Category: Business

MIL-OSI Security: Harlingen couple guilty in multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud scheme

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The operators of a durable medical equipment (DME) company have pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicare, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jeremiah Yzaguirre, 46, and his wife, Maria Luisa Yzaguirre, 45, both of Harlingen, operated a business called Southwest Medical Homepatient. The business was enrolled in the Medicare program as a provider of DME and services. It claimed to provide parts and repairs for power wheelchairs among other services.

As part of their pleas, the couple admitted they received millions of dollars for parts and repairs that were never performed or provided. They both acknowledged billing Medicare approximately $736,072 for parts and repairs for one specific beneficiary, falsely claiming to have replaced expensive parts hundreds of times.

They also admitted to using the proceeds from the fraud to purchase cryptocurrency, a vehicle, electronics, miscellaneous collectibles and purses.

Medicare was billed approximately $14 million for power wheelchairs, parts and repairs for just 37 Medicare beneficiaries between 2019 and 2023 as a result of their scheme.

“Medicare fraud is ultimately fraud against the taxpayer,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will aggressively prosecute those who steal from their fellow citizens by defrauding public services.”

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. will impose sentencing Aug. 4. At that time, the Yzaguirres face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Both were permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (OIG), Texas Health and Human Services – OIG, Texas Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Texas Department of Insurance conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Swartz and Ana Cano are prosecuting the case.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI: 2025 first-quarter results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Paris (France), April 29, 2025

A SOLID START TO THE YEAR, WITH SUCCESSFUL REFINANCING
AND VESSEL CAPACITY AGREEMENT TERMINATED

		Q1¹
*Revenue*²		*$301M (+10%)*
*Adjusted EBITDA*²		*$143M (+35%)*
*Net Cash Flow*		*$(20)M (vs $30M)* Including a $42M interest payment in March 2025 (historically paid in Q2)

Sophie Zurquiyah, Chief Executive Officer of Viridien:

“The first quarter of 2025 was marked by two significant milestones for the Group: the termination of the vessel capacity agreement, completing our transition toward an asset-light model, and the successful refinancing of our bonds. The end of the vessel capacity agreement opens a new chapter of enhanced flexibility in our cost base and stronger cash generation, while our bond refinancing reflects the financial market’s confidence in the execution of our strategy and our long-term potential.

In parallel, our financial results for the first quarter of 2025 confirm the robust performance of our business, with commercial wins, solid profitability, and cash generation fully aligned with our long-term ambitions.

Assuming moderate fluctuations in the oil market, we expect to achieve our target of approximately $100M in Net Cash Flow generation for the year and to continue our deleveraging journey.”

Q1 2025 Highlights²

Group
- IFRS Revenue, EBITDA and Net Income of respectively $258 million, $99 million, $(28) million
- Group revenue increased thanks to sustained momentum in Geoscience and successful Earth Data sales. Sensing & Monitoring comparison base returned to a more normalized level

Group Adjusted EBITDA of $143 million, up 35%, benefited from (i) revenue growth at Geoscience, (ii) revenue growth and the end of vessel commitment penalty fees at Earth Data, and (iii) cost reductions at Sensing & Monitoring
Cash flow of $22 million before the $42 million bond interest payment in Q1 (historically paid in Q2). Net Cash Flow of $(20) million after interest payment and negative working capital impact
Final milestones of our financial roadmap achieved: successful refinancing of our April 2027 $447 million and €578 million notes, replaced with $450 million 10% and €475 million 8.5% senior secured notes due October 2030
Net debt at $974 million and liquidity at $257 million

Digital, Data and Energy Transition (DDE)
- Revenue at $214 million, up 16% with growth both at Geoscience (+25%) and Earth Data (+7%)
- Adjusted EBITDA at $137 million, up 32%
  - Geoscience:
    - Revenue at $110 million (+25%)
    - Solid performance driven by continued adoption of our most advanced Elastic FWI technologies worldwide
    - North America outperforming and sustained interest of MENA clients for high-quality imaging
    - Low Carbon: minerals study in Saudi Arabia and new win for carbon sequestration in the North Sea
    - HPC & Digital: new HPC customers in Materials Science and Image Rendering operating on our platform
  - Earth Data:
    - Revenue at $104 million (+7%)
    - Cash EBITDA at $39 million (+12%)
    - Early results show game-changing imaging at Laconia and environmental permit received for a program in Brazil. Active on multiple reprocessing projects worldwide
    - Low Carbon: CCUS screening package projects funded by industrial emitters in Europe
Sensing and Monitoring (SMO)
- Revenue at $87 million, nearly stable (-2%), with a return to a more normalized comparison base
- Adjusted EBITDA at $14 million (+37%), driven by cost reduction impact on profitability
  - Sustained activities in Land with strong momentum on nodal systems
  - New Businesses: new infrastructure monitoring contracts signed in North America; pursuing several geotechnical monitoring opportunities in rail and mining sectors worldwide; awarded a new project for our Marlin Ports & Logistics solution in Asia
Full-Year 2025 financial outlook
- In 2025, assuming a stable E&P Capex environment, performance is expected to be driven by:
  - Geoscience: growth supported by industry-leading technology and strong backlog

Earth Data: stronger Cash EBITDA KPI following the end of vessel commitment penalty fees
- Sensing & Monitoring: further savings expected from the restructuring plan
- New Businesses: growth and first- year positive contribution to Group profitability

Financial objective:
- Net Cash Flow of approximately $100 million, assuming moderate oil market fluctuations

Following the successful refinancing completed in Q1, Viridien will continue focusing on cash flow generation and deleveraging

Q1 2025 Conference call
- The press release and presentation will be available on our website www.viridiengroup.com at 5:45 p.m. (CET)
- An English-language analysts’ conference call is scheduled today at 6:00 p.m. (CET)
- Participants should register for the call here to receive a dial-in number and access code, or participate via the live webcast here
- A replay of the conference call will be available the following day for a period of 12 months in audio format on the Company’s website

The Board of Directors met on April 29, 2025, and closed the consolidated financial statements as of
March 31, 2025. Please note that the figures and information published in this press release have not been audited nor have they been subject to any limited review by Viridien’s statutory auditors.

About Viridien:

Viridien (www.viridiengroup.com) is an advanced technology, digital and Earth data company that pushes the boundaries of science for a more prosperous and sustainable future. With our ingenuity, drive and deep curiosity we discover new insights, innovations, and solutions that efficiently and responsibly resolve complex natural resources, digital, energy transition and infrastructure challenges. Viridien employs around 3,400 people worldwide and is listed as VIRI on the Euronext Paris SA (ISIN: FR001400PVN6).

Investors contact:

VP Investor Relations and Corporate Finance
Alexandre Leroy
alexandre.leroy@viridiengroup.com
+33 6 85 18 44 31

Q1 2025 – Financial Results

Key Segment P&L figures ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	2024	2025	*Var.* %
Key Segment P&L figures ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	Q1	Q1	*Var.* %
Exchange rate euro/dollar	1.09	1.04	(5%)
Segment revenue	273	301	*10%*
DDE	185	214	16%
Geoscience	88	110	25%
Earth Data	97	104	7%
SMO	89	87	(2%)
Land	45	51	14%
Marine	34	25	(26%)
Beyond the core	11	11	4%
Segment EBITDAs	105	142	*36%*
Adjusted ⁽²⁾Segment EBITDAS	106	143	*35%*
DDE	104	137	32%
SMO	10	14	37%
Corporate and other	(8)	(8)	-1%
Segment operating income	28	65	*136%*
Adjusted ⁽²⁾Segment operating income	29	66	*130%*
DDE	35	66	87%
SMO	2	8	303%
Corporate and other	(9)	(9)	-1%
1) Unaudited figures 2) Adjusted for non-recurring charges and gains

Other KPI ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	2024	2025	*Var.* %
Other KPI ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	Q1	Q1	*Var.* %
Geoscience Backlog	227	329	*45%*
Total Capex	58	61	5%
EDA Library net book value ⁽²⁾	471	489	4%
Liquidity	440	257	*-42%*
o.w. undrawn RCF	90	110 ⁽³⁾	22%
Gross debt ⁽²⁾	1 316	1 120	*-15%*
o.w. accrued interests	43	2	-96%
o.w. lease liabilities	108	124	15%
Net debt ⁽²⁾	966	974	1%
1) Unaudited figures 2) Post IFRS15 and 16 3) $125M RCF fully undrawn, o/w. $15M ancillary guarantee facility

Consolidated IFRS Income Statements ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	2024	2025	*Var.* %
	Q1	Q1	*Var.* %
Exchange rate euro/dollar	1.09	1.04	(5%)
Revenue	249	258	4%
EBITDA	80	99	*24%*
Operating Income	20	56	*185%*
Equity from Investment	(0)	(0)	2%
Net cost of financial debt	(24)	(26)	6%
Other financial income (loss)	0	(46)	–
Income taxes	2	(13)	–
Net Income / Loss from continuing operations	(3)	(29)	–
Net Income / Loss from discontinued operations	0	1	–
Net Income / (Loss)	(3)	(28)	–
Shareholder’s net income / (loss)	(3)	(28)	–
Basic Earnings per share in $	(0.42)	(3.88)	–
Basic Earnings per share in €	(0.38)	(3.74)	–

1) Unaudited figures

Cash Flow items ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	2024	2025	*Var.* %
Cash Flow items ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	Q1	Q1	*Var.* %
Segment EBITDA	105	142	*36%*
Income Tax Paid	(3)	(4)	(26%)
Change in Working Capital & Provisions	(0)	(47)	–
Other Cash Items	(1)	(1)	13%
Cash provided by Operating Activity	102	91	*(9%)*
Total Capex	(58)	(61)	(5%)
Acquisitions and Proceeds of Assets	0	(1)	–
Cash from Investing Activity	(58)	(62)	*(7%)*
Paid Cost of Debt	2	(39)	–
Lease Repayment	(12)	(10)	17%
Cash from Financing Activity	(10)	(49)	–
Discontinued Operations Acquisitions	(3)	(0)	89%
Net Cash Flow	30	(20)	–
Financing cash flow	(3)	(129)	–
Forex and other	(4)	(6)	–
Net increase/(decrease) in cash	23	(155)	–

1) Unaudited figures

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – March 31, 2025

Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of operations

		Three months ended March 31,
(In millions of US$, except per share data)	Notes	2025	2024
Operating revenues		257.5	248.6
Other income from ordinary activities		0.1	0.1
Total income from ordinary activities		257.6	248.7
Cost of operations		(171.0)	(192.8)
Gross profit		86.6	55.9
Research and development expenses – net		(4.0)	(4.9)
Marketing and selling expenses		(7.7)	(8.8)
General and administrative expenses		(18.1)	(21.3)
Other revenues (expenses) – net	5	(0.3)	(1.1)
Operating income (loss)		56.4	19.8
Cost of financial debt – gross		(27.4)	(27.4)
Income provided by cash and cash equivalents		1.6	3.1
Cost of financial debt, net		(25.8)	(24.3)
Other financial income (loss)	6	(46.2)	(0.0)
Income (loss) before incomes taxes and share of income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method		(15.5)	(4.5)
Income taxes		(12.9)	2.1
Net income (loss) before share of income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method		(28.4)	(2.4)
Net income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method		(0.2)	(0.2)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		(28.6)	(2.6)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		0.7	0.0
Consolidated net income (loss)		(28.0)	(2.6)
Attributable to:
Owners of Viridien S.A.	$	(27.8)	(3.0)
Non-controlling interests	$	(0.2)	0.4
Net income (loss) per share
Basic (a)	$	(3.88)	(0.42)
Diluted (a)	$	(3.88)	(0.42)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations per share
Basic (a)	$	(3.97)	(0.42)
Diluted (a)	$	(3.97)	(0.42)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations per share ^(a)
Basic (a)	$	0.09	(0.00)
Diluted (a)	$	0.09	(0.00)

(a) As a result of the July 31, 2024 reverse share split, the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for 2023 has been adjusted retrospectively. The number of ordinary shares outstanding has been adjusted to reflect the proportionate change in the number of shares

See the notes to the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss)

		Three months ended March 31,
(In millions of US$)	Notes	2025 ^(a)	2024 ^(a)
Net income (loss) from statements of operations		(28.0)	(2.6)
Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges		(0.3)	0.3
Variation in translation adjustments		9.9	(5.8)
Net other comprehensive income (loss) to be reclassified in profit (loss) in subsequent period (1)		9.6	(5.5)
Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan		(0.5)	0.0
Net other comprehensive income (loss) not to be reclassified in profit (loss) in subsequent period (2)		(0.5)	0.0
Total other comprehensive income (loss) for the period, net of taxes (1) + (2)		9.1	(5.5)
Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period		(18.9)	(8.1)
Attributable to:
Owners of Viridien S.A.		(18.8)	(8.4)
Non-controlling interests		(0.1)	0.3

(a) Including other comprehensive income related to discontinued operations which is not material

Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of financial position

(In millions of US$)	Notes	March 31, 2025	December 31, 2024
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		146.6	301,7
Trade accounts and notes receivable, net		343.7	339,9
Inventories and work-in-progress, net		162.4	163,3
Income tax assets		13.5	22,9
Other current assets, net		78.1	74,0
Assets held for sale, net		26.4	24,5
Total current assets		770.7	926,2
Deferred tax assets		39.5	43,6
Other non-current assets, net		8.6	8,9
Investments and other financial assets, net		24.2	25,7
Investments in companies under the equity method		5.9	1,1
Property, plant and equipment, net		212.1	220,6
Intangible assets, net		569.3	535,4
Goodwill, net		1,086.4	1,082,8
Total non-current assets		1,946.0	1,918,1
TOTAL ASSETS		2,716.7	2,844,3
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Financial debt – current portion	3	43.8	56,9
Trade accounts and notes payables		101.3	120,9
Accrued payroll costs		92.4	84,5
Income taxes payable		17.8	20,4
Advance billings to customers		18.1	19,2
Provisions — current portion		18.8	19,7
Other current financial liabilities		0.0	0,5
Other current liabilities		207.7	182,5
Liabilities associated with non-current assets held for sale		2.2	2,4
Total current liabilities		502.1	507,0
Deferred tax liabilities		18.4	18,4
Provisions — non-current portion		30.9	28,8
Financial debt – non-current portion	3	1,076.4	1,165,6
Other non-current financial liabilities		0.0	0,0
Other non-current liabilities		1.8	1,7
Total non-current liabilities		1,127.5	1,214,5
Common stock: 11,214,681 shares authorized and 7,161,465 shares with a €1.00 nominal value outstanding at March 31, 2025		8.7	8,7
Additional paid-in capital		118.7	118,7
Retained earnings		1,009.0	1,036,5
Other Reserves		37.5	55,2
Treasury shares		(20.1)	(20,1)
Cumulative income and expense recognized directly in equity		(1.4)	(1,1)
Cumulative translation adjustment		(103.3)	(113,3)
Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A.		1,049.2	1,084,7
Non-controlling interests		38.0	38,1
Total equity		1,087.2	1,122,8
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		2,716.7	2,844,3

See the notes to the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of cash flows

		Three months ended March 31,
(In millions of US$)	Notes	2025	2024
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income (loss)		(28.0)	(2.6)
Less: Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		(0.7)	(0.0)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		(28.6)	(2.6)
Depreciation, amortization and impairment		21.2	24.2
Impairment and amortization of Earth Data Surveys		24.3	39.0
Depreciation and amortization of Earth Data surveys, capitalized		(4.2)	(3.8)
Variance on provisions		(0.7)	0.3
Share-based compensation expenses		1.1	0.9
Net (gain) loss on disposal of fixed and financial assets		0.1	–
Share of (income) loss in companies recognized under equity method		0.2	0.2
Other non-cash items		30.9	1.2
Net cash-flow including net cost of financial debt and income tax		44.3	59.4
Less: Cost of financial debt		25.8	24.3
Less: Income tax expense (gain)		12.9	(2.1)
Net cash-flow excluding net cost of financial debt and income tax		83.0	81.6
Income tax paid		(4.1)	(3.2)
Net cash-flow before changes in working capital		78.9	78.4
Changes in working capital		11.6	22.3
– change in trade accounts and notes receivable		24.9	33.6
– change in inventories and work-in-progress		6.3	0.2
– change in other current assets		(0.2)	(2.1)
– change in trade accounts and notes payable		(19.8)	15.4
– change in other current liabilities		0.0	(24.8)
Net cash-flow from operating activities		90.5	100.7

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Total capital expenditures (tangible and intangible assets) net of variation of fixed assets suppliers		(61.2)	(58.2)
Proceeds from disposals of tangible and intangible assets		0.0	0.5
Dividends received from investments in companies under the equity method		–	0.2
Total net proceeds from financial assets		–	–
Variation in other non-current financial assets		2.3	(3.3)
Net cash-flow from investing activities		(58.9)	(60.8)

		Three months ended March 31,
(In millions of US$)	Notes	2025	2024
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayment of long-term debt		(1,074.2)	(0.2)
Total issuance of long-term debt		964.2	–
Call premium		(21.9)	–
Refinancing transaction costs paid		(11.7)	–
Lease repayments		(9.8)	(11.8)
Financial expenses paid		(38.8)	2.0
Dividends paid and share capital reimbursements:
— to owners of Viridien		–	–
— to non-controlling interests of integrated companies		–	–
Net cash-flow from financing activities		(192.2)	(10.0)

Effects of exchange rates on cash		6.0	(4.1)
Net cash flows incurred by discontinued operations		(0.3)	(2.9)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(155.0)	22.9
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		301.7	327.0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		146.6	349.9

See the notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

Unaudited Interim Consolidated statements of changes in equity

Amounts in millions of US$, except share data	Number of Shares issued	Share capital	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Other reserves	Treasury shares	Income and expense recognized directly in equity	Cumulative translation adjustment	Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A.	Non-controlling interests	Total equity
Balance at January 1, 2024	7,136,763	8.7	118.7	980.4	27.3	(20.1)	(1.4)	(90.8)	1,022.8	41.5	1,064.3
Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan (1)				0.0					0.0		0.0
Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges (2)							0.3		0.3		0.3
Net gain (loss) on translation adjustments (3)								(5.7)	(5.7)	(0.1)	(5.8)
Other comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)	–	–	–	0.0	–	–	0.3	(5.7)	(5.4)	(0.1)	(5.5)
Net income (4)				(3.0)					(3.0)	0.4	(2.6)
Comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)+(4)	–	–	–	(3.0)	–	–	0.3	(5.7)	(8.4)	0.3	(8.1)
Exercise of warrants
Dividends									–		–
Cost of share-based payment				0.8					0.8		0.8
Variation in translation adjustments generated by the parent company					9.7				9.7		9.8
Balance at March 31, 2024	7,136,763⁽^a)	8.7	118.7	978.2	37.0	(20.1)	(1.1)	(96.5)	1,024.9	41.8	1,066.7

Amounts in millions of US$, except share data	Number of Shares issued	Share capital	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Other reserves	Treasury shares	Income and expense recognized directly in equity	Cumulative translation adjustment	Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A.	Non-controlling interests	Total equity
Balance at January 1, 2025	7,161,465⁽^b)	8.7	118.7	1,036.5	55.2	(20.1)	(1.1)	(113.3)	1,084.7	38.1	1,122.8
Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan (1)				(0.5)					(0.5)		(0.5)
Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges (2)							(0.3)		(0.3)		(0.3)
Net gain (loss) on translation adjustments (3)								9.9	9.9	0.0	9.9
Other comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)				(0.5)	–	–	(0.3)	9.9	9.0	0.0	9.1
Net income (loss) (4)				(27.8)					(27.8)	(0.2)	(28.0)
Comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)+(4)				(28.4)			(0.3)	9.9	(18.8)	(0.1)	(18.9)
Dividends									–	–	–
Cost of share-based payment				0.7					0.7		0.7
Variation in translation adjustments generated by the parent company					(17.7)				(17.7)		(17.7)
Changes in consolidation scope and other				0.2					0.2		0.2
Balance at March 31, 2025	7,161,465	8.7	118.7	1,009.0	37.5	(20.1)	(1.4)	(103.3)	1,049.2	38.0	1,087.2

(a) Pro forma following Reverse Share Split
(b) Reverse Share Split: Pursuant to a delegation from the Combined General Meeting of shareholders of May 15, 2024, and a sub-delegation from the Board of Directors held on the same day, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer has decided to implement a reverse share split on the basis of 1 new share of €1.00 nominal value for 100 old shares of €0.01 nominal value

¹All variations refer to the same period last year
²Unless otherwise stated, all figures and comments are referring to “Segment” (i.e. pre-IFRS 15), as defined in the 2024 Universal Registration Document’s glossary, under section 8.7

Attachment

Viridien – Q1 2025 results

The MIL Network –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI: Quadient SA: Availability of the 2024 Universal Registration Document
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Bagneux, 29 April 2025,

Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT) announces that it has filed its 2024 Universal Registration Document, in xHTML format, with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorité des marchés financiers or “AMF”), on 28 April 2025.

The 2024 Universal Registration Document notably includes:
- The 2024 annual financial report;
- The Board of Directors’ report on corporate governance;
- The description of the share buyback program;
- The reports from the statutory auditors;
- The management report including the information related to sustainability ; and
- The certification report on information related to sustainability.
Quadient’s 2024 Universal Registration Document is available to the public free of charge in accordance with the applicable regulations. It can be consulted and downloaded under the heading “Investors / Regulated information” on the Group’s Investor Relations website (https://invest.quadient.com/en/) as well as on the AMF’s website (www.amf-france.org).

***

About Quadient®

Quadient is a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections through digital and physical channels. Quadient supports businesses of all sizes in their digital transformation and growth journey, unlocking operational efficiency and creating meaningful customer experiences. Listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris (QDT) and part of the CAC® Mid & Small and EnterNext® Tech 40 indices, Quadient shares are eligible for PEA-PME investing.

For more information about Quadient, visit https://invest.quadient.com/en/.

Contacts

Attachment

The MIL Network –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: RUBIS: Publication of the 2024 Universal Registration Document
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Paris, 29 April 2025, 17:45 pm

Rubis filed its 2024 Universal Registration Document with the Autorité des marchés financiers (the French Financial Markets Authority – AMF), in ESEF format, on 28 April 2025.

This document is available on the Company’s website (www.rubis.fr/en) in the section “Investors – Regulated Information – Universal registration document including the Annual Financial Report”, on the AMF’s website (www.amf-france.org) and at the company’s registered office (46, rue Boissière – 75116 Paris – France).

The 2024 Universal Registration Document includes notably:
- the Annual Financial Report;
- the Supervisory Board’s report on corporate governance;
- the Sustainability report;
- the Statutory Auditors’ reports on the annual financial statements, on the consolidated financial statements and on related-party agreements;
- the report on the certification of sustainability information and verification of the disclosure requirements under Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852;
- the description of the share buyback programme.
The Annual Financial Report’s cross-reference table is displayed on page 446 of the 2024 Universal Registration Document.

The English version of the 2024 Universal Registration Document will soon be released on the Company’s website.

Contact

RUBIS – Legal Department

Tel: +33 (0)1 44 17 95 95

Attachment
- RUBIS: Publication of the 2024 Universal Registration Document
The MIL Network –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: Ethical Web AI (EWA) announces ground-breaking Software partnership with AWS and full AWS Marketplace Integration
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ethical Web AI (d/b/a Bubblr Inc.) (OTCQB: BBLR), a world-leading innovator in Generative AI security solutions, today announced it had become a validated partner with the world’s leading cloud platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS), making its enterprise-grade Generative AI Security solution (AI Vault) available on AWS Marketplace.

This is a highly significant milestone for EWA and validation of its innovative approach to enterprise software development. This collaboration brings scalable, real-time protection and governance for generative AI applications/ChatGPT directly to enterprises worldwide. Through integration with AWS Marketplace, EWA can leverage all of its expertise in scalable cloud-based deployment while offering its customers a quick and seamless method of procurement.

With the rapid adoption of generative AI tools by both SMEs and Fortune 500 companies, organisations face a growing need to secure AI integrations, ensure data integrity and enforce compliance at scale. AI Vault offers a simple, flexible, and robust solution that allows the client to fully unlock ChatGPT’s potential to drive productivity gain whilst safeguarding against the threat of data leakage and reputational damage through the misuse of confidential company info.

EWA has developed a fully patented solution that puts the client in control of how it manages and controls the use of ChatGPT across the enterprise. Its unique solution allows the client to define key sensitive terms that can redacted from prompts augmented by proprietary contextual parameters/criteria. This ensures that all potentially damaging/proprietary data is prevented from augmenting the public LLMs/. The solution sits within the client infrastructure/intranet, with all client-identifying data fully anonymised. Sophisticated reporting allows the client to monitor precisely how the generative AI app is being used within the organisation. AI Vault has been optimised to run solely on AWS cloud infrastructure.

“Our Validated AWS Partner Status combined with the seamless Marketplace integration is a huge step forward for EWA and in democratising secure and responsible AI adoption at scale,” said Tom Symonds, CEO of Ethical Web. “We’re very excited to offer our customers the best in-breed AWS cloud solution and a seamless path to securing their generative AI initiatives without compromising innovation. Without robust oversight, these benefits can be overshadowed by risks to data integrity, brand reputation, and compliance.”

Key Benefits of AI Vault on AWS Marketplace:
- Secure ChatGPT: Real-time protection against sensitive data accidentally being shared, misuse by employees, and blocks either us as suppliers or Open AI from getting any visibility of any sensitive data or any personal data
- End-to-end governance: Audit logging, usage visibility, and policy enforcement across teams and applications. The customer has complete control of who has access to Gen AI with complete visibility of what it is being used for.
- Seamless AWS Integration: Using the client’s existing cloud infrastructure
- Scalable by Design: Suitable for startups and Fortune 500s alike, with simple deployment
Accelerating Time to Market for SMEs with AWS Marketplace

For SMEs looking to integrate AI into their operations quickly, AWS Marketplace provides a frictionless procurement and deployment experience:
- Fast Onboarding: Get started in minutes with preconfigured templates and integrations.
- Flexible Billing: Consolidated billing through AWS—no News Vendors or contracts needed.
- No Infrastructure Headaches: Deploy within your existing AWS environment without a complex setup.
- Enterprise-Grade from Day One: Access the same security and compliance features used by global enterprises—without enterprise-level overhead.
- Scalability as You Grow: Easily scale usage and security policies as your AI footprint expands.
About Ethical Web AI
Ethical Web AI is an AI-based cybersecurity technology company currently commercializing its enterprise AI Vault™ solution. Built upon its powerful IP and patent estate, it is the first in a planned suite of SaaS products to champion a private, safe, and high-value AI experience.

AI Vault initially targets the global enterprise marketplace with innovative solutions that protect businesses from advanced threats.

Media and investor contact – tom.symonds@ethicalweb.ai

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management. They are subject to several uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the Company’s current plans and expectations, future operations, and financial condition. The Company reserves the right to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether due to new information, future events or otherwise.

The MIL Network –
April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI: 2025 Q1 Revenue Report

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

2025 Q1 revenue of €232.4 million, down -12.3%
- Continued implementation of selectivity strategy with priority given to margins, primarily in telecoms in France and Spain
- High comparison basis: +3.8% in Q1 2024 compared to -5.8% for the full year 2024
Growth drivers remain well-oriented
- Energy up +19.1% (+30.1% in France), representing 18% of the Group’s Q1 revenue
- Strong momentum in Germany, where the Group has a solid presence, with growth of +20.7% in Q1
Ongoing measures to improve performance in the Other Countries segment
- Growth resumes in Italy: +14.6%, with gradually improving economic conditions
- Restructuring of Connectivity activities in Spain, with strategic refocusing on Energy and Technology

In millions of euros (unaudited)	Q1 2025	Q1 2024	% change
Revenue	232.4	265.0	-12.3%
Benelux	88.7	100.7	-12.0%
France	76.3	97.9	-22.0%
Germany	21.9	18.2	+20.7%
Other Countries	45.5	48.3	-5.8%

Gianbeppi Fortis, Chief Executive Officer of Solutions30, stated: “In a mixed market environment, we remain firmly committed to our strategy, maintaining a clear focus on margins and cash generation over revenue growth. In France in particular, faced with a fiber deployment market that has reached maturity, we are maintaining a highly selective approach and continuing to refocus on energy services, which now account for 30% of our revenue. In the Benelux, where the market is undergoing reorganization, our telecom business has stabilized compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, and we anticipate a return to growth during the second half of the year. In Germany, we continue to deliver profitable growth in a structured manner, and the investment plan recently announced by the local government reinforces our confidence in the market’s long-term potential. Lastly, in Other Countries, we are progressing with the performance improvement measures announced at our Capital Markets Day, particularly in Spain, where we are undertaking a deep transformation of our operations. We remain confident in the relevance of our multi-technical and multi-local model, the strength of our growth drivers, and our ability to achieve our 2026 targets.”

Consolidated Revenue

Solutions30’s Q1 2025 consolidated revenue amounted to €232.4 million, down -12.3% year-on-year against a particularly high comparison basis, as Q1 2024 marked the strongest quarterly growth of 2024, at +3.8%. The comparison basis will be significantly more favorable over the balance of the year, as the last three quarters of 2024 recorded declines of -4.3% in Q2, -10.1% in Q3, and -11.4% in Q4.

Revenue change in Q1 includes an organic contraction of -12.8%, the impact of recent acquisitions for +0.2%, and a favorable currency effect of +0.3%.

Revenue from Connectivity activities amounted to €164.2 million, down -20.0%, in a context of increased selectivity in the Group’s most mature markets, notably France and Spain. Revenue from Energy activities amounted to €41.3 million, up +19.1%, driven by very favorable market trends, particularly in photovoltaic systems in France. Revenue from Technology activities amounted to €26.9 million, up +7.3%, with increased volumes of IT support services.

Benelux

The Benelux posted Q1 revenue of €88.7 million, representing 38% of total revenue, down -12.0%. This includes an organic contraction of -12.5%, and the impact from the acquisition of Xperal for +0.5%. Connectivity posted revenue of €67.9 million, down -14% compared to Q1 2024, which did not yet reflect the delays caused, from Q2 onwards, by negotiations between Belgian telecom service providers aimed at streamlining their investments. However, revenue stabilized compared with Q4 2024 (€67.3 million). In the home connect segment, the adaptation of operational processes following Proximus acquiring 100% of Fiberklaar is nearing completion, positioning the business to return to normal at some point in the second half of the year.

Revenue from Energy activities decreased by -16% to €14.1 million. The first phase of smart meter deployment in Flanders is nearing completion, with tenders for the second phase expected to be launched later this year. At the same time, the gradual ramp-up of the contract with Fluvius for the modernization of the low-voltage electricity grid has begun.

Technology activities posted revenue of €6.7 million in Q1 2025, up significantly by +26%.

France

In France, Q1 revenue amounted to €76.3 million, or 33% of the total, down -22% on a purely organic basis. Revenue from Connectivity fell sharply by -43% to €36.8 million, reflecting the impact of selectivity measures implemented from Q2 2024 onwards. In the context of a structural slowdown in the fiber deployment market, the Group has significantly reduced its exposure to certain contracts that no longer met its profitability standards. While this led to a sharp revenue decline from Q2 onwards, it resulted in an improvement in margins over the full year 2024.

Energy activities continue to make strong progress, with growth of +30% in Q1 and revenue of €22.8 million, now representing 30% of the total. The good momentum in photovoltaics continues, despite the usually unfavorable seasonal effect in winter. Growth is also being supported by services to electricity and gas distribution networks, where Solutions30 is successfully diversifying its activities.

In Technology, the momentum in IT support services continues, driven by contract extensions. Revenue amounted to €16.7 million, up +7%.

Germany

In Germany, Q1 revenue amounted to €21.9 million, or 9% of the total, up +20.7% on a purely organic basis. Connectivity, which accounts for 95% of the total, posted growth of +22%, driven by fiber deployment activities, which continue to ramp up, while coaxial network services remain solid.

Although still at an early stage, representing around 5% of revenue, Energy activities offer strong growth potential. Germany is Europe’s leading market for photovoltaics, currently accounting for the bulk of Solutions30’s revenue from Energy activities, while the energy storage and rail signaling infrastructure markets offer particularly attractive growth prospects.

For both Connectivity and Energy, the investment plan recently announced by the local government reinforces the long-term growth potential of the German market, which is set to play an increasingly important role in Solutions30’s business portfolio.

Other Countries

In other countries, the Group posted Q1 revenue of €45.5 million, or 20% of the total, down -5.8%. This includes a -7.2% organic contraction, reflecting the selectivity strategy implemented in Spain and the United Kingdom in 2024. The currency effect was positive at +1.4%, driven by the appreciation of the Polish zloty and the British pound against the euro during the period.

In Poland, growth remained solid at +11.4%, taking Q1 revenue to €16.2 million. The Polish telecoms market continues to benefit from favorable trends, and Solutions30 is delivering profitable growth there.

Italy returned to growth, posting a +14.6% increase in Q1, with revenue of €14.9 million. The situation with the Group’s main Italian telecoms customer has now been resolved.

In Spain, revenue amounted to €7.3 million, down -37.2%. The Group has accelerated the restructuring of its Connectivity business, faced with a mature fiber market, while continuing to refocus on its Energy and Technology businesses, that are supported by favorable underlying trends.

Finally, in the United Kingdom, revenue totaled €7.1 million, down -22.3% against a high comparison basis (+10% in Q1 2024), as selectivity measures aimed at improving margins in the mobile telecommunications business were not implemented until Q2 2024.

Appendix

Breakdown of Q1 revenue by segment:

In millions of euros (unaudited)	Q1 2025	Q1 2024	% change
Benelux	88.7	100.7	-12.0%
Connectivity	67.9	78.7	-13.8%
Energy	14.1	16.7	-15.8%
Technology	6.7	5.3	+25,7%

France	76.3	97.9	-22.0%
Connectivity	36.8	64.7	-43.2%
Energy	22.8	17.5	+30,1%
Technology	16.7	15.6	+7,1%

Germany	21.9	18.2	+20.7%

Other Countries	45.5	48.3	-5.8%
Poland	16.2	14.6	+11,4%
Italy	14.9	13.0	+14,6%
Spain	7.3	11.6	-37.2%
United Kingdom	7.1	9.2	-22.3%
Group revenue	232.4	265.0	-12.3%

Upcoming Events

TPICAP Conference Paris May 15, 2025
Annual General Meeting June 17, 2025
2025 Half-Year Earnings Report September 17, 2025 (after market close)
2025 Q3 Revenue Report November 5, 2025 (after market close)

About Solutions30 SE

Solutions30 provides consumers and businesses with access to the key technological advancements that are shaping our everyday lives, especially those driving the digital transformation and energy transition. With its network of more than 16,000 technicians, Solutions30 has completed over 65 million call-outs since its inception and led over 500 renewable energy projects with a combined maximum output surpassing 1800 MWp. Every day, Solutions30 is doing its part to build a more connected and sustainable world. Solutions30 has become an industry leader in Europe with operations in 10 countries: France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The capital of Solutions30 SE consists of 107,127,984 shares, equal to the number of theoretical votes that can be exercised. Solutions30 SE is listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN FR0013379484- code S30). Indices: CAC Mid & Small | CAC Small | CAC Technology | Euro Stoxx Total Market Technology | Euronext Tech Croissance.
Visit our website to learn more: www.solutions30.com.

Contact

Individual Shareholders:
Tel: +33 1 86 86 00 63 – actionnaires@solutions30.com

Analysts/Investors:
investor.relations@solutions30.com

Press – Image 7:
Charlotte Le Barbier – Tel: +33 6 78 37 27 60 – clebarbier@image7.fr

Attachment

PR_EN_ Q12025-29_04_25

The MIL Network –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI: ASM reports first quarter 2025 results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Almere, The Netherlands
April 29, 2025, 6 p.m. CET

Solid start of the year, Q1 sales supported by continued AI-related strength

ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today reports its Q1 2025 results (unaudited).

Financial highlights

€ million	Q1 2024	Q4 2024	Q1 2025
New orders	697.9	731.4	834.2
yoy change % at constant currencies	10%	8%	14%

Revenue	639.0	809.0	839.2
yoy change % at constant currencies	(8%)	27%	26%

Gross profit	337.8	407.2	447.8
Gross profit margin %	52.9 %	50.3 %	53.4 %

Operating result	187.1	222.3	266.2
Operating result margin %	29.3 %	27.5 %	31.7 %

Adjusted operating result ¹	191.8	227.0	271.0
Adjusted operating result margin %¹	30.0 %	28.1 %	32.3 %

Net earnings (losses)	173.1	225.8	(28.9)
Adjusted net earnings ¹	178.9	231.5	191.9

¹ Adjusted figures are non-IFRS performance measures. Refer to Annex 3 for a reconciliation of non-IFRS performance measures.

New orders of €834 million in Q1 2025 increased by 14% over the same period last year at constant currency (increased by 20% as reported), supported by strong GAA 2nm orders, and a relatively solid contribution from the Chinese market in the quarter.

Revenue of €839 million increased by 26% at constant currencies (increased by 31% as reported) from Q1 of last year, above the midpoint of the guidance (€810-850 million).

Gross profit margin increased to 53.4%, up from both Q1 of last year (52.9%) and up from prior quarter (50.3%). The increase compared to prior quarter was driven by a favorable product and customer mix.

Adjusted operating result margin of 32.3% is an improvement of 2.3% points compared to the same period last year, and an increase by 4.2% points compared to the previous quarter. This was mainly due to higher gross profit margin and moderated operating expenses (with year-on-year SG&A reducing from 11.4% to 9.1% as a percentage of revenue).

Our reported net results included an impairment of €215 million from our stake in ASMPT, triggered by the reduced market valuation in the recent period. There is no cash impact. Following the impairment, and in line with our accounting policy, the changes in the market value of ASMPT will be included in our quarterly net results in case of further decline or until the impairment charge has been reversed.

Comment

“ASM continued to deliver strong results in the first quarter of 2025. Sales increased by 26% at constant currencies, to €839 million, which was above the midpoint of our €810-850 million guidance,” said Hichem M’Saad, CEO of ASM. “The year-on-year increase was largely driven by robust sales in the leading-edge logic/foundry segment as leading customers continued moving towards high-volume manufacturing of the 2nm gate-all-around (GAA) node.

Market conditions continued to be mixed in the first quarter. Demand in the AI-related segments, including leading-edge logic/foundry and DRAM HBM memory, remained strong, while most of the other market segments remained sluggish. Bookings increased to €834 million in Q1 2025, up 14% year-on-year at constant currencies. Strong GAA orders, healthy demand from memory customers, especially for HBM-related DRAM applications, and solid demand from Chinese customers mainly contributed to the solid bookings. The cash position increased to a strong level of slightly more than €1.1 billion on the back of robust free cash flow of €264 million.

The gross margin increased to a high level of 53.4%, largely driven by product and customer mix. The gross margin also benefited from ongoing cost reduction programs. For the full year 2025, we now expect the gross margin to be in the upper half of the target range of 46%-50%. This excludes any potential direct impact from tariffs, which at this point is difficult to predict. We have prepared various scenarios to mitigate potential financial impact, leveraging our global supply chain capabilities and diversified manufacturing operations in combination with passing on impact into the value chain.”

Outlook

Global trade tensions and recent announcements of reciprocal tariffs have increased macroeconomic uncertainty. It is too early to tell what the impact on GDP and the semiconductor market will be. So far, our discussions with key customers have not materially changed.

We expect our sales in 2025 to grow by a double-digit percentage range of a 10-20% year on year, at constant currencies, and ahead of the WFE market, which is forecast to grow slightly this year. While we have reasonable visibility that we will achieve the lower end of the range, achieving the higher end will require some upside opportunities to materialize which at this point is still uncertain. In view of the recently increased exchange rate volatility and ASM’s significant US$ revenue exposure (>80% of sales) we decided to change our guidance from absolute Euro amounts to growth rates at constant currencies.

For Q2 2025 we expect sales to increase compared to Q1 by a range of +1% to +6% at constant currencies. This implies continued double-digit year-on-year sales growth in Q2 2025 at constant currencies.

We continue to be confident that our gate-all-around sales will increase strongly in 2025. Supported by robust HBM-related DRAM demand, we expect healthy memory sales in full year 2025, albeit lower than the very strong level in 2024. The power/analog/wafer market is still in a cyclical downturn and the outlook for this segment has further weakened for the rest of the year.

Underpinned by strong R&D engagements, we believe ASM remains well positioned in the coming years to benefit from increasing ALD and Epi intensity with the transition to a tighter and more complex device architecture in logic with GAA and in DRAM with 4F2.

Annual General Meeting

On March 27, 2025, ASM published the agenda, convocation, and other materials for the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM), to be held on May 12, 2025, in Almere, which as also earlier announced, includes, amongst other things, resolutions on:

the annual accounts of 2024;

the remuneration report 2024;

the proposal to declare a regular dividend of €3.00 (three euros) per common share;

the reappointment of Mr. Verhagen (for two years) as member of the Management Board;

the reappointment of Ms. Van der Meer Mohr (for four years), Mr. Sanchez (for four years) and Ms. Kahle-Galonske (for one year) as members of the Supervisory Board;

the appointment of EY Accountants B.V. as auditor to audit the annual accounts for the financial year 2026 and as assurance provider of sustainability information for the financial years 2025 and 2026.

Please refer to the AGM documents available on our website for more detailed information.

Share buyback program

In our Q4 press release, ASM announced that the Management Board has authorized a new share repurchase program of up to €150 million of the company’s common shares for the 2025/2026 period. As announced in a separate press release today, the share buyback program will start on April 30, 2025.

About ASM

ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at www.asm.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, changes in import/export regulations, pandemics, epidemics and other risks indicated in the company’s reports and financial statements. The company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

Quarterly earnings conference call details

ASM will host the quarterly earnings conference call and webcast on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. CET. Conference-call participants should pre-register using this link to receive the dial-in numbers, passcode and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.
A simultaneous audio webcast and replay will be accessible at this l i nk.

Contacts
Investor and media relations	Investor relations
Victor Bareño	Valentina Fantigrossi
T: +31 88 100 8500	T: +31 88 100 8502
E: investor.relations@asm.com	E: investor.relations@asm.com

The MIL Network –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI Security: Bank General Counsel Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for $7.4 Million Embezzlement Scheme

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES BLOSE, 56, of Fairfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses stemming from a decade-long embezzlement scheme at banks where he served as General Counsel and held other high-ranking positions.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately 2013 to January 2022, Blose was an attorney and held high-ranking positions, including General Counsel, at Hudson Valley Bank and Sterling National Bank. From approximately January 2022, when Webster Bank acquired Sterling National Bank, until February 2023, Blose served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Webster Bank.

From approximately 2013 until Webster Bank discovered his scheme and his employment was terminated in February 2023, Blose defrauded his employers (“The Bank”) in various ways. In certain commercial loan transactions where The Bank was the lender, Blose fraudulently retained for himself portions of closing costs, including legal fees. In certain real estate transactions in which The Bank was the seller, Blose retained portions of the sale proceeds for himself. For some of the real estate transactions, Blose created false documents in order to hide his theft from The Bank. Blose also stole from The Bank in other ways.

As part of the scheme, Blose used his attorney trust accounts to make personal expenditures, and to transfer funds to accounts in the names of business entities he created and controlled, and then used those funds for his personal benefit. Through this scheme, Blose stole approximately $7.4 million from his employers, and used the stolen funds to purchase a vacation property on Kiawah Island in South Carolina, for construction of his Connecticut home, and for luxury vehicles, jewelry, private jets charters, multiple country club memberships, and other expenses.

Judge Chatigny will determine restitution after additional court proceedings.

On December 20, 2024, Blose pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of engaging in illegal monetary transactions.

Blose, who is released on a $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 23

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s Office of the Inspector General. Financial crimes investigators from Webster Bank assisted the investigation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: Minutes of meeting – AGM 2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Company Announcement no. 06/2025

Minutes of meeting – AGM 2025

Copenhagen, April 29, 2025

At cBrain’s ordinary general meeting on April 29
- The Board of Directors’ report on the Company’s activities in the past year was approved,
- The Annual Report 2024 was adopted and resolution regarding discharge for the Management and the Board of Directors was passed,
- Appropriation of profit or covering of loss according to the approved annual report approved (dividend of DKK 0.64 per share),
- Henrik Hvidtfeldt, Lisa Herold Ferbing, Peter Loft, Thomas Qvist and Per Tejs Knudsen were reelected to the board and
- EY Godkendt Revisionspartnerselskab was reelected as independent auditors.
The general meeting also approved the board’s proposal for:
- The remuneration report for 2024,
- The Remuneration Policy (update)
- Remuneration of the Board of Directors for 2024.
The Board of Directors recommend an increase of 2 %
- Henrik Hvidtfeldt: 168.300 DKK
- Lisa Herold Ferbing: 137.700 DKK
- Peter Loft: 112.200 DKK
- The authorization of the Board of Directors, until the next ordinary general meeting, to acquire up to 10% of the share capital on behalf of the company. The consideration must not deviate from the official price quoted on Nasdaq OMX Copenhagen at the time of acquisition by more than 10%.
No matters were disclosed at the general meeting that have not previously been made public.

————————————————-

Ejvind Jørgensen, Chair of the Annual General Meeting

Inquiries regarding this Company Announcement may be directed to

Ejvind Jørgensen, CFO & Head of Investor Relations, cBrain A/S, ir@cbrain.com, +45 2594 4973

Attachment
- Company Announcement no. 2025-06 (Minutes of Meeting from AGM 2025)
The MIL Network –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British Steel: ministerial direction

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Correspondence

British Steel: ministerial direction

Letters requesting and confirming the ministerial direction relating to British Steel.

Documents

Letter from the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to the Permanent Secretary, 12 April 2025

PDF, 103 KB, 1 page

Letter from the Permanent Secretary to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, 12 April 2025

PDF, 199 KB, 3 pages

Details

The first letter requests a ministerial direction on British Steel. It is from the Permanent Secretary to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade. The reasons for the request are also set out in this letter.

The second letter confirms the ministerial direction on British Steel. It is from the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to the Permanent Secretary. The reasons for the confirmation are also set out in this letter.

Updates to this page

Published 29 April 2025

Sign up for emails or print this page

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Salinas’ Bipartisan Bill to Promote Scientific Research Standards Passes Committee

Source: US Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (D-OR) announced that her bipartisan bill with Representative Rich McCormick (R-GA) passed out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Introduced earlier this week, the Nucleic Acid Screening for Biosecurity Act would develop technical standards and best practices for nucleic acid screening.

“From treating and diagnosing diseases to developing new vaccines, nucleic acids are used for a variety of important purposes,” said Rep. Salinas. “My legislation would help standardize screening processes and protocols for universities, companies, and researchers who work with nucleic acids. I’m proud to see this bill pass out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee with strong bipartisan support, and I’ll continue advocating for commonsense solutions that will ensure America remains a global leader in scientific research and innovation.”

Biotechnology companies routinely produce custom-ordered nucleic acids for university, industry, nonprofit, and government researchers. Although industry has worked to develop international standards related to screening molecules of concern, U.S.-led efforts are still required to further increase adoption of sufficiently rigorous protocols.

The Nucleic Acid Screening for Biosecurity Act authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) to carry out programs to support the development of technical standards and best practices related to nucleic acid screening. It would codify nucleic acid screening activities outlined in former President Biden’s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.

The bill now awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Young Push DOJ, FTC to Use Every Available Resource to Protect Americans’ Data Amid 23andMe Bankruptcy Proceedings

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote to leadership at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expressing the need for the agencies to exercise all available authorities to protect the sensitive genomic information of Americans, including in the bankruptcy proceedings of 23andMe, a personal genomics and biotechnology company that holds the DNA and sensitive information of millions of individuals.

The senators highlighted the attempts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and other foreign adversaries to collect this type of genomic data from Americans and the various ways in which the PRC has used sensitive biometric data for surveillance efforts.

“As the Chinese government has realized, genomic data is incredibly valuable. Biological data is critical to biomedical discovery, particularly when, as here, it contains substantial amounts of personal genomic data. It can be used to create, design, and optimize everything from biopharmaceuticals and medical devices to optimizing AI models for medical applications,” the senators wrote. “The PRC also has demonstrated a sustained effort to leverage genomic and other biometric data for extensive surveillance; accessing this data – either directly or indirectly – could further enable PRC transnational surveillance, including posing counter-intelligence threats to the United States. In addition, genomic data can be used to create dual-use technologies that, on the one hand, could help create vaccines for diseases, but on the other hand, can be weaponized by our adversaries to for malign intent.”

While applauding the recent actions by the Justice Department in current proceedings, the senators underscored the need to take more steps to ensure that bad actors are prevented from acquiring, legally or illegally, Americans’ genomic information.

The senators continued, “In addition to the Department’s recent filing, and any anticipated CFIUS review, the Department, in conjunction with the Commission and other U.S. agencies as appropriate, must closely monitor the sale or transfer of, or access to, 23andMe’s genomic databank, regardless of whether that activity is in the ordinary course of business, for compliance with all applicable statutes related to national security and consumer protection.”

This is the latest effort by Sen. Warner to safeguard Americans’ data and sensitive information from adversaries. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Sen. Warner has worked to ensure the U.S. is prepared to counter threats posed by foreign adversaries including the PRC across various sectors. Sen. Warner spearheaded the push to force CCP-based Bytedance to divest from TikTok in order to allow the app to continue operations in the United States. Last year, Sen. Warner introduced the Countering CCP Drones and Supporting Drones for Law Enforcement Act, legislation to cut off dangerous CCP drone companies from the U.S. telecommunication infrastructure. Sen. Warner also introduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation to improve information sharing between private companies and the Intelligence Community in order to mitigate the threat that foreign adversaries including the CCP pose to United States companies in foreign jurisdictions on projects relating to energy generation and storage, including in the critical minerals industry, and earlier this year, Sen. Warner introduced legislation aimed at shoring up America’s response to financial threats stemming from the PRC.

A copy of letter is available here and text is below.

Dear Attorney General Bondi and Chairman Ferguson:

We write to urge the Department of Justice (“Department”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) to exercise the full scope of their legal and statutory authorities in 23andMe Holding Co. (“23andMe”)’s bankruptcy proceeding. We commend the Department on its April 22, 2025 filing in the 23andMe bankruptcy proceeding, recognizing that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) should review this transaction in light of the substantial national security concerns involved. However, additional action from agencies are necessary in order to prevent adversaries, including the People’s Republic of China (PRC), from acquiring millions of Americans’ genomic data.

Chinese authorities have already collected genomic data on millions of their own citizens, and continue to actively target foreign companies, including in the U.S., for acquisition or investment, as well for theft, in order to obtain foreign individuals’ genomic data, creating serious implications for national security, public health, economic security, and Americans’ privacy. As the Chinese government has realized, genomic data is incredibly valuable. Biological data is critical to biomedical discovery, particularly when, as here, it contains substantial amounts of personal genomic data. It can be used to create, design, and optimize everything from biopharmaceuticals and medical devices to optimizing AI models for medical applications. The PRC also has demonstrated a sustained effort to leverage genomic and other biometric data for extensive surveillance; accessing this data – either directly or indirectly – could further enable PRC transnational surveillance, including posing counter-intelligence threats to the United States. In addition, genomic data can be used to create dual-use technologies that, on the one hand, could help create vaccines for diseases, but on the other hand, can be weaponized by our adversaries to for malign intent.

In order to prevent China from weaponizing this data, or outcompeting the U.S. economically, the U.S. must urgently prioritize the protection of biological and genomic data, particularly of Americans, starting with that held by 23andMe.

As the Department notes in its recent filing, its Data Security Program must be better utilized to ensure the protection, and prevent the acquisition, of Americans’ sensitive genomic data. In addition to the Department’s recent filing, and any anticipated CFIUS review, the Department, in conjunction with the Commission and other U.S. agencies as appropriate, must closely monitor the sale or transfer of, or access to, 23andMe’s genomic databank, regardless of whether that activity is in the ordinary course of business, for compliance with all applicable statutes related to national security and consumer protection. Chairman Ferguson’s letter to the Office of the U.S. Trustee lays out a clear rationale for robust oversight by the Justice Department over the legal obligations and protections that 23andMe owes its customers (“users”). 23andMe’s users also should have the ability to remove their genetic data from acquisition by a foreign government or entities under the control or influence of a foreign government, including data associated with other personally-identifiable information and any other data generated by 23andMe that uses genetic data in the aggregate.

23andMe’s users provided their sensitive, personal genetic data to a privately-owned U.S. company, potentially without fully understanding the implications of this data falling into the hands of adversaries, including cybercriminals and foreign nation-states. Further, the genetic information held in 23andMe’s databank has implications for relatives of 23andMe users who share common genetic markers, creating additional privacy concerns for such individuals who had no opportunity to consent to how 23andMe’s data could be used in ways that affect them.

Outside of this proceeding, we urge the Department, the Commission, and other relevant federal entities to closely monitor future transactions, and use all levers as appropriate, where foreign entities, particularly those under the control or influence of foreign nations of concern, are attempting to purchase – through bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise-Americans’ sensitive biologic and genomic data. To this end, we encourage the DOJ to evaluate any appropriate updates to its recently-released Final Rule,6 implementing Executive Order 14117 on “Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern”, to address any novel risks posed by potential acquisition (and resale) of 23andMe data by covered vendors.

In addition, the Department and the Commission must work with lead agencies to support the cybersecurity of genomic data. In March 2022, 23andMe suffered a security breach that compromised the genetic information of millions of users, underscoring concerns around genomic data privacy and misuse.

In short, it is paramount to our national and economic security that there is a whole-of government approach to protecting Americans’ sensitive genomic data, including by preventing malign entities from gaining access to such data through commercial acquisition, cyberattacks, or other illicit means. We remain committed to working with the Department, the Commission, and the Administration broadly on this issue.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Announces Departure of Amanda Olear After Nearly 2 Decades of Service

Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced former Director of the Market Participants Division and former Acting Director of the Division of Market Oversight, Amanda L. Olear, will depart the agency on May 2. Ms. Olear has served at the CFTC for over 17 years in multiple leadership roles across various divisions.
“It has been a true pleasure to have known and worked with Amanda for 15 years. She has served the CFTC, our mission, and our markets with excellence for many years,” Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham said. “Throughout her distinguished tenure, Amanda has exemplified leadership, expertise, and pragmatism in every role she’s held. I would especially like to personally thank Amanda for serving on my executive management team. I’m grateful for her over 17 years of dedicated service to the CFTC and wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”
“I would like to thank Acting Chairman Pham and former Chairman Behnam for the privilege of being part of their leadership teams,” Ms. Olear said, “It was an honor that I could not have imagined when I joined the CFTC as a junior staff attorney and one that I will carry with me for the rest of my career. I would also like to express my appreciation for the staff in the Market Participants Division and the Division of Market Oversight for their trust and support over the past 5 years. Their professionalism and expertise continue to impress and inspire me. My hope is that I proved myself worthy of their confidence.”
Ms. Olear joined the CFTC in 2007 and has served in various leadership capacities, including most recently as Acting Director of the Division of Market Oversight, where she led a team of attorneys, analysts, and other professional staff who oversee derivatives platforms and swap data repositories. Prior to this role, Ms. Olear served as the Director of the Market Participants Division since 2021.
Ms. Olear began her tenure at the CFTC as an attorney-advisor in the then – Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight – with a focus on CPOs and CTAs. In 2013, she took on the role of Associate Director of the Managed Funds Section in the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight and served as the Deputy Director of Registration and Compliance from 2017 to 2021.
Ms. Olear joined the CFTC from Council, Baradel, Kosmerl & Nolan, P.A. in Annapolis, Maryland, where she focused on business entity formation and complex commercial litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Olear served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lynne A. Battaglia on the Maryland Court of Appeals (now the Maryland Supreme Court). Coming from a long line of family farmers, she holds a JD, with honors, from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and a BA, summa cum laude, from McDaniel College.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: BOBC Auction Results – 29 April 2025

Source: Bank of Botswana

The Monetary Policy Rate (MoPR) was unchanged at 1.9 percent of the previous week, for a paper maturing on 7 May 2025. For the 1-month BoBC paper maturing on 28 May 2025, the stop-out yield remained unchanged at 2.24 percent. The summarised results of the auction held on 29 April 2025, are attached below:

BOBC Auction Results – 29 April 2025.pdf

MIL OSI Economics –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Putin’s three-day ceasefire isn’t a genuine move towards peace, but Ukraine has to play along

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor in the Department of Government, University of Essex

The Russian leader, Vladmir Putin, has announced a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine to commence on May 8, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the second world war. The Kremlin says “all hostilities will be suspended” during this period and has made it clear it expects Ukraine to follow suit.

Ukraine responded by calling for an immediate month-long ceasefire and questioned Russia’s commitment to lasting peace. In a post on social media, Ukraine’s foreign secretary, Andrii Sybiha, wrote: “If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately … Why wait until May 8th?”

The ceasefire announcement followed two important developments. On April 18, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, claimed that President Donald Trump was growing impatient and was likely to abandon peace efforts within days if there was no progress.

Trump then made a rare rebuke of Putin on social media, writing “Vladmir, STOP” after a Russian air attack on Kyiv on April 24 killed 12 people and injured more than 80 others.

Read more:
Why is Donald Trump failing to bring peace to Ukraine like he promised?

A temporary ceasefire allows Putin to do just enough to keep Trump thinking he is committed to a peace deal, hoping this will lead to eventual sanctions relief. But it also has clear benefits for Russia on the battlefield.

Many aggressors use ceasefires to regroup, rearm and improve their positioning. Analysts have warned that Russia will use the pause to reorganise in order to pursue larger territorial ambitions, particularly in southern and eastern Ukraine.

According to Ukraine, the broken “Easter truce” helped Russian forces in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast regroup and launch a large-scale infantry assault shortly after its end. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, says the Easter ceasefire was violated by Russia around 3,000 times.

While Trump appears frustrated by these recent developments, he has remained committed to maintaining a solid relationship with Putin. And in spite of the fact that only 2% of Americans are sympathetic to Russia, Trump has done little to hide his admiration for the Russian leader.

Bloomberg news examined more than 300 of Trump’s public comments and over 3,000 social media posts since August 2024 and found that Trump has been echoing Russian talking points. The latest evidence of this occurred just days ago.

When asked by a journalist on April 25 about what concessions Putin has made in the negotiation process, Trump claimed his Russian counterpart was making a “pretty big concession” by not taking over all of Ukraine.

And while most western leaders condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Trump referred to it initially as “genius” and “savvy”.

Trump not only respects Putin but sees their relationship as mutually beneficial. Putin has enticed Trump with potential investment opportunities in Russia, such as a Trump Tower project in Russia, and has supported his administration’s desire to take over Greenland.

Though Putin occasionally flatters Trump, this is mostly to manipulate him. It was easy to see through Putin’s intentions with his commissioning of a laudatory portrait of Trump in the aftermath of his assassination attempt, standing triumphantly with the Statue of Liberty and American flag in the background. But, apparently, Trump was touched by it.

This flattery seems to be working. Trump has recently announced that he supported Putin’s claims on Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014, representing a huge departure from decades of US foreign policy.

By doing so, Trump is reneging on the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where the US committed to support Ukraine’s sovereignty. This constitutes a breach of international law and will also make peace in Ukraine harder to achieve.

The recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea is considered a red line for Ukraine and would be politically unpopular. Zelensky has made it clear that Crimea belongs to Ukraine, and that Russian annexation violates Ukraine’s current constitution. The constitution cannot be changed when the country is at war and under martial law.

Ukraine’s limited options

In spite of the unfavourable terms of any looming peace agreement, Zelensky has little choice at this point but to support a ceasefire. Nearly 90% of Ukrainians polled have faced stress due to the war and another poll, published in March, showed that 77% of Ukrainians back a ceasefire.

Read more:
Are Ukrainians ready for ceasefire and concessions? Here’s what the polls say

The other issue is that Zelensky can no longer count on the US. And research from 2023 shows that for parties that have lost international support, moving towards a ceasefire is much more likely.

With the US making clear that long-term support for Ukraine is not guaranteed, and Trump not approving a single military aid package since taking office, Zelensky has few options but to support a ceasefire agreement.

Ceasefires are fairly common occurrences in conflict – over 230 ceasefires have taken place since 1990. But they are frequently broken. Russia in particular, has not been the most trustworthy partner in peace. According to Zelensky, Putin has broken 25 peace agreements over the past decade.

This doesn’t leave one with much confidence that the latest ceasefire is a genuine move towards peace for Putin, or that the ceasefire will lead to anything more substantial.

With Trump impatient to get a deal done rather than address the root cause of the conflict (Russia’s imperial ambitions), Russia will continue to manipulate the peace process and block future security guarantees for Ukraine.

Putin is an expert at committing to agreements that he will renege on. By doing so, he can exact more concessions in the process, all the while blaming Ukraine for the breakdown in peace.

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

– ref. Putin’s three-day ceasefire isn’t a genuine move towards peace, but Ukraine has to play along – https://theconversation.com/putins-three-day-ceasefire-isnt-a-genuine-move-towards-peace-but-ukraine-has-to-play-along-255463

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: What Trump’s first 100 days mean for America’s women

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amy Tatum, Lecturer in Communication and Media, Bournemouth University

At a rally in November 2024, Donald Trump told the women of America that whether they “like it or not, I’m going to protect them”. And in his first 100 days as president, Trump has taken his role in a direction that leans into the most traditional form of patriarchy – a protector who knows what is best for women despite their demands to the contrary.

In his leadership of the Republican party and his administration – and, crucially, in the executive orders he has issued – Trump has often tried to suggest women are at the forefront of his agenda. But rather than protecting women’s interests, these orders are setting back their rights at an alarming rate.

On his first day back in the White House, the government website offering reproductive health information was taken offline. Since then, the Department of Health and Human Services has removed all mention of abortion protection policies and the Department of Justice has dropped the Biden administration’s lawsuit against Idaho, over its near-total abortion ban.

How is Donald Trump’s presidency shaping up after 100 days? Here’s what the experts think. If you like what you see, sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter.

The Trump administration has also asked to join the oral arguments currently being heard by the US Supreme Court that seek to prevent Medicaid funding for medical services offered by Planned Parenthood in the state of South Carolina.

Such changes underline Trump’s stance on reproductive rights and suggest potential support for further legislation or legal battles aimed at limiting women’s access to such services.

A Gallup poll found that in 2024, 63% of women in the US considered themselves pro-choice. So the Trump administration’s stance not only shows it is not listening to women; it signals that the government wants to restrict women’s agency for making their own reproductive decisions. This reinforces the patriarchal role taken by Trump and his administration.

Limiting women’s democratic rights

On March 25, Trump issued an executive order on voting registration. This was followed, a week later, by the House of Representatives vote on what is known as the “Save Act” (the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act). This legislation is aimed at limiting voter fraud – but has largely been seen as a way to restrict people’s ability to register to vote.

The act, if passed by the Senate, will change the documentation that is required from a driving licence to either a birth certificate or passport. This is likely to have a detrimental effect on many women’s access to registration.

In the US, 84% of women who marry men change their surname to that of their husband, meaning their name does not match that on their birth certificate. And it is estimated that 146 million US citizens do not hold valid passports – so many women wishing to vote may not have identification that would give them eligibility under this act.

The draft law does not, at present, set out how married women would be able to circumvent this. The legislation has been criticised by commentators for its lack of protection for women voters, and has been seen as a way to disenfranchise and remove the rights of many women – effectively removing them from public affairs by denying their democratic rights.

Attacking transgender rights

Trump’s mission to “protect women” has extended to a concerted attack on gender non-conforming people. In his first day in the Oval Office, Trump signed executive order 14168 entitled: “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”

The wording of the title of this executive order focuses on the defence of women through a biological lens. But what it really does is weaken legal protections for trans, intersex and non-binary people by removing recognition of such identities in federal government policy and institutions. It also has the potential to limit these groups’ access to healthcare, leisure spaces, identity documents and education.

A week later, the president followed this up with an executive order restricting gender care for under-19s, meaning that insurance run by the federal government could not be used to cover treatments or gender transitions.

The first 100 days of Trump’s second term have suggested an aggressive stance towards eroding the rights of women and gender non-conforming people that has been couched in the idea of “protecting women”. In fact, limiting access to reproductive healthcare, restricting the rights of trans, intersex and non-binary people, and potentially disenfranchising large numbers of women demonstrates a lack of protection and a diminishing of their voices.

Trump is portraying himself as the ultimate patriarch – one who knows best, and who upholds the power and privilege of men like himself.

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

– ref. What Trump’s first 100 days mean for America’s women – https://theconversation.com/what-trumps-first-100-days-mean-for-americas-women-255269

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Sinners: how real stories of Irish and Choctaw oppression inform the film

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachel Stuart, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Deviant Identities, Brunel University of London

Warning: this article contains minor spoilers for Sinners.

Sinners is a vampire film set in Jim Crow-era Mississippi, a time of harsh segregation and racial injustice. The vampire is Irishman Remmick (Jack O’Connell), who is drawn to the blues music played at the Juke Joint, a club set up by identical gangster twins, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan).

We first encounter Remmick as he is being chased by a band of indigenous Choctaw vampire hunters, who corner him in the shack of a couple who happen to be part of the Ku Klux Klan. The Choctaw’s claim that Remmick is not who he appears to be falls on deaf ears and the couple soon become Remmick’s first victims.

Remmick is soon drawn to the Juke Joint, where the music of blues guitarist Sammy “Preacher Boy” Moore (Miles Caton) is said to reach both ancestors and future generations. Keen to feast on the club’s patrons, Remmick tries to draw them outside by singing an Irish ballad from the mid-19th century, The Rocky Road to Dublin.

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The Rocky Road to Dublin tells the story of an Irish man leaving his hometown of Tuam to travel to Liverpool. Tuam was the location of a Catholic mother and baby home, where the bodies of over 700 babies were found in 2015.

Remmick uses the song to invite the Black Juke Joint patrons to join him and the others he has turned into vampires, offering them the chance to escape Jim Crow Mississippi.

If Remmick was truly offering freedom, however, he would have tried to tempt them with a song of liberation, such as Oro Se Do Bheatha ‘Bhaile, which was the rebel song sung by the republican army as they overthrew the oppression of the English during the Easter Rising in 1916.

Instead, the music he chooses, although catchy, is a story of exchanging one form of suffering (life in Tuam during the height of English oppression) for another – life on the English mainland where the ballad tells of victimisation and violence.

The trailer for Sinners.

The Choctaw’s hunting of Remmick is particularly interesting. The real Choctaw sent money to the starving Irish during the English-induced famine of the 1840s, when they were themselves experiencing genocide.

Given that the Choctaw are historical allies of the Irish, by identifying that Remmick is not who he seems, they highlight that he does not represent the Irish spirit of resistance. Instead, he represents the spirit of oppression and his choice of music underscores this.

Choice of setting

Sinners is set in the early 1930s, a decade after the liberation of Ireland and five years after the founding of the Tuam mother and baby home. Perhaps Remmick needed new feeding grounds since Ireland was finally throwing off the oppression of the English. Where better than the deep south of the Jim Crow era to find oppression and those desperate to escape it?

Remmick claims to be attracted to the music of the oppressed but when hoodoo healer Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) is killed by Stack before she can be turned into a vampire, we see his true intent. Remmick is angered by her death because although it appears it is the music he is drawn to, in reality it is Annie’s strength he desires.

Annie, who is steeped in Black culture and can see the vampire’s real intentions, symbolises the way many Black women can resist a social system that is both capitalist and racist. This system doesn’t allow them to ignore the dangers it brings.

It is the strength and energy of Africa embodied in Annie’s traditional beliefs that Remmick truly seeks to possess, and he is distraught when she dies without being turned into a vampire.

Unlike Preacher Boy’s family, Annie has resisted the colonisation of her spirituality by the Christian church. Preacher Boy’s father encourages him to stop playing the blues because of its ability to call the devil. Through her ancestral practices however, Annie is able to recognise and resist the temptations of escape that Remmick offers.

Sinners is an interesting work by filmmaker Ryan Coogler that leaves a trail of crumbs for future instalments. The Choctaw vampire hunters are only on screen for two minutes, but they represent an interesting aside that needs to be explored in terms of the oppressed reaching out to each other against colonialism.

Annie, immersed in her African spirituality, resists oppression by calling on the strength of ancestors. It’s a powerful reminder that when we know where we come from it is hard to sell us a story of redemption that is ultimately another form of oppression.

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

– ref. Sinners: how real stories of Irish and Choctaw oppression inform the film – https://theconversation.com/sinners-how-real-stories-of-irish-and-choctaw-oppression-inform-the-film-255291

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: From headaches to addiction: the risks of overusing nasal decongestant sprays

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University

voronaman/Shutterstock

Nasal decongestant sprays are a popular remedy for relieving nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies and sinus infections. These sprays provide quick relief allowing for easier breathing. However, while they can be effective in the short term, overusing nasal decongestant sprays can lead to serious health issues.

In April 2025, ITV news reported on people who became dependent on nasal sprays. Many others went on to share similar experiences on social media platforms like TikTok.

Nasal congestion happens when the lining inside the nose and sinuses becomes irritated, often due to allergens, viruses, or pollutants. In response, immune cells release inflammatory chemicals that cause swelling and increased mucus production. This swelling can block airflow, making it difficult to breathe and often disrupting sleep.

Most decongestant sprays contain medications like oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, or phenylephrine. These drugs target adrenergic (adrenaline-sensitive) receptors in the blood vessels of the nasal lining, causing the vessels to constrict. As a result, the nasal lining becomes less swollen, opening up the airways and providing almost instant relief.

This fast-acting benefit is precisely why so many people reach for these sprays. But the convenience can come at a cost.

Rebound risks

Withdrawal from nasal decongestant sprays can be a deeply uncomfortable experience for some. Common symptoms include headaches, nasal stuffiness, dryness and even anxiety.

One of the most concerning side effects of overusing nasal sprays is a condition known as rebound congestion, or rhinitis medicamentosa (RM). This occurs when the nose becomes reliant on the spray to stay open. Over time, the effectiveness of the medication wears off – a phenomenon known as tachyphylaxis. As a result, users may apply the spray more frequently or in higher doses to get the same relief, creating a vicious cycle.

Some symptoms of rebound congestion, such as constant stuffiness and red, irritated nasal passages, can resemble those seen in cocaine misuse. A US study estimated that up to 9% of patients visiting ear, nose and throat clinics present with RM. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to estimate how many people are affected in the UK, especially since nasal sprays are sold over the counter at pharmacies and supermarkets, often for as little as £3. With long wait times for doctor appointments, many people choose to self-medicate.

Prolonged use of nasal decongestants can lead to chronic sinusitis: persistent inflammation and infection of the sinuses. The repeated narrowing of blood vessels can also reduce blood flow to nasal tissues, leading to thinning of the lining, chronic dryness, nosebleeds and, in some cases, nasal septal perforation: a hole in the nasal septum.

Additionally, overuse can damage the turbinates – tiny bone structures inside the nose that help filter, warm and humidify the air you breathe. This can cause them to become swollen or inflamed (turbinate hypertrophy), worsening congestion. Overuse can also impair the function of cilia, tiny hair-like structures responsible for clearing mucus and allergens from the nose.

Beyond physical symptoms, many users experience psychological dependence. The fear of not being able to breathe without the spray can cause significant anxiety, making it harder to stop using it even when symptoms worsen.

If you find yourself relying on nasal sprays, it’s important to begin tapering off gradually to minimise withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, doctors may recommend steroid nasal sprays like beclomethasone to reduce inflammation during the withdrawal process. For severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. The good news? Many people recover within a week of stopping the spray with the right treatment plan.

Safer alternatives

So, what can you use instead? Saline nasal sprays or rinses can help flush out irritants and moisturise the nasal passages without causing rebound congestion. Oral antihistamines and oral decongestants may be more appropriate for allergy-related congestion but can have their own side effects. Antibiotics may be prescribed for sinus infections with severe congestion.

If you’re using a nasal decongestant spray, it’s important not to exceed three to five days of use – seven days at most, according to experts. Always read the label and follow dosage instructions carefully.

Nasal decongestant sprays can offer rapid relief, but overusing them can lead to serious consequences, including rebound congestion, tissue damage and psychological dependence. Use them sparingly, and if nasal congestion persists beyond a week, consult a healthcare professional.

With safer alternatives and medical guidance, you can breathe easier – without the long-term risks.

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

– ref. From headaches to addiction: the risks of overusing nasal decongestant sprays – https://theconversation.com/from-headaches-to-addiction-the-risks-of-overusing-nasal-decongestant-sprays-254830

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor speech at Innovate Finance Global Summit 2025

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

Speech

Chancellor speech at Innovate Finance Global Summit 2025

The Chancellor delivered the keynote speech at the Innovate Finance Global Summit 2025 on 29 April.

Thank you Janine, and good afternoon everyone.

It’s a pleasure to be here today to mark the 11th year of UK FinTech Week …

… brought together once again by Innovate Finance…

…who continue to champion tirelessly our FinTech sector.

As Chancellor, I’ve always said it’s my job to back the builders…

… back the wealth creators…

…and the job creators.

So my job is to back all of you in this room.

After all, it’s thanks to your work that the UK is a world leader in FinTech.

When I was working at the Bank of England 20 years ago…

…FinTech was in its infancy…

…an offshoot of financial services…

…and there was certainly no such thing as FinTech week.

But times have changed, the industry has changed.

Last year, the UK’s FinTech sector attracted $3.6 billion of investment – more than any other country bar the US.

Almost half of Europe’s FinTech unicorns are based here in Britain…

…and roughly a third of all UK unicorns are FinTechs – a higher share than anywhere else.

Companies like Allica Bank and Zilch, who were both recently named among the fastest growing companies in Europe by the Financial Times …

…Or Zopa, for whom 2024 marked another year of extraordinary economic growth.

Last week when I was in Washington for the IMF Spring Meetings…

… I spoke to industry, legislators, and policymakers…

…as well as US firms already operating here in the UK.

I set out our strengths as an open trading nation with trade links around the world…

…and as a nation that can provide political and financial stability and certainty to businesses…

…in an uncertain world.

The UK has a long history of breaking new ground in Financial Services.

We were the first country to develop uniform Open Banking standards…

…and we were one of the first countries to establish a system for near-instant digital payments with the Faster payments system in 2008.

In my Mansion House speech last year, I published the National Payments Vision…

… setting out the government’s ambition for seamless account-to-account payments…

…and demonstrating our commitment to a regulatory environment that cares about managing the burden we put on businesses.

Something that we will build in with the consolidation of the Payment Systems Regulator into the FCA.

The UK is Europe’s leading hub for investment…

…raising more equity capital than the next three European exchanges combined last year.

I am committed to building on these strong foundations…

…with an ambitious programme of reforms.

Last September I chose to extend the UK’s generous venture capital schemes…

… the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Venture Capital Trust scheme…

…which – alongside the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme – offer generous tax reliefs…

…in return for investing in British business.

And we will soon publish the final Pension Investment Review, ahead of the introduction of the Pension Schemes Bill…

…where we will legislate to unlock up to £80 billion of investment into companies like yours…

start-up, scale-up, and fast growing businesses.

…delivering a major consolidation of the Defined Contribution market and the Local Government Pension Scheme…

…so that pension funds have sufficient scale to invest in growing industries like FinTech.

I am determined to make sure that the UK remains one of the best places in the world for FinTechs to start-up, scale-up and to list…

…benefitting from our stable and liquid markets.

Last July, the FCA implemented a fundamental rewrite of the UK’s Listing Rules, the biggest reforms in a generation.

These new rules now put the UK in line – or in many cases ahead – of other global markets in giving companies the flexibility to pursue their growth ambitions…

…backing their aspiration…

…and allowing them to raise large amounts of capital more easily.

And for those companies who want to remain private for longer, we are developing the new Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System – or PISCES…

…which we will legislate for next month.

This is a brand new type of stock exchange for trading private company shares…

…supporting private companies to scale and grow…

…and providing a steppingstone to IPO.

Finally, we’ve reformed the rules to allow greater investment research to be produced on UK listed companies…

…and reducing the burdens imposed on public companies through the UK’s Corporate Governance Code.

I want the UK to be a place where you can take risks…

…innovate and experiment…

…and find new ways to deliver for your customers.

When I met with senior leaders from across the FinTech sector last month…

…you told me about the importance of getting the balance of regulation right…

…especially on digital assets.

I agree.

While the UK will always be committed to high international standards…

…I am determined that our regulatory framework supports economic growth.

That’s why I’m delighted that we are today publishing draft legislation for the UK’s comprehensive regulatory regime for cryptoassets…

…engaging with all of you to ensure that the final legislation – planned for later this year – delivers for government and most importantly for the industry…

…and makes the UK a great place for digital asset companies to invest and innovate.

For the UK to be a world-leader in digital assets…

…international cooperation is vital.

Which is why I discussed continued U.S. and UK engagement with Secretary Bessent last week…

…including further dialogue at the upcoming UK-U.S. Financial Regulatory Working Group in June…

…to support the use and responsible growth of digital assets…

…maintaining the deep historic relationship between the world’s two largest financial centres through this period of significant technological change.

Regulation must support business, not hold it back.

Our regulators were among the first to embrace and develop sandboxes…

…including the Digital Securities Sandbox, where I’m delighted that we already have a broad range of firms all looking at different proposals for tokenising our financial markets.

Last November, I announced that this government will issue a Digital Gilt Instrument…

…an entirely new debt instrument…

…using distributed ledger technology…

this will enable us to experience first-hand the benefits of digital technologies in debt issuance.

And I know that there is appetite to go further.

Last week, Secretary Bessent and I also discussed how our officials could explore opportunities to support industry to innovate cross-border…

…in line with proposals put forward by US Securities and Exchange Commissioner Hester Peirce about a transatlantic sandbox for digital securities…

…potentially allowing greater digital collaboration between capital markets in New York and London.

I’ve talked about what we’ve already done, and some ideas for the future.

Financial services is one of the key growth-driving sectors in the UK’s modern industrial strategy…

….with FinTech as a priority growth opportunity…

…and I look forward to publishing the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy at my upcoming Mansion House address…

…which I can today confirm will take place on the 15th July.

At Mansion House last year I set out my vision on economic growth…

…and the new approach required to build sustainable growth…

…on a platform of stability.

At Mansion House this year I’ll talk about how we can go further and faster in realising that growth.

By publishing the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy…

…I will set out our strategy for the rest of this parliament and beyond…

…building on our strengths in areas including capital markets, insurance and asset management…

… supporting firms to innovate by ensuring they can access and develop the talent they need…

…and promoting the UK as a great place to do business globally.

Backing the builders in FinTech means improving outcomes for businesses and consumers…

…revolutionising how we invest and trade…

And driving growth and prosperity, here in the UK.

It’s incredible how far Fintech has come in the past decade…

And I’m enormously optimistic about the future.

From the huge growth of the sector that has already taken place…

…to the passion, drive and commitment I see from all of you to make FinTech a huge UK success story…

…it is clear that our job in government is to back you, back the builders, back the change makers all the way.

And I am ready to do just that.

Thank you very much.

Updates to this page

Published 29 April 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: 100 DAYS OF INVESTMENT: $5+ Trillion in New Investment Fuels America’s Future

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
President Donald J. Trump has secured over $5 trillion in new U.S.-based investments in his first 100 days, which will create more than 451,000 new jobs as he sets the stage for a new era of American prosperity. From advanced manufacturing to cutting-edge artificial intelligence infrastructure, these historic investments — spurred by President Trump’s unwavering commitment to revitalizing American industry — will reinforce the U.S. as the global leader in innovation and economic growth.
The announcements keep coming. In recent days:
IBM announced a $150 billion investment over the next five years in its U.S.-based growth and manufacturing operations.
Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it will invest an additional $2 billion over the next four years to enhance and expand its U.S. manufacturing operations and strengthen its innovation efforts.
Corning announced it is expanding its Michigan manufacturing facility investment to $1.5 billion, adding 400 new, high-paying, advanced manufacturing jobs.
Merck & Co. announced a $1 billion investment to build a new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in Delaware, which will create at least 500 new jobs — part of the company’s commitment to invest more than $9 billion over the next four years.
“Since the advent of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Merck has allocated more than $12 billion to enhance our domestic manufacturing and research capabilities, with additional planned investments of more than $9 billion over the next four years.”

Amgen announced a $900 million investment in its Ohio-based manufacturing operation.
The company credited President Trump’s landmark 2017 tax cuts for enabling its rapid expansion: “Pro-growth policies like the @POTUS @WhiteHouse 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act helped make investments like this possible. Since enactment, Amgen has invested ~$5B in capital expenditures. This amounts to an additional downstream output to the U.S. economy of approximately $12B.”

The Bel Group announced a $350 million investment to expand its U.S.-based production, including at its South Dakota, Idaho and Wisconsin facilities — which will create 250 new jobs.
Here is the non-exhaustive list of investments secured in President Trump’s second term:
Project Stargate, led by Japan-based Softbank and U.S.-based OpenAI and Oracle, announced a $500 billion private investment in U.S.-based artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Apple announced a $500 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and training.
NVIDIA, a global chipmaking giant, announced it will invest $500 billion in U.S.-based AI infrastructure over the next four years amid its pledge to manufacture AI supercomputers entirely in the U.S. for the first time.
IBM announced a $150 billion investment over the next five years in its U.S.-based growth and manufacturing operations.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced a $100 billion investment in U.S.-based chips manufacturing.
Johnson & Johnson announced a $55 billion investment over the next four years in manufacturing, research and development, and technology.
Roche, a Swiss drug and diagnostics company, announced a $50 billion investment in U.S.-based manufacturing and research and development, which is expected to create more than 1,000 full-time jobs.
Eli Lilly and Company announced a $27 billion investment to more than double its domestic manufacturing capacity.
United Arab Emirates-based ADQ and U.S.-based Energy Capital Partners announced a $25 billion investment in U.S. data centers and energy infrastructure.
Novartis, a Swiss drugmaker, announced a $23 billion investment to build or expand ten manufacturing facilities across the U.S., which will create 4,000 new jobs.
Hyundaiannounced a $21 billion U.S.-based investment — including $5.8 billion for a new steel plant in Louisiana, which will create nearly 1,500 jobs.
Hyundai also secured an equity investment and agreement from Posco Holdings, South Korea’s top steel maker.

United Arab Emirates-based DAMAC Properties announced a $20 billion investment in new U.S.-based data centers.
France-based CMA CGM, a global shipping giant, announced a $20 billion investment in U.S. shipping and logistics, creating 10,000 new jobs.
Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it will invest an additional $2 billion over the next four years to enhance and expand its U.S. manufacturing operations and strengthen its innovation efforts.
Merck & Co. announced it will invest a total of $9 billion in the U.S. over the next several years after opening a new $1 billion North Carolina manufacturing facility — including in a new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in Delaware, which will create at least 500 new jobs.
Clarios announced a $6 billion plan to expand its domestic manufacturing operations.
Stellantis announced a $5 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing network, including re-opening its Belvidere, Illinois, manufacturing plant.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in biotechnology, announced a $3 billion agreement with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies to produce drugs at its North Carolina manufacturing facility.
NorthMark Strategies, a multi-strategy investment firm, announced a $2.8 billion investment to build a supercomputing facility in South Carolina.
Corning announced it is expanding its Michigan manufacturing facility investment to $1.5 billion, adding 400 new high-paying advanced manufacturing jobs for a total of 1,500 new jobs.
Chobani, a Greek yogurt giant, announced a $1.2 billion investment to build its third U.S. dairy processing plant in New York, which is expected to create more than 1,000 new full-time jobs — adding to the company’s earlier announcement that it will invest $500 million to expand its Idaho manufacturing plant.
GE Aerospace announced a $1 billion investment in manufacturing across 16 states — creating 5,000 new jobs.
Amgen announced a $900 million investment in its Ohio-based manufacturing operation.
Schneider Electric announced it will invest $700 million over the next four years in U.S. energy infrastructure.
GE Vernova announced it will invest nearly $600 million in U.S. manufacturing over the next two years, which will create more than 1,500 new jobs.
Abbott Laboratories announced a $500 million investment in its Illinois and Texas facilities.
AIP Management, a European infrastructure investor, announced a $500 million investment to solar developer Silicon Ranch.
London-based Diageo announced a $415 million investment in a new Alabama manufacturing facility.
Dublin-based Eaton Corporation announced a $340 million investment in a new South Carolina-based manufacturing facility for its three-phase transformers.
Germany-based Siemens announced a $285 million investment in U.S. manufacturing and AI data centers, which will create more than 900 new skilled manufacturing jobs.
The Bel Group announced a $350 million investment to expand its U.S.-based production, including at its South Dakota, Idaho and Wisconsin facilities — which will create 250 new jobs.
Clasen Quality Chocolate announced a $230 million investment to build a new production facility in Virginia, which will create 250 new jobs.
Fiserv, Inc., a financial technology provider, announced a $175 million investment to open a new strategic fintech hub in Kansas, which is expected to create 2,000 new, high-paying jobs.
Paris Baguette announced a $160 million investment to construct a manufacturing plant in Texas.
TS Conductor announced a $134 million investment to build an advanced conductor manufacturing facility in South Carolina, which will create nearly 500 new jobs.
Switzerland-based ABB announced a $120 million investment to expand production of its low-voltage electrification products in Tennessee and Mississippi.
Saica Group, a Spain-based corrugated packaging maker, announced plans to build a $110 million new manufacturing facility in Anderson, Indiana.
Charms, LLC, a subsidiary of candymaker Tootsie Roll Industries, announced a $97.7 million investment to expand its production plant and distribution center in Tennessee.
Toyota Motor Corporation announced an $88 million investment to boost hybrid vehicle production at its West Virginia factory, securing employment for the 2,000 workers at the factory.
AeroVironment, a defense contractor, announced a $42.3 million investment to build a new manufacturing facility in Utah.
Paris-based Saint-Gobain announced a new $40 million NorPro manufacturing facility in Wheatfield, New York.
India-based Sygene International announced a $36.5 million acquisition of a Baltimore biologics manufacturing facility.
Asahi Group Holdings, one of the largest Japanese beverage makers, announced a $35 million investment to boost production at its Wisconsin plant.
Cyclic Materials, a Canadian advanced recycling company for rare earth elements, announced a $20 million investment in its first U.S.-based commercial facility, located in Mesa, Arizona.
Guardian Bikes announced a $19 million investment to build the first U.S.-based large-scale bicycle frame manufacturing operation in Indiana.
Amsterdam-based AMG Critical Minerals announced a $15 million investment to build a chrome manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania.
NOVONIX Limited, an Australia-based battery technology company, announced a $4.6 million investment to build a synthetic graphite manufacturing facility in Tennessee.
LGM Pharma announced a $6 million investment to expand its manufacturing facility in Rosenberg, Texas.
ViDARR Inc., a defense optical equipment manufacturer, announced a $2.69 million investment to open a new facility in Virginia.
That doesn’t even include the U.S. investments pledged by foreign countries:
United Arab Emirates announced a $1.4 trillion investment in the U.S. over the next decade.
Saudi Arabia announced it intends to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.
Japan announced a $1 trillion investment in the U.S.
Taiwan announced a pledge to boost its U.S.-based investment.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The role of family in modern society was discussed at the State University of Management

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

On April 29, the 2nd International Scientific Conference “Family in Modern Russian Society” was held at the State University of Management, organized by the Research Institute of Public Policy and Management of Industrial Economics of the State University of Management together with the university institutes.

Today, family issues are given special attention at all levels. Thus, 2024 in Russia was held under the auspices of the Year of the Family and became fruitful in terms of long-term legislative, economic and social initiatives aimed at supporting Russian families.

More than 50 students, postgraduates, applicants, scientists and teachers presented papers on the role of the family in Russian society, issues of family policy and traditional family values. Students and teachers of Russian universities, experts, representatives of government bodies and the clergy took part in the work of the sections. The Chairman of the Program Committee was Oleg Sudorgin, Director of the Research Institute of Public Policy and Management of Industrial Economy of the State University of Management.

The conference included five sections.

The section “Family and Marriage Values in the Minds of Modern Youth” was led by Deputy Director of the Institute of Personnel Management, Social and Business Communications for Research Galina Mokhova. Participants presented research on the specifics of family relationships and youth education, discussed the problems of trust in family relationships, and the perception of family and marriage by young people. Considerable attention was paid to the preservation and strengthening of intergenerational relationships and traditional family values.

The Family Economy section, chaired by Galina Sorokina, Director of the Institute of Economics and Finance, discussed the specifics and issues of family economics and family budget in modern society. Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church also took part in the work: the rector of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Pronsky Monastery in the Ryazan Diocese, Abbot Luka (Stepanov), the rector of the Church of the Holy Blessed Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky on Volzhsky, Priest Kirill (Kraev), and the priest of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity near Saltykov Bridge, Priest Grigory (Falin). GUU expresses its deep appreciation and gratitude to the representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church for their participation in the conference.

Within the framework of the section “Formation and development of modern state family policy in Russia”, headed by the head of the department of state and municipal administration, adviser to the rector’s office Sergey Chuev, current national and federal projects, strategies in the field of family and demographic policy, issues and prospects for state support for young families were discussed.

Under the guidance of Irina Goncharova, leading researcher at the Research Institute of Public Policy and Management of Industrial Economics, in the section “The Institute of Family in the Era of Change: from Historical Mission to Modern Challenges,” the speakers examined aspects of the institution of family in the context of modern demographic challenges and the impact of digitalization, the role of the family in fostering patriotism and the formation of a positive image of the family in the media.

The conference included a special thematic section dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War — “The Contribution of Families to Achieving Victory in World War II.” The section was chaired by Fanis Sharipov, Director of the Center for Socio-Economic and Political Research of China at the Research Institute of Public Policy and Management of Industrial Economy. The speakers presented stories related to their ancestors who fought during the Great Patriotic War, and shared memories of the courage and dedication of their relatives. The key issues of the section were the importance of preserving historical memory and the contribution of young people to preserving the memory of the war. Nikita Stepanov, Senior Researcher at the Center for Socio-Economic Development Institutes at the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Ivan Arkhipov, Deputy Chairman of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society and President of the I.V. Arkhipov Foundation, took part in the section.

For the second time, the conference became a platform for professional and extensive consideration of the vectors of development of the Russian family, key foundations for preserving the continuity of traditions and family values. Participants unanimously noted the importance of discussing and forming new ideas for developing the institution of the family, and also emphasized that the regular nature of such events promotes dialogue between generations, preservation and popularization of traditions and family values in modern Russian society.

Let us recall that in 2024, the first International Scientific Conference “Family in Modern Russian Society” was held at the State University of Management, dedicated to the Year of the Family, declared by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/29/2025

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: LATAM Nearshoring Pioneer AssureSoft Expands Operations with New Development Center in Santa Cruz
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
- This investment reinforces AssureSoft‘s vision of on-site collaboration to uphold a strong company culture and ensure high-quality software solutions that meet the highest security standards for its clients.
- Over the past five years, AssureSoft has maintained an annual growth rate of 35%.
SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA, Bolivia, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AssureSoft, a nearshore software outsourcing company with operations in Latin America and the United States, has announced the opening of a new development center in Santa Cruz, Bolivia’s primary economic hub.

This investment reflects the company’s sustainable growth and responds to the evolving needs of businesses across the board, as nearshore outsourcing has become an increasingly adopted strategy for delivering high-quality software projects efficiently. According to Verified Market Research®, the Software Outsourcing Market is estimated to reach a valuation of USD 897.9 Billion in 2031—a CAGR of 5.49% from 2024 to 2031.

AssureSoft’s new development center is located in the iconic Green Tower, Bolivia’s most modern and technologically advanced building. Santa Cruz is a vibrant city that contributes nearly 35% of Bolivia’s gross domestic product (GDP) and receives over 40% of the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI), underscoring its status as an economic powerhouse in the region.

“Looking back to 2006 when we founded AssureSoft, we were one of the few Latin American companies in the software outsourcing business. After 19 years, we’re proud to have established a solid network of development centers and offices across six cities,” said Daniel Gumucio, CEO of AssureSoft. “Our new office in Santa Cruz allows us to tap into the region’s exceptional tech talent pool while delivering world-class, reliable solutions that drive real value for our clients.”

Building on a Solid Foundation

AssureSoft has maintained a steady 35% annual growth rate over the past five years, reflecting a solid foundation and a company built for the long term. With more than 500 engineers across Latin America, AssureSoft plans to hire over 200 developers in the next two years to meet the growing demand for outsourced skilled tech talent. In Q4-2024, AssureSoft reported a strong Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 73. Plus, over 25% of its clients have been active for more than five years—highlighting long-term relationships built on trust and results. The company’s approach emphasizes high-quality development and a culturally aligned workforce.

As AssureSoft continues to grow, it remains committed to upholding the highest standards of quality and information security. The ISO 27001:2022 certification reflects its robust approach to data protection and compliance across all development projects.

About AssureSoft

AssureSoft is a nearshore software outsourcing company with 19 years of experience. With a team of 500+ developers distributed across Latin America, the company provides tailored solutions to U.S. and Canada-based clients through staff augmentation, dedicated software development teams, and end-to-end software outsourcing services. AssureSoft’s headquarters are located in Miami; it operates offices in California and has development centers in four cities across Bolivia and Paraguay.

AssureSoft adheres to global standards in information security compliance and talent development. The company is ISO 27001:2022-certified and has been recognized as a Great Place to Work® for four consecutive years. Discover more at www.assuresoft.com.

For Media Inquiries:

Catalina Soto Pizano
Corporate Communications Manager
AssureSoft
catalina.soto@assuresoft.com

The MIL Network –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: U.S. Energy Storage Industry Commits $100 Billion Investment in American-Made Grid Batteries

Source: American Clean Power Association (ACP)

Headline: U.S. Energy Storage Industry Commits $100 Billion Investment in American-Made Grid Batteries

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 29, 2025 – Today the American Clean Power Association (ACP), on behalf of the U.S. energy storage industry, announced a historic commitment to invest $100 billion into building and buying American-made grid batteries. This investment is expected to fuel the creation of 350,000 jobs across the battery energy storage industry and transform the United States into a global battery manufacturing leader.
This announcement aligns with actions taken by the Trump Administration to unleash American energy and develop critical minerals in the United States. The industry’s investment will advance a manufacturing expansion in the United States with the aim of enabling American-made batteries to meet 100% of domestic energy storage project demand.
“The energy storage industry is providing essential power when needed most while boosting domestic manufacturing and creating jobs across the country,” said Jason Grumet, CEO of ACP. “Today’s historic commitment will invest billions of dollars into American communities and position the United States as a manufacturing leader in battery technology that is critical to national and grid security.”
Building a Pathway to 100% American-Made Grid Batteries
The U.S. energy storage industry is committed to investing $100 billion in American grid batteries, including both capital for building new battery manufacturing facilities and procurement of American-made batteries for U.S. energy storage projects. Through this commitment, the industry will advance American battery manufacturing leadership, enhance U.S. energy security, provide energy affordability and reliability, and drive international competitiveness.
This investment represents a clear pathway to supplying 100% of U.S. energy storage projects with American-made batteries by 2030. A pro-business environment, supported by stable tax and trade policy and streamlined permitting, is essential to the industry fulfilling this commitment.
Booming U.S. Energy Storage Deployments Fuel Manufacturing Resurgence
Battery energy storage is now a leading energy resource boosting electric grid reliability and keeping energy costs low for families and businesses across America. Since FERC Order 841 was issued in 2018, energy storage deployment has grown 25x. The ongoing growth in energy storage deployment is driving investment in American battery manufacturing facilities.
The energy storage industry is making significant progress in laying the groundwork for a domestic battery energy storage supply chain, building or expanding more than 25 manufacturing facilities for grid-scale energy storage. With today’s investment commitment, the industry has announced plans to rapidly expand ongoing efforts.
The Role of Battery Storage in Unleashing American Energy Dominance
As communities across the country grapple with skyrocketing energy demand, aging grid infrastructure, and concerns over reliability, battery energy storage is providing a ready-to-deploy solution to these challenges.
Energy storage optimizes all existing power generation, lowering energy bills and hardening the grid against extreme weather events like blizzards and heat waves. As the economy grows, energy storage provides important peaking capacity, freeing up more gas generation to serve as base load and enabling more energy production.
Energy storage has also been critical for supporting American industrial and technological might, from metals manufacturing in West Virginia to new data centers and AI infrastructure in Texas and Arizona. The need for energy storage resources continues to be strong across the country, as 31 states currently have energy storage projects under construction.
“Form Energy is proud to be ramping up manufacturing at Form Factory 1 in Weirton, West Virginia, advancing our mission to strengthen the U.S. electric grid with domestically produced, multi-day energy storage. Situated on the historic site of the former Weirton Steel mill—a cornerstone of America’s industrial past—the newly built Form Factory 1 is proving that America’s greatest manufacturing epoch isn’t behind us; it’s unfolding now.” Mateo Jaramillo, Co-founder & CEO of Form Energy, noted, “This investment in American manufacturing not only supports the creation of high-quality jobs in West Virginia but also ensures that the U.S. remains a leader in energy innovation. As the energy storage industry commits to investing $100 billion in American-made grid batteries by 2030, Form Energy is excited to play a key role in building a more reliable, resilient, and secure energy future for our country.”
“Fluence investments in American battery cell, module, enclosure, thermal management, and controls manufacturing are delivering domestic energy storage products starting this year and will help power U.S. economic growth for decades to come,” said John Zahurancik, Fluence President, Americas. “Our manufacturing facilities in Utah, Texas, Tennessee, and Arizona support more reliable and cost-effective energy production while creating a resilient U.S. supply chain that advances American innovation, jobs, and energy security. These investments are about building the future of energy—right here in the United States.”
“LG Energy Solution is fully committed to expanding US energy storage manufacturing, with our fist factory lines expected to begin production in 2025 in Holland, Michigan, where we will adapt existing lines to provide 16.5GWh of ESS batteries, with an additional11GWh of capacity planned for the beginning of 2026.” Said Jaehong Park, CEO, LG Energy Solution Vertech. “We have expanded our investment in US manufacturing to meet rising demand; we have currently committed $1.4 billion to our production plan in Holland, MI, with additional investments and capacity expansion to come.”
“Battery energy storage is keeping the lights on and costs low for consumers across the county. Developers are committed to sourcing batteries made in America to deploy this essential energy resource to more Americans for energy stability and cost savings in the face of increasing demand,” said Stephanie Smith COO, Eolian. “As manufacturers begin ramping up domestic supply, streamlining federal and state policies and permitting processes will make the difference in getting this industry moving quickly and competitively.”
“Battery energy storage is key to meeting America’s rapidly expanding electricity needs,” said Craig Cornelius, President and CEO of Clearway Energy Group. “As we deploy energy storage at record pace, this investment reflects the industry’s commitment to building these critical grid infrastructure projects with American-made batteries.”

MIL OSI Economics –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New posters promoting button battery safety
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

News story

New posters promoting button battery safety

New posters promoting button battery safety provide 5 top tips to keep children safe.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is sharing new posters which can be downloaded and shared by stakeholders to promote button battery safety and awareness.

Download the web version of the button batteries poster. (PDF, 173 KB, 1 page)

Download the print version of the button batteries poster. (PDF, 725 KB, 1 page)

These posters feature top tips that have been developed through collaboration with accident prevention charities, clinicians, manufacturers, online marketplaces and trade associations. 1.

They warn parents about the risks of button batteries and provide 5 top tips to keep children safe:

Look around your home for button batteries. Think toys, lights, remote controls and more.

Check for products with loose backs and button batteries that have dropped out.

Store button batteries in a safe place, up high and out of your child’s reach.

Dispose of used button batteries as soon as you can. They are still unsafe.

Act if you think your child may have swallowed a button battery, go straight to A&E or call an ambulance.

Used button batteries should not be disposed of in the household rubbish. They should be dropped off for recycling at a collection point at a supermarket, or any other big shop that sells over 32 kg of batteries a year.

Find out more about button battery safety – Child Accident Prevention Trust website

The button battery top tips were produced by a working group chaired by the Child Accident Prevention Trust with representatives from Amazon, Amdea, Alibaba, British Retail Consortium, British and Irish Portable Battery Association, British Standards Institution, Chartered Trading Standards Institute, eBay, Electrical Safety First, Energizer, Etsy, OPSS and RoSPA and representatives from local authority trading standards services.

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Updates to this page

Published 29 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Launches New $55 Million Grant Program to Support Small Business Recovery in Western North Carolina

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Governor Stein Launches New $55 Million Grant Program to Support Small Business Recovery in Western North Carolina

Governor Stein Launches New $55 Million Grant Program to Support Small Business Recovery in Western North Carolina
lsaito
Tue, 04/29/2025 – 10:08

Raleigh, NC

Today Governor Josh Stein announced that local governments in western North Carolina can apply for grants from a new $55 million state infrastructure program designed to help small businesses in the region recover from Hurricane Helene. The Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program, offered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce and its Rural Economic Development Division, will fund individual grants to a local government up to $1 million to rebuild the public infrastructure that small businesses rely on to operate and thrive.

“Western North Carolina’s economy is dependent on its vibrant downtowns and small businesses, and helping them recover is critically important,” said Governor Stein. “This new grant program will reinvigorate the infrastructure that small businesses depend on, and I appreciate the General Assembly appropriating these funds.”

The Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (SmBIZ) will utilize state funds appropriated by the North Carolina General Assembly in the recently passed Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1, which Governor Stein signed on March 19. The program will offer grants to local governments, and the related infrastructure projects will target and support small businesses that employ 150 or fewer employees. Funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Grants awarded under this program must be used by local governments to address qualifying infrastructure needs that the Department of Commerce, in consultation with applicant local governments and related small businesses, determines are the result of Hurricane Helene’s impact and have adversely affected access to, or operations of, the identified small businesses. The infrastructure cannot be owned by the small business, nor can it be such that the small business is responsible for maintaining it. Infrastructure may include but will not be limited to water, sewer, gas, telecommunications, high-speed broadband, electrical utility, sidewalk and curb infrastructure, and other repairs that remove barriers and restore or increase access to impacted small businesses.

“Successful recovery from disasters of Helene’s magnitude requires everyone to pull together and marshal support from many different sources, both state and federal,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “I’m grateful that the North Carolina General Assembly has quickly provided funds for this vital new infrastructure recovery program.”

An application portal and more information about the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program can also be found online at commerce.nc.gov/SmBIZ.

Apr 29, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: Wearable Devices Ltd. Announces a Warrant Inducement Transaction for $1.2 Million in Gross Proceeds

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Yokneam Illit, Israel, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wearable Devices Ltd. (the “Company” or “Wearable Devices”) (Nasdaq: WLDS, WLDSW), an award-winning pioneer in artificial intelligence (“AI”)-based wearable gesture control technology, today announced its entry into a warrant inducement agreement with an existing institutional investor of the Company for the immediate exercise of warrants to purchase up to 625,000 of its ordinary shares (the “January Warrants”), and warrants to purchase up to 205,500 of its ordinary shares (the “November Warrants”, and together with the January Warrants the “Existing Warrants”), at a reduced exercise price of $1.45 per ordinary share, for gross cash proceeds of approximately $1.2 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other transaction expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the warrant inducement transaction for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

In consideration for the immediate exercise in full of the Existing Warrants, the investor will receive, in a private placement (the “Concurrent Private Placement”), new unregistered warrants to purchase up to 1,661,000 of its ordinary shares (the “New Warrants”). The New Warrants will have an exercise price of $1.45 per ordinary share, will be exercisable on the date of issuance and will expire five years following the date of issuance. The closing of the warrant inducement transaction is expected to occur on or about April 30, 2025, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The private placement of the New Warrants and the ordinary shares underlying the New Warrants offered to the institutional investor will be made in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Regulation D promulgated thereunder. Accordingly, the securities issued in the Concurrent Private Placement may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws.

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

About Wearable Devices Ltd.

Wearable Devices Ltd. is a pioneering growth company revolutionizing human-computer interaction through its AI-powered neural input technology for both consumer and business markets. Leveraging proprietary sensors, software, and advanced AI algorithms, the Company’s innovative products, including the Mudra Band for iOS and Mudra Link for Android, enable seamless, touch-free interaction by transforming subtle finger and wrist movements into intuitive controls. These groundbreaking solutions enhance gaming, and the rapidly expanding AR/VR/XR landscapes. The Company offers a dual-channel business model: direct-to-consumer sales and enterprise licensing. Its flagship Mudra Band integrates functional and stylish design with cutting-edge AI to empower consumers, while its enterprise solutions provide businesses with the tools to deliver immersive and interactive experiences. By setting the input standard for the XR market, Wearable Devices is redefining user experiences and driving innovation in one of the fastest-growing tech sectors. Wearable Devices’ ordinary shares and warrants trade on the Nasdaq under the symbols “WLDS” and “WLDSW,” respectively.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “will” or other comparable terms. For example, we are using forward-looking statements when we discuss the expected closing date of the warrant inducement transaction, the use of proceeds, and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the trading of our ordinary shares or warrants and the development of a liquid trading market; our ability to successfully market our products and services; the acceptance of our products and services by customers; our continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for our products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other security and telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; our ability to successfully develop new products and services; our success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements, licensing and supplier arrangements; our ability to comply with applicable regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed on March 20, 2025 and our other filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Investor Relations Contact

Michal Efraty
IR@wearabledevices.co.il

The MIL Network –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: BTCC Exchange Pioneers Bitcoin Donations at Successful Legends Golf Day Charity Event Hosted by Red Eagle Foundation

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

VILNIUS, Lithuania, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BTCC, the world’s longest-serving crypto exchange, has redefined charitable giving at the Red Eagle Foundation’s Legends Golf Day by enabling, for the first time in the foundation’s history, Bitcoin donations that bypassed traditional financial constraints while raising substantial funds for disadvantaged children.

The event, held on April 24, 2025 at The Shire London, marked a historic milestone as BTCC enabled the first-ever Bitcoin donation option for the Red Eagle Foundation, revolutionizing how attendees could contribute to charitable causes. Participants could easily donate Bitcoin through QR codes available throughout the venue, transcending traditional banking limitations.

The event featured an impressive lineup of ten Tottenham Hotspur legends, including Glenn Hoddle, Teddy Sheringham, Ossie Ardiles, Pat Jennings, Paul Miller, Michael Hazard, John Pratt, David Howells, John Lacey, and Mark Falco. Professional golfer Lucy Robson challenged participants as the “Beat the Pro”, and Team Barrington James took home the championship.

A highlight included Glenn Hoddle sharing stories from his illustrious career and offering insights on the current Tottenham Hotspur team in a Q&A session hosted by former Chelsea player and sports television pundit Scott Minto.

“BTCC brings a whole new donation method to traditional charity events, allowing more people in need to benefit from the power of cryptocurrency,” said Aaryn, Head of Branding at BTCC Exchange.

“As pioneers in the cryptocurrency space, we believe it’s our responsibility to use innovative technology to create positive social impact. We’re happy to provide continuous support to our partner Red Eagle Foundation and look forward to launching more CSR initiatives as our exchange grows,” Aaryn added.

The successful introduction of cryptocurrency donations represents just the beginning of BTCC’s expanded commitment to social responsibility. The exchange plans to leverage blockchain technology to address various social challenges while continuing to support organizations like the Red Eagle Foundation that make a meaningful difference in society.

As a token of appreciation for its loyal community, BTCC will also be launching a giveaway featuring a signed shirt by Glenn Hoddle. Supporters are encouraged to stay tuned for more details on the exchange’s X (Twitter).

About BTCC Exchange

Founded in 2011, BTCC is one of the most established cryptocurrency exchanges, providing secure and reliable crypto trading services. The exchange continues to innovate its services for its 7.04 million traders worldwide while maintaining a strong commitment to community service and corporate social responsibility.

Official website: https://www.btcc.com/en-US

X: https://x.com/BTCCexchange

Media Contact: press@btcc.com

The MIL Network –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: Huntress Debuts Industry-Disrupting Managed SIEM to Democratize Cybersecurity for Businesses of All Sizes
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

COLUMBIA, Md. and SAN FRANCISCO, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Huntress announced the general availability of its modern Managed Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution at the RSA Conference, introducing enhanced integrations for log sources and expanded compliance capabilities. Fully managed by Huntress’ 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC), Huntress Managed SIEM removes the complexity, meaningless noise, and unpredictable costs that traditional SIEM products bring, turning the old model on its head and delivering much more than compliance.

Huntress Managed SIEM enables customers to spot and neutralize threats earlier in the attack chain than they would with an Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution alone. Another benefit – Managed SIEM customers experience a fast time to value after deployment, thanks to expert eyes on their environment from day one. For example, threat hunting performed by the Huntress SOC discovered an RDP brute force attack less than 15 hours after the customer deployed Huntress.

Advancing its mission to make enterprise-grade cybersecurity accessible beyond the Fortune 1000, Huntress unveiled the general availability of its Managed SIEM with new and expanded functionality, including:
- Enhanced log ingestion with 20+ new integrations, encompassing firewall, password management, and identity data sources, like 1Password, Keeper Security, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, pfSense, SonicWall, Sophos, Ubiquiti, WatchGuard, Barracuda Networks, LastPass, BitWarden, Duo, DNSFilter, and CloudGen.
- 24/7 detection, response, and threat hunting for specific tradecraft led by Huntress’ elite SOC team to detect and neutralize noisy but effective threats like RDP brute force attempts that often go unnoticed.
- Expanded detection rules, rapid data rehydration capabilities, and enhanced search speed up investigations and enable the Huntress SOC to remediate risks quickly.
- Extended data retention up to 7 years for region-specific compliance, financial auditing, PCI-DSS mandates, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), and the Australian Signals Directorate’s Essential Eight.
- Predictable, stable, and industry-disruptive pricing based on Huntress’ ability to store only the necessary data for threat hunting, investigation, and compliance.
“Security incidents can happen in minutes, and protection shouldn’t be reserved only for companies with big budgets and teams. SIEM providers talk a big game with promises of a single pane of glass, actionable visibility, and improved compliance and security posture, but the reality is complexity, noise, and soaring storage costs. We dropped the big data-lake mentality and built our SIEM to store only the data required for threat hunting and compliance, which earned us a spot on Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companies list. We are ready to unshackle security teams from lengthy integrations, customizing rules, and sifting through massive amounts of data looking for a needle in a haystack,” said Chris Bisnett, CTO and Co-founder of Huntress.

Because the elite Huntress SOC already monitors threats 24/7 for millions of endpoints and identities, its Managed SIEM gives fast and effective herd immunity from emerging threat actor tradecraft. Anything caught for one organization helps Huntress’ SOC shut it down faster for the next.

“Huntress Managed SIEM is incredibly beneficial as it seamlessly integrates information from firewalls, endpoints, and antivirus solutions, allowing us to see an incident’s full scope, rather than just isolated parts. We have been able to get our clients up and running quickly and provide detailed assessments and actionable remediation steps. Ultimately, Huntress Managed SIEM is an invaluable tool for our business. I’d confidently recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their cybersecurity capabilities, ensure thorough incident analysis, and support rapid recovery efforts,” said Dan Paquette, President of Key Methods.

Additional Resources:

About Huntress
Huntress is the enterprise-grade, people-powered cybersecurity solution for all businesses, not just the 1%. With fully owned technology developed by and for its industry-defining team of security analysts, engineers, and researchers, Huntress elevates underresourced tech teams, whether they work within outsourced IT environments or in-house IT and security teams.

The 24/7 industry-leading Huntress Security Operations Center (SOC) covers cyber threats for outsourced IT and in-house teams through remediation with a false-positive rate of less than 1%. With a mission to break down barriers to enterprise-level security and always give back more than it takes, Huntress is often the first to respond to major hacks and threats while protecting its partners and shares tradecraft analysis and threat advisories with the community as they happen.

As long as hackers keep hacking, Huntress keeps hunting. Join the hunt at www.huntress.com and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Huntress Contact:
press@huntresslabs.com

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/315a5cde-01b3-4aa5-9eac-f9cc2ff39442

The MIL Network –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: VSORA Raises $46 Million to Bring World’s Most Powerful AI Inference Chip to Market
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
- Europe’s only provider of more powerful, energy-efficient and cost-effective AI Chips than other solutions from global market leaders
- Funding will enable VSORA to produce its cutting-edge AI chip in 2025
PARIS, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VSORA, a French innovator and the only European provider of ultra-high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) inference chips, today announced that it has successfully raised $46 million in a new fundraising round.

The investment was led by Otium and a French family office with additional participation from Omnes Capital, Adélie Capital and co-financing from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund.

In citing their reasons for investing in VSORA, all recognize that VSORA is poised to establish itself as a global leader in AI chips by redefining cost-effective, high-performance AI inference deployment at scale with a purpose-built architecture that overcomes inherent GPU limitations.

“This funding marks a pivotal moment for VSORA as we accelerate our mission to revolutionize AI chips and ensure Europe’s technological sovereignty in AI computing,” says Khaled Maalej, VSORA Founder and CEO. “It will drive the finalization of our technology and the launch of our production, enabling VSORA to play a crucial role as the sole alternative to non-European chip designers. We are grateful for our investors’ trust and look forward to continuing our collaboration with industry leaders to bring our chip to market.”

The new funding will support the production stage of VSORA’s Jotunn8 (J8) chip targeted for silicon in 2025. VSORA has forged partnerships with global semiconductor industry leaders, ensuring access to cutting-edge technologies and production capabilities that meet the highest standards of quality and performance.

In parallel, VSORA continues to move forward with strategic stakeholders to prepare for the industrialization phase, paving the way for the emergence of a key global European player in AI chip innovation.

“In a market dominated by global giants like Nvidia, VSORA is a unique opportunity for France and Europe, home to world-class engineering talent,” comments Gaspard de Veyrac, Principal at Otium. “Otium is proud to provide them with the means to realize their ambitions. With this funding, VSORA has the necessary tools to reshape the future of AI computation and secure a significant position in the global AI chip market.”

VSORA and Jotunn8
Founded in France, VSORA is working to reshape the future of AI inference by revolutionizing AI processing with its unique chip engineered for superior performance and efficiency and set to redefine AI inference processing. It is designed for key applications such as generative AI—ChatGPT, for instance—in data centers, autonomous driving, robotics and edge AI.

The explosive growth of AI and generative AI applications has ignited an urgent demand for high-performance, cost-effective inference solutions. AI inference—the process of deploying trained AI models to generate real-time insights and predictions—is projected to grow at a 16% CAGR from $124 billion in 2025 to $255 billion in 2030.

The Jotunn8 (J8) chip shatters performance barriers of conventional GPUs, delivering concrete performance that surpasses today’s AI chips from global-leading industry players. Specifically, J8 delivers more than three times the performance of existing solutions while consuming less than half the power. This significant leap in efficiency addresses the critical challenges of deployment cost, cost per query and energy consumption in large-scale AI deployment.

Offering 3,200 teraflops of compute power, the J8 chip shatters the performance barriers of conventional GPUs, delivering real-world performance that surpasses today’s AI accelerators.

Unlike traditional accelerators optimized for training, VSORA’s technology focuses on inference making it ideal for latency-sensitive applications. It increases throughput and reduces the processing cost and cost per query.

About VSORA
VSORA provides high-performance silicon solutions for AI data center inference, autonomous driving, robotics and edge AI applications. Founded in 2015 by a team of DSP experts, AI scientists and engineers with a long history of successes, VSORA has offices in France and Taiwan.

Connect with VSORA:
Website: www.vsora.com
Email: info@vsora.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vsora/

About Otium
Otium is a long-term investment holding company founded in 2009 by Pierre Edouard Sterin. With €1.6 billion ($1,892 billion) in assets as of December 31, 2024, spread across more than 1,310 investments—including the Smartbox group and stakes in French unicorns PayFit and Owkin—Otium invests amounts ranging from a few hundred thousand euros to several tens of millions of euros. Companies are funded at every stage of their development, from seed funding to growth capital, and Otium takes either majority or minority stakes with no holding period constraints. Otium pursues a diversification strategy by financing projects in tech, industrials, leisure, healthcare, hospitality and real estate. Otium invested €255 million in 2024. www.otiumcapital.com

About Omnes Capital
Omnes is a leading private equity firm dedicated to energy transition. With over €6.7 billion ($7,580 billion) in assets under management, our teams support long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs through our four core businesses: renewable energy, sustainable cities, deep tech and co-investment. For over 20 years, Omnes has been applying its expertise to help businesses grow in more than 15 countries, with a particular focus on sustainable development. As part of its approach as a responsible investor, the company has created the Omnes Foundation to support non-profit organizations working for children and young people in the fields of education, health, social and economic integration. www.omnescapital.com

About EIC Fund
The European Innovation Council Fund from the European Commission is an agnostic Fund: it invests across all technologies and verticals, and all EU countries and countries associated to Horizon Europe. It provides the investment component of the EIC Accelerator blended finance. The European Investment Bank acts as investment adviser to the EIC Fund.

The EIC Fund aims to fill a critical financing gap and its main purpose is to support companies in the development and commercialisation of disruptive technologies, bridging with and crowding in market players, and further sharing risk by building a large network of capital providers and strategic partners suitable for co-investments and follow-on funding.

The Fund pays particular attention to the empowerment and support of female founders as well as the ambition to reduce the innovation divide among EU countries.
https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-fund_en

For more information, contact:
Nanette Collins
Public Relations for VSORA
nanette@nvc.com

The MIL Network –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: ESFI Kicks Off 2025 National Electrical Safety Month Campaign with Battery Safety Message

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ARLINGTON, Va., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Each year in May, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) spearheads National Electrical Safety Month, a national campaign to educate key audiences on how to avoid electrically related fires, fatalities, and injuries. Now in its 28th year, a key focus for this year’s National Electrical Safety Month is lithium-ion battery safety. ESFI is debuting new materials to help raise awareness of electrical hazards to the public.

Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in the modern world. Nearly every rechargeable device is powered by them. When used and sourced properly, these batteries are safe. However, if used, charged, or disposed of incorrectly, these batteries can cause significant damage. Lithium-ion batteries are responsible for thousands of fires and dozens of deaths each year, with incidents steadily on the rise. “As we continue to rely on lithium-ion batteries to power our lives, it is crucial that consumers have access to up-to-date information about how to buy and use them properly,” said ESFI Executive Director, Jennifer LeFevre.

Lithium-ion battery safety starts well before a device or battery is plugged into a charger. ESFI continues to emphasize the importance of purchasing batteries and rechargeable devices from reputable retailers and looking for certification by Nationally Recognized Testing Labs, such as UL and CSA.

The second piece of lithium-ion battery safety is proper use, which includes storage and charging, and knowing how to spot a problem. ESFI’s materials provide guidance to consumers and workers about safe operation, emphasizing strategies such as avoiding charging devices near hallways or doors that might block exits and unplugging devices once they are fully charged. ESFI also advises that batteries should be discarded properly at end of life or if problems are detected such as changes in battery color, sweet burning odors emitted from a device or battery, or a change in a battery or device’s usual shape.

ESFI’s data shows that there continues to be a gap in proper battery disposal understanding. For example, among the respondents in a recent survey by ESFI, of those who have disposed of a damaged lithium-ion battery, half reported using a household trash can or recycling bin. ESFI works to bridge this gap by promoting best practices in videos, infographics, and on social media, including two new videos on battery disposal for the 2025 National Electrical Safety Month campaign. These materials encourage individuals to find a battery disposal center or receptacle by visiting call2recycle.org or contacting their local municipality or local retailers.

New National Electrical Safety Month resources for this year’s campaign include:

ABOUT ESFI

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is the trusted voice for electrical safety. The mission of ESFI is to prevent electrically related injuries, deaths, and fires. ESFI’s work saves lives and property through public education and outreach. For free safety materials from this year’s National Electrical Safety Month Campaign that you can share throughout your community, visit esfi.org/nesm.

Contact:
Evan Jones
Electrical Safety Foundation International
703.841.3247
evan.jones@esfi.org

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d6f2e69-f2e3-4bfb-843f-1162cd148197

The MIL Network –

April 30, 2025

Category: Business

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