent abuse occurring and ensure that women and girls who have experienced violence can continue to access the support they deserve.”

    SAY Women CEO Pam Hunter said:

    “SAY Women is delighted to receive the additional funds. This will go towards increasing our investment into projects for the young women within our services.

    “In the face of the rising cost of living, increase in N.I contributions and inflation, the organisation made the challenging executive decision to limit the variety of activities on offer to those in our care so that we may allow the staff to have a fair living wage. This additional funding will reinstate many of the services that were temporarily paused so that SAY Women may continue to do the good work supporting young women affected by sexual violence and homelessness.”

    Background

    The Delivering Equally Safe Fund supports organisations across Scotland in their work to tackle violence against women and girls, and has done since 2021.

    The Delivering Equally Safe fund is the Scottish Government’s funding programme to support third sector organisations and public bodies to contribute to the objectives, priorities and outcomes of the Equally Safe strategy – Scotland’s strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls.

    A £19.2 million funding extension to allow these organisations to continue their work until March 2026 was announced in December 2024, provided the Scottish Budget 2025-26 is approved by parliament: Preventing violence against women and girls – gov.scot

    This funding uplift of £2.4 million brings the fund total for 2025-26 to £21.6 million.

    The organisations funded through Delivering Equally Safe are as follows:

    Organisation

    Aberdeen City Council

    Aberdeen Cyrenians Ltd

    Aberlour Child Care Trust

    Action for Children

    Amina – the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre

    Angus Women’s Aid

    Argyll & Bute Rape Crisis

    Argyll & Bute Violence against Women and Girls Partnership

    Argyll & Bute Women’s Aid SCIO

    ASSIST, Glasgow City Council

    Barnardo’s Tayside

    Barnardo’s Falkirk

    Border Women’s Aid Ltd

    British Red Cross Society

    Caithness & Sutherland Women’s Aid

    CEA Committed To Ending Abuse

    Central Advocacy Partners

    Children 1st

    Clackmannanshire Women’s Aid

    Close the Gap (SCIO)

    Deaf Links

    Dumbarton District Women’s Aid

    Dumfries & Galloway Council

    Dumfries & Galloway Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Support Centre

    Dumfriesshire & Stewartry Women’s Aid

    Dundee City Council

    Dundee International Women’s Centre

    Dundee Women’s Aid

    East Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership

    East Ayrshire Women’s Aid

    East Dunbartonshire Association For Mental Health

    East Dunbartonshire Women’s Aid SCIO

    East Lothian and Midlothian Public Protection Committee

    Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre

    Edinburgh Women’s Aid Ltd

    Edinburgh Women’s Aid Ltd

    EmilyTest

    Engender

    FENIKS Counselling, Personal Development & Support Service Ltd

    Fife Council

    Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre

    Fife Women’s Aid

    Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre

    GEMAP Scotland Ltd

    Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis

    Glasgow Women’s Aid

    Grampian Women’s Aid

    Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid Limited

    INVERCLYDE WOMEN’S AID SCIO

    Inverness Women’s Aid

    JustRight Scotland SCIO

    Kenyan Women in Scotland Association (CIC)

    Kibble Education and Care Centre

    Kingdom Abuse Survivors Project

    Lanarkshire Rape Crisis Centre

    LGBT Youth Scotland

    Liber8 (Lanarkshire) Ltd

    Lochaber Women’s Aid

    Monklands Women’s Aid

    Moray Rape Crisis

    Moray Women’s Aid

    Motherwell & District Women’s Aid

    Multi-Cultural Family Base

    North Ayrshire Women’s Aid

    North Lanarkshire Council

    Cumbernauld & District Women’s Aid SCIO

    Orkney Rape & Sexual Assault Service (ORSAS) SCIO

    Perth & Kinross Council

    Perthshire Women’s Aid

    Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, Perth & Kinross

    Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland

    Rape Crisis Grampian

    Rape Crisis Scotland

    Renfrewshire Council

    Renfrewshire Council, Children’s Services, Women and Children First

    Renfrewshire Women’s Aid SCIO

    Respect

    Ross-Shire Women’s Aid

    Rowan Alba Ltd

    Sacro

    SafeLives

    Saheliya

    Sandyford – NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

    SAY Women

    Scottish Borders Council

    Scottish Borders Rape Crisis Centre (SBRCC)

    Scottish Commission for Learning Disability

    Scottish Women’s Aid

    Shakti Women’s Aid

    Shetland Rape Crisis

    Shetland Women’s Aid (SCIO)

    South Ayrshire Women’s Aid

    South Lanarkshire Council

    South West Grid for Learning Trust Ltd

    Stirling & District Women’s Aid

    The Highland Council

    The Improvement Service

    The Star Centre

    The Venture Trust

    West Dunbartonshire Council

    Western Isles Rape Crises Centre

    Western Isles Women’s Aid SCIO

    West Lothian Council

    West Lothian Women’s Aid (WLWA)

    White Ribbon Scotland

    Wigtownshire Women’s Aid

    Women’s Aid East and Midlothian Ltd

    Women’s Aid Orkney

    Women’s Aid South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire

    Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Dundee and Angus

    Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Dundee and Angus

    Women’s Support Project

    YWCA Scotland

    Zero Tolerance

    The latest Equally Safe Delivery Plan, published in August 2024, sets out next steps to address violence against women and girls.

    Frontline projects funded through the Delivering Equally Safe Fund have supported 67,004 adults, children and young people since 2021.

    SAY Women is a charity that offers safe semi-supported accommodation and emotional support for young women aged 16 to 25 who are survivors of sexual abuse, rape or sexual assault and who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness.

    SAY Women receive funding through the Delivering Equally Safe Fund, and with this uplift this will increase from £52,009 to £58,770 in 2025/26. Funding is in place to support a full Sessional Team to support young women to participate in additional mental health/wellbeing activities contributing to wellbeing improvements aiding in preventing homelessness.

    SAY Women are also supported by the Scottish Government’s Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support (SOCAS) Fund. The fund supports 22 organisations across Scotland who work with adult survivors of childhood abuse. SAY Women have been allocated £190,000 for the period of the Fund (1 October 2024 – 31 March 2026) to provide specialised support to young women survivors of childhood sexual abuse who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall on Fox Business: The Democrats “Don’t Know What to Do”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined The Bottom Line on Fox Business to discuss the Democrats flip-flopping on their bipartisan promises, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requesting Internal Revenue Service (IRS) personnel to protect the border, why the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) needs major reform, and the current status of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees.

    [embedded content]

    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.
    Highlights from Senator Marshall’s interview include:
    On the Democrats reversing course on bipartisanship:
    “It looks like my friends across the aisle will work with anybody whose name is not Donald Trump. The way I see it up here right now, if this were an MMA fight, the Democrats would be tapping out. It’s like Donald Trump has hit them with body flip, body jab after body jab, and now they’re folding. They’ve lost their confidence. They don’t know what to do.”
    “This turn of bipartisanship is just a turn of convenience. But now we have Donald Trump doing what he said he was going to do. He’s going to get rid of waste, fraud, abuse, and incompetence, and now they’ve lost it, and Donald Trump is winning this fight.”
    “Yeah, take USAID, for instance. Congress asked multiple times – open these books up for us and show it to us. We’ve asked the Pentagon to assess their own spending as well, and it never happens. It’s taken someone like an Elon Musk to work for President Trump to do exactly what Americans ask him to do – and that’s get rid of this waste, fraud, and abuse.”
    On FEMA needing large-scale reform:
    “It’s been four months since hurricane Helene. We still have 3500 North Carolina families that don’t have a home. Something’s not working right here. Here’s a former Governor, Governor Noem there, saying, look, let’s let the Governors use some of that money and put it to work in the right way as well. So we’ve got to do something differently.”
    “Let’s not forget, it wasn’t too long that FEMA used over a billion dollars to take care and house people that were here illegally as well. So we need a redo there at FEMA. We need to start over. We need to pause and figure out how to do this the right way.”
    On deputizing and deploying IRS agents to the U.S. southern border at the request of DHS:
    “Promises made, promises kept here. President Trump said all hands on deck. I think most Americans would agree with me that the most significant initial concern to our country right now is this open southern border. So let’s use the IRS agents to chase the money. Think about this, all the human trafficking, all the fentanyl poisoning… behind that is money laundering. Who would be better than the IRS agents to track down that money laundering and work with the DHS agents? I think this is very good use of our resources as well.”
    “I just want to emphasize goodness, we’re losing 200 people Americans every day from fentanyl poisoning, and the money used for that is being laundered by the Chinese triad, this Chinese organized crime group, and using a crypto a lot of at times as well. So we need to unleash all the resources we have to secure our borders, but then chase the bad guys, as they say. And I think the IRS is very equipped to do this. Let’s work together. If, wherever the you know the hemorrhaging is going, let’s stop that hemorrhaging. And that’s exactly what President Trump’s doing here.”
    On President Trump’s Cabinet nominees advancing through confirmations: 
    “I want to brag on John Thune – Leader John Thune – and the job that he’s doing. We’re way ahead of Biden’s pace for getting people approved. I think we’re right there even with Barack Obama, his pace getting things approved, so we’re making progress.”
    “This is a big week. We have Tulsi Gabbard and Bobby Kennedy Jr. up in front of us today. I think those are probably the two toughest hurdles we’ve got going on. Kash Patel will be a little bit of a hurdle as well, but I think we’re making excellent progress.”
    “I think the senators up here are hearing Americans out there – they’re hearing across the country that they want Bobby Kennedy to be a game changer, to be a disrupter as well. You know, I saw something interesting this week that President Trump’s numbers with younger people especially went up like 10% – 10 points here in the past week or two. I think a lot of that is because of people like Tulsi Gabbard, people like Bobby Kennedy, Jr, Kash Patel, that relate to younger people as well. So it’s a great week. It’s a great month to be up here working with President Trump.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget lists JAILSTOOL adding it to Spot Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has announced the listing of Stool Prisondente ($JAILSTOOL). The memecoin was adopted by Barstool Sports founder David Portnoy. Spot trading will begin on 10 February 2025, 14:00 (UTC), with withdrawals available on 11 February 2025, 10:00 (UTC).

    Stool Prisondente is a community-driven memecoin designed for fun and lighthearted engagement within the crypto ecosystem, celebrating crossovers between internet culture and the unpredictable nature of meme assets. With a focus on community participation and viral momentum, Jailstool embodies the spirit of crypto’s inherent degen culture.

    Bitget continues to expand its offerings, positioning itself as a leading platform for cryptocurrency trading. The exchange has established a reputation for innovative solutions that empower users to explore crypto within a secure CeDeFi ecosystem. With an extensive selection of over 800 cryptocurrency pairs and a commitment to broaden its offerings to more than 900 trading pairs, Bitget connects users to various ecosystems, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Base, and TON. The addition of $JAILSTOOL into Bitget’s portfolio marks a significant step toward expanding its ecosystem, by embracing niche communities and fostering innovation in decentralized economies, further solidifying its role as a gateway to diverse Web3 projects and cultural movements.

    For more details on $JAILSTOOL, visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM market, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea3c6294-13cb-4c4d-945a-df3941ae416c

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Explore cryptocurrency wealth and get efficient returns every day through BitconeMine cloud mining

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BitconeMine, the leading AI-driven cloud mining platform, is making waves in the cryptocurrency industry by offering a limited-time $10 login mining bonus to new users. The initiative aims to lower the barrier to entry for crypto enthusiasts and provide a seamless, cost-effective way to start earning Bitcoin through cloud mining.

    What is Bitcoin Cloud Mining?

    BitconeMine allows users to participate in cryptocurrency mining without owning expensive hardware or dealing with a complex technical setup. By renting mining power from a data center, users can earn Bitcoin with minimal effort and investment.

    Why BitconeMine?

    BitconeMine stands out in the cloud mining industry with its innovative AI technology, ensuring optimized mining operations and consistent returns for investors. With a seven-year track record, BitconeMine continues to provide a secure and stable platform for passive income generation.

    Key Benefits of BitconeMine:

    $10 Login Bonus: New users can start mining immediately and earn a fixed $0.6 per day.
    Transparency: Monitor contracts and earnings in real time via mobile or desktop.
    Security: Investment protection backed by L&G Insurance.
    Scalability: Flexible contracts to suit a variety of investment needs.
    Zero maintenance costs: BitconeMine takes care of all hardware and operational maintenance.
    24/7 customer support: 24/7 assistance for a seamless mining experience.

    How to get started

    Joining BitconeMine is simple. Register on the platform and instantly activate your $10 mining reward. With daily passive income, new users can explore cloud mining without an initial financial commitment.

    1. First register as a BitconeMine user (visit the BitconeMine official website, click on register, and follow the steps to set up your account and password.)

    2. Choose a suitable contract package
    3. Pay the mining contract fee
    4. Wait for daily earnings.

    The bright future of cloud mining

    BitconeMine is committed to innovation and user satisfaction, and continuously enhances its platform to provide industry-leading cloud mining solutions. With strong security measures, transparent operations, and AI-driven efficiency, BitconeMine is poised to redefine the future of cryptocurrency mining.
    Start your crypto mining journey today. Visit https://bitconemine.com/ and claim your $10 sign-on bonus instantly!

    Contact:
    Lily Tanoria
    info@bitconemine.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by BitconeMine. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in cloud mining and related opportunities involves significant risks, including potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly advised to conduct their own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decision.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0bb1cd16-634a-413d-a8a5-081d7a58ff66

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7b59576d-f683-4cb1-b8d1-6825cb45375e

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Navy, 30+ Partners Commence International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2025

    Source: United States Naval Central Command

    MANAMA, Bahrain —

    The Middle East region’s largest maritime exercise, International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2025, kicked off in two locations, Bahrain and Jordan, Feb. 10.

    The week began with academic discussions covering a series of topics including the naval planning process, maritime operations center procedures, and disaster response coordination.

    IMX25 is a 12-day naval training event hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). This year’s iteration of IMX is linked with exercise Cutlass Express. Cutlass Express, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, is an annually scheduled exercise designed to enhance regional maritime awareness and the combined capabilities of partner nations to respond to maritime threats. The exercises are link through information sharing between maritime operations center to strengthen theater-to-theater coordination, reducing regional seams and strengthening U.S. and partner nation capabilities and interoperability.

    More than 5,000 personnel from more than 35 nations and international organizations will take part in both exercises.

    IMX is designed to demonstrate global resolve in preserving the rules-based international order, offering a unique opportunity for participants to collaborate and showcase regional maritime security cooperation.

    “Exercises like IMX show that we are at our best when we work together and that our resolve is unwavering,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Jeff Jurgemeyer, NAVCENT vice commander, during his remarks at the opening ceremony. “The Middle East region is a critical crossroads for worldwide commerce and trade. IMX is our combined assurance that the potential for economic success is greatest when international waterways are safe and open for all.”

    The operational phase will include partner exchanges on mine and countermeasures; visit, board, search and seizure; unmanned systems and artificial intelligence integration; explosive ordnance disposal; vessel defense; search and rescue; and mass casualty response, among other focus areas.

    This is the ninth iteration of IMX since its establishment in 2012.

    The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses nearly 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb.

    More information about IMX is available at: https://www.cusnc.navy.mil/IMX/.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: AMD and the Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) to Collaborate on the Future of AI Compute

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) today announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) of France to collaborate on the advanced technologies, component and system architectures that will shape the future of AI computing. The collaboration will leverage the strengths of both organizations to push the boundaries on energy-efficient systems needed to support the world’s most compute-intensive AI workloads in fields from energy to medicine.

    Through this initiative, AMD and CEA will engage in a structured collaboration, focused on technological advancements on next generation AI compute infrastructure. AMD and CEA also are planning a symposium on the future of AI compute in 2025 that will convene European stakeholders and global technology providers, startups, supercomputing centers, universities and policy makers to accelerate collaboration around state-of-the-art and emerging AI computing technologies.

    “AI computing continues to drive innovation across industries, and international collaboration is critical to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” said Ralph Wittig, Corporate Fellow and head of research, AMD. “Through this collaboration with CEA and leading French engineers, we aim to bring cutting-edge AI research closer to real-world applications by advancing system architectures that meet the demands of tomorrow’s AI workloads, while growing the joint research and development opportunities between the U.S. and France.”

    “CEA is committed to driving innovation in AI computing by advancing next-generation technologies opening the road for disruptive architectures that balance performance and energy efficiency. Our collaboration with AMD represents a significant step toward fostering international cooperation in high-performance computing, bringing together world-class expertise to address the growing demands of AI workloads,” said Julie Galland, Director of the Technological Research division at CEA, “By combining CEA’s research leadership with AMD’s cutting-edge technology, we aim to develop breakthrough solutions that will shape the future of AI computing in Europe and beyond.”

    This effort underscores the AMD commitment to fostering international collaborations that accelerate AI innovation, making AI more inclusive and sustainable, and strengthening cooperation, in particular, between the United States and European research institutions.

    Supporting Resources

    About AMD
    For more than 50 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics and visualization technologies. Billions of people, leading Fortune 500 businesses and cutting-edge scientific research institutions around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work and play. AMD employees are focused on building leadership high-performance and adaptive products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit the AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) website, blog, LinkedIn and X pages.

    AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Denis Beau: The foundations of trustworthy AI in the financial sector

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    First of all, I’d like to thank the organizers for their invitation to launch this event focusing on the Paris financial centre’s AI strategy: just days before the international AI Action Summit, this gives me the opportunity to reiterate our determination at the Banque de France and the ACPR to take action on this major issue for the industry – and to do so in concert with all financial sector players. The summit will also be an opportunity for the Banque de France to reaffirm its commitment by organising a side event on 11 February, featuring a round table discussion on ethical and inclusive AI.

    AI – as you are already well aware, is being increasingly used in the financial sector, whether to assess credit risk, set insurance rates or estimate asset volatility. For a supervisor, its impact is potentially double-edged: while AI is a source of opportunities for the sector – including for its supervisor – it is also a new vector of risk. This ambivalent impact partly explains the regulatory framework that has just been introduced in Europe.

    The European Union has proven itself a pioneer in this area by adopting the AI Act in the summer of 2024. However, this legislation raises legitimate questions, especially for the financial sector: is there not a risk of hampering innovation in the name of controlling risk? I would like to reiterate, before you today, a strongly held conviction that may seem iconoclastic in the current environment: in the long run, regulating AI-related risks is good for competitiveness in both Europe and France. Without regulation, there can be no trust – and therefore no sustainable innovation.

    Because my opening remarks this morning are from a supervisor’s perspective, I will discuss the opportunities and risks (I), then the conditions necessary for effective regulation of AI in the financial sector (II).

    I/ To get a bit of perspective on things, I would like to revisit an initial observation: AI, combined with an abundance of available data, is a powerful vector of transformation for the financial sector.

    1/ Our observations show that AI is increasingly being used by financial institutions along all segments of the value chain: i) to improve the “user experience”, ii) to automate and streamline internal processes, and iii) to control risks, particularly in the battle against fraud and against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

    The emergence of generative AI two years ago has triggered a revolution in the accessibility of AI technology, thanks to the possibility of interacting with algorithms using natural language – via Large Language Models (LLMs) – which makes adoption considerably easier. Generative AI is also boosting innovation within companies as computer code can now be written by a much broader group of people.

    If harnessed properly, AI can therefore boost the efficiency of financial institutions, increase their revenues and provide them with risk management solutions.

    2/ However, there is a downside, and the power of the solutions developed is accompanied by significant risks, both for each of the players in the financial system and for the stability of the system as a whole. I would like to mention three of these risks.

    The first is that these technologies may be put to improper use. The complexity and newness of certain modelling techniques can result in more errors, either in systems design or use. This poses a risk not only for customers, but also for institutions’ financial health, as a poorly calibrated model could generate systematic losses. These risks are compounded by two factors. First, the adjustment of the parameters of certain models in real-time, which is one of their strengths, can also result in rapid drift. Second, certain AI systems are particularly opaque, generating a “black box” phenomenon.

    The second risk I would like to highlight is cyber risk, which has become the number one operational risk in the financial sector over the past few years. AI amplifies this risk – both in terms of the danger posed by attackers and because it represents a new area of vulnerability. Conversely, we should be aware that AI can also enhance IT security, for example, by helping to detect suspicious behaviour.

    Lastly, I’d like to highlight a third risk, which could become increasingly significant in the future, namely environmental risk. In the absence of reliable data provided by businesses or a commonly accepted basis of calculation, quantification of this risk is still subject to considerable variability. Nevertheless, it is clear that training the most recent generative AI models is a very energy-intensive process… and that if current trends continue, their regular use by billions of customers will be even more so. These factors naturally suggest that AI should be used rather frugally. In other words, AI systems should only be used when necessary.

    II/ I would now like to turn to aspects of regulation, legislation and control, and primarily to the European AI Act. This will mainly concern the financial sector for two use cases: creditworthiness assessment for granting loans to individuals, and risk assessment and pricing in health and life insurance. The main impacts of this legislation will be felt from August 2026, and as market surveillance authority, the ACPR should be responsible for ensuring that it is properly applied.

    With this in mind, I would like to share two simple messages with you this morning: i) the risks linked to AI can essentially be handled within the existing risk management frameworks; ii) however, we should not underestimate certain new AI-related technical challenges.

    1/ The AI Act will not lead to any major upheaval in the way risks are managed in the financial sector.

    Financial institutions have a sound risk management culture, as well as robust governance and internal control systems. The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), which has just come into force, rounds out the traditional regulatory framework with specific rules on operational resilience and IT risk management. The financial sector is therefore well equipped to meet the challenge of complying with the new regulations.

    Admittedly, the objectives of the AI Act – first and foremost the protection of fundamental rights – and those of sectoral regulation – financial stability and the ability to meet commitments to customer– differBut operationally, when the AI Act requires “high-risk systems” to have data governance, traceability and auditability, or guarantees of robustness, accuracy and cyber-security throughout the lifecycle, clearly, we are not in uncharted waters.

    Rather, I would like to reiterate that the usual principles of sound risk management and governance continue to apply under the AI Act. Naturally these will guide the ACPR in assessing systems compliance when it is called upon to exercise its role of market surveillance authority. More specifically, our vision for deploying this new mission will be underpinned by three simple principles: (i) implementing “market surveillance” in accordance with the AI Act, i.e. primarily aimed at identifying systems likely to pose compliance problems; (ii) defining supervision priorities using a risk-based approach to ensure that the resources deployed are proportionate to the expected outcomes; and (iii) unlocking all possible synergies with prudential supervision. I believe that this was the intention of the European legislator when it entrusted national financial supervisors with the role of “market surveillance authority”. It is also the best way of ensuring that we don’t make the regulations any more complex at a time when our common objective should be to simplify them.

    Naturally, the principles of good governance and internal control also apply to algorithms not considered high-risk by the AI Act, if they pose risks to the organisations concerned – think of the use of AI systems in market activities, for example. Here, lessons learned from implementing the AI Act and the resulting best practices will be invaluable for both supervisors and supervised entities.

    2/ Nevertheless, the challenges posed by the use of AI should not be underestimated

    Some of the issues raised by this technology are definitely new. Let me give you two examples. Firstly, explainability: with each advance in this field, artificial intelligence algorithms have become increasingly opaque and in a regulated sector like the financial sector, this is a problem. More specifically, day-to-day users of AI tools need to have a sufficient understanding of how they work and of their limitations if they are to make appropriate use of them and avoid the twin pitfalls of either blindly trusting the machine or systematically mistrusting it.

    The second example is fairness. AI can accentuate biases present in data. Indeed, one of the aims of the AI Act is to detect and prevent such biases before they cause harm to citizens. This is a technically complex issue, as banning the use of certain protected variables is not enough to guarantee safe algorithms. This is particularly true for activities such as granting loans or pricing insurance, where customer segmentation is part of normal business and risk management practices in a competitive environment.

    To address these new challenges and comply with the various regulatory requirements, financial institutions will need to acquire new human and technical resources and upskill. As market surveillance authority and prudential regulator, the ACPR will ensure that risks are effectively managed. Compliance with the AI Act will have to be more than just an internal administrative labelling exercise, and financial institutions will have to ensure that the algorithms are managed and monitored by competent people who understand their inner workings.

    This means that the financial supervisor itself has to upskill and adapt its tools and methods. The ACPR has already published certain proposals in the past concerning the issue of explainability. It will eventually have to establish a doctrine on this topic as well as on algorithm fairness. We will also need to develop a specific methodology for auditing AI systems.

    We cannot and must not take this methodological step forward alone. In addition to unlocking synergies with other AI supervisors in France and Europe, we need to cooperate with the financial sectorSupervisors and supervised entities share many challenges and they will overcome them more effectively if they are able to move forward together.

    Events like today provide an opportunity to channel our collective efforts into a widely shared project. It is by working together that we will be able to lay the foundations for trustworthy AI in the financial sector.
    I wish you fruitful discussions throughout this morning.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dialogue between science and government

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    A working meeting of representatives of regional executive authorities with a delegation of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) was held in the Government of St. Petersburg. The event was dedicated to discussing issues of developing intellectual property, innovation and support for high-tech projects in the regions.

    Key government and business representatives addressed the participants with welcoming remarks. Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Industrial Policy, Innovation and Trade of St. Petersburg Dmitry Prozherin emphasized the importance of developing innovative infrastructure and protecting intellectual property for the region’s economic growth. Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, Chairman of the specialized commission on investments and the city branch of “Business Russia” Dmitry Panov noted the need to create favorable conditions for investment and the introduction of new technologies.

    Head of the Center for Strategic Communications of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Federal Institute of Industrial Property” Daria Shipitsyna spoke about measures of state support in the field of intellectual property.

    Head of the regional direction of AIRR Dmitry Mitroshin gave a report on the development of the intellectual property system at the regional and federal levels. He emphasized the importance of integrating efforts to create a unified strategy in this area. Representatives of various regions of Russia shared their experience in intellectual property management, as well as successful cases of implementing innovative solutions.

    Of particular interest was the speech by the director of the SPbPU Center for Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Ismail Kadiev. He proposed creating a regional center for intellectual property and technology transfer, which would become a platform for interaction between science, business and government. The initiative was supported and enshrined in the final document of the meeting.

    Natalia Petrova, Chairperson of the Board of the Intellectual Property Development Fund and CEO of the Patent and Legal Firm NEVA-PATENT LLC, spoke about the implementation of effective mechanisms for regulating intellectual property in the country’s regions. She noted that competent management of intellectual assets helps to increase the competitiveness of regions and attract investment.

    The delegation visited the innovation infrastructure facilities of St. Petersburg, including JSC Technopark of St. Petersburg. The participants familiarized themselves with the work of the Prototyping Center, the regional engineering center for electronic instrumentation, the laboratory of the regional engineering center for active pharmaceutical substances (RIC APS), and the demonstration site of Russian vendors.

    The event was an important step in strengthening cooperation between regions and federal structures in the field of intellectual property and innovation. Participants expressed confidence that such initiatives will contribute to the development of high-tech industries and increase the competitiveness of the Russian economy.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI China: Elon Musk-led group submits $97.4B bid for OpenAI

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A team of investors led by Elon Musk submitted a 97.4-billion-U.S.-dollar bid to buy the non-profit that controls OpenAI, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

    Musk’s attorney Marc Toberoff said that he had presented the bid to OpenAI’s board of directors, according to the Journal.

    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).

    “It’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was. We will make sure that happens,” Musk said in a statement on Monday.

    In November 2024, Musk’s legal team filed a motion for an injunction as part of a lawsuit against OpenAI, challenging its effort to transition from nonprofit status.

    Musk’s own AI firm, xAI, is involved in the bid, fueling speculation that a successful acquisition could lead to a merger of the two companies.

    In response to Musk’s offer, Altman wrote on the social platform X on Monday, “No thank you but we will buy Twitter for 9.74 billion dollars if you want.”

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – EP TODAY, Tuesday, 11 February

    Source: European Parliament 3

    EU response to tariff threats from the Trump administration

    From 9.00, plenary will debate with Commissioner Šefčovič and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Szłapka the current state of EU-US trade relations, multilateralism and the EU’s potential responses if the US imposes tariffs on European products.

    Eszter ZALÁN

    (+32) 477 99 20 73

    EP Trade

    Three years of Russia’s war in Ukraine

    Starting around 10.00, MEPs will assess the impact of Russia’s three-year long war against Ukraine and the EU’s unwavering support for the country, in a debate with Commissioner Kos and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Adam Szłapka. They will vote on a resolution during the March plenary session. Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, will address MEPs in a formal sitting at noon.

    Viktor ALMQVIST

    (+32) 470 88 29 42

    EP_ForeignAff

    Snjezana KOBESCAK SMODIS

    (+32) 470 96 08 19

    EP_ForeignAff

    EU’s strategy for the Middle East

    At around 15.00, MEPs will discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and a future EU strategy for the region, in a debate with Commissioner Šuica and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Szłapka.

    Snjezana KOBESCAK SMODIS

    (+32) 470 96 08 19

    EP_ForeignAff

    Viktor ALMQVIST

    (+32) 470 88 29 42

    EP_ForeignAff

    Digital Services Act/Media seminar

    Starting at 14.00, Parliament’s Press Service will organise a press seminar on “Defending Europe’s Digital Integrity: Addressing Social Media Challenges and Foreign Interference” with the participation of leading MEPs on the issue. You can follow the seminar live.

    Yasmina YAKIMOVA

    (+32) 470 88 10 60

    EP_SingleMarket

    In brief

    US restriction of chips exports to EU countries. Plenary will quiz Commission Vice-President Virkkunen on how to address the US decision to restrict the export of chips used for artificial intelligence models to certain EU member states, from around 20.00.

    Violence escalation in Congo. Parliament will assess the conflict and humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the Council and Commission, in a debate starting around 16.00. A resolution will be put to a vote on Thursday.

    Protecting the system of international justice. In the evening, starting around 21.00, plenary will discuss defending the system of international justice and its institutions, in particular the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice., with Commissioner McGrath and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Szłapka.

    Health care sector. The challenges posed by a shortage of healthcare professionals across the EU, as well as the quality of jobs in the sector, will be the focus of a debate with Commission Vice-President Mînzatu in the early afternoon, immediately after the voting session.

    Anti-government unrest in Serbia. From around 17.00, MEPs will analyse with Commissioner Kos and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Szłapka the situation in Serbia, where a deadly railway station canopy collapse has sparked an anti-corruption movement and student-led protest against the government.

    Votes

    Plenary will vote at 12.00 among others on:

    • an updated fisheries agreement with Cabo Verde, and
    • Parliament’s assessment of ECB’s activities in 2024.

    Live coverage of the plenary session can be found on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS+.

    For detailed information on the session, please also see our newsletter.

    Find more information regarding plenary.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Tiff Macklem: Structural change, supply shocks and hard choices

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good afternoon. I’m pleased to be able to join you virtually to talk about the challenges that lie ahead for central banks. There’s a lot to discuss.

    But my first order of business is to congratulate and thank Agustín Carstens for his leadership as General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Your term, Agustín, has been marked by significant global upheaval-from pandemic shutdowns to war in Europe and double-digit inflation. These past few years have not been easy.

    Through it all, you have been a source of unwavering wisdom. Your clear thinking in the face of the unknown, your long view and your deep understanding of our global interdependence-all combined with the experience and pragmatism of a former minister of finance and then central bank governor-have made you an invaluable leader.

    More than that, through the BIS, you’ve brought us together with your friendship and your ability to get directly to the heart of the issue. You’ve helped us learn from each other. And you’ve made us better together.

    I know there will be an opportunity to celebrate you in Basel as your retirement in June approaches. But I wanted to recognize your exceptional leadership in your home country. For those of us in the Americas, your special interest in our region has been deeply appreciated. Whatever you do next, I know Mexico and the Americas will be an important part. Thank you, my friend.

    Now, let me turn to the challenges ahead. We are facing a global economic landscape that has shifted in recent years, and this shift has important implications for central banks.

    As Agustín has highlighted in a series of insightful speeches, the structural tailwinds of peace, globalization and demographics are turning into headwinds-and the world looks increasingly shock-prone.

    Higher long-term interest rates, elevated sovereign debt, slower economic growth and lagging productivity make all of our economies more vulnerable. Compounding these vulnerabilities are war, rising trade protectionism and economic fragmentation. In addition, new technologies-including artificial intelligence-are set to disrupt existing industries and create new ones. And we are seeing more frequent catastrophic weather events as the impacts of climate change become more pervasive.

    As 2025 begins, we are facing new uncertainty with a shift in policy direction in the United States. President Donald Trump’s threats of new tariffs are already affecting business and household confidence, particularly in Canada and Mexico. The longer this uncertainty persists, the more it will weigh on economic activity in our countries.

    If significant broad-based tariffs are indeed imposed, they will test the resilience of our economies in the short run and reduce long-run prosperity. Tariffs mean economies work less efficiently. There will be less investment and lower productivity. That means our countries will produce less and earn less. Monetary policy can’t change that.

    What monetary policy can do is help with the short-run adjustment. But even here, monetary policy has to strike a balance. Significant, broad-based tariffs will sharply reduce demand for our exports. At the same time, a weaker exchange rate, retaliatory tariffs and supply chain disruptions will raise import prices, putting upward pressure on inflation.   

    With a single instrument-our policy interest rate-central banks can’t lean against weaker output and higher inflation at the same time. So we will need to carefully assess the downward pressure on inflation from weaker economic activity, and weigh that against the upward pressures from higher input prices and supply chain disruptions.

    Other structural headwinds pose similar challenges for monetary policy. They’ll impact both demand and supply, slowing growth while adding cost. Monetary policy cannot address these headwinds directly or offset their economic consequences.

    In a world with more structural change and more negative supply shocks, central banks will be faced with harder choices. And harder choices bring risks of public disappointment and frustration. We will face criticism about our decisions-and about how well monetary policy is seen to have worked when confronted with forces that are mostly out of our hands. We will be called ineffective or criticized for not doing enough. And some will challenge our independence.

    So, what can all of us do?

    First, we can be humble about what we don’t know, but also confident in the effectiveness of our frameworks. We didn’t get everything right through the pandemic. And elevated inflation and higher interest rates have been difficult for our citizens. But in Canada, as in many other countries, inflation has come down. And we restored low inflation without causing a recession or major job losses.

    Guided by our frameworks, we can maintain confidence in price stability.

    Second, we can be just as clear about what monetary policy cannot do. There will always be forces beyond our influence, and while we need to understand those forces, we should also be clear that understanding is not the same as controlling. And we need to avoid the temptation to overload monetary policy by expecting more of it than it can deliver.

    Third, we can recognize that the world has changed. Structural headwinds and supply shocks require different types of information and analysis. This means investing in richer information about the supply side of the economy and building models that can analyze sectoral shocks and their transmission. It means reaching out and listening to households and businesses. It means looking at our economies through different lenses, regularly challenging our assumptions, and using scenarios to help manage uncertainty.

    Fourth, let’s acknowledge that working together has never been easy and it’s getting harder. But let’s also remember that it’s important. We are more effective if we confront our shared challenges together. The shared resolve of central banks to fight the post-pandemic surge in inflation helped all of us bring inflation down. This was a positive international spillover and, together, we can generate other positive international spillovers.

    Finally, we need to remain evidence-based, technocratic and professional, and free of political influence. We need to be open, accountable and transparent. And we need to be learning institutions-when faced with valid criticism, we should critically evaluate our policy actions and be willing to improve. Being independent and accountable and continuously learning is how we build trust.

    The world is a tougher place today than it was a few short years ago. And facing the headwinds before us will not be easy. But that’s why we have independent central banks-we are designed for tough times.

    I look forward to hearing from my esteemed colleagues on this panel.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    en years ago, the first International Day of Women and Girls in Science recognized a fundamental truth: women’s participation is essential for building a better world through science and technology. I saw that enormous potential firsthand when I was teaching engineering, and I saw the remarkable talent, creativity, and determination of countless women scientists.

    Yet today, women still represent just one-third of the global scientific community. Deprived of adequate funding, publishing opportunities and leadership positions in universities, women and girls continue to face an uphill battle in building careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

    Look no further than the development of new digital technologies. Men dominate the field at every level—including in Artificial Intelligence. The result is a surge of biased algorithms and embedded inequality, risking a new era of digital chauvinism.

    The more that women are excluded from STEM, the more we limit our collective power to address urgent global challenges, from climate change and food security to public health and technological transformation.

    We can and must do more to level the playing field

    By expanding scholarships, internships and mentorship opportunities to open doors for women and girls in STEM; creating workplaces that attract, retain and advance women in science; encouraging girls’ engagement in STEM from an early age; championing women leaders in science through the media; and dismantling gender stereotypes.

    The Pact for the Future, agreed last September by Member States, gives renewed momentum to these goals by committing to address barriers preventing the full, equal and meaningful access for women and girls in scientific fields.  

    On the tenth anniversary of this important day, and as we reflect on 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, let’s help pave a path to STEM careers that women and girls deserve – and our world needs.

    ***
    Il y a dix ans, la première Journée internationale des femmes et des filles de science consacrait une vérité fondamentale : la participation des femmes est essentielle pour bâtir un monde meilleur grâce à la science et à la technologie. J’ai pu constater par moi-même l’incroyable potentiel des femmes lorsque j’enseignais l’ingénierie, et j’ai vu le talent, la créativité et la détermination remarquables d’innombrables femmes de science.

    Or, à l’heure actuelle, les femmes ne représentent qu’un tiers des scientifiques dans le monde. Privées de financements adéquats, de possibilités de publication et de postes de direction dans les universités, les femmes et les filles ont encore d’innombrables obstacles à surmonter pour faire carrière dans le domaine des sciences, de la technologie, de l’ingénierie et des mathématiques (STIM).

    Pour s’en convaincre, il suffit d’observer le développement des nouvelles technologies numériques. Les hommes dominent le secteur à tous les niveaux, notamment dans l’intelligence artificielle. Il en résulte un déferlement d’algorithmes biaisés qui perpétuent des inégalités bien ancrées et risquent d’ouvrir une nouvelle ère de machisme numérique.

    Plus les femmes sont exclues des STIM, plus nous limitons notre capacité collective de relever les défis urgents qui se posent dans le monde, qu’il s’agisse des changements climatiques, de la sécurité alimentaire, de la santé publique ou de la transformation technologique.

    Nous pouvons et devons en faire plus pour que les femmes aient véritablement les mêmes chances que les hommes :

    Il nous faut élargir les programmes de bourses d’études, de stage et de mentorat afin d’ouvrir aux femmes la porte des STIM ; créer dans ce secteur des lieux de travail qui attirent et retiennent les femmes et dans lesquels elles peuvent progresser ; encourager les filles à s’engager sur la voie des STIM dès leur plus jeune âge ; promouvoir, dans les médias, le leadership des femmes dans le domaine de la science ; venir à bout des stéréotypes de genre.

    Le Pacte pour l’avenir, adopté par les États Membres en septembre dernier, crée une nouvelle dynamique pour la réalisation de ces objectifs. En effet, les États Membres s’y sont engagés à lever les obstacles qui empêchent les femmes et les filles d’accéder pleinement et véritablement, dans des conditions d’égalité, aux filières scientifiques.

    En ce jour où nous célébrons, pour la dixième année, cette importante journée, et alors que nous réfléchissons aux 30 années qui se sont écoulées depuis l’adoption de la Déclaration de Beijing, agissons pour que les femmes et les filles puissent mener, dans le domaine des STIM, les carrières qu’elles méritent – et dont le monde a besoin.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI: International Petroleum Corporation Announces 2024 Year-End Financial and Operational Results and 2025 Budget, Reserves and Guidance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — International Petroleum Corporation (IPC or the Corporation) (TSX, Nasdaq Stockholm: IPCO) today released its financial and operating results and related management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024. IPC is also pleased to announce its 2025 budget, including that IPC continues to progress the development of the Blackrod Phase 1 project in Canada in line with schedule and budget. IPC previously announced the renewal of the normal course issuer bid (NCIB) under which IPC may acquire a further 5.3 million common shares up to December 2025, in addition to the 2.2 million common shares already purchased for cancellation under the NCIB in December 2024 and January 2025. IPC’s 2025 capital and decommissioning expenditure budget is USD 320 million and its 2025 average daily production guidance is between 43,000 and 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) per day (boepd). 2024 year-end proved plus probable (2P) reserves are 493 million boe (MMboe) and best estimate contingent resources (unrisked) are 1,107 MMboe.(1)(2)

    William Lundin, IPC’s President and Chief Executive Officer, comments: “We are very pleased to announce that IPC achieved strong operational results in 2024. Our average net production was 47,400 boepd for the full year, with very strong operational and ESG performance across all our areas of operation. 2024 was a very significant investment year for our Blackrod Phase 1 development project, and we have spent over two-thirds of the forecast capital expenditure by the end of 2024. We generated strong cash flows from our business, and we returned USD 102 million to shareholders through share buybacks in 2024. With gross cash resources of USD 247 million at 2024 year-end, we continue to be well positioned to deliver on our three strategic pillars of Organic Growth, Stakeholder Returns, and M&A that drive value creation for our stakeholders.(1)(3)

    On Organic Growth, we are very pleased with the progress of the development of Phase 1 of the Blackrod project, Canada, which remains in line with schedule and budget. Phase 1 of the Blackrod project continues to forecast first oil in late 2026, with peak production planned to increase to 30,000 bopd by 2028. In 2024, IPC achieved over 250% reserves replacement ratio, ending the year with 493 MMboe of 2P reserves, the highest in our history.(1)(2)

    On Stakeholder Returns, we completed the 2023/2024 NCIB program, purchasing and cancelling 8.3 million IPC common shares over the period of December 5, 2023 to December 4, 2024, representing approximately 6.5% of the common shares outstanding at the start of that program. We immediately recommenced purchasing under the renewed 2024/2025 NCIB, purchasing for cancellation 0.8 million common shares during December 2024 and over 1.4 million common shares during January 2024. We are permitted to purchase up to a further 5.3 million common shares by early December 2025, which will represent a 6.2% reduction in the number of shares common outstanding at the beginning of the 2024/2025 NCIB.

    On M&A, we continue to review potential opportunities in Canada and internationally. IPC’s principal focus continues to be on progressing the Blackrod Phase 1 development as well as developing our existing asset base in Canada, France and Malaysia.

    IPC is well-positioned for 2025 and beyond as our Blackrod Phase 1 project is progressing according to plan, our existing production operations continue to generate strong cash flows, and our balance sheet is strong. At the same time, we continue return value to our shareholders by repurchasing and cancelling our common shares under the NCIB. I look forward to another exciting year at IPC with our high quality assets and our highly skilled and motivated teams across all areas of operation.”

    2024 Business Highlights

    • Average net production of approximately 47,400 boepd for the fourth quarter of 2024 was in line with the guidance range for the period (51% heavy crude oil, 15% light and medium crude oil and 34% natural gas).(1)
    • Full year 2024 average net production was 47,400 boepd, above the mid-point of the 2024 annual guidance of 46,000 to 48,000 boepd.(1)
    • Development activities on Phase 1 of the Blackrod project progressed in 2024 on schedule and on budget, with forecast first oil in late 2026. All major third-party contracts have been executed and construction is advancing according to plan, including construction of the central processing facility (CPF) and well pad facilities, finalization of the midstream agreements for the input fuel gas, diluent and oil blend pipelines, and advancement of drilling operations. As at the end of 2024, over two-thirds of the forecast Blackrod Phase 1 development capital expenditure of USD 850 million has been spent since project sanction in early 2023.
    • Drilling activity at the Southern Alberta assets in Canada continued with a total of thirteen wells drilled during 2024.
    • Successful completion of planned maintenance shutdowns at Onion Lake Thermal (OLT) in Canada and the Bertam field in Malaysia during 2024.
    • 8.3 million common shares purchased and cancelled from December 2023 to early December 2024 under IPC’s 2023/2024 NCIB and a further 2.2 million common shares purchased for cancellation during December 2024 and January 2025 under the renewed 2024/2025 NCIB.
    • In Q3 2024, published IPC’s fifth annual Sustainability Report.

    2024 Financial Highlights

    • Operating costs per boe of USD 18.2 for the fourth quarter of 2024 and USD 17.0 for the full year, in line with the most recent 2024 guidance of less than USD 18.0 per boe for the full year.(3)
    • Strong operating cash flow (OCF) generation for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 amounted to MUSD 78 and MUSD 342, respectively.(3)
    • Capital and decommissioning expenditures of MUSD 129 for the fourth quarter and MUSD 442 for the full year 2024, in line with the full year guidance of MUSD 437.
    • Free cash flow (FCF) generation for the full year 2024 of negative MUSD 135, with negative FCF generation of MUSD 61 for the fourth quarter in line with expectations and taking into account the significant capital expenditures during the quarter in respect of the Blackrod project. FCF for the full year 2024, before 2024 Blackrod Phase 1 development expenditure of MUSD 351, was MUSD 216.(3)
    • Net debt of MUSD 209 and gross cash of MUSD 247 as at December 31, 2024.(3)
    • Net result of MUSD 0.4 for the fourth quarter of 2024 and MUSD 102 for the full year 2024.
    • Entered into a letter of credit facility in Canada during 2024 to cover operational letters of credit, giving full availability under IPC’s undrawn CAD 180 million Revolving Credit Facility.

    Reserves and Resources

    • Total 2P reserves as at December 31, 2024 of 493 MMboe, with a reserve life index (RLI) of 31 years.(1)(2)
    • Contingent resources (best estimate, unrisked) as at December 31, 2024 of 1,107 MMboe.(1)(2)
    • 2P reserves net asset value (NAV) as at December 31, 2024 of MUSD 3,083 (10% discount rate).(1)(2)(5)(6)

    2025 Annual Guidance

    • Full year 2025 average net production forecast at 43,000 to 45,000 boepd.(1)
    • Full year 2025 operating costs forecast at USD 18 to 19 per boe.(3)
    • Full year 2025 OCF guidance estimated at between MUSD 210 and 280 (assuming Brent USD 65 to 85 per barrel).(3)
    • Full year 2025 capital and decommissioning expenditures guidance forecast at MUSD 320, including MUSD 230 relating to Blackrod capital expenditure.
    • Full year 2025 FCF ranges from approximately MUSD 80 to 150 (assuming Brent USD 65 to 85 per barrel) before taking into account proposed Blackrod capital expenditures, or negative MUSD 150 to 80 including proposed Blackrod capital expenditures.(3)

    Business Plan Production and Cash Flow Guidance

    • 2025 – 2029 business plan forecasts:
      • average net production forecast approximately 57,000 boepd.(1)(8)
      • capital expenditure forecast of USD 8 per boe, including USD 3 per boe for growth expenditure.(8)
      • operating costs forecast of USD 18 to 19 per boe.(3)(8)
      • FCF forecast of approximately MUSD 1,200 to 2,000 (assuming Brent USD 75 to 95 per barrel).(3)(8)
    • 2030 – 2034 business plan forecasts:
      • average net production forecast of approximately 63,000 boepd.(1)(8)
      • capital expenditure forecast of USD 5 per boe.(8)
      • operating costs forecast of USD 18 to 19 per boe.(3)(8)
      • FCF forecast of approximately MUSD 1,600 to 2,600 (assuming Brent USD 75 to 95 per barrel).(3)(8)
      Three months ended December 31   Year ended December 31
    USD Thousands 2024   2023     2024   2023
    Revenue 199,124   198,460     797,783   853,906
    Gross profit 42,774   39,955     210,171   250,514
    Net result 415   29,710     102,219   172,979
    Operating cash flow (3) 78,158   73,634     341,989   353,048
    Free cash flow (3) (61,476 ) (64,688 )   (135,497 ) 2,689
    EBITDA (3) 76,184   66,284     335,488   350,618
    Net Cash / (Debt) (3) (208,528 ) 58,043     (208,528 ) 58,043
                     

    IPC was launched in 2017 by way of spinning off the non-Norwegian assets from Lundin Energy. The strategy and vision from the outset was to be the international E&P growth vehicle for the Lundin Group by pursuing growth organically and through acquisitions. The foundation of this strategy was and is predicated on maximising long-term stakeholder value through responsible business operations focused on operational excellence and financial resilience to underpin optimal capital allocation decision-making.

    We are very pleased with the track record of value creation achieved by the company to date. IPC’s production, reserves, resources and cash flow exposure has increased materially through accretive acquisitions supplemented by base business investment. Excluding the growth capital expenditure assigned to the Blackrod Phase 1 development, over USD 1.5 billion in free cash flow (FCF) has been generated and over USD 0.5 billion has been returned to shareholders in the form of share buybacks since inception. IPC’s current shares outstanding are less than 5% higher than the original shares outstanding upon the formation of the company. IPC is determined to build on the historical success and the growth outlook has never been brighter.(3)

    2024 was a milestone year for the company through successfully delivering the largest capital investment campaign in its history. The record investment was accompanied by strong safety, operational and financial performance. IPC returned USD 102 million of value to shareholders in the year through share repurchases, whilst maintaining a strong balance sheet.

    Oil prices were rangebound in 2024 between Brent USD 70 to 90 per barrel, with a full year Brent average of USD 81 per barrel, in line with our original oil price sensitivities guided at CMD. The fourth quarter 2024 Brent price averaged USD 75 per barrel, the lowest quarterly price average in the year. The downward trend in benchmark oil prices through the second half of 2024 has been slightly reversed in current time as continuous crude inventory draws, strong demand, underwhelming non-OPEC production growth and continued OPEC production curtailments have supported the market balance. A new administration in the White House presents uncertainty for the oil market, as looming tariffs and sanctions pose a risk to global supply chain systems and trade flows. Around 40% of our 2025 Dated Brent and WTI exposure is hedged at USD 76 per barrel and USD 71 per barrel respectively.

    The fourth quarter 2024 WTI to WCS price differentials averaged less than USD 13 per barrel, around USD 2 per barrel lower than the full year average of USD 15 per barrel. The fourth quarter differential was the lowest quarterly average since the Covid pandemic in 2020 when benchmark oil prices were more than USD 30 per barrel less than current levels. The TMX pipeline is driving the tighter differentials with excess take-away capacity in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) relative to supply. Close to 50% of our 2025 WCS to WTI differential exposure is hedged at USD 14 per barrel, which should assist in mitigating adverse effects of potential US tariffs on Canadian production.

    Natural gas prices averaged CAD 1.5 per Mcf for 2024 and in the fourth quarter. Western Canada gas storage levels continue to sit above the five-year range. This is in part due to delays of the LNG Canada start-up project which was supposed to be onstream at end 2024, start-up is now anticipated for mid-2025. IPC has around 9,600 Mcf per day hedged at CAD 2.6 per Mcf for 2025.

    Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Highlights

    During the fourth quarter of 2024, IPC’s assets delivered average net production of 47,400 boepd, in line with guidance for the quarter. Full year 2024 average net production of 47,400 boepd was above the 2024 mid-point guidance range of 46,000 to 48,000 boepd.(1)

    IPC’s operating costs per boe for the fourth quarter of 2024 was USD 18.2. Full year 2024 operating costs per boe was USD 17.0, in line with the most recent 2024 annual guidance of less than USD 18 per boe.(3)

    Operating cash flow (OCF) generation for the fourth quarter of 2024 was USD 78 million. Full year 2024 OCF was USD 342 million in line with the most recent guidance of USD 335 to 342 million.(3)

    Capital and decommissioning expenditure for the fourth quarter of 2024 was USD 129 million. Full year 2024 capital and decommissioning expenditure of USD 442 million was in line with guidance of USD 437 million.

    Free cash flow (FCF) generation was in line with guidance at negative USD 61 million during the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting the higher level of capital expenditure on the Blackrod Phase 1 development project. Full year 2024 FCF generation was negative USD 135 million, in line with the most recent guidance of negative USD 140 to 133 million.(3)

    As at December 31, 2024, IPC’s net debt position was USD 209 million. IPC’s gross cash on the balance sheet amounts to USD 247 million which provides IPC with significant financial strength to continue progressing its strategies in 2025, including advancing the Blackrod development project, returning value to shareholders through the 2024/2025 NCIB, and remaining opportunistic to mergers and acquisitions activity.(3)

    Blackrod Project

    The Blackrod asset is 100% owned by IPC and hosts the largest booked reserves and contingent resources within the IPC portfolio. After more than a decade of pilot operations, subsurface delineation and commercial engineering studies, IPC sanctioned the Phase 1 Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) development in the first quarter of 2023. The Phase 1 development targets 259 MMboe of 2P reserves, with a multi-year forecast capital expenditure of USD 850 million to first oil planned in late 2026. The Phase 1 development is planned for plateau production of 30,000 bopd which is expected by early 2028.(1)(2)

    As at the end of 2024, USD 591 million of cumulative growth capital, has been spent on the Blackrod Phase 1 development since sanction with a peak annual investment of USD 351 million incurred in 2024. Significant progress has been made across all key scopes of the project including but not limited to: detailed engineering, procurement, fabrication, drilling, construction, third party transport pipelines, commissioning and operations planning. Site health and safety control has been excellent with zero lost time incidents since commercial development activities commenced.

    Looking forward, USD 230 million is planned to be spent in 2025 mainly relating to advancing the remaining fabrication, construction and substantial completion of the Central Processing Facility (CPF) for the Phase 1 development. The remaining growth capital expenditure to first oil is forecast to be spent in 2026 on drilling, completions and commissioning of the CPF with first steam anticipated by end Q1 2026.

    IPC is strongly positioned to deliver within plan with a clear line of sight to start-up. The Blackrod Phase 1 project is expected to generate significant value for all our stakeholders. And with over 1 billion barrels of best estimate contingent resources (unrisked) beyond Phase 1, IPC is pleased to announce a resource maturation plan that sees significant volume maturation into reserves through low cost of less than USD 0.15 per barrel. The 2P reserves attributable to Phase 1 has increased by 40 MMboe to 259 MMboe from year end 2023 to year end 2024.(2)

    As at the end of 2024, 70% of the Blackrod Phase 1 development capital had been spent since the project sanction in early 2023. All major work streams are progressing as planned and the focus continues to be on executing the detailed sequencing of events as facility modules are safely delivered and installed at site. The total Phase 1 project guidance of USD 850 million capital expenditure to first oil in late 2026 is unchanged. IPC intends to fund the remaining Blackrod Phase 1 development costs with forecast cash flow generated by its operations and cash on hand.

    Stakeholder Returns: Normal Course Issuer Bid

    During the period of December 5, 2023 to December 4, 2024, IPC purchased and cancelled an aggregate of approximately 8.3 million common shares under the 2023/2024 NCIB. The average price of shares purchased under the 2023/2024 NCIB was SEK 131 / CAD 17 per share.

    In Q4 2024, IPC announced the renewal of the NCIB, with the ability to repurchase up to approximately 7.5 million common shares over the period of December 5, 2024 to December 4, 2025. Under the 2024/2025 NCIB, IPC repurchased and cancelled approximately 0.8 million common shares in December 2024. By the end of January 2025, IPC repurchased for cancellation over 1.4 million common shares under the 2024/2025 NCIB. The average price of common shares purchased under the 2024/2025 NCIB during December 2024 and January 2025 was SEK 135 / CAD 17.5 per share.

    As at February 7, 2025, IPC had a total of 117,781,927 common shares issued and outstanding, of which IPC holds 508,853 common shares in treasury.

    Under the 2024/2025 NCIB, IPC may purchase and cancel a further 5.3 million common shares by December 4, 2025. This would result in the cancellation of 6.2% of shares outstanding as at the beginning of December 2024. IPC continues to believe that reducing the number of shares outstanding while in parallel investing in material production growth at Blackrod will prove to be a winning formula for our stakeholders.

    Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance

    As part of IPC’s commitment to operational excellence and responsible development, IPC’s objective is to reduce risk and eliminate hazards to prevent occurrence of accidents, ill health, and environmental damage, as these are essential to the success of our business operations. During the fourth quarter and for the full year 2024, IPC recorded no material safety or environmental incidents.

    As previously announced, IPC targets a reduction of our net GHG emissions intensity by the end of 2025 to 50% of IPC’s 2019 baseline and IPC remains on track to achieve this reduction. During 2024, IPC announced the commitment to remain at end 2025 levels of 20 kg CO2/boe through to the end of 2028.(4)

    Reserves, Resources and Value

    As at the end of December 2024, IPC’s 2P reserves are 493 MMboe. During 2024, IPC replaced 251% of the annual 2024 production. The reserves life index (RLI) as at December 31, 2024, is approximately 31 years.(1)(2)

    The net present value (NPV) of IPC’s 2P reserves as at December 31, 2024 was USD 3.3 billion. IPC’s net asset value (NAV) was USD 3.1 billion or SEK 287 / CAD 37 per share as at December 31, 2024.(1)(2)(5)(6)(7)

    In addition, IPC’s best estimate contingent resources (unrisked) as at December 31, 2024 are 1,107 MMboe, of which 1,025 MMboe relate to future potential phases of the Blackrod project.(1)(2)

    2025 Budget and Operational Guidance

    IPC is pleased to announce its 2025 average net production guidance is 43,000 to 45,000 boepd. IPC forecasts operating costs for 2025 between USD 18 and 19 per boe.(1)(3)

    IPC’s 2025 capital and decommissioning expenditure budget is USD 320 million, with USD 230 million forecast relating to Blackrod capital expenditure. The remainder of the 2025 budget in Canada includes drilling and ongoing optimization work at Onion Lake Thermal and Suffield Area assets. IPC also plans to advance the next phase of infill drilling and complete well maintenance works at the Bertam field in Malaysia. IPC expects to conduct technical studies for future development potential in France. In all of IPC’s areas of operation, IPC has significant flexibility to control its pace of spend based on the development of commodity prices during 2025.

    Notwithstanding a modest production decline expected in 2025, IPC’s production per share metric remains largely unchanged relative to 2024 and 2023. IPC has prioritised capital allocation to the transformational Blackrod Phase 1 development and share buybacks as opposed to further increasing its base business investment to preserve balance sheet strength and maximise long- term shareholder value.

    Further details regarding IPC’s proposed 2025 budget and operational guidance will be provided at IPC’s Capital Markets Day presentation to be held on February 11, 2025 at 15:00 CET. A copy of the Capital Markets Day presentation will be available on IPC’s website at www.international-petroleum.com.

    Notes:

    (1) See “Supplemental Information regarding Product Types” in “Reserves and Resources Advisory” below. See also the material change report (MCR) available on IPC’s website at www.international-petroleum.com and filed on the date of this press release under IPC’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
    (2) See “Reserves and Resources Advisory“ below. Further information with respect to IPC’s reserves, contingent resources and estimates of future net revenue, including assumptions relating to the calculation of NPV, are described in the MCR. The reserve life index (RLI) is calculated by dividing the 2P reserves of 493 MMboe as at December 31, 2024 by the mid-point of the 2025 CMD production guidance of 43,000 to 45,000 boepd. Reserves replacement ratio is based on 2P reserves of 468 boe as at December 31, 2024, sales production during 2024 of 16.6 MMboe, net additions to 2P reserves during 2024 of 41.7 MMboe, and 2P reserves of 493 MMboe as at December 31, 2024.
    (3) Non-IFRS measure, see “Non-IFRS Measures” below and in the MD&A.
    (4) Emissions intensity is the ratio between oil and gas production and the associated carbon emissions, and net emissions intensity reflects gross emissions less operational emission reductions and carbon offsets.
    (5) Net present value (NPV) is after tax, discounted at 10% and based upon the forecast prices and other assumptions further described in the MCR. See “Reserves and Resources Advisory” below.
    (6) Net asset value (NAV) is calculated as NPV less net debt of USD 209 million as at December 31, 2024.
    (7) NAV per share is based on 119,059,315 IPC common shares as at December 31, 2024, being 119,169,471 common shares outstanding less 110,156 common shares held in treasury and cancelled in January 2025. NAV per share is not predictive and may not be reflective of current or future market prices for IPC common shares.
    (8) Estimated FCF generation is based on IPC’s current business plans over the periods of 2025 to 2029 and 2030 to 2034, including net debt of USD 209 million as at December 31, 2024, with assumptions based on the reports of IPC’s independent reserves evaluators, and including certain corporate adjustments relating to estimated general and administration costs and hedging, and excluding shareholder distributions and financing costs. Assumptions include average net production of approximately 57 Mboepd over the period of 2025 to 2029, average net production of approximately 63 Mboepd over the period of 2030 to 2034, average Brent oil prices of USD 75 to 95 per bbl escalating by 2% per year, and average Brent to Western Canadian Select differentials and average gas prices as estimated by IPC’s independent reserves evaluator and as further described in the MCR. IPC’s market capitalization is at close on January 31, 2025 (USD 1,557 million based on 146.8 SEK/share, 117.7 million IPC shares outstanding (net of treasury shares) and exchange rate of 11.10 SEK/USD). IPC’s current business plans and assumptions, and the business environment, are subject to change. Actual results may differ materially from forward-looking estimates and forecasts. See “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

    International Petroleum Corp. (IPC) is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with a high quality portfolio of assets located in Canada, Malaysia and France, providing a solid foundation for organic and inorganic growth. IPC is a member of the Lundin Group of Companies. IPC is incorporated in Canada and IPC’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange under the symbol “IPCO”.

    For further information, please contact:

    Rebecca Gordon
    SVP Corporate Planning and Investor Relations
    rebecca.gordon@international-petroleum.com
    Tel: +41 22 595 10 50
          Or       Robert Eriksson
    Media Manager
    reriksson@rive6.ch
    Tel: +46 701 11 26 15
             

    This information is information that International Petroleum Corporation is required to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the contact persons set out above, at 07:30 CET on February 11, 2025. The Corporation’s audited condensed consolidated financial statements (Financial Statements) and management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 have been filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and are also available on the Corporation’s website (www.international-petroleum.com).

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains statements and information which constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, “forward-looking statements”) relate to future events, including the Corporation’s future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, unless otherwise indicated. IPC does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

    All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, forecasts, guidance, budgets, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “forecast”, “predict”, “potential”, “targeting”, “intend”, “could”, “might”, “should”, “believe”, “budget” and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be “forward-looking statements”.

    Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

    • 2025 production ranges (including total daily average production), production composition, cash flows, operating costs and capital and decommissioning expenditure estimates;
    • Estimates of future production, cash flows, operating costs and capital expenditures that are based on IPC’s current business plans and assumptions regarding the business environment, which are subject to change;
    • IPC’s financial and operational flexibility to navigate the Corporation through periods of volatile commodity prices;
    • The ability to fully fund future expenditures from cash flows and current borrowing capacity;
    • IPC’s intention and ability to continue to implement its strategies to build long-term shareholder value;
    • The ability of IPC’s portfolio of assets to provide a solid foundation for organic and inorganic growth;
    • The continued facility uptime and reservoir performance in IPC’s areas of operation;
    • Development of the Blackrod project in Canada, including estimates of resource volumes, future production, timing, regulatory approvals, third party commercial arrangements, breakeven oil prices and net present values;
    • Current and future production performance, operations and development potential of the Onion Lake Thermal, Suffield, Brooks, Ferguson and Mooney operations, including the timing and success of future oil and gas drilling and optimization programs;
    • The potential improvement in the Canadian oil egress situation and IPC’s ability to benefit from any such improvements;
    • The ability of IPC to achieve and maintain current and forecast production in France and Malaysia;
    • The intention and ability of IPC to acquire further common shares under the NCIB, including the timing of any such purchases;
    • The return of value to IPC’s shareholders as a result of the NCIB;
    • IPC’s ability to implement its GHG emissions intensity and climate strategies and to achieve its net GHG emissions intensity reduction targets;
    • IPC’s ability to implement projects to reduce net emissions intensity, including potential carbon capture and storage;
    • Estimates of reserves and contingent resources;
    • The ability to generate free cash flows and use that cash to repay debt;
    • IPC’s continued access to its existing credit facilities, including current financial headroom, on terms acceptable to the Corporation;
    • IPC’s ability to identify and complete future acquisitions;
    • Expectations regarding the oil and gas industry in Canada, Malaysia and France, including assumptions regarding future royalty rates, regulatory approvals, legislative changes, and ongoing projects and their expected completion; and
    • Future drilling and other exploration and development activities.

    Statements relating to “reserves” and “contingent resources” are also deemed to be forward-looking statements, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves and resources described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated and that the reserves and resources can be profitably produced in the future. Ultimate recovery of reserves or resources is based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

    Although IPC believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because IPC can give no assurances that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks.

    These include, but are not limited to general global economic, market and business conditions, the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to reserves, resources, production, revenues, costs and expenses; health, safety and environmental risks; commodity price fluctuations; interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations; marketing and transportation; loss of markets; environmental and climate-related risks; competition; incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions; failure to complete or realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions or dispositions; the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; failure to obtain required regulatory and other approvals; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties, environmental and abandonment regulations.

    Additional information on these and other factors that could affect IPC, or its operations or financial results, are included in the MD&A (See “Risk Factors”, “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information” and “Reserves and Resources Advisory” therein), the Corporation’s material change report dated February 11, 2025 (MCR), the Corporation’s Annual Information Form (AIF) for the year ended December 31, 2023, (See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information”, “Reserves and Resources Advisory” and “Risk Factors”) and other reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities, including previous financial reports, management’s discussion and analysis and material change reports, which may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) or IPC’s website (www.international-petroleum.com).

    Management of IPC approved the production, operating costs, operating cash flow, capital and decommissioning expenditures and free cash flow guidance and estimates contained herein as of the date of this press release. The purpose of these guidance and estimates is to assist readers in understanding IPC’s expected and targeted financial results, and this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

    Estimated FCF generation is based on IPC’s current business plans over the periods of 2025 to 2029 and 2030 to 2034, including net debt of USD 209 million as at December 31, 2024, with assumptions based on the reports of IPC’s independent reserves evaluators, and including certain corporate adjustments relating to estimated general and administration costs and hedging, and excluding shareholder distributions and financing costs. Assumptions include average net production of approximately 57 Mboepd over the period of 2025 to 2029, average net production of approximately 63 Mboepd over the period of 2030 to 2034, average Brent oil prices of USD 75 to 95 per bbl escalating by 2% per year, and average Brent to Western Canadian Select differentials and average gas prices as estimated by IPC’s independent reserves evaluator and as further described in the MCR. IPC’s current business plans and assumptions, and the business environment, are subject to change. Actual results may differ materially from forward-looking estimates and forecasts.

    Non-IFRS Measures
    References are made in this press release to “operating cash flow” (OCF), “free cash flow” (FCF), “Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization” (EBITDA), “operating costs” and “net debt”/”net cash”, which are not generally accepted accounting measures under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other public companies. Non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

    The definition of each non-IFRS measure is presented in IPC’s MD&A (See “Non-IFRS Measures” therein).

    Operating cash flow
    The following table sets out how operating cash flow is calculated from figures shown in the Financial Statements:

      Three months ended December 31   Year ended December 31
    USD Thousands 2024   2023     2024   2023  
    Revenue 199,124   198,460     797,783   853,906  
    Production costs and net sales of diluent to third party1 (119,371 ) (126,414 )   (447,481 ) (491,303 )
    Current tax (1,595 ) 1,588     (8,313 ) (14,457 )
    Operating cash flow 78,158   73,634     341,989   348,146  
                       

    1 Include net sales of diluent to third party amounting to USD 737 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2024.

    The operating cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2023 including the operating cash flow contribution of the Brooks assets acquisition from the effective date of January 1, 2023 to the completion date of March 3, 2023 amounted to USD 353,048 thousand.

    Free cash flow
    The following table sets out how free cash flow is calculated from figures shown in the Financial Statements:

      Three months ended December 31   Year ended December 31
    USD Thousands 2024   2023     2024   2023  
    Operating cash flow – see above 78,158   73,634     341,989   348,146  
    Capital expenditures (126,256 ) (128,825 )   (434,713 ) (312,729 )
    Abandonment and farm-in expenditures1 (3,364 ) (1,516 )   (8,302 ) (9,199 )
    General, administration and depreciation expenses before depreciation2 (3,569 ) (5,762 )   (14,814 ) (16,886 )
    Cash financial items3 (6,445 ) (2,219 )   (19,657 ) (5,812 )
    Free cash flow (61,476 ) (64,688 )   (135,497 ) 3,520  

    1 See note 19 to the Financial Statements
    2 Depreciation is not specifically disclosed in the Financial Statements
    3 See notes 5 and 6 to the Financial Statements

    The free cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2023 including the free cash flow contribution of the Brooks assets acquisition from the effective date of January 1, 2023 to the completion date of March 3, 2023 amounted to USD 2,689 thousand. Free cash flow is before shareholder distributions and financing costs.

    EBITDA
    The following table sets out the reconciliation from net result from the consolidated statement of operations to EBITDA:

      Three months ended December 31   Year ended December 31
    USD Thousands 2024   2023     2024   2023  
    Net result 415   29,710     102,219   172,979  
    Net financial items 35,767   6,509     59,709   22,736  
    Income tax 3,852   4,691     33,325   55,362  
    Depletion and decommissioning costs 32,087   30,434     128,392   101,922  
    Depreciation of other tangible fixed assets 2,430   1,309     8,933   7,812  
    Exploration and business development costs 1,725   348     2,069   2,355  
    Depreciation included in general, administration and depreciation expenses1 308   389     1,241   1,569  
    Sale of assets2 (400 ) (7,106 )   (400 ) (19,018 )
    EBITDA 76,814   66,284     335,488   345,717  

    1 Item is not shown in the Financial Statements
    2 Sale of assets is included under “Other income/(expense)” but not specifically disclosed in the Financial Statements

    The EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2023 including the EBITDA contribution of the Brooks assets acquisition from the effective date of January 1, 2023 to the completion date of March 3, 2023 amounted to USD 350,618 thousand.

    Operating costs
    The following table sets out how operating costs is calculated:

      Three months ended December 31   Year ended December 31
    USD Thousands 2024   2023     2024   2023  
    Production costs 120,108   126,414     448,218   491,303  
    Cost of blending (36,036 ) (44,473 )   (152,735 ) (172,996 )
    Change in inventory position (4,633 ) 1,427     (1,473 ) 3,655  
    Operating costs 79,439   83,368     294,010   321,962  
                       

    The operating costs for the year ended December 31, 2023 including the operating costs contribution of the Brooks assets acquisition from the effective date of January 1, 2023 to the completion date of March 3, 2023 amounted to USD 328,763 thousand.

    Net cash / (debt)
    The following table sets out how net cash / (debt) is calculated from figures shown in the Financial Statements:

    USD Thousands December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023  
    Bank loans (5,121 ) (9,031 )
    Bonds1 (450,000 ) (450,000 )
    Cash and cash equivalents 246,593   517,074  
    Net cash / (debt) (208,528 ) 58,043  

    1 The bond amount represents the redeemable value at maturity (February 2027).

    Reserves and Resources Advisory
    This press release contains references to estimates of gross and net reserves and resources attributed to the Corporation’s oil and gas assets. For additional information with respect to such reserves and resources, refer to “Reserves and Resources Advisory” in the MD&A and the MCR. Light, medium and heavy crude oil reserves/resources disclosed in this press release include solution gas and other by-products. Also see “Supplemental Information regarding Product Types” below.

    Reserve estimates, contingent resource estimates and estimates of future net revenue in respect of IPC’s oil and gas assets in Canada are effective as of December 31, 2024, and are included in the reports prepared by Sproule Associates Limited (Sproule), an independent qualified reserves evaluator, in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities (NI 51-101) and the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the COGE Handbook) and using Sproule’s December 31, 2024 price forecasts.

    Reserve estimates, contingent resource estimates and estimates of future net revenue in respect of IPC’s oil and gas assets in France and Malaysia are effective as of December 31, 2024, and are included in the report prepared by ERC Equipoise Ltd. (ERCE), an independent qualified reserves auditor, in accordance with NI 51-101 and the COGE Handbook, and using Sproule’s December 31, 2024 price forecasts.

    The price forecasts used in the Sproule and ERCE reports are available on the website of Sproule (sproule.com) and are contained in the MCR. These price forecasts are as at December 31, 2024 and may not be reflective of current and future forecast commodity prices.

    The reserve life index (RLI) is calculated by dividing the 2P reserves of 493 MMboe as at December 31, 2024 by the mid-point of the 2025 CMD production guidance of 43,000 to 45,000 boepd. Reserves replacement ratio is based on 2P reserves of 468 MMboe as at December 31, 2023, sales production during 2024 of 16.6 MMboe, net additions to 2P reserves during 2024 of 41.7 MMboe and 2P reserves of 493 MMboe as at December 31, 2024.

    The reserves and resources information and data provided in this press release present only a portion of the disclosure required under NI 51-101. All of the required information will be contained in the Corporation’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, which will be filed on SEDAR+ (accessible at www.sedarplus.ca) on or before April 1, 2025. Further information with respect to IPC’s reserves, contingent resources and estimates of future net revenue, including assumptions relating to the calculation of net present value and other relevant information related to the contingent resources disclosed, is disclosed in the MCR available under IPC’s profile on www.sedarplus.ca and on IPC’s website at www.international-petroleum.com.

    IPC uses the industry-accepted standard conversion of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil (6 Mcf = 1 bbl). A BOE conversion ratio of 6:1 is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. As the value ratio between natural gas and crude oil based on the current prices of natural gas and crude oil is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a 6:1 conversion basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

    Supplemental Information regarding Product Types

    The following table is intended to provide supplemental information about the product type composition of IPC’s net average daily production figures provided in this press release:

      Heavy Crude Oil
    (Mbopd)
    Light and Medium Crude Oil (Mbopd) Conventional Natural Gas (per day) Total
    (Mboepd)
    Three months ended        
    December 31, 2024 24.3 7.1 95.9 MMcf
    (16.0 Mboe)
    47.4
    December 31, 2023 25.7 6.6 103.8 MMcf
    (17.3 Mboe)
    49.6
    Year ended        
    December 31, 2024 23.9 7.7 95.1 MMcf
    (15.8 Mboe)
    47.4
    December 31, 2023 25.8 8.1 102.8 MMcf
    (17.1 Mboe)
    51.1
             

    This press release also makes reference to IPC’s forecast total average daily production of 43,000 to 45,000 boepd for 2025. IPC estimates that approximately 55% of that production will be comprised of heavy oil, approximately 12% will be comprised of light and medium crude oil and approximately 33% will be comprised of conventional natural gas.

    Currency
    All dollar amounts in this press release are expressed in United States dollars, except where otherwise noted. References herein to USD mean United States dollars. References herein to CAD mean Canadian dollars.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s message on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Ten years ago, the first International Day of Women and Girls in Science recognized a fundamental truth: women’s participation is essential for building a better world through science and technology. I saw that enormous potential firsthand when I was teaching engineering, and I saw the remarkable talent, creativity, and determination of countless women scientists.

    Yet today, women still represent just one-third of the global scientific community. Deprived of adequate funding, publishing opportunities and leadership positions in universities, women and girls continue to face an uphill battle in building careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

    Look no further than the development of new digital technologies. Men dominate the field at every level—including in Artificial Intelligence. The result is a surge of biased algorithms and embedded inequality, risking a new era of digital chauvinism.

    The more that women are excluded from STEM, the more we limit our collective power to address urgent global challenges, from climate change and food security to public health and technological transformation.

    We can and must do more to level the playing field

    By expanding scholarships, internships and mentorship opportunities to open doors for women and girls in STEM; creating workplaces that attract, retain and advance women in science; encouraging girls’ engagement in STEM from an early age; championing women leaders in science through the media; and dismantling gender stereotypes.

    The Pact for the Future, agreed last September by Member States, gives renewed momentum to these goals by committing to address barriers preventing the full, equal and meaningful access for women and girls in scientific fields.  

    On the tenth anniversary of this important day, and as we reflect on 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, let’s help pave a path to STEM careers that women and girls deserve – and our world needs.

    ***
    Il y a dix ans, la première Journée internationale des femmes et des filles de science consacrait une vérité fondamentale : la participation des femmes est essentielle pour bâtir un monde meilleur grâce à la science et à la technologie. J’ai pu constater par moi-même l’incroyable potentiel des femmes lorsque j’enseignais l’ingénierie, et j’ai vu le talent, la créativité et la détermination remarquables d’innombrables femmes de science.

    Or, à l’heure actuelle, les femmes ne représentent qu’un tiers des scientifiques dans le monde. Privées de financements adéquats, de possibilités de publication et de postes de direction dans les universités, les femmes et les filles ont encore d’innombrables obstacles à surmonter pour faire carrière dans le domaine des sciences, de la technologie, de l’ingénierie et des mathématiques (STIM).

    Pour s’en convaincre, il suffit d’observer le développement des nouvelles technologies numériques. Les hommes dominent le secteur à tous les niveaux, notamment dans l’intelligence artificielle. Il en résulte un déferlement d’algorithmes biaisés qui perpétuent des inégalités bien ancrées et risquent d’ouvrir une nouvelle ère de machisme numérique.

    Plus les femmes sont exclues des STIM, plus nous limitons notre capacité collective de relever les défis urgents qui se posent dans le monde, qu’il s’agisse des changements climatiques, de la sécurité alimentaire, de la santé publique ou de la transformation technologique.

    Nous pouvons et devons en faire plus pour que les femmes aient véritablement les mêmes chances que les hommes :

    Il nous faut élargir les programmes de bourses d’études, de stage et de mentorat afin d’ouvrir aux femmes la porte des STIM ; créer dans ce secteur des lieux de travail qui attirent et retiennent les femmes et dans lesquels elles peuvent progresser ; encourager les filles à s’engager sur la voie des STIM dès leur plus jeune âge ; promouvoir, dans les médias, le leadership des femmes dans le domaine de la science ; venir à bout des stéréotypes de genre.

    Le Pacte pour l’avenir, adopté par les États Membres en septembre dernier, crée une nouvelle dynamique pour la réalisation de ces objectifs. En effet, les États Membres s’y sont engagés à lever les obstacles qui empêchent les femmes et les filles d’accéder pleinement et véritablement, dans des conditions d’égalité, aux filières scientifiques.

    En ce jour où nous célébrons, pour la dixième année, cette importante journée, et alors que nous réfléchissons aux 30 années qui se sont écoulées depuis l’adoption de la Déclaration de Beijing, agissons pour que les femmes et les filles puissent mener, dans le domaine des STIM, les carrières qu’elles méritent – et dont le monde a besoin.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores American Competitiveness and Security in FCPA Enforcement

    Source: The White House

    ELIMINATING UNDUE BARRIERS TO U.S. SUCCESS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to restore American competitiveness and security by ordering revised, reasonable enforcement guidelines for the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977.

    • The Order directs the Attorney General to pause FCPA actions until she issues revised FCPA enforcement guidance that promotes American competitiveness and efficient use of federal law enforcement resources.
      • Past and existing FCPA actions will be reviewed.
      • Future FCPA investigations and enforcement actions will be governed by this new guidance and must be approved by the Attorney General.

    AMERICAN SECURITY REQUIRES AMERICAN ECONOMIC STRENGTH: American national security depends on America and its companies gaining strategic commercial advantages around the world, and President Trump is stopping excessive, unpredictable FCPA enforcement that makes American companies less competitive.

    • U.S. companies are harmed by FCPA overenforcement because they are prohibited from engaging in practices common among international competitors, creating an uneven playing field.
    • Strategic advantages in critical minerals, deep-water ports, and other key infrastructure or assets around the world are critical to American national security.
    • FCPA overenforcement infringes upon the President’s Article II authority to conduct foreign affairs, necessitating this review and new enforcement policies.
    • Over time, FCPA interpretation and enforcement by U.S. prosecutors has broadened, imposing a growing cost on our Nation’s economy.
      • In 2024, the DOJ and SEC filed 26 FCPA-related enforcement actions, and at least 31 companies were under investigation by year end.
      • Over the past decade, there has been an average of 36 FCPA-related enforcement actions per year, draining resources from both American businesses and law enforcement.

    PUTTING AMERICA FIRST: President Trump is committed to prioritizing American economic and security interests and ensuring U.S. businesses have the tools to succeed globally.

    Since returning to office, President Trump has signed several executive actions aimed at enhancing American economic competitiveness, including an Executive Order to strengthen U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) and tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China to protect the American people.   a 10-to-1 deregulation initiative, ensuring every new rule is justified by clear benefits

    President Trump renegotiated trade deals, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to secure better terms for American workers and businesses.

    President Trump has worked to cut burdensome regulations that hinder U.S. businesses, ensuring they can operate efficiently and competitively on the world stage.

    President Trump: “We have to save our country. Every policy must be geared toward that which supports the American worker, the American family, and businesses, both large and small, and allows our country to compete with other nations on a very level playing field…”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI China: Dongfeng, Changan revamp to give global edge to automakers

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The planned restructuring of Wuhan, Hubei province-headquartered Dongfeng Motor Corp and Chongqing-based Changan Automobile is expected to create a more integrated and competitive automaker capable of competing with global giants like Toyota, Volkswagen and Tesla in the coming years, said analysts on Monday.

    A number of listed subsidiaries of State-owned Dongfeng Motor and CSGC, the parent company of Changan Automobile, including Dongfeng Automobile Co and Harbin Dongan Auto Engine Co, announced possible changes to their controlling shareholders on Sunday.

    The listed companies under CSGC announced that they had received a notice from their parent company regarding ongoing restructuring plans with other State-owned enterprises.

    They said that while the restructuring could result in changes to their controlling shareholders, it would not affect the ultimate controlling entity. They also emphasized that the plan remains subject to approval from the relevant authorities.

    Even though Dongfeng Motor and CSGC have not explicitly named each other as restructuring partners, market watchers said that there is a high possibility of integration among China’s State-owned automakers’ passenger vehicle businesses.

    Currently, Changan Automobile, in partnership with Chinese technology company Huawei Technologies Co, maintains a leading position in the transition to new energy vehicles and intelligent mobility development, said Zhang Xiang, an auto industry researcher at the Beijing-based North China University of Technology.

    “Therefore, it is expected that Changan Automobile will play a leading role in the future integration of the passenger vehicle businesses owned by centrally administered SOEs,” Zhang said.

    Dongfeng Motor reported vehicle sales of 2.48 million units in 2024, reflecting a 2.5 percent year-on-year increase, according to information released by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the country’s Cabinet.

    Meanwhile, Changan Automobile achieved total sales of 2.68 million vehicles last year, marking a 5.1 percent growth compared to the previous year. Notably, the company’s NEV sales surpassed 734,000 units, representing a 52.8 percent year-on-year surge.

    Based on their production capacity, the restructuring will effectively enhance the competitiveness of Chinese vehicle brands on the global stage, Zhang added.

    In terms of component integration, the restructuring of these two SOEs will significantly expand the procurement scale, enhancing their bargaining power with component suppliers. This is expected to cut procurement costs and improve the overall efficiency of the supply chain, said Ding Rijia, a professor specializing in industrial economy at the China University of Mining and Technology in Beijing.

    Further, if both companies integrate their component technologies, it will enhance the technical sophistication and performance of vehicle components, Ding said.

    Speaking at a news conference in Beijing last month, Lin Qingmiao, head of the SASAC’s bureau of enterprise reform, said the government’s key focus will be on the restructuring and integration of central SOEs this year, in order to further promote the optimization of the State-owned economy’s structural adjustment going forward.

    Lin said that China will speed up the allocation of State capital to critical industries related to national security and the lifeline of national economy, public services, emergency response capabilities, public welfare and strategic emerging industries.

    Eager to enrich user experience, Dongfeng Motor announced last week the successful integration of the full range of DeepSeek’s open-source large language model. Its brands, such as M-Hero and Nano Box, are set to incorporate and deploy this technology in their vehicles soon.

    Among these, the intelligent cockpit of the M-Hero 917, one of Dongfeng Motor’s luxury models, has already integrated the DeepSeek-R1 model, with an over-the-air update scheduled for April 2025.

    Through continuous customized model distillation and AI training, M-Hero owners will enjoy a significantly enhanced smart cockpit, featuring faster voice recognition, improved semantic understanding and humanlike responses, as well as expanded functionality for offroad driving scenarios, said Dongfeng Motor.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Wind 25 Reaffirms U.S.-Japan Alliance

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    U.S. Army Japan and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force close out North Wind 25, a bilateral cold-weather field training exercise designed to enhance combat readiness and promote interoperability after 10 days of training at Camp Makomanai and the Hokudai-en Hokkaido Large Training Area in Hokkaido, in northern Japan on February 9, 2025.

    The exercise was comprised of approximately 190 U.S. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment and approximately 400 members of the 18th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, Northern Army, Japan Ground Self Defense Force. 



    “Northwind Exercise continues to be a terrific opportunity to share individual and small unit tactics and skill craft,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Hanrahan, chief of exercises for USARJ. “The focus of this year’s exercise is squad-level integration containing numerous days and nights in the field environment, which has increased communication, cold weather techniques, bilateral teamwork, and interoperability. This unique opportunity gives the U.S. Army and its allies the ability to fight and win in any environment. This exercise showcases the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan.”


    North Wind 25 featured a first of its kind: bilateral field housing. Soldiers from 1-5 IN stayed in tents with their counterparts in the JGSDF. The integration of the units provided more time to exchange techniques, tactics, and procedures.

    Not everything was friendly exchanges, participants were also challenged. The culminating event was a three-day field training exercise that was meticulously planned via a rehearsal of concept. This was the JGSDF’s first time participating in this style of planning and it proved invaluable to the success of the mission.


    “I got the opportunity to work with my counterparts in the JGSDF staff section,” said 2nd Lt. Richard Hall, a battalion staff officer, 1-5 IN. While the JGSDF may do some things different than their U.S. Army counterparts, there is always an exchange where they learn from each other.


    The 1-5 IN is stationed in Fort Wainwright, Alaska where they regularly endure temperatures as low as -30° Fahrenheit, so the relatively warm conditions of 10° to 40° F during North Wind 25 were business as usual. However, the Northern Army had much more experience than the 1-5 IN in certain tactics like skiing. Working with such an experienced ally, like the JGDSF, gives the Army the opportunity to learn and train together to further increase readiness in the Indo-Pacific and the Arctic.

    “If a perfect score is 100, then I would say 200! Japanese and U.S. forces training to this level as one body has exceeded my expectation, which was actually very high. Any short time spent together turns to fulfilling exchange experience,” said Col. Naoki Uehara, Commander of 18th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, Northern Army, JGSDF. “I believe Japan-U.S. collaboration will be built upon foundation of relationship of trust and mutual understanding.”


    North Wind, which is a series of Operation PATHWAYS, is U.S. Army Pacific’s premier annual operation, demonstrating USARPAC and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s commitment to the region. Operation PATHWAYS employs thousands of U.S. Army forces from around the globe to conduct concurrent multilateral security cooperation and training events across the Indo-Pacific. Operation PATHWAYS helps us to see, sense and understand the region, which in turn, assists senior leaders making sound decisions.

    There is no more important anchoring frontline ally in this region than Japan, and our commit to the partnership and friendship with their JGSDF is ironclad.

    MIL Security OSI