NewzIntel.com

Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. International Investment Position, 2nd Quarter 2024

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    The U.S. net international investment position, the difference between U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets and liabilities, was –$22.52 trillion at the end of the second quarter of 2024, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (chart 1). Assets totaled $36.00 trillion, and liabilities were $58.52 trillion (chart 2). At the end of the first quarter, the net investment position was –$21.29 trillion (revised). The net investment position and components of assets and liabilities are presented in table 1.

    The –$1.23 trillion change in the net investment position from the first quarter to the second quarter came from net financial transactions of –$299.8 billion and net other changes in position, such as price and exchange-rate changes, of –$930.5 billion (table 2).

    Price changes of –$616.9 billion reflected U.S. stock price increases that exceeded foreign stock price increases, which raised the market value of U.S. liabilities more than U.S. assets.

    Exchange-rate changes of –$214.8 billion reflected foreign currency depreciation against the U.S. dollar, which lowered the value of U.S. assets more than U.S. liabilities in dollar terms.

    U.S. assets increased by $173.2 billion to a total of $36.00 trillion at the end of the second quarter, mainly attributable to a $112.8 billion increase in financial derivatives (chart 3). The increase in financial derivatives mostly reflected increases in single-currency interest rate contracts.

    Portfolio investment and direct investment assets (the two largest categories of assets) changed little in the second quarter, as financial transactions and foreign stock price increases were mostly offset by foreign currency depreciation against the U.S. dollar that lowered the value of foreign-currency-denominated assets in dollar terms (table 2).

    U.S. liabilities increased by $1.40 trillion to a total of $58.52 trillion at the end of the second quarter, driven mainly by U.S. stock price increases that raised the market value of portfolio investment and direct investment liabilities (chart 4). Financial transactions of $391.1 billion, notably foreign purchases of U.S. stocks and long-term debt securities, also contributed to the overall increase in U.S. liabilities.

    Portfolio investment liabilities increased by $666.4 billion to $30.89 trillion, and direct investment liabilities increased by $568.2 billion to $16.64 trillion, mostly attributable to U.S. stock price increases (table 2).

    Table A. Updates to First-Quarter 2024 International Investment Position Aggregates
    [Trillions of dollars, not seasonally adjusted]

      Preliminary estimates Revised estimates
    U.S. net international investment position –21.28 –21.29
       U.S. assets 35.78 35.83
       U.S. liabilities 57.06 57.12

    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Next release: December 27, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. EST
    U.S. International Investment Position, 3rd Quarter 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Arq Publishes its First-Ever ESG Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arq, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARQ) (the “Company” or “Arq”), a producer of activated carbon and other environmentally efficient carbon products, today announced the publication of its inaugural Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report. This report builds upon the Company’s previously published 2023 ESG Overview Tear Sheet and provides a comprehensive assessment of Arq’s ongoing efforts to drive positive environmental impact, employee well-being, and responsible governance.

    “The release of our 2023 ESG Report further illustrates our unwavering commitment to the environmental technology sector and reflects where we are and the strides we’ve made in addressing key environmental and social challenges,” said Bob Rasmus, CEO of Arq. “As we look ahead, we remain committed to refining our ESG practices, improving operational efficiencies, and enhancing the experience we offer our employees and stakeholders.”

    Key Highlights from the report include:

    Environmental Impact:

    • Arq has developed a proprietary process to reclaim, purify, and recycle waste coal fines, ensuring sustainability from sourcing to product impact.
    • Arq’s products are designed to enhance access to high-quality water. We prioritize water efficiency and recycling at our manufacturing facilities, continually striving to improve our resource management.
    • Energy efficiency is central to our operations. Arq’s manufacturing process maximizes energy reuse, with our Red River facility consistently exporting more electricity than it consumes.

    Social Responsibility:

    • “Safety is never compromised” remains a core value at Arq, upheld across all levels—from frontline operators to lab technicians, customer relations, and C-Suite leaders.
    • We believe that our success depends on our people. By fostering a culture of inclusivity, respect, and affirmation, we unite our workforce and encourage collective achievement.
    • Engagement is vital to our sustainability. Our team-building activities connect employees while also fostering community service across our sites.

    Governance:

    • We are committed to the highest standards of corporate governance, ensuring integrity in all aspects of our business while driving Arq’s growth, sustainability, and performance.
    • Our ESG program is run by multi-functional team composed of dedicated individuals, overseen by a dedicated team, led by an executive officer and monitored by the Nominating and Governance Committee to ensure best practices, data accuracy, and continuous improvement.
    • Arq holds itself accountable to a broad range of stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, employees, and investors, operating with honesty, fairness, and integrity at every level.

    The full 2023 ESG Report is available for download at Arq’s Sustainability Page.

    This report comes on the heels of the Company’s 2023 ESG Overview Tear Sheet, reinforcing Arq’s mission to drive environmental innovation through responsible corporate governance, ethical business practices, and a strong commitment to stakeholders.

    About Arq

    Arq (NASDAQ: ARQ) is a diversified, environmental technology company with products that enable a cleaner and safer planet while actively reducing our environmental impact. As the only vertically integrated producer of activated carbon products in North America, we deliver a reliable domestic supply of innovative, hard-to-source, high-demand products. We apply our extensive expertise to develop groundbreaking solutions to remove harmful chemicals and pollutants from water, land and air. Learn more at: www.arq.com.

    Investor Contact:
    Anthony Nathan, Arq
    Marc Silverberg, ICR
    investors@arq.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FinWise Bancorp Announces Strategic Lending Program with PowerPay to Offer Transparent and Affordable Monthly Payments for Home Improvement and Elective Healthcare Purchases

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MURRAY, Utah, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FinWise Bancorp (NASDAQ: FINW) (“FinWise” or the “Company”), parent company of FinWise Bank (the “Bank”), today announced the launch of a new strategic lending program with PowerPay, LLC (“PowerPay”). PowerPay is a leading fintech company specializing in simple and affordable real-time lending and payment solutions to the Home Improvement and Elective HealthCare segments. With over 200 employees, the Company has processed over $8 billion across all 50 states since its inception in 2020.

    The FinWise loan product, in partnership with PowerPay offers consumers nationwide, fair and affordable monthly payments through a network of quality contractors and medical providers. Each of the Company’s 12,000+ onboarded Service Providers uses the data driven platform to quickly process credit at the point-of-sale. PowerPay has partnered with leading national home remodelers and physician networks, enabling consumers to obtain financing options from trusted professionals. Through this new partnership, borrowers can expect to receive the same level of care and support, from application to loan payoff, via PowerPay’s highly-rated Customer Concierge team and technology platform.

    “PowerPay remains relentless in our pursuit of responsive and responsible solutions to meet the growing needs of homeowners and patients who seek financing,” said Mike Petrakis, PowerPay Founder & CEO. “Our dedication to merchant service and low monthly payment financing for consumers has led to a significant increase in demand for our loans. Partnership with FinWise Bank allows us to increase the number of borrowers we can effectively support while also ensuring deep regulatory expertise and focus as we continue to scale the business and our technologies.”

    Kent Landvatter, CEO of FinWise commented, “We are thrilled to partner with PowerPay on this innovative approach to offer consumers a transparent and affordable lending product with a simple monthly payment structure for Home Improvement and Elective HealthCare purchases. This agreement is a testament to the meaningful benefits that FinWise’s lending and payments solutions provide its strategic partners. It also underscores how the FinWise model enables strategic partner scaling while providing regulatory oversight through an intensive due-diligence process and compliance assessment.”

    About PowerPay
    Launched in 2020, PowerPay is a financial technology company providing seamless consumer financing solutions to over 12,000+ national providers. The Company helps contractors and physicians convert homeowner and patient purchases into simple monthly payments through its point-of-sale lending platform. Since its inception, PowerPay has funded over $8B. www.getpowerpay.com.

    About FinWise Bancorp

    FinWise provides Banking and Payments solutions to fintech brands. 2024 is a key expansion year for the Company, as it expands and diversifies its business model by launching and incorporating Payments (MoneyRails™) and BIN Sponsorship offerings. Its existing Strategic Program business, done through scalable API-driven infrastructure, powers deposit, lending and payments programs for leading fintech brands. In addition, FinWise manages other Lending programs such as SBA 7(a), Owner Occupied RE, and Leasing, which provide flexibility for disciplined balance sheet growth.

    Through its compliance oversight and risk management-first culture, the Company is also well positioned to guide fintechs through a rigorous process to facilitate regulatory compliance.

    Contacts

    investors@finwisebank.com
    media@finwisebank.com
    bennett.andelman@getpowerpay.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NEWTON GOLF Introduces New Gravity Putter Line, Building on Momentum from Recent Rebranding

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Gravity, the putter division of parent company NEWTON GOLF, introduces five putters in its new premium series

    CAMARILLO, CA, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NEWTON GOLF, (Nasdaq: SPGC) (“NEWTON GOLF” or the “Company”), a technology-forward golf company with a growing portfolio of golf products, including putters, golf shafts, golf grips, and other golf-related accessories, builds on its recent rebranding with the launch of three new putter models and two redesigned classics in its newly formed Gravity Premium Series (“Gravity”) of putters.

    Formerly known as Sacks Parente Golf putters, the putter line has been redesigned and rebranded as Gravity under the NEWTON GOLF umbrella, ushering in a new era with a fresh, modern aesthetic. Featuring striking red and black colors and a premium ceramic coating finish previously reserved for Tour-level putters, these models embody NEWTON GOLF’s core design principles, including the brand’s signature patented Ultra’Low Balance Point (ULBP) and Center of Gravity (CG) technology.

    The new lineup includes three new models: The Classic, the DEUCE, and the DUKE. Additionally, the DRAC and the PRISM are two models from the previous Sacks Parente brand that have been redesigned and have the new Gravity logo and colorways. The Company is also introducing a new putter shaft, Newton Tempo, which is an improved design to provide better feel and balance with the newly designed heads.

    At the core of NEWTON GOLF’s Gravity putter design is the belief that gravity truly matters.

    Technology and Innovation: Gravity and Tempo

    All of the Gravity Premium Series putters are equipped with advanced features, such as Ultra Low Balance Point and optimized Center of Gravity. This ensures that golfers experience improved tempo by placing the weight of the putter predominantly in the head, with very light grips and carbon fiber shafts.The center of gravity is designed to be as low and close to the ball as possible. This promotes a smooth, repeatable tempo, minimizes side spin, and ensures the ball stays on the intended line for a truer, consisent roll.

    PGA Tour Champions player Ken Duke has already adopted a Gravity putter in his bag, saying, “The putters are beautiful and have amazing feel and sound. I fell in love with them instantly. Finally, the consumers will get to experience a true Tour-only quality product without paying thousands of dollars.”

    Forgiveness and Sweet Spot

    Each Gravity Premium Series putter is engineered for maximum Moment of Inertia (MOI). This increases the stability of the face, effectively widening the sweet spot to ensure off-center strikes are met with forgiveness and consistency.

    The Gravity Premium Series Putters:

    • The Classic – The Classic, Gravity’s new traditional anser-style putter in the Premium Series, is optimized for modern stroke types with a shallower arc. It features a newly designed hosel for enhanced performance and feel. The Classic is made with 1018 carbon steel material for the best ball feel with Tour Only quality ceramic coating finish. MSRP: $450
    • The DEUCE – The new DEUCE is a double-wide anser putter that is easy to aim with a blade-like look. Available in 1018 carbon steel body, the DEUCE is designed to fit all stroke types with two hosel locations. MSRP: $450
    • The DUKE – The new DUKE putter takes its inspiration from PGA TOUR Champions player Ken Duke. Made with a 1018 carbon steel body with tungsten weighting, the DUKE is a modern interpretation of a classic-style putter that has a shorter blade length with a half mallet back: MSRP: $450
    • The PRISM – Gravity’s redesigned PRISM mallet putter naturally improves the putting stroke and tightens the dispersion of putts. Engineered to deliver the right MOI and unmatched stability, the PRISM optimizes the stroke and provides the best roll in golf. It is made of 6061 aluminum and 50 grams of tungsten. The mallet head has been reshaped to improve stability and move CG more forward. MSRP: $450
    • The DRAC – The redesigned DRAC is the modernization of a fang-style putter. It is Gravity’s highest MOI putter that is made of 6061 aluminum and 100 grams of tungsten. It has been redesigned with the Gravity logo and colorways. MSRP: $450

    “We named the new putter division ‘Gravity’ because it perfectly encapsulates this fundamental design principle that enhances the natural tempo and precision of every putt,” said NEWTON GOLF’s Executive Chairman Greg Campbell. “When the golfer lifts the putter on the backstroke, potential energy is stored, and, by trusting gravity to accelerate the putter head during the stroke, golfers can achieve consistent velocity at impact – which is proportional to the length of the backstroke.”

    All Gravity putters are available for preorder on October 1, 2024 at https://newtongolfco.com.
    Images of the Gravity putters can be found here.

    About NEWTON GOLF: A Sacks Parente Company

    NEWTON GOLF: A Sacks Parente Company, is a technology-forward golf company that help golfers elevate their game. With a growing portfolio of golf products, including putters, golf shafts, golf grips, and other golf-related accessories, the Company’s innovative accomplishments include: the First Vernier Acuity putter, patented Ultra-Low Balance Point (ULBP) putter technology, weight-forward Center-of-Gravity (CG) design, and pioneering ultra-light carbon fiber putter shafts.

    In consideration of its growth opportunities in golf shaft technologies, the Company expanded its manufacturing business in April of 2022 to develop the advanced Newton brand of premium golf shafts by opening a new shaft manufacturing facility in St. Joseph, MO. It is the Company’s intent to manufacture and assemble substantially all products in the United States, while also expanding into golf apparel and other golf-related product lines to enhance its growth.

    The Company’s future expansions may include broadening its offerings through mergers, acquisitions or internal developments of product lines that are complementary to its premium brand. The Company currently sells its products through resellers, the Company’s websites, Club Champion retail stores, and distributors in the United States, Japan, and South Korea. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.newtongolfco.com or on social media at @newtongolfco.com, @newtonshafts, or @gravityputters.

    Media Contact for NEWTON GOLF

    Beth Gast
    BG Public Relations
    beth.gast@bgpublicrelations.com

    Investor Contact for NEWTON GOLF
    CORE IR
    516-222-2560
    investors@sacksparente.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Condolences to family of victim affected by freezing weather conditions

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has extended her heartfelt condolences to the family of the woman who lost her life in adverse weather conditions that hit parts of the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

    “We are deeply saddened to learn that a woman lost her life to hypothermia due to these unprecedented weather conditions. She was a passenger in a taxi travelling from Johannesburg to KwaZulu-Natal,” the Minister said in a statement on Wednesday.

    The 39-year-old woman died on Saturday while trapped in the blizzard that engulfed the N3 between Van Reenen’s Pass, connecting KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

    This was confirmed by paramedic services, Midlands EMS [emergency medical services] Rescue Medics, in a statement.

    According to the medical service, the Midlands EMS Howick crews, along with Midlands EMS Rescue Medics, were dispatched to a shopping centre in Merrivale for a person who had collapsed after being exposed to severe cold overnight, while in a taxi stuck in traffic in the snow. 

    READ | Heavy snowfall on N3 claims life of a 39-year-old woman

    Chikunga commended the exemplary selflessness and solidarity shown by South Africans who came to each other’s aid in what were life-threatening circumstances.

    She also added that South Africa is experiencing unusual climate change related incidents, marked by an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, as well as rising mortality rates.

    The severity of these events continues to disproportionately affect marginalised communities—those who often lack the resources to cope—most of whom are women and persons with disabilities.

    “While this is a global phenomenon, the impact of climate change related disasters is not uniform. Recent research published by the World Bank shows that “across the globe, women and persons with disabilities experience mortality rates up to four times higher in natural disasters than those without.

    “We express our condolences to those who have lost their loved ones, and we urge all South Africans to closely monitor weather reports to avoid areas projected to experience extreme weather conditions,” the Minister said.

     In his address at the National Heritage Day celebrations on Tuesday, Acting President Paul Mashatile emphasised the need to recognise the growing impact of climate change on the nation’s well-being and cultural heritage. 

    Mashatile urged citizens to be mindful of how climate change threatens both livelihoods and cultural traditions.
    The Acting President expressed his honour in addressing the nation on Heritage Day but noted that celebrations were overshadowed by severe weather affecting parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Free State.

    “It is a great honour and privilege to address you at this significant occasion as we celebrate our country’s Heritage Day. Unfortunately, as we were looking forward to this day, some parts of our country, which include Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Free State, were impacted by severe weather conditions, exacerbated by climate change,” he said at the celebrations held in Ficksburg, Free State.

    READ | Let’s be alive to the impact of climate change – Acting President Mashatile

    Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) said the country is set to experience a mix of warm and cool temperatures in the coming days, with a significant drop in temperatures and even light snowfall expected later this month.

    This after the weekend’s freezing temperatures and snowfall in some parts of the country caused havoc on the roads, resulting in one fatality.   

    READ | SA Weather Service forecasts warm week followed by light snow

    –SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft develops information modeling technologies

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Rosneft Research Institute in Ufa presented new solutions for 3D modeling in the oil and gas industry at the conference “Provision of engineering services using information modeling technologies”. The event was attended by over 180 specialists from leading specialized companies from different cities of Russia.

    Rosneft is one of the leaders in the development of 3D design. Hundreds of objects have been designed in the Company using information modeling technologies. The information model helps to confirm the possibility of safe operation. Subsequently, the digital project is used at the stages of reconstruction and technical re-equipment of objects.

    Specialists from the Ufa Institute presented an updated unified catalog of 3D products to conference participants. Today, the digital database contains 277 thousand 3D products for design: from complex equipment to the simplest parts. Rosneft design institutes use the catalog when developing structures, plant sites, pipelines and other industrial facilities. Ready-made solutions significantly reduce time and increase design efficiency. The Institute’s IT specialists regularly update the catalog taking into account changes in industry documents.

    The conference also presented the results of applying information technologies to real objects. Including one of the largest 3D projects of the institute – the preliminary gas treatment unit (UPPG) at the Barsukovskoye field of Rosneft. The model includes more than 90 structures on an area of over 250 thousand square meters, which is comparable to the size of a populated area. Elements of the information model also added to the database of the unified catalog of the Company.

    For the first time, the organizers held a competition on information modeling within the framework of the conference. Representatives of design and scientific institutes competed in developing three-dimensional digital projects based on the received task. In order to prepare specialized specialists with 3D competencies, the Rosneft Scientific Institute in Ufa is developing specialized training programs. More than 100 specialists of the Company undergo training annually.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft September 25, 2024

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.rosneft.ru/press/nevs/item/220836/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Data Storage Corporation Secures Expanded Contract Servicing a Billion Dollar Insurance Company

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MELVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) (“DSC” and the “Company”), a provider of diverse business continuity solutions for disaster-recovery, cloud infrastructure, cyber-security, and IT automation, today announced that its subsidiary, CloudFirst, has secured an expanded agreement through its infrastructure partner, servicing a billion-dollar insurance company.

    The client is currently utilizing the Company’s security services for their IBMi system and has now opted to enhance their disaster recovery capabilities by moving to a fully managed hosted target system. Through this agreement, Data Storage Corporation will provide a fully managed hosting solution that includes cloud backup, backup management, and replication management ensuring seamless and reliable data continuity.

    Hal Schwartz, President of CloudFirst, stated, “Having served as a reliable and trusted partner for this client’s sensitive data, we’re honored to now expand the scope of our services within this large organization.  This hosted solution enables the client to avoid the cost of acquiring new hardware while benefiting from our fully managed services, which ensure the client’s systems are continuously monitored, backed up, and supported for maximum uptime and security. This agreement exemplifies our ongoing commitment to providing reliable and scalable IT solutions that meet the unique needs of our clients.”

    Chuck Piluso, CEO of Data Storage Corporation, commented, “This new contract demonstrates how closely we work with our infrastructure partners to create seamless solutions for clients. Our partners, that specialize in Intel and Windows platforms, turn to us for our expertise and to utilize our IBM Power Cloud. By collaborating, we’re able to deliver a unique, fully managed cloud solution that benefits all parties.”

    About Data Storage Corporation

    Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) is a leading provider of fully managed cloud hosting, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, IT automation, and voice & data solutions. With strategic technical investments in multiple regions, DTST serves a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, in sectors such as government, education, and healthcare. Focused on the fast-growing, multi-billion-dollar cloud hosting and business continuity market. DTST is recognized as a stable and emerging growth leader in cloud infrastructure, support and the migration of data to the cloud. Our regional data centers across North America enable us to deliver sustainable services through recurring subscription agreements.

    For more information, please visit www.dtst.com or follow us on Twitter @DataStorageCorp.

    Safe Harbor Provision
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. The forward looking statements in this press release include statements such as continuing to grow revenue and increase profitability as the Company executes on its strategic initiatives, the consolidation of the CloudFirst and Flagship subsidiaries positioning the Company to optimize operations, leverage its technical teams, realize greater efficiencies, and improve internal resource allocation, while capitalizing on extensive cross-selling and upselling opportunities among its customer networks, the two meaningful announced contracts being just the first of many such announcements that will come from the efforts of the combined organizations, having developed a robust business strategy that we will drive growth and secure sustainable profitability while maximizing long term value for shareholders and providing meaningful updates to shareholders as developments unfold. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include the Company’s ability to execute and advance its growth strategies. These risks should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was initially made. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

    Contact:
    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    212-671-1020
    DTST@crescendo-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Byrna Technologies to Report Fiscal Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. ET

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Byrna Technologies Inc. (“Byrna” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BYRN), a personal defense technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions, will hold a conference call on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended August 31, 2024. Financial results will be issued in a press release prior to the call.

    Byrna management will host the presentation, followed by a question-and-answer period.

    Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2024
    Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern time
    Toll-Free Dial-In: 877-709-8150
    International Dial-In: +1 201-689-8354
    Conference ID: 13748618

    Please call the conference telephone number 10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 949-574-3860.

    The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the Investor Relations section of Byrna’s website.

    About Byrna Technologies Inc.

    Byrna is a technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions. For more information on the Company, please visit the corporate website here or the Company’s investor relations site here. The Company is the manufacturer of the Byrna® SD personal security device, a state-of-the-art handheld CO2 powered launcher designed to provide a less-lethal alternative to a firearm for the consumer, private security, and law enforcement markets. To purchase Byrna products, visit the Company’s e-commerce store.

    Investor Contact:
    Tom Colton and Alec Wilson
    Gateway Group, Inc.
    949-574-3860
    BYRN@gateway-grp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Schellman Becomes First ISO 42001 ANAB Accredited Certification Body, Underscoring Commitment to Responsible AI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Schellman, a leading provider of attestation and compliance services and a top 50 CPA firm, announced today their status as an ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accredited International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 42001 certification body. With this achievement, Schellman is the first ISO 42001 certification body accredited by ANAB able to certify organizations against the world’s first Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS) standard. 

    “This is a significant achievement for not only our ISO and AI practices, but our firm overall,” said Danny Manimbo, a Principal at Schellman and an AI Assessment Leader. “As a firm, we’ve prioritized AI governance in 2024 in terms of ensuring that our core service offerings can adapt and stay relevant to emerging technologies, such as AI. This ensures our ability to help our clients demonstrate that they’re using this technology in a responsible manner, fostering trust amongst their customers and partners.”  

    As the first global standard of its kind, ISO/IEC 42001 provides a certifiable AIMS framework in which AI systems can be developed and deployed responsibly, ethically, and with security, privacy, and quality at its core.  

    Organizations seeking certification must align with the standard’s requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving their AIMS. Doing so mitigates risk, builds trust, and reassures customers, clients, stakeholders, and society of the safe and responsible development and use of these AI systems.  

    With this accreditation, Schellman expands its accolades in the cybersecurity field, confirming the subject matter expertise of its teams and solidifying itself as an industry-leading, innovative firm. 

    “As the digital landscape evolves, trust in technology becomes paramount. Our accreditation as the first ANAB-accredited ISO 42001 certification body signifies our commitment to ensuring that artificial intelligence is developed and deployed responsibly,” said Avani Desai, CEO of Schellman. “We recognize that AI governance is not just a trend, but a necessity. It’s about fostering trust among clients and partners, demonstrating responsible use of technology, and mitigating risks. This certification helps us empower our clients to navigate the complexities of emerging technologies with resilience and confidence.” 

    Schellman remains dedicated to providing cutting-edge cybersecurity services that equip organizations with the resilience and confidence needed to thrive in an evolving digital landscape. For more information about Artificial Intelligence assessments and Schellman’s comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, visit schellman.com.

    About Schellman
    “Schellman” is the brand name under which Schellman & Company, LLC and Schellman Compliance, LLC provide professional services. Schellman stands as a leading global provider of attestation, compliance, and certification services. Operating under two distinct entities, Schellman & Company, LLC (a top 50 firm) and Schellman Compliance, LLC (a globally accredited compliance assessment firm which is not a licensed CPA firm). The services provided by the Schellman entities include acting as a CPA firm (Schellman & Company, LLC Florida license number AD62941) as a leading provider of SOC reports, an ISO Certification Body, a PCI Qualified Security Assessor Company, a HITRUST assessor, a FedRAMP 3PAO, being among the pioneering CMMC Authorized C3PAOs, as well as offering international certification services including TISAX and HDS.

    Renowned for its professionals’ expertise combined with practical experience, Schellman delivers superior client service while upholding steadfast independence. The company’s approach fosters successful, long-term relationships, enabling clients to achieve multiple compliance objectives through a single trusted third-party assessor. For further information about the services provided, please visit schellman.com.

    Contact 
    V2 Communications  
    schellman@v2comms.com  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Navy Awards Amphibious Multi-Ship Procurement Contracts

    Source: United States Navy

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy awarded contracts totaling $9,472,132,620 for procurement of one America-class amphibious assault ship (LHA) and three San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock (LPD) ships, Sept. 24. The award, executed across two separate contracts to Huntington Ingalls Industries, Ingalls Shipbuilding Division, utilized a multi-ship procurement approach. By using this strategy, as authorized by Congress, the Navy is projected to achieve more than $901 million in cost avoidance as compared to the use of annual contracts.

    The long-term contract agreements align with Secretary of the Navy Del Toro’s maritime statecraft initiatives to make naval shipbuilding more cost effective while promoting shipyard stability and investment. The agreements provide stable shipyard workload well into the early 2030s, providing a consistent demand signal to vendors. 

    “The importance of this multiple amphibious ship purchase cannot be overstated with respect to our whole-of-government effort to restore the maritime capabilities of the United States,” said Del Toro. “This purchase sends a steady demand signal to our shipbuilding industrial base that our Navy is actively investing in our shipbuilding infrastructure.”

    The awards are consistent with the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ projected force structure requirements and demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to maintaining 31 amphibious ships. 

    “The Amphibious Ready Group / Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) is the premier force offering of our Corps,” said Lt. Gen. Eric Austin, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration. “This multi-ship procurement contract ensures the Marine Corps upholds the obligation to meet combatant commander requirements for continuous MEU presence. ARG/MEUs provide our national leadership with combat credible forces that are persistently forward, assure allies and partners, and contribute to deterrence, campaigning, crisis response, and combat operations.”

    The America-class of amphibious assault ships operate as the centerpiece of ARG/MEU operations and Marine Expeditionary Brigade with accommodations for ship’s company, troops, vehicles, and equipment. The San Antonio-class of amphibious transport dock ships are designed to embark, transport, and deploy ground troops and equipment.

    “This multi-ship procurement provides the long-term stability our shipbuilders and vendors require, enabling them to deliver product effectively, help support and retain a talented and critical workforce, and invest in the infrastructure required to sustain and grow our shipbuilding capability and capacity,” said Assistant Secretary of the Navy Acquisition, Research and Development, Nickolas Guertin.

    “This multi-ship procurement will deliver critical amphibious warfare capability to support the Navy and Marine Corps mission,” said Capt. Matthew Tardy, program manager, Amphibious Warfare Program, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “The partnership between the Navy and Ingalls Shipbuilding is important. We are proud to be working with their talented workforce to build and deliver highly capable ships and provide needed stability for the shipbuilding industrial base.”

    ​​​​​​​Program Executive Office Ships (PEO Ships), one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, manages the design and construction of destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, as well as a wide range of boats and craft for U.S. agencies and foreign military sales. These platforms enable our nation and its allies to project presence in peace, power in wartime, and assured access at all times.

    – NAVSEA –

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: The deposit auction of the Moscow Small Business Lending Assistance Fund will take place on 09/25/2024

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    Parameters;

    The date of the deposit auction is 09/25/2024. The placement currency is RUB. The maximum amount of funds placed (in the placement currency) is 264,000,000.00. The placement period, days is 191. The date of depositing funds is 09/25/2024. The date of return of funds is 04/04/2025. The minimum placement interest rate, % per annum is 20.00. Terms of the conclusion, urgent or special (Urgent). The minimum amount of funds placed for one application (in the placement currency) is 264,000,000.00. The maximum number of applications from one Participant, pcs. 1. Auction form, open or closed (Open). The basis of the Agreement is the General Agreement. Schedule (Moscow time). Applications in preliminary mode from 11:00 to 11:10. Bids in competition mode from 11:10 to 11:15. Setting the cutoff percentage or declaring the auction invalid before 11:25.

    Additional conditions – Placement of funds with the possibility of early withdrawal of the entire deposit amount and payment of interest accrued on the deposit amount at the rate established by the deposit transaction, in the event of non-compliance of the Bank with the requirements established by clause 2.1. of the Regulation “On the procedure for selecting banks for placing funds of the Moscow Small Business Lending Assistance Fund in deposits (deposits) under the GDS” (as amended on the date of the deposit transaction), early withdrawal at the “on demand” rate, interest payment monthly, on the last business day of the month, without replenishment.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n73414

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SITI continues visit to Wuhan (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SITI continues visit to Wuhan (with photos)
    SITI continues visit to Wuhan (with photos)
    *******************************************

         The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit in Wuhan, Hubei Province today (September 25).     In the morning, Professor Sun attended the 2024 China Automotive Supply Chain Conference and the Third China Intelligent Networked New Energy Vehicle Ecological Conference organised by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Dongfeng Motor Corporation, as well as the launching ceremony of the International Automotive and Supply Chain (Hong Kong) Summit and the 2025 International Automotive and Supply Chain Expo (Hong Kong).     Speaking at the Conference, Professor Sun said that the automobile industry has entered the new energy era, making it an emerging industry under new industrialisation. In the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, new energy vehicle is also one of the significant industries advocated for development under new industrialisation.     He added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology signed the Co-operation Agreement on the Development of New Quality Productive Forces and the Promotion of New Industrialisation last week. Those areas jointly promoted by the two sides are intertwined with the supply chain of new energy vehicle industry. Over the past two years or so, the HKSAR Government attracted over 100 strategic innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises to set up their businesses in Hong Kong, including BeyonCa, a joint enterprise established earlier in Hong Kong by today’s event co-organiser Dongfeng Motor Corporation and France’s Renault Group. He is confident that Hong Kong can make new contributions to the innovative development of the national supply chain of new energy vehicle industry, thereby augmenting the new advantages of Chinese vehicle brands.     Professor Sun then visited Dongfeng Motor Corporation and learned about the corporation’s latest development, product planning and corporate culture. He had in-depth exchanges with the Chairman of the corporation, Mr Yang Qing, on the corporation’s development of new quality productive forces in the future and potential co-operation opportunities between the two parties in aspects such as new industrialisation, with the aim of making good use of Hong Kong’s roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” and the unique function as a dual lane to assist Mainland enterprises to go global and expand overseas markets. He particularly hoped that both sides’ collaboration on the project of BeyonCa setting up in Hong Kong will serve as a demonstration of co-operation with each other.     Professor Sun also visited the corporation’s Mengshi Tech Intelligent Park to tour the assembly final workshop, and experience the functionality and performance of the latest domestic high-end off-road electric vehicles at the off-road experience field. Through on-site visits, exchanges and interactions, as well as dynamic experiences, he learned more about the production process and technology capabilities of Mengshi automobiles. Besides, Professor Sun was briefed in detail on the first model car of BeyonCa and he called for accelerating the plan of setting up assembly production line in Hong Kong.     In the afternoon, Professor Sun visited Wuhan FineMEMS Inc. to gain an understanding of the national high technology enterprise’s technology research and development and products in providing MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) sensors, and metallic thick film pressure sensors and system. He also visited the fully automated one piece flow smart production line established by the company.     Professor Sun then proceeded to the Wuhan University to meet and exchange views with leaders and experts from Wuhan University, other local higher education institutions, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Hubei Province, Department of Science and Technology of Hubei Province, as well as high-tech enterprises. Professor Sun gave the participants an update on Hong Kong’s overall I&T development. They also exchanged views on strengthening collaboration in scientific researches among higher education institutions between Hubei and Hong Kong, as well as advancing the expansion of business by Hubei I&T enterprises to Hong Kong. Professor Sun expressed his support for deepening co-operation in the I&T aspect among higher education institutions between the two places, noting that the HKSAR Government would provide appropriate support and services to university spin-off start-ups planning to establish their footholds in Hong Kong. He also encouraged start-ups in Hubei Province to leverage on Hong Kong’s edges of internationalisation and a highly market-oriented environment to expand their businesses overseas.     The Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology), Dr Ge Ming, also joined the visit.     Professor Sun concluded his visit and returned to Hong Kong in the evening.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2024Issued at HKT 20:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Marking Climate Week, DEP Presents Our Water’s Worth It Award to Lambertville for Exemplary Stormwater Management Efforts

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    Climate Resilience Planning

    In addition to being proactive on stormwater management, the city has been active with the DEP’s Office of Climate Resilience in developing a Climate Resilience Action Plan. Last year the DEP awarded Lambertville a grant of more than $150,000 through its Resilient NJ: Municipal Assistance Program to work with a qualified consultant team to develop, and begin to implement, a municipal climate resilience action plan. This plan works to evaluate vulnerability to current and future hazards including rising temperatures, flooding, and hurricanes, among others.

    “Lambertville has continually demonstrated their commitment to building a climate-resilient community by taking on a wide array of local-led efforts,” said Nick Angarone, New Jersey’s Chief Resilience Officer. “These actions reflect a broad definition of climate resilience, encompassing stormwater management and green infrastructure, proactive policy changes, and effective community outreach and engagement. This diverse array of efforts has made Lambertville a model community for local-led resilience action in the state.”

    Our Water’s Worth It Campaign

    The DEP launched the Our Water’s Worth It campaign earlier this year to raise public awareness about the fundamental importance of our water supplies, the threats they face, and the steps DEP is taking to ensure all New Jerseyans have access to clean drinking water and healthy waterways.

    As part of the campaign, the DEP is recognizing those who have shown exemplary commitment to protecting the state’s water resources. This past July, the DEP presented the first Our Water’s Worth It award to Ridgewood Water for its efforts over the years to conserve water and to protect public health by addressing PFAS contamination.

    In the coming months, DEP will select additional awardees highlighting local contributions to protecting water supplies and public health, improving the health of waterways, and water conservation. For more information about Our Water’s Worth It, visit dep.nj.gov/ourwatersworthit.

    Safe and Reliable Water as an Administration Priority

    Providing New Jersey residents with safe and reliable water supplies is a top priority of the Murphy Administration and Commissioner LaTourette. Earlier this year the administration celebrated a record-setting, billion-dollar investment in water infrastructure throughout the state as project funding in FY24 surpassed $1 billion for the first time.

    Furthering the goal to protect the state’s water resources, the administration earmarked $54.6 million in the FY25 state budget for drinking and clean water infrastructure improvements across the Garden State. The budget appropriation provides a match for larger federal funds.

    The DEP oversees programs that reduce lead exposure in homes and businesses, protect the long-term viability of water supplies such as reservoirs and groundwater sources, monitor for drought conditions, educate the public about the importance of testing wells and reducing lead exposure, and manage stormwater to better protect surface water sources.

    In 2022, the Administration launched the innovative Water Infrastructure Investment Plan (WIIP) to assess and address high priority water infrastructure needs throughout the state. Through WIIP, the state is spurring record investments in clean water and drinking water infrastructure that are creating good-paying jobs while providing safe and reliable drinking water, reducing flooding, and improving the quality of New Jersey’s waterways. For more information on WIIP, visit dep.nj.gov/wiip/.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G8 Joins the Journey of Creating ‘The First Descendant’ with Nexon Developers

    Source: Samsung

    Game development is an art, and like any masterpiece, it requires the right tools. Nexon’s upcoming title, The First Descendant, is set to redefine the looter-shooter genre with its stunning visuals and immersive gameplay. At the heart of this development process is Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G8 — a monitor that not only displays these graphics but elevates them to a new level of realism.
    Join us as we dive into the behind-the-scenes journey with the developers at Nexon Games, who reveal how this cutting-edge display technology has helped bring their ambitious vision to life. From the precision of color to the speed of response, discover why the Odyssey OLED G8 is more than just a monitor — it’s a game-changer in the industry.

    Founded in 1994, Nexon has become a global leader in online gaming. Known for creating popular titles like MapleStory, Dungeon & Fighter and KartRider, Nexon continues to push boundaries in the gaming world. This year, the company introduced The First Descendant, a looter-shooter that attracted 260,000 concurrent players at launch. Nexon is focused on expanding its global reach and adapting to the fast-changing gaming industry. In 2021, Nexon completed the acquisition of Embark Studios AB, a company based in Stockholm, Sweden, developing multiple projects for global release.
    ▲ (From left) Lead Engine Programmer Junhwan Kim from the Engine Program team and Lead World Concept Artist Sinwook Wi, from the Environmental Concept Design team at Nexon Games, sat down with Samsung to talk about their latest project, The First Descendant and how the Odyssey OLED G8 played a role in its development.
    Can you tell us about your role in developing The First Descendant and how you contributed to the game’s creation?
    Kim: I’m responsible for the game engine. I develop the software that integrates essential elements like graphics, sound and physics engines, make them work seamlessly together.
    Wi: I handle the environmental concept design. My role involves creating the overall concept of the game and designing the backgrounds and characters to fit within that environment.
    ▲ (From left) Gley, Blair and Enzo, key characters from Nexon’s looter-shooter game ‘The First Descendant’ (Image courtesy of Nexon)
    What sets The First Descendant apart? What were some of the key innovations and design choices that defined your approach?
    Kim: The First Descendant is a looter shooter that blends third-person shooter (TPS) mechanics with role-playing game (RPG) elements. It features spectacular combat scenes, high-quality graphics and a rich loot system filled with powerful guns and gear. The core of the game lies in its storytelling, character development and the pursuit of the best weapons and equipment.
    A major focus for us was bringing the open world of The First Descendant to life through cutting-edge graphics. Using Unreal Engine 5, we leveraged Nanite to achieve highly detailed environments, allowing us to render complex landscapes and objects with incredible precision. This was crucial for creating an immersive open-world experience where players can explore vast and visually stunning environments. Lumen played a significant role as well, enabling real-time lighting that reacts dynamically to the game’s world and characters, further enhancing the realism of the gameplay.
    * Open World: A game design element that allows players to freely explore most areas with minimal restrictions.
    * Unreal Engine 5: A game engine developed by Epic Games, known for key features like Nanite, which efficiently handles high-capacity graphics, and Lumen, which enhances lighting effects.
    ▲ Junhwan works on the development of ‘The First Descendant’ using the Odyssey OLED G8. The Odyssey OLED G8 delivers superb graphics with its high resolution and color accuracy.
    Wi: The game is set in an apocalyptic world where factions — each with their own traditions — battle for survival. The story follows humanity’s fight against the Vulgus, invaders who nearly wiped out the human race. Players take on the role of descendants, embarking on a quest to find the Iron Heart, the ultimate weapon to end the war.
    On the design front, our goal was to create an apocalyptic world that felt rich and immersive while avoiding the overly dark and futuristic look often seen in similar settings. The environment itself is a key part of the storytelling. So, we integrated colorful, future-oriented designs for city of Albion to balance the grim atmosphere with a sense of hope. This approach doesn’t just end at the visual appeal but also helps the game engage players on an emotional level, too.

    ▲ Sinwook works on the design for the city of Albion, a key area in ‘The First Descendant,’ using the Odyssey OLED G8. The monitor’s consistent colors and detailed contrast has helped bring out the intricate design elements.
    As a game developer, what do you consider the most important factors in creating a visually immersive gaming experience?
    Kim: A high-quality display is crucial to accurately present the game’s graphics and visuals. Today’s gaming standards demand seamless gameplay with vibrant graphics, high frame rates, detailed resolutions and minimal input lag. To fully experience these advancements, it’s crucial to use a gaming monitor with high resolution, a wide color gamut and fast response times.
    As part of our collaboration with Samsung, I received the Odyssey OLED G8 during the development of The First Descendant, and what stood out to me was the monitor’s awesome display quality — color accuracy, expressions and its quick response time. The monitor delivers colors and contrast with a high level of precision, which was crucial for developing the game. The 0.03ms (GTG) response time made a noticeable difference during our demonstrations as well.1

    “With the Odyssey OLED G8, you get two distinct display experiences with a single monitor—16:9 for working and 21:9 for playing,” said Wi Sinwook, Lead World Concept Artist, Environmental Concept Design team, Nexon Games.
    Wi: As a World Concept Artist, I constantly ask myself, “How can I best convey the immersive universe to players?” I want players to experience every detail of the environments and even the subtle expressions of the characters as they were intended. For that, a display accurately reproduces colors and fine details is crucial. When players can see the subtle nuances in shading and the vibrant colors, it significantly enhances their immersion in the game.
    ▲ Sinwook builds out the background concept designs for ‘The First Descendant’ using the Odyssey OLED G8.
    Other than picture quality, were there any other the Odyssey OLED G8 features that stood out when you were working on and demonstrating the game?
    Kim: The First Descendant is a multi-platform game, available on PC (Steam) and consoles. The fact that the Odyssey OLED G8 supports up to three external inputs,2 was especially helpful when we were testing across the different platforms. The sleek, metal design also saved space and complemented the game’s sci-fi aesthetic.
    ▲ Junhwan demonstrates the console version of ‘The First Descendant’ on the Odyssey OLED G8. The Odyssey OLED G8 offers enhanced convenience with 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, 1 DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB hub.
    Wi: Working on the design and demonstrating the game on the Odyssey OLED G8, I found the gameplay smoother and more comfortable compared to my previous monitor. The colors and contrast were balanced and accurate, even on the big screen.
    I also really appreciated the ability to switch the screen ratio between 16:9 and 21:9 with just a single setting change. Normally, I avoid wide monitors due to the viewing angle, but the Odyssey OLED G8 made it convenient to switch between ratios for different tasks — 16:9 for working and 21:9 for demonstrating the game. The big advantage is that you get two distinct display experiences with a single monitor.
    ▲ The Odyssey OLED G8’s Game Bar allows users to switch between 21:9 and 16:9 screen ratios, enabling them to enjoy games in their preferred ratio.
    “The fact that the Odyssey OLED G8 supports up to three external inputs, was especially helpful when we were testing across platforms like PCs and different consoles,” said Junhwan Kim, Lead Programmer, Engine Program team, Nexon Games.
    What features of the Odyssey OLED G8 do you think will elevate the experience for The First Descendant players?
    Kim: The First Descendant is the world’s first HDR10+ GAMING title. We collaborated with Samsung to implement this technology in our game, optimizing peak brightness of the monitor and supporting standard HDR without the need for manual adjustments.3 Playing The First Descendant on the Odyssey monitor with HDR10+ GAMING allows you to experience the game’s vivid, high-quality graphics at their best.
    * HDR10+ GAMING: A gaming technology that enhances image quality by analyzing game content to enhance the depth of graphics and supporting features like response time and Auto HDR.
    ▲ The Odyssey OLED G8 supports HDR10+ GAMING, allowing gamers to enjoy an optimized HDR gaming experience without manual adjustments in supported titles. ‘The First Descendant’ is the first game to feature HDR10+ GAMING technology.
    Wi: Unlike my previous monitor, where colors near the edges tended to darken, the Odyssey OLED G8 maintained consistent brightness across the entire screen. The thin frame and bezel also made it easier to focus on the game.

    ▲ The Odyssey OLED G8’s slim metal design and Core Lighting+ on the back enhance user immersion and create a stylish gaming space.
    Kim: I also found the Game Bar feature to be helpful. When the Odyssey OLED G8 is connected to a PC or console, it automatically calls up the Game Bar. Selecting FPS mode in the Game Bar brightens dark areas in the game, giving you an advantage over hidden enemies. Also, the sound becomes richer, further enhancing the immersion.
    ▲ (Left) Default Game Bar settings without a selected genre, (Right) FPS genre selected in Game Bar.
    Any final words for The First Descendant players?
    Kim: If you’re a fan of The First Descendant, or any third-person shooter (TPS) game with high-quality graphics, the Odyssey OLED G8 is an excellent choice. It has high refresh rate, wide color gamut and fast response time, which really enhance the gaming experience.
    Wi: I’ve always debated between choosing a monitor with high resolution and refresh rate for gameplay versus one with accurate colors and contrast for development. The Odyssey OLED G8 meets both needs perfectly, so I can confidently recommend it to any gamer…or developer!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What America’s history can teach us about debates on religious freedom and its importance for democracy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Corey D. B. Walker, Dean and Wake Forest Professor of the Humanities, Wake Forest University

    The decline in church attendance has not resulted in a diminished Christian presence in American public life. selimaksan/E+ via Getty images.

    Supporters of both major U.S. political parties tend to claim their presidential candidate is the “real” Christian or the “better” Christian or just the “true” Christian.

    For a majority of white evangelical protestants, Trump is the good Christian. Christians for Kamala, a newly created group of self-identified Christians who support the Democratic nominee, say that her campaign embodies the “compassionate heart of Jesus and his teachings.”

    Yet, most American adults agree that religion should be separate from government. This widely shared belief is a cornerstone of religious freedom. As a scholar of religious freedom, I have studied the complex and ever-evolving role of religion in American politics. I argue that this election year, while the Christian character of each candidate is discussed everywhere, religious freedom, one of the core freedoms of American democracy, is not.

    The case of Ezra Stiles Ely

    America’s history of religious freedom is filled with stories that are instructive for our current moment. One such instructive lesson comes from the early 19th century.

    The Second Great Awakening was an intense period of religious revival. Evangelical Christians sought to reform American law and politics to reflect what they considered to be true Christianity. According to legal scholar Geoffrey R. Stone, it was at this time the claim that the “United States is a ‘Christian nation’ first seriously took root.”

    Ezra Stiles Ely.
    The New York Public Library digital collections

    A striking figure from the period is the Philadelphia Presbyterian minister Ezra Stiles Ely. On July 4, 1827, the Yale-educated minister delivered his infamous call for “a Christian political party” in the run-up to the 1828 presidential election.

    Ely’s oration, The Duty of Christian Freemen to Elect Christian Rulers, is a 19th-century version of what is today called “Christian nationalism.” In it, Ely lays out his view of a distinctly Christian vision of who should serve as political leaders and how they should govern.

    Before an Independence Day audience in Philadelphia’s Seventh Presbyterian Church, Ely declared, “Every ruler should be an avowed and sincere friend of Christianity. He should know and believe the doctrines of our holy religion, and act in conformity to its precepts.” Ely also advocated for “a new sort of union, or, if you will, a Christian party in politics.”

    Ely closed his sermon by exhorting Christians to “awake … to our sacred duty to our Divine Master; and let us have no rulers, without our consent and cooperation, who are not known to be avowedly Christians.”

    Critiques in defense of religious freedom

    While Ely sought to wed Christianity and American politics, others voices responded against this move. Religious freedom was new for the young nation. Yet, its supporters recognized its importance for American democracy.

    On Feb. 7, 1828, a pamphlet titled Sunday School Union, or Union of Church and State was placed on the desk of each member of the Pennsylvania Senate. The pamphlet contained excerpts of Ely’s speech that advocated the union of Christianity and politics. Ely’s speech was also the subject of debate in several 19th-century newspapers, including the Harrisburg Chronicle and The Pennsylvania Reporter.

    Notable among these voices was Massachusetts-born and Harvard-educated Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story.

    In an 1828 speech delivered in Salem, Massachusetts, Story boldly declared his support for religious freedom. He stated: “Religious freedom is the birthright of man; that governments have no authority to inflict punishment for conscientious differences of opinion; and that to worship God according to our own belief is not only our privilege, but is our duty, our absolute duty, from which no human tribunal can absolve us.”

    “Wherever religious liberty exist,” he argued, “it will, first or last, bring in, and establish political liberty.”

    Politics and American democracy

    America is not the same as at the time of the Second Great Awakening. Yet, the role of Christianity in political life is seemingly as alive as ever.

    The steady decline in church attendance has not resulted in a diminished Christian presence in American public life. The public square still contains powerful appeals to Christianity rather than a shared democratic heritage.

    Former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump recently stated, “We have to bring back our religion. We have to bring back Christianity in this country.”

    Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has commended the religious convictions of citizens, stating, “People with deep religious convictions may be less likely to succumb to dominating ideologies or trends, and more likely to act in accordance with what they see as true and right. Civil society can count on them as engines of reform.”

    A 2023 survey, in which the nonprofit, nonpartisan research and education organization PRRI interviewed more than 22,000 adults, found that approximately 3 in 10 Americans either supported or held Christian nationalist views. Christian nationalists tend “to see political struggles through the apocalyptic lens of revolution and to support political violence.”

    In my opinion, the linkage of Christianity and politics in the United States undermines American democracy. Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, a prominent public voice, explains how Christian nationalism undermines both Christianity and American democracy. In her 2024 book “How to End Christian Nationalism,” Tyler writes, “Christian nationalism is the greatest threat to religious liberty in the U.S. today, as well as a clear and present danger to our constitutional republic.”

    While debates over the Christian virtues of the candidates may be important for Christian communities, religious freedom is important for American democracy. The response to Christianity and politics is not more Christianity but more democracy. And religious freedom is key.

    Corey D. B. Walker does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What America’s history can teach us about debates on religious freedom and its importance for democracy – https://theconversation.com/what-americas-history-can-teach-us-about-debates-on-religious-freedom-and-its-importance-for-democracy-238174

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Local government controls your roads, schools and utilities − but that doesn’t mean the US president doesn’t touch your life in important ways

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Zoe Nemerever, Professor of Political Science, Auburn University

    The top of the ticket often gets the most attention. Alex Brandon/AP Photo

    “All politics is local” is a common refrain – and yet, it is also true that the president has some unique powers.

    I am an expert on state policymaking, and I’m teaching presidential politics at Auburn University during this election season. Researching and teaching about both state and national politics has made me keenly aware of the stakes of the different races up and down the ballot this fall.

    Power close to home

    State and local governments shape our daily experiences in practical ways. State governments determine whether residents have access to expanded Medicaid, reproductive care, parental and family leave, and they set the state property, sales and income taxes, which we are all required to pay.

    City councils, county boards and school boards determine the quality of the roads we travel, the selection of books in school libraries and the prices of utilities such as water and sewer service.

    Most Americans will have the opportunity to vote for a variety of state and local elected officials this November. Yet many voters find their attention drawn to a more captivating contest: the presidential election.

    And it is hard to deny that the president has an outsized influence on American public policy.

    Staffing the government

    So what does the president do?

    It’s a busy job, for sure – including tasks such as signing executive orders, making treaties, vetoing or signing congressional bills, acting as the military’s commander in chief, attempting to build public support for their agenda and fundraising for the party.

    But one other big responsibility is often overlooked – that of passing out thousands of positions in the executive and judicial branches.

    The president’s appointment power is an enumerated power, meaning that it is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

    As the size of the judiciary and federal bureaucracy has grown over the past century, this presidential power has ballooned to include 4,000 appointments that turn over at the start of every administration. That doesn’t even include the vacancies that arise during the president’s term – for example, when a federal judge retires or dies.

    Perhaps the most well-known presidential appointment power is the power to nominate Supreme Court justices. These nominations tend to be highly political and dramatic affairs. This is due to their irregular and often sudden timing and to the high stakes of lifetime appointments.

    Some presidents don’t get to exercise this supreme power as much as they would like. But they still get to fill many other judgeships across the district courts, appellate courts and other federal courts.

    The Founding Fathers were adamant that the executive appointment power was not unilateral, as evidenced in Federalist Paper 76 penned by Alexander Hamilton. For 1,200 of the most consequential positions, the president nominates individuals, who are then confirmed – or not – by the U.S. Senate.

    The Founding Fathers perceived this as important for preventing the tyranny of a sole actor, which they had just worked so hard to leave behind under English rule.

    Assembling a Cabinet

    Some of the most consequential of these appointments are members of the presidential Cabinet.

    Much like how a head football coach assembles a team of assistants to enact their vision, the president convenes a team of policy champions to lead the 15 executive departments in the federal bureaucracy.

    Each department is run by a “secretary,” nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The president consults with Cabinet members at periodic meetings, but secretaries otherwise enjoy a great deal of autonomy. For this reason, the president tries to pick Cabinet members who share their policy perspective.

    Much of the agenda presidents claim credit for is, in fact, achieved by the Cabinet departments. For example, during the current Biden administration, the Department of Labor increased guaranteed overtime compensation, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended making marijuana a legal but regulated drug, and the Department of Education launched an initiative to tackle the post-COVID surge in chronic absenteeism.

    Cabinet members often fly under the radar of the media, and consequently voters, with a few exceptions. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg had his moment in the headlines earlier in 2024 when he announced a new federal rule that entitles airline passengers to prompt cash refunds when their flights are canceled or delayed. President Barack Obama’s Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was well known for his bus tours promoting the economic value of education. President George W. Bush’s Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spearheaded the noteworthy 2008 U.S.-India nuclear agreement.

    Crisis manager in chief, ad hoc

    Presidents also have the power to touch voters’ lives in profound ways by serving as a unifying character during national crises, a role that differentiates the president from other elected officials.

    These crises, unforeseen at the time of the election, require the president to swiftly reassure a distressed nation. For example, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush delivered an address that acknowledged the grief of Americans while imparting a stern guarantee that the United States would not cower to terrorists. President Donald Trump provided direction for a national response to an unprecedented global pandemic. President Bill Clinton shared heartfelt remarks at the memorial service of those killed in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. And Obama honored victims of a racially motivated shooting at a church in Charleston, South Carolina.

    Presidential candidates of course cannot campaign on their ability to handle unpredictable, emergent situations. Instead, they talk up personal traits that will equip them to carry the nation through the next four years – whatever that may bring.

    During the recent 2024 presidential debate between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump, the candidates tried to demonstrate traits such as strength, humor and mental sharpness – all of which would prove invaluable during whatever the next four years throws our way.

    This November, voters will consider a diverse spread of candidates, from city mayor to president, each with important responsibilities.

    National, state and local governments work together to shape our perceptions, good or bad, about the role public policy plays in our lives – and I’d encourage voters to pay attention to candidates at both the top of the ballot and further down.

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

    – ref. Local government controls your roads, schools and utilities − but that doesn’t mean the US president doesn’t touch your life in important ways – https://theconversation.com/local-government-controls-your-roads-schools-and-utilities-but-that-doesnt-mean-the-us-president-doesnt-touch-your-life-in-important-ways-237939

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is ‘dark money’ political spending, and how does it affect US politics?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Emily Lau, Staff Attorney, State Democracy Research Initiative, University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Where exactly did this money come from? Manuel Augusto Moreno/Moment via Getty Images

    Every campaign season brings renewed attention to the amount of money influencing American politics, and who is spending it, and for what purposes. In particular, people are concerned about what is called “dark money.” For instance, recent media coverage has pointed to escalating dark money spending on both the Democratic and Republican sides.

    The term sounds scary and raises the specter of shadowy people manipulating the nation’s politics. As a researcher who studies the American democratic system, I think it’s worthwhile to unpack what dark money is, what concerns it raises and what might be done to address it.

    Unidentified political donors

    When people talk about dark money, they’re usually referring to money spent on elections that comes from sources that cannot be identified.

    Federal and state laws impose some limits on contributions and require some political contributions and expenditures to be publicly disclosed. Candidates for federal office, for example, must report their campaign donors to the Federal Election Commission. The FEC makes these reports available to the public.

    Likewise, super PACs – groups permitted to spend unlimited amounts on independent electoral advocacy – must also report some information about donations, such as the identities of and amounts given by people who donate more than US$200 in a year.

    But campaign finance disclosure laws have gaps.

    Federal law, for example, allows certain entities – most notably nonprofits designated as “social welfare” organizations or trade associations under Sections 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) of the tax code – to raise and spend large sums on electoral advocacy without disclosing their donors.

    A CBS News investigation into dark money in U.S. politics.

    Another dark money pathway involves making donations to super PACs through shell companies, which are companies set up for the purpose of hiding the financial activities of other people or groups – in this case, political contributions. Although super PACs are legally required to report who they received the contributions from, if the funds come from shell companies, the super PACs may not know and are not required to disclose where the money actually came from. That information remains hidden from public view.

    A lack of donor transparency raises multiple concerns. Voters may have a harder time assessing the validity of political messages or discerning whether candidates may be beholden to certain interests. Regulators and watchdogs can have trouble detecting illegal activity, such as campaign spending by foreign nationals. And unscrupulous people and groups can spread misinformation or destructive rhetoric without being identified or held accountable.

    Undisclosed political expenditures

    While discussions of dark money usually focus on where it comes from, the term can also describe a lack of transparency about where it goes.

    Under federal law, campaign committees must report their direct disbursements, such as payments to vendors or consultants. These vendors and consultants, however, sometimes function as pass-through entities that receive campaign funds and then purchase undisclosed goods and services. And any of these recipients can be set up as shell companies, making the flow of funds even more difficult to track.

    For instance, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and the Democratic National Committee faced FEC complaints for failing to disclose indirect payments made through the campaign’s law firm to researchers who compiled a dossier on Donald Trump’s Russia ties. The Clinton campaign and the DNC paid a fine to settle the matter without conceding wrongdoing.

    But enforcement can be difficult. In 2020, a watchdog group filed an FEC complaint alleging that Trump’s reelection campaign directed hundreds of millions of dollars to a pass-through entity in an improper effort to hide its expenditures – which included payments to top advisers and family members that, by law, would have otherwise been disclosed. The FEC dismissed the Trump complaint in 2022 when commissioners deadlocked 3-3 on whether to pursue it.

    As with a lack of donor disclosure, a lack of expenditure disclosure can deprive voters and regulators of valuable information. Lack of transparency can also invite questionable campaign practices, such as using donated funds in ways that enrich candidates, campaign staff or their associates.

    It can be hard to determine who is really behind shell companies and campaign donors.
    nicodemos/E+ via Getty Images

    Stalled federal reforms

    Proponents of greater campaign finance transparency have had little success pressing federal lawmakers and regulators to address dark money.

    Since 2010, congressional Democrats have been introducing legislation known as the DISCLOSE Act. Among other requirements, it would make dark money groups reveal major donors and restrict the use of shell companies to conceal donors’ identities. While versions of the bill have passed the House, they have repeatedly stalled in the Senate. Opponents maintain that these measures would infringe people’s privacy rights and chill constitutionally protected speech.

    Advocates have also made minimal headway persuading Congress or federal agencies to adopt new disclosure regulations or tighten enforcement.

    The FEC, which has an even partisan split among its six commissioners, has often been unable to get a majority to agree to take action. And the FEC’s most notable recent decisions have been to loosen, rather than tighten, campaign finance rules. Congress has barred the Securities and Exchange Commission from establishing new political spending disclosure rules for public companies, although some companies self-report more than the law requires.

    States’ efforts to curb dark money

    Dark money is also an issue in state and local elections. The strength of state and local transparency laws varies. Because these elections typically receive less attention and scrutiny than federal elections, money sometimes flows even more opaquely.

    Unlike the federal government, a number of states and localities have bolstered their disclosure rules in recent years. Arizona, California, Colorado, New Jersey and Washington, for example, have passed new laws requiring more donor information, including about the original sources of funds that are transferred between multiple groups before being spent on electioneering.

    Meanwhile, states such as Iowa, Massachusetts and Texas have adopted laws requiring campaigns to provide details about how consultants and vendors spend the campaign’s funds.

    Even in these states, disclosure gaps remain. The reality is that efforts to improve transparency can seem like a game of whack-a-mole: Each new round of regulations tends to generate new workarounds. But the experiences in these states and elsewhere may offer models and lessons for other jurisdictions.

    The current Supreme Court has given mixed messages about campaign finance transparency.
    Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

    Constitutional questions

    Beyond the political challenge of getting stronger transparency regulations adopted, proponents of such measures also face potential constitutional challenges by opponents of disclosure.

    In multiple cases, including the 2010 Citizens United v. FEC ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected First Amendment claims brought by political spenders who wished to conceal their identities. In that case, the court observed that transparency helps the electorate “make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages.”

    However, the Supreme Court has also recognized a right to engage in anonymous political speech. And in recent years, the court’s conservative supermajority has become somewhat more skeptical of disclosure rules, including in a 2021 case, Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta, which overturned a state law requiring charities to identify major donors. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that the court’s argument could be applied to campaign finance disclosure regulations.

    Therefore, even if public momentum builds for stronger transparency regulations, the Supreme Court could stand as an obstacle to such reforms.

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

    – ref. What is ‘dark money’ political spending, and how does it affect US politics? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-dark-money-political-spending-and-how-does-it-affect-us-politics-236294

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Ninth ECB Annual Research Conference 2024: Welcoming remarks & Session 1

    Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

    Welcoming remarks
    Luc Laeven, European Central Bank

    Session 1:

    The economics of financial stress
    Dmitriy Sergeyev*, Bocconi University
    Chen Lian, University of California, Berkeley
    Yuriy Gorodnichenko, University of California, Berkeley
    Discussant: Alina Bartscher, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management

    Behavioural sticky prices
    Sergio Rebelo, Northwestern University
    Miguel Santana, Northwestern University
    Pedro Teles*, Banco de Portugal and Católica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics
    Discussant: Gaetano Gaballo, HEC Paris

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZNTaE2QCPU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Ninth ECB Annual Research Conference 2024: Session 3

    Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

    Session 3:

    Chair: Christophe Kamps, European Central Bank

    The job ladder: inflation vs. reallocation
    Giuseppe Moscarini, Yale University
    Fabien Postel-Vinay*, University College London and Institute for Fiscal Studies
    Discussant: Kerstin Holzheu, Sciences Po

    The search cost of inflation
    Laura Pilossoph, Duke University
    Jane M. Ryngaert*, University of Notre Dame
    Jesse Wedewer, Duke University
    Discussant: Jordi Galí, CREI and Universitat Pompeu Fabra

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rgAd9BM5mE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Ninth ECB Annual Research Conference 2024: Session 2

    Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

    Session 2:

    Chair: Marie Hoerova, European Central Bank

    Strike while the Iron is Hot: Optimal Monetary Policy with a Nonlinear Phillips Curve
    Peter Karadi, European Central Bank
    Anton Nakov*, European Central Bank
    Galo Nuño, Banco de España
    Ernesto Pastén, Central Bank of Chile and Toulouse School of Economics
    Dominik Thaler, European Central Bank
    Discussant: Guido Ascari, University of Pavia and De Nederlandsche Bank

    Data and markups: a macro-finance perspective
    Jan Eeckhout*, Universitat Pompeu Fabra
    Laura Veldkamp, Columbia University
    Discussant: Maarten De Ridder, London School of Economics

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GxgjH9lAdU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: The world’s first issue of digital financial assets for charitable purposes took place on the Moscow Exchange platform

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    On September 24, 2024, the Moscow Exchange platform hosted the issue of digital financial assets (DFA) for charitable purposes.

    The issuer of the CFA was the Voskresenie charity foundation, and the buyers were Russian credit organizations. The funds raised through the issue of the CFA will be used to finance the construction of a church in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Cheboksary.

    Anatoly Aksakov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets: “At my suggestion, the idea of using advanced financial technologies in charity was implemented on the Moscow Exchange platform. This is a landmark event for the financial and charitable sectors. Moscow Exchange, together with the financial community, has developed a solution for fast and transparent financing of charitable projects using a new instrument for the Russian market – digital financial assets. This is an important first step. There is a lot of work ahead to further popularize this instrument, which will not only offer new opportunities to philanthropists, but also simplify the process of charity itself.”

    Sergey Kharinov, Director of Digital Assets at Moscow Exchange: “The use of distributed ledger technologies in the charitable sector has a number of advantages, including transparency of operations, flexibility and speed of fundraising. Our plans include applying the successful experience of the first issue to create a digital platform based on it, which will provide an additional technological channel for fundraising for charitable organizations.”

    In August 2023, the Moscow Exchange Group received licenses from the Bank of Russia to operate as an information system operator (NPO JSC NSD) and a digital financial asset exchange operator (PJSC Moscow Exchange).

    Moscow Exchange is the largest Russian exchange, the only multifunctional platform in Russia for trading shares, bonds, derivatives, currencies, money market instruments and commodities. The Group includes a central depository, as well as a clearing center that performs the functions of a central counterparty in the markets, which allows Moscow Exchange to provide clients with a full cycle of trading and post-trading services.

    Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232PR@moex.com

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n73424

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SJ visits Vietnam

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Justice Paul Lam continued his Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) visit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

    In the morning, Mr Lam met China Business Association Ho Chi Minh City Branch Chief Supervisor Sun Guo Qiang to explore business opportunities in Hong Kong and the Vietnamese city, and learn about the demand for legal services in the local business sector.

    He then had lunch with Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam Vice-Chairman Fred Burke for a better understanding of Vietnam’s business environment and need for cross-jurisdictional legal services.

    In the afternoon, Mr Lam exchanged views with representatives from the Vietnam International Arbitration Center on recent developments in the arbitration landscape in both places and explored ways to strengthen collaboration.

    During a meeting with the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, he discussed the development of the legal profession and explored potential future collaborations in building stronger and closer ties.

    Mr Lam also attended a dinner with Acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Ho Chi Minh City Xu Zhou and shared with him the latest developments in Hong Kong’s legal and alternative dispute resolution sector.

    Upon arriving in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday, he attended a forum, followed by a networking dinner to meet the local legal and business sectors.

    The justice chief will conclude his visit to Ho Chi Minh City and depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia tomorrow to attend a seminar to promote Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Charges Merrill Lynch and Harvest Volatility Management for Ignoring Client Instructions

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    SEC penalizes firms, recovers more than $6 million of excess fees tied to options trading strategy

    The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against Harvest Volatility Management LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. for exceeding clients’ designated investment limits over a two-year period beginning in March 2016, which resulted in clients paying higher fees, being subjected to increased market exposure, and incurring investment losses. As part of the separate settlements, Harvest and Merrill have agreed to pay a combined $9.3 million in penalties and disgorgement to resolve the SEC’s claims. 

    According to the SEC’s orders, Harvest was the primary investment adviser and portfolio manager for the Collateral Yield Enhancement Strategy (CYES), which traded options in a volatility index with the aim of generating incremental returns. The SEC’s orders find that, starting in 2016, Harvest allowed scores of accounts to exceed the exposure levels that investors designated when they signed up to the CYES strategy, including dozens of accounts that exceeded the limit by 50 percent or more. Merrill and Harvest received larger management fees when investors’ exposure levels climbed above pre-set levels and exposed investors to greater financial risks. The SEC order as to Merrill finds that it introduced its clients to Harvest and received part of Harvest’s management and incentive fees, as well as trading commissions. It also finds that Merrill was aware that investors’ exposure to CYES was exceeding pre-set exposure levels and failed adequately to inform affected CYES investors, most of whom had existing advisory relationships with Merrill. The SEC’s orders also find that Harvest and Merrill neglected to adopt and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that they disclosed all material facts to their clients and alerted them to the excessive exposure.

    “In this case, two investment advisers allegedly sold a complex options trading strategy to their clients, but failed to abide by basic client instructions or implement and adhere to appropriate policies and procedures,” said Mark Cave, Associate Director of the SEC’s Enforcement Division. “Today’s action holds Merrill and Harvest accountable for dropping the ball in executing these basic duties to their clients, even as their clients’ financial exposure grew well beyond predetermined limits.”

    The SEC’s orders find that Harvest and Merrill violated Sections 206(2) and 206(4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-7 thereunder. Without admitting or denying the findings, Harvest and Merrill agreed to be censured, to cease-and-desist orders, and to penalties of $2 million and $1 million, respectively. Harvest will also pay $3.5 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest, while Merrill will pay $2.8 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest.

    The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Bobby Gray, Matthew Finnegan, and Suzanne Romajas, under the supervision of Jeff Leasure and Mr. Cave.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 2025 Budget: compliance with the debt brake, compensation for cost increases and reduction of the tax scale

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Canton of Neuchatel Switzerland

    09/25/2024

    ​The State Council presents its 2025 budget project, in a situation still marked by a favorable economic climate. Despite the increases in expenses in certain areas of activity, the income statement shows a surplus of revenue of 29.9 million francs and meets the requirements of the debt brake. Significant investments are also expected. In addition, a further reduction in the tax scale is proposed.

    After three accounting and budgetary years particularly marked by a favourable economic context, the 2025 budget of the State of Neuchâtel presents a surplus of revenue of 29.9 million francs on a total of 2.5 billion in expenses. Fulfilling the requirements of the debt brake, it makes it possible to amortize 1% of the State’s overdraft while ensuring the self-financing, up to 71.2%, of a significant investment envelope.

    Significantly up on previous years, investments amount to nearly 147 million, with a decisive share representing 5.2% of revenues. While an envelope of this size represented an additional challenge in terms of self-financing, it reflects the many projects started in recent years that are now in their implementation phase. For the Council of State, this is a decisive period during which investment expenditure will have to remain at a high level in order to meet the major challenges of modernizing, making the canton more attractive and improving its infrastructure.

    Positive revenue dynamics

    Despite some signs of slowdown already perceived in the Neuchâtel economy, tax forecasts continue for the time being to benefit from the good economic situation, the fall in unemployment and inflation. Tax revenues should therefore remain at a level close to 2023, a sign of positive dynamics of resources that will help to mitigate significant increases observed in several areas of expenses.

    Among other important sources of financing, the 2025 budget benefits from a significant increase in revenues received by the Canton as part of the federal financial equalization and takes into account an improvement in the outlook linked to a resumption of ordinary payments from the Swiss National Bank (SNB). While they allow us to approach 2025 with a certain serenity, these developments nevertheless call for the greatest caution given the high level of uncertainty that characterizes them and the total lack of influence exercised by the Canton. This caution is all the more important given that multiple issues are currently threatening the stability of public finances.

    Need to control loads

    As a sign of the many challenges that the Canton is currently facing, the 2025 budget includes significant increases in charges, particularly in the social and health sectors, where demographic change is now clearly having an impact. The rise in health costs requires, in particular, ever-increasing resources allocated to health institutions, but also to health insurance subsidies or in the area of supplementary benefits.

    Expenditure is also increasing in the area of training, or in that of mobility with allowances paid to public transport companies which continue to grow. In addition to these, there are the many additional efforts that the Canton has committed to making in climate protection.

    Finally, the redistribution to the municipalities of half of the federal contribution for the compensation of geotopographical overloads, which represents a burden of more than 10 million francs for the Canton, is not subject to any compensation this year and is therefore fully assumed by the State budget.

    Faced with these major challenges, it is now imperative that the Canton of Neuchâtel controls its expenses and achieves a sustainable clean-up of public finances.

    Compensation for cost increases and reduction of the tax scale

    The 2025 budget remains impacted by inflationary pressure which, despite a clear slowdown observed in recent months, still has significant effects on many areas of State activity as well as on household purchasing power. For 2025, the Council of State therefore proposes full compensation for the increase in civil service salaries. It also proposes catching up on the indexation reserve that had to be maintained in 2024. A measure that has an overall impact on the State budget of around 30 million francs.

    Furthermore, convinced that Neuchâtel taxpayers must also benefit from the good economic situation and its positive financial consequences for the State and the municipalities, the Council of State invites the Grand Council to adopt a new temporary reduction in the personal income tax scale, at a rate of 1%, which is added to the previous one. This proposal, the financial implications of which are already included in the 2025 budget, should allow the canton to continue this logic of modest progress in order to maintain and improve its attractiveness.

    Efforts still needed in the medium term

    The 2026-2028 financial and task plan still shows significant deficits of between 30 and 50 million, which do not include the potential deferrals of charges from the Confederation to the cantons or the impact of the responses to the various cantonal initiatives. These worrying projections and prospects should encourage the State to conduct a prudent financial policy in order to maintain sufficient room for maneuver to react in the event of an economic downturn. Significant additional efforts will therefore be necessary during the next legislature to guarantee the stability of public finances, an essential condition for being able to respond effectively to future challenges without jeopardizing compliance with the debt brake.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Peapack Private Hires Vanessa Tortorice as Senior Managing Director

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BEDMINSTER, NJ, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market: PGC) and Peapack Private, a division of Peapack-Gladstone Bank, are proud to announce that Vanessa Tortorice has joined Peapack Private’s New York City location as Senior Managing Director.  Vanessa joins a team of highly-skilled commercial bankers at Peapack Private, where she will contribute to the growth of commercial and industrial business in the New York market. She is dedicated to providing tailored banking solutions to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals.

    With a proven track record in financial services, Vanessa brings 12 years of experience to Peapack Private.  Previously, she served as Vice President and Senior Business Banker at M&T Bank, where she managed a portfolio of high-net-worth clients.  Vanessa excelled at fostering relationship stewardship and driving cross-functional collaboration, significantly contributing to revenue growth.  Prior to that as Vice President, Business Banking at Capital One, she managed a diverse portfolio of valued clients, consistently surpassing targeted net portfolio loan and deposit growth objectives.  Veronica exceeded goals in acquiring new clients, managing existing relationships, and forging new banking alliances.  She ranked within the top 10% nationally, affirming her track record of excellence.

    Ms. Tortorice attended the University of Rome, Rome, Italy, and the College of Staten Island CUNY, with a focus on Liberal Arts.

    About the Company

    Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation is a New Jersey bank holding company with total assets of $6.51 billion and assets under management and/or administration of $11.5 billion as of June 30, 2024.  Founded in 1921, Peapack-Gladstone Bank is a commercial bank that offers a client-centric approach to banking, providing high-quality products along with customized and innovative wealth management, investment banking, commercial and retail solutions.  Peapack Private, a division of Peapack-Gladstone Bank, offers comprehensive financial, tax, fiduciary and investment advice and solutions to individuals, families, privately held businesses, family offices and not-for-profit organizations, which help them to establish, maintain and expand their legacy.  Together, Peapack-Gladstone Bank and Peapack Private offer an unparalleled commitment to client service.  Visit www.pgbank.com and www.peapackprivate.com for more information.

    Contact:  Rosanne Schwab, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Vice President, Public Relations and Corporate Communications Manager, 500 Hills Drive, Suite 300, Bedminster, NJ  07921 rschwab@pgbank.com, (908) 719-6543.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fortinet Announces Progress Toward its Mission to Tackle the Cybersecurity Skills Shortage

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    John Maddison, Chief Marketing Officer at Fortinet
    “Through our longstanding investments to address the cyber talent shortage, Fortinet continues to grow and expand our programs and strategic partnerships by delivering an award-winning cybersecurity training and certification program. Addressing the cyber skills gap is vital to enhancing our society’s collective cyber resiliency and we are committed to developing the current and future cyber workforce through the Fortinet Training Institute. As part of this effort, we remain focused on our pledge to train 1 million individuals in cyber by 2026.”

    News Summary  
    Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, today announced significant progress in its mission to address the cybersecurity skills shortage through its Training Institute programs. As part of the company’s commitment to closing the cyber workforce gap, Fortinet pledged to train 1 million people in cybersecurity by the end of 2026 and through the Fortinet Training Institute programs has achieved significant strides toward this goal. With more than half a million people having been trained since the 5-year span pledge was announced, Fortinet is on track to meet this commitment by the end of 2026.

    As the cybersecurity landscape grows increasingly complex, the demand for skilled professionals continues to grow with an estimated 4.8 million cybersecurity professionals required to address the industry’s workforce gap. At the same time, Fortinet’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report reveals that 70% of organizations believe the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals is increasing risks to their security.

    Fortinet is at the forefront of working to address the skills gap by providing award-winning training and certification curriculum designed to equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to better mitigate cyber risks. Additional recent key initiatives and achievements include:

    • Award-Winning Cybersecurity Curriculum: Fortinet’s most recent industry acknowledgement includes winning the 2024 SC Awards for Best Professional Certification Program. In the fall of 2023, Fortinet introduced enhancements to the Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE) Certification program, providing multiple certification options focused on role-based training – such as administrator, analyst, architect – as well as a foundational certification level. Fortinet has also been honored with Gold for best cybersecurity training and Gold for best security awareness program from the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards; Gold for cyber and education and training and security awareness and training from the Globee 2024 Cyber Security Global Excellence Awards; and Most Innovative in cybersecurity training and certification, and security awareness and training service from the Global Infosec Awards, among others.
    • European Commission’s Cybersecurity Skills Academy Initiative Pledge: Earlier this year, Fortinet pledged to offer its award-winning cybersecurity training and security awareness curriculum to up to 75,000 individuals for free in Europe over the next three years. Since joining this initiative, Fortinet is offering its Certification program curriculum through the Cybersecurity Skills Academy and expanding learning opportunities for individuals across all 27 countries of the European Union, helping develop critical cyber skills in the region.
    • All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and EduSkills Foundation Partnership: Fortinet is partnering with the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and EduSkills Foundation to offer 100,000 virtual internships in the field of cybersecurity across India, as well as providing our Certification program free of cost.
    • Fortinet Cyber Bootcamps Help Develop the Future Cyber Workforce: Fortinet is partnering with organizations across the world to host cybersecurity and networking bootcamps to further increase access to its training curriculum. Earlier this year, Fortinet hosted a threat hunting workshop for participants of the MITRE Embedded Capture the Flag (eCTF) competition, which included students from around the world. Attendees of the Fortinet workshop gained hands-on cybersecurity experience, assuming the role of a security analyst to identify adversarial behaviors using renowned frameworks and procedures.
    • Continuing to Drive a Diverse Cyber Workforce through Partnerships: Through the Education Outreach program and Veterans program, Fortinet cultivates partnerships to drive a skilled, inclusive and diverse cyber workforce. More recently, Fortinet partnered with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Cyber Catalyst Talent Solutions, and Tech Vets Canada, among others, on an in-person bootcamp specifically for veterans interested in gaining technical and hands-on expertise in cyber. Fortinet also collaborated with several Fortinet Veteran program and Education Outreach program partners earlier this year – including Cerco, Helping Heroes, Hire Heroes USA, Onward 2 Opportunity, TechVets, and VetSec – to offer a nine-week Networking Fundamentals Bootcamp this year to further upskill and reskill veterans. Additionally, Fortinet is continuing to partner with Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) to offer members a Networking Fundamentals Bootcamp designed as an entry point for those wanting to pursue a career in cybersecurity.

    Building on Fortinet’s Longstanding Commitment to Close the Global Cyber Skills Gap
    These initiatives build on Fortinet’s longstanding commitment to address the cybersecurity skills gap worldwide. The Fortinet Training Institute delivers training and certifications to IT and security professionals, students and educators, and underserved communities, through its various programs. The ecosystem supporting these programs – including the Education Outreach program, the Veterans program and the Academic Partner program – is comprised of more than 700 partners across more than 100 countries globally.

    To further help advance this work, Fortinet is a part of various public-private partnerships, including participating in the White House’s National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy commitments by introducing free security awareness training for primary and secondary school educators and students globally including school districts across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Brazil. All these efforts contribute toward Fortinet’s goal to train 1 million people globally in cyber by 2026.

    Additional Resources

    About Fortinet 
    Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere you need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet’s solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Collaboration with esteemed organizations from both the public and private sectors, including CERTs, government entities, and academia, is a fundamental aspect of Fortinet’s commitment to enhance cyber resilience globally. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, and FortiGuard Labs.    

    Media Contact:  Investor Contact:  Analyst Contact: 
    Stephanie Lira
    Fortinet, Inc. 
    408-235-7700 
    pr@fortinet.com 
          		 Aaron Ovadia 
    Fortinet, Inc.  
    408-235-7700 
    investors@fortinet.com     		 Brian Greenberg  
    Fortinet, Inc. 
    408-235-7700 
    analystrelations@fortinet.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Texas Capital Launches Government Money Market Exchange Traded Fund

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Texas Capital Bank Private Wealth Advisors, a subsidiary of Texas Capital Bank, and the Texas Capital Funds Trust today announced the launch of the Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF (NYSE: MMKT) (the “MMKT ETF” or “Fund”). This innovative and first-of-its-kind ETF will hold highly liquid, short-term U.S. government debt instruments and cash equivalents, providing an exchange-traded investment option for investors focused on managing credit risk and preserving capital.

    The MMKT ETF is the latest fund launched by Texas Capital ETF & Funds Management, whose managed ETFs include the flagship Texas Capital Texas Equity Index ETF (NYSE Arca: TXS) that helps investors gain investment exposure to the diversity and growth of the eighth largest economy in the world, Texas1. Complementing Texas Capital’s other funds, the MMKT ETF is designed to provide investors with a government money market fund in the form of an ETF, combining the intraday liquidity and flexibility of an ETF with the risk and return characteristics of a money market fund.

    “With the substantial changes in the interest rate environment over the last few years, the Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF offers an exciting alternative for investors,” said Daniel S. Hoverman, Head of Corporate & Investment Banking at Texas Capital. “As the first ETF committed to following Rule 2a-7, the provision of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that governs money market funds, Texas Capital believes the combination of the tradability of an ETF and the structure of a money market fund will prove an important investment alternative for investors looking to manage liquidity, volatility and credit risks in their securities portfolio.”

    The Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF seeks to provide as high a level of current interest income as is consistent with maintaining liquidity and stability of principal while following Rule 2a-7.

    “As the premier full-service financial services firm headquartered in the state of Texas, the launch of the MMKT ETF continues our commitment to serving our clients’ liquidity and investment needs,” added Hoverman. “Innovation is an integral part of the Texas Capital experience, ranging from Initio, our commercial banking platform that enables new account onboarding within a single business day, to today’s announcement about the revolutionary combination of ETF flexibility and money market sensibility. We look forward to welcoming investors in MMKT to our suite of funds and to Texas Capital.”

    The Texas Capital Funds Trust is a Delaware statutory trust formed in 2023 and registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Trust has retained Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services, Inc., doing business as Texas Capital Bank Private Wealth Advisors, as the adviser to the Fund. Edward Rosenberg, head of ETF & Funds Management for Texas Capital serves as the president of the Texas Capital Funds Trust. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by the chief investment officer of Texas Capital Bank Private Wealth Advisors, J. Steven Orr, who brings more than 30 years of portfolio management experience. The Board of Trustees for the Texas Capital Funds Trust includes Hayman Capital Management Founder and Chief Investment Officer J. Kyle Bass, Texas Capital’s Head of Corporate & Investment Banking Daniel S. Hoverman, Avery Capital Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Avery Johnson, Texas Capital’s Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Development Jocelyn Kukulka and PIXIU Founder and Chief Executive Officer Eddie Margain.

    Additional details on the Fund can be found here.

    About Texas Capital
    Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ®: TCBI), a member of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P MidCap 400®, is the parent company of Texas Capital Bank (“TCB”). Texas Capital is the collective brand name for TCB and its separate, non-bank affiliates and wholly-owned subsidiaries. Texas Capital is a full-service financial services firm that delivers customized solutions to businesses, entrepreneurs and individual customers. Founded in 1998, the institution is headquartered in Dallas with offices in Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth, and has built a network of clients across the country. With the ability to service clients through their entire lifecycles, Texas Capital has established commercial banking, consumer banking, investment banking and wealth management capabilities. All services are subject to applicable laws, regulations, and service terms. Deposit and lending products and services are offered by TCB. For deposit products, member FDIC. For more information, please visit www.texascapital.com.

    Trading in securities and financial instruments, strategic advisory, and other investment banking activities are performed by TCBI Securities, Inc., doing business as Texas Capital Securities. TCBI Securities, Inc. is a member of FINRA and SIPC and has registered with the SEC and other state securities regulators as a broker dealer. TCBI Securities, Inc. is a subsidiary of TCB. All investing involves risks, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Securities and other investment products offered by TCBI Securities, Inc. are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not bank guaranteed.

    Disclosures
    Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks and charges of the Fund before investing. The prospectus contains this information and other information about the Fund, and it should be read carefully before investing. Investors can obtain a copy of the prospectus by calling 844.TCB.ETFS (844.822.3837). 

    Credit Risk. Issuers of money market instruments or financial institutions that have entered into repurchase agreements with the Fund may fail to make payments when due or complete transactions or they may become less willing or less able to do so.

    Interest Rate Risk. The value of the Fund’s investments generally will fall when interest rates rise, and its yield will tend to lag behind prevailing rates. The Fund may face a heightened level of interest rate risk due to certain changes in general economic conditions, inflation and monetary policy, such as certain types of interest rate changes by the Federal Reserve.
    U.S. Government Securities Risk. There are different types of U.S. government securities with different levels of credit risk, including the risk of default, depending on the nature of the particular government support for that security. For example, a U.S. government-sponsored entity, such as Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), although chartered or sponsored by an Act of Congress, may issue securities that are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and are therefore riskier than those that are.
    Repurchase Agreements Risk. Repurchase agreements carry certain risks not associated with direct investments in securities, including a possible decline in the market value of the underlying obligations.
    Portfolio Liquidity Risk. Although the Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of high-quality instruments, the Fund’s investments may become less liquid as a result of market developments or adverse investor perception. In stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings.
    Management Risk. The risk that the investment strategies, techniques and risk analyses employed by the Adviser may not produce the desired results.
    Investment and Market Risk. As with all investments, an investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk. Investors in the Fund could lose money, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount of an investment, over short or prolonged periods of time.  Markets can decline in value sharply and unpredictably which may affect the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share. The increasing interconnectivity between global economies and financial markets increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region, or financial market.
    ETF Risks. The Fund is an ETF, and because of the ETF’s structure, it is exposed to the following risks:

    Authorized Participants, Market Makers, and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that may act as Authorized Participants (“APs”). In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occur, Shares may trade at a material discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts or delisting: (i) APs exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other APs step forward to perform these services; or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.
    Costs of Buying or Selling Shares. Due to the costs of buying or selling Shares, including brokerage commissions imposed by brokers and bid/ask spreads, frequent trading of Shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in Shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.
    Large Shareholder Risk. From time to time, an AP, a third-party investor, an affiliate of the Adviser, or a fund may invest in the Fund and hold its investment for a specific time period to allow the Fund to achieve size or scale. There can be no assurance that any such entity will not redeem its investment or that the size of the Fund will be maintained at such levels, which could negatively impact the Fund.
    Premium-Discount Risk. The Shares may trade above or below their NAV. The market prices of Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of, and demand for, Shares on the Exchange or other securities exchanges. The existence of significant market volatility, disruptions to creations and redemptions, or potential lack of an active trading market for Shares (including through a trading halt), among other factors, may result in the Shares trading significantly above (at a premium) or below (at a discount) to NAV.
    Trading Risk. Although Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange and may be traded on U.S. exchanges other than the Exchange, there can be no assurance that Shares will trade with any volume, or at all, on any stock exchange. In stressed market conditions, the liquidity of Shares may begin to mirror the liquidity of the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which can be significantly less liquid than Shares.
    Trading Halt Risk. Sharp price declines in securities owned by the Fund may trigger trading halts, which may result in the Fund’s shares trading in the market at an increasingly large discount to NAV during part (or all) of a trading day or cause the Fund itself to halt trading. In such market conditions, market, or stop-loss orders to sell the ETF shares may be executed at market prices that are significantly below NAV or investors might not even be able to transact in Shares if the Fund halts trading.

    New Adviser Risk. The Adviser has only served as an adviser to a registered fund for less than one year. As a result, there is no long-term track record against which an investor may judge the Adviser and it is possible the Adviser may not achieve the Fund’s intended investment objective.
    New Fund Risk. The Fund is new and does not have shares outstanding as of the date of this Prospectus. As a result, prospective investors have no track record or history on which to base their investment decisions. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size. If the Fund does not grow large once it commences trading, it will be at greater risk than larger funds of wider bid-ask spreads for its shares, trading at a greater premium or discount to NAV, liquidation and/or a stop to trading. Any liquidation of the Fund could cause the Fund to incur elevated transaction costs for the Fund and negative tax consequences for its shareholders.

    Shares are not individually redeemable and are issued and redeemed at their net asset value only in large, specified blocks of shares called creation units. Shares otherwise can be bought and sold only through exchange trading at market price (not NAV). Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

    Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services, Inc. d/b/a Texas Capital Bank Private Wealth Advisors (“PWA”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Texas Capital Bank and a Registered Investment Advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), serves as investment adviser to the Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF and Texas Capital Texas Equity Index ETF and is paid a fee for its services. Shares of the Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF and Texas Capital Texas Equity Index ETF are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, Texas Capital Bank or its affiliates. The Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF and Texas Capital Texas Equity Index ETF are not insured by the FDIC or any other government agency. The Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF and Texas Capital Texas Equity Index ETF are distributed by Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, which is not affiliated with Texas Capital Bank Private Wealth Advisors. 

    INVESTMENTS: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NO BANK GUARANTEE

    1 Source: Texas Economic Development Corporation

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ServiceTrade Releases a New Modular Dashboard Giving Commercial Fire and Mechanical Contractors a “Command Center” to Maximize Productivity and Profit 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ServiceTrade, Inc., the software platform for commercial mechanical and fire contractors, announces the release of ServiceTrade Fall ‘24, the latest innovations to its industry-leading field service management software. The newest release features capabilities that can maximize tech productivity and improve profit for every job, every customer, every time. Enhanced AI-driven features provide more useful information that helps companies increase technician and customer satisfaction.

    The Fall ‘24 release features a new customizable dashboard that can be personalized to provide relevant data for each operational role. Owners, dispatchers, operations executives, and service managers can create personalized “command centers” that deliver the necessary real-time information they need. Drag and drop widgets make it easy for stakeholders to create a view of the most appropriate information for their job function. In addition, enhanced tasking, scheduling functionality, and dispatch features guide schedules that optimize time and tech profitability by prioritizing the most important customers. The Fall ‘24 release is designed to help companies optimize time on-site, meet customer expectations, and win and keep the most valuable customers. 

    Brian Smithwick, ServiceTrade CTO and co-founder, commented: “For over a decade, we’ve been singularly focused on solutions that help contractors prioritize the most profitable customers, build maximum pipeline, and improve productivity and profits. The Fall ‘24 release brings critical innovations to market and will allow commercial contractors to scale their businesses and deliver exceptional service, build customer loyalty, and drive revenue. With the Fall ‘24 release, we continue to raise the bar with software solutions to support the unique challenges commercial service contractors face.”

    Customized, Role-Based Views Through Drag-and-Drop Widgets
    ServiceTrade has completely transformed its dashboard, enabling a customizable, real-time view of operational data that shows relevant information for specific jobs and business functions. Unlike traditional static dashboards, ServiceTrade’s dashboard is fully customizable, allowing users to select from an extensive library of widgets that integrate real-time operational data across work orders, customer communications, financial performance, and more. By providing users with personalized views that contain insights about the details that matter most to their job function, the dashboard helps users easily find the information they need, increasing productivity and optimizing business performance. 

    Streamlined, Powerful Scheduling and Dispatching
    The latest version of the ServiceTrade dispatch board delivers scheduling and dispatching game changers to simplify the way dispatchers assign and schedule technicians and jobs. These enhancements provide everything business owners need – and nothing they don’t – to make smarter scheduling decisions, reduce travel time, and provide technicians with more information so they can work efficiently and productively. With a refurbished user interface and AI infusions to streamline all workflows, the dispatch and scheduling experience empowers commercial contracting businesses to prioritize the most profitable customers and jobs, optimize technician routes, schedule high-value work, and plan long-term to ensure all technicians are fully utilized. 

    Automated Tasking Ensures Efficiency and Maximum Profit at Each Appointment 
    Streamlining the management of recurring maintenance tasks provides technicians with clear task checklists for each job and piece of equipment, and helps contractors meet service agreements. New task manager features simplify the planning and execution of maintenance activities, allow techs to meet productivity goals, and deliver quality service accurately to meet customer contract commitments and regulations at every service appointment.

    AI-Driven Commenting and Job Summaries 
    New AI-driven features, including SmartTranscribe, SmartComment, and SmartSummary, make it easier for technicians to provide detailed notes and for the office to more efficiently deliver complete customer communication. ServiceTrade’s industry-leading AI infusions help manage the full life-cycle of commercial and industrial building equipment from installation and startup to inspection and maintenance to repair and replace. Unlike other solutions focused on financial data, residential services, or those with limited data in the commercial sector, ServiceTrade Smart AI is powered by over 18 million commercial work orders servicing over 13 million building assets with over 6 million identified equipment issues. 

    To learn more about ServiceTrade:

    About ServiceTrade:
    ServiceTrade, Inc. is a software platform for commercial mechanical and fire and life safety contractors. During a chronic skilled labor shortage, ServiceTrade helps commercial contractors increase profit by improving service and project operations, increasing technician productivity, selling more service agreements, and growing customer loyalty. Located in Durham, North Carolina, ServiceTrade was founded in 2012 to automate and streamline the commercial mechanical and fire protection industry and has grown to have more than 1,300 customers. More than 10% of the commercial or industrial buildings in the United States are serviced by contractors using ServiceTrade. Learn more at www.servicetrade.com.

    Contact:
    Media@KTCMarketingandpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Buchanan Technologies Strengthens Oracle Expertise with Heartland IT Consulting Acquisition

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GRAPEVINE, Texas, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Buchanan Technologies, a leading IT and Application Managed Services provider, has acquired Dallas-based Heartland IT, an IT services firm with primary expertise in Oracle technologies, including Oracle Fusion Applications (OFA), Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), Oracle EBS, JD Edwards, and PeopleSoft. This marks the third acquisition Buchanan has completed in the last three years centered around its Oracle solutions.

    Heartland IT was founded in 2010 with a vision to be the premier Oracle consulting firm providing services to multi­national organizations. With exceptional delivery expertise in Oracle technologies and a robust grasp of the needs of diverse industries, Heartland IT has created innovative solutions for its tenured customer base, assisting clients with their journey through the Oracle ecosystem. Buchanan will leverage this expertise to enhance the growth of its Oracle and Applications Services practice.

    Buchanan Technologies is going through a period of rapid growth, and by bringing Heartland IT into the fold, it can utilize the two organizations’ combined strengths to better service the growing demand for managed services across the entire technology stack as a one-stop solution for mid-market and enterprise customers. “Heartland IT’s expertise in Oracle solutions and their proven track record in consulting services further cements Buchanan’s ability to deliver a distinctive, holistic, and innovative approach to customers across the globe who rely on Oracle technologies within their business,” said Jim Buchanan, Founder and CEO of Buchanan Technologies.

    Patrick Donlin, CEO and President of Sales for Heartland IT, commented, “We are proud to be a part of the Buchanan team. Buchanan’s breadth of experience and customers for Oracle-based solutions is a natural fit and perfectly aligns with the vision of Heartland for being a premier Oracle consulting firm. We look forward to supplementing and growing as one team.”

    Buchanan Technologies is backed by Lightview Capital. Heartland IT was represented by Sett & Lucas. With this acquisition, Buchanan Technologies and Heartland IT will set new benchmarks in Oracle-based consulting services.

    About Buchanan Technologies
    Established in 1988, Buchanan Technologies is an award-winning managed services provider offering innovative IT services and customized solutions to mid-tier and enterprise-level organizations across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Buchanan offers flexible and customizable solutions to accommodate any IT needs – whether it is improving customer experience, serving with onsite IT services, or complete managed IT solutions – and believes every interaction matters with each customer to provide a seamless user experience. To learn how Buchanan can simplify your IT solution, visit www.buchanan.com.

    About Heartland IT Consulting
    Heartland IT Consulting is a resource delivery firm that supplies hard-to-locate consultants who specialize in Oracle products including Oracle Enterprise Business suite, JD Edwards, PeopleSoft, Business Intelligence and Oracle Cloud applications. Heartland offers clients a flexible partnership as Heartland’s Resource Delivery Model innovatively creates contract and permanent staffing solutions to fit any client’s needs.

    About Lightview Capital
    Lightview Capital is a leading private equity firm focused on investing in founder-owned companies in the business services and tech-enabled services industries. Lightview partners with its portfolio companies by providing deep industry knowledge, insightful experience, and active resources to unlock growth and drive value. Lightview Capital’s approachable investment style combines deep operational and financial experience with an entrepreneurial spirit that delivers measurable results. For more information, visit lightviewcapital.com.

    Media Contact:

    LaRessa Cox
    Vice President of Marketing,
    Buchanan Technologies
    lcox@buchanan.com
    +1-972-910-7544

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: YPrime Survey Finds 62% of Clinical Site Staff Report eCOA Platforms are Misaligned with Site Needs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MALVERN, Pa., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YPrime, the leading pioneer in clinical trial technology, today announced the release of a comprehensive research report that sheds light on the technology experiences and preferences of clinical trial site personnel. The report, A Sponsor’s Guide to Leveraging Site Insights for Smarter Technology Decisions, offers crucial insights for clinical trial sponsors seeking to enhance site experience, patient compliance, and overall trial efficiency with technologies aligned to users’ needs and preferences.

    The research, based on a survey of 100 clinical trial site personnel (95% investigators, 5% other roles), reveals a significant gap between sponsor-provided technologies and the actual needs of sites. Key findings include:

    • 47% cite difficulties teaching participants how to use their devices and ePRO system as a key issue keeping them up at night.
    • 60% say sponsors rarely or never gain site input when selecting an eCOA platform for a study.
    • 72% do not feel adequately trained in using the eCOA platform(s) before the study begins, and 71% do not feel adequately trained to help their clinical trial participants with ePRO data collection.

    “This research validates YPrime’s proactive focus on user-centric design in clinical trial technologies,” said Mike Hughes, Chief Product Officer of YPrime. “We’ve implemented dedicated teams and systems to develop intuitive applications prioritizing user needs. Our solutions improve efficiency and compliance, enhancing the overall trial experience. We are inspired to make life better for patients and clinicians.”

    The report offers guidance to sponsors about improving technology effectiveness by involving site personnel in technology selection, prioritizing integration and interoperability, investing in comprehensive training programs, emphasizing user-friendly interfaces, and continuously gathering and acting on feedback. These strategies address key concerns such as lack of integration, insufficient training, and the need for greater user-friendliness in clinical trial technologies.

    “Sponsors must integrate the voice of investigators and site stakeholders into technology decisions—not just at the initial selection stage, but throughout the entire process,” stated Jimmy Bechtel, Vice President of Site Engagement at the Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS). “The feedback loop must be continuous and iterative, ensuring that the technology evolves to meet the real-world needs of those on the front lines of clinical research. When we prioritize the input of sites and genuinely listen to their experiences, we will pave the way for a better experience for patients as well.”

    The full research paper offers an in-depth analysis of the current clinical trial technology landscape, site personnel challenges, and sponsors’ strategies to bridge the gap between technology selection and user needs. Please visit the YPrime website to download the free report, A Sponsor’s Guide to Leveraging Site Insights for Smarter Technology Decisions.

    To learn more about this important topic from stakeholders with decades of experience, attend today’s webinar, Understanding Site and Patient Challenges: Empowering Sponsors to Drive Trial Success, at 11:00 AM EDT/9:00 AM PDT/4:00 PM BST.

    About YPrime
    At YPrime, we streamline the clinical trial journey with a configurable platform designed for speed, quality, and certainty. With 50% faster IRT startup times, 30% faster eCOA launch times, and quality standards 50% above the industry average, YPrime can help you solve for certainty. Discover how by visiting www.yprime.com or emailing marketing@yprime.com.

    Media Contact        
    Terry Rehm
    Head of Thought Leadership and Public Relations, YPrime
    trehm@yprime.com
    862-288-0329

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7f5e3d1f-0c5b-4afd-92c3-8718eaefe991

    The MIL Network –