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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More funding to combat rural and wildlife crime

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    More funding to combat rural and wildlife crime

    Funding boost for specialist rural and wildlife crime units.

    Rural communities will be better protected from the scourge of crimes such as equipment theft, livestock theft and hare coursing which can devastate countryside communities, farming and wildlife, through a funding boost to dedicated police units.

    The National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit will receive over £800,000 to continue their work tackling rural and wildlife crime, which can pose unique challenges for policing given the scale and isolation of rural areas.

    Funding to the National Rural Crime Unit will enable the unit to continue to increase collaboration across police forces, harnessing the latest technology and data to target the serious organised crime groups involved in crimes like equipment theft from farms.

    The National Wildlife Crime Unit will strengthen its ability to disrupt criminal networks exploiting endangered species both in the UK and internationally. Enhanced data analysis and financial investigation will help the unit track illegal wildlife profits and ensure offenders face justice.

    The funding comes as the government works with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to deliver the new Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy, to ensure the entire weight of government is put behind tackling rural crime.

    Minister for Crime and Policing Dame Diana Johnson said:

    When you report a crime, it should be properly investigated, with victims having faith that justice will be delivered and criminals punished.

    But too often victims of crime in rural communities have been left feeling undervalued and isolated, whether it be famers having equipment or livestock stolen, or villages targeted by car thieves and county lines gangs. 

    This new funding, alongside the forthcoming Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy and our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will help deliver the change rural communities deserve, ensuring no matter where you live your streets are safe and police responsive to your local needs as we continue to deliver on our Plan for Change.

    The government is determined to ensure its Safer Streets Mission applies to all communities no matter where they live with rural communities set to benefit from more visible local policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

    This will deliver 13,000 more neighbourhood police officers and police community support officers by the end of the Parliament as part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.

    Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed said:

    For too long, rural crime has gone unpunished. Organised crime, fly-tipping and farm theft blight our countryside.

    This government will crackdown on these criminals and bring them to justice with specialist rural policing units to protect farmers and our rural communities.

    The new funding follows the government’s flagship Crime and Policing Bill, which gives police and local authorities new powers to tackle crime, including crimes that do real damage to rural communities.

    This includes new statutory guidance for local authorities to support them to make full and proper use of their fly-tipping enforcement powers.

    New warrantless powers of entry for police to enter premises identified by electronic mapping will give officers a valuable tool to tackle equipment and machinery stolen from farms and agricultural businesses. 

    The government is committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 which will make it harder for criminals to sell stolen agricultural equipment. Secondary legislation is due to be introduced later this year.

    Superintendent Andrew Huddleston, Head of National Rural Crime Unit said:

    This funding is critical and will enable information sharing and joint operations to continue across the UK facilitated by the National Rural Crime Co-Ordinator.

    The contribution to the replacement of the operational team vehicles is equally important as it will allow the continued support of forces on the ground and recovery of stolen equipment which since the inception of the team in 2023 stands at over £22 million.

    Chief Inspector Kevin Lacks-Kelly, Head of UK Wildlife Crime said:

    This funding is a significant step forward in the fight against wildlife crime. By enhancing our intelligence capabilities and strengthening enforcement, we will be better equipped to protect endangered species and disrupt the criminals who exploit them.

    The UK is seen as a centre of excellence in tackling this global issue, working closely with international partners to ensure a safer future for our planet’s wildlife.

    The funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit will reinforce the UK’s leadership in global wildlife crime prevention, through the unit’s work with INTERPOL and global enforcement agencies to combat the illegal wildlife trade on a worldwide scale.

    Wildlife crime not only threatens biodiversity but also fuels organised crime and corruption.

    Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said:

    Rural crime blights the countryside, so we welcome the news of more funding as well as the upcoming launch of the new national strategy.

    Farmers and communities – many already struggling with isolation – have had enough of criminals and violent organised gangs targeting them. They deserve to feel safe and protected.

    As recent CLA analysis found, some police forces lack dedicated rural officers and basic kit. This new funding is a step in the right direction in the fight against rural crime, and must be used to equip more officers as well as improve training for call handlers.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: February 2025: New Business Volumes Rebound

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • FORECAST: Our forecast framework, which uses past values of CFI and durable goods orders to predict future changes in topline durable goods orders, expects a 0.47% contraction in new orders in February.
    • Total new business volume (NBV) rose by $9.7 billion seasonally adjusted among surveyed ELFA member companies, an increase of 3.7% from the prior month.
    • NBV year-to-date contracted by 3.7% relative to the same period in 2024.
    • The year-over-year change declined by 7.4% on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.
    • Charge-offs (losses) rose to 0.55%, near the two-year high seen last November.

    WASHINGTON, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — “The latest CFI release showed a return to normalcy in February. Demand for equipment returned to healthy levels after whipsawing the last few months due to a historic swing in financing activity at banks,” said Leigh Lytle, President and CEO at ELFA. “Financial conditions weakened a little as losses rose, but accounts past 30 days remained low, and new applications remained strong. 2025 is shaping up to be bumpy, but so far, the data indicates that demand for investment equipment has weathered the storm. We’re closely watching financial conditions for signs of erosion, but we expect the industry to have a solid year as long as the economy avoids a recession.”

    New business volumes rebounded. Volumes increased on a seasonally adjusted basis, posting a similar level of new business activity as the previous two February reports. Activity grew at banks and captives, with new business volumes expanding month-over-month by 0.9% and 15.0%, respectively. Financing at independents dropped by 6.4% after growing by 8.6% in the previous month. Despite the cooling, financing activity at independents has gained ground over the last five years. From 2017 to 2019, independents comprised roughly 16% of all new business activity. That number jumped to 20% of all activity from January 2024 through February 2025. The share of activity at captives also increased by around 2.25 percentage points, while bank activity fell by almost 7.5 percentage points.

    The pace of job losses slowed. After picking up speed for three months, the pace of job losses slowed in February. The sector was still down 2.4% over the last 12 months, mainly driven by a 6.4% contraction in employment at captives. Banks also experienced a 1.6% loss in headcount over the last year, while independents saw employment rise by 1.0%.

    Credit approvals continue to hover around 75%. The average credit approval rate dropped to 75.4%, a decline of roughly half a percentage point. However, the rate remains well above the levels seen at the end of 2024.

    Financial conditions somewhat weakened. Aging receivables over 30 days dropped back down to 2.0%, a decline of 0.2 percentage points. However, charge-offs (losses) rose to 0.55%, the second-highest level in the last two years. The increase in losses was driven by a rise in charge-offs at independents and banks. While the average loss rate rose, the loss rate for small ticket activity dropped after a notable jump in the prior month.

    “KeyBank remains optimistic as credit quality continues well within historical norms, capital is abundant and the desire for earning assets is strong,” said Peter Bullen, Executive Vice President & Group Head, Key Equipment Finance. “We are also encouraged to see a significant rebound from Key Equipment Finance clients in equipment financing demand compared to last year at this time. At the same time, we remain vigilant of the potential impact of new tariffs and general economic uncertainty on capital spending.”

    Industry Confidence
    The Monthly Confidence Index from ELFA’s affiliate, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, dropped to 58.1 in March, as respondents grew slightly more pessimistic about conditions over the next four months.

    About ELFA’s CFI
    The CapEx Finance Index (CFI) is the only near-real-time index that reflects capex, or the volume of commercial equipment financed in the U.S. It is released monthly from Washington, D.C., one day before the U.S. Department of Commerce’s durable goods report. This financial indicator complements reports like the Institute for Supply Management Index, providing a comprehensive view of productive assets in the U.S. economy—equipment produced, acquired and financed. The CFI consists of two years of business activity data from a survey of industry leaders. For more details, including methodology and participants, visit www.elfaonline.org/CFI.

    About ELFA
    The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) represents financial services companies and manufacturers in the $1 trillion U.S. equipment finance sector. ELFA’s over 600 member companies provide essential financing that helps businesses acquire the equipment they need to operate and grow. Learn how equipment finance contributes to businesses’ success, U.S. economic growth, manufacturing and jobs at www.elfaonline.org.

    Follow ELFA:
    X: @ELFAonline
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/115191

    Media/Press Contact: Krishna Magalona, PR Manager, ELFA, Krishna@360livemedia.com

    PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/2c9bc990-d3e7-41bd-b8ba-30e898f165dd

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Descope Announces New Capabilities to Help Ecommerce Companies Deliver Omnichannel User Experiences

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ALTOS, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Descope, the drag & drop customer identity and access management (CIAM) platform, today announced a host of capabilities to help ecommerce and online retail companies provide secure and omnichannel authentication experiences to their end customers across the buying funnel. Notable additions include securely tracking anonymous users with temporary tokens, enabling unified native login flows across web and mobile, and integrations with WooCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and Shopify Plus.

    Ecommerce businesses of all sizes face customer identity challenges at every stage of the buyer funnel. With around 86% of site visitors being anonymous, the first challenge is to reliably convert these users into signups without adding undue friction. The next challenge is to create a balanced onboarding and account creation flow that simplifies signups for real users while keeping fraudulent signups at bay. Finally, large ecommerce organizations have an identity silo problem. Struggles to reconcile login processes across web and mobile or to unify the experience across native sites and third-party hosted stores like Shopify or WooCommerce prevents online retail organizations from providing a singular user journey.

    The Descope no / low code CIAM platform helps organizations easily create and customize their entire authentication and user journey using visual workflows. Hundreds of customers including GoFundMe, Databricks, Navan, and You.com use Descope to reduce user friction during onboarding, enhance protection against account takeover attacks, and unify identities across customer-facing apps. The capabilities highlighted in this announcement further help ecommerce companies serve users across devices and sub-brands while adding the right security controls at the right time.

    “Using Descope has helped us adapt quicker to changing customer needs without spending engineering resources,” said Nitin Shingate, CTO of GoodRx. “Whether it’s easily adopting passwordless methods like One Tap, adding risk-based MFA, or unifying identity flows across web and mobile apps, Descope provides workflow-based building blocks to help us achieve these goals much faster than before.”

    “The solution for many user experience, security, and visibility challenges for ecommerce converge on customer identity,” said Rishi Bhargava, co-founder of Descope. “We are excited for ecommerce companies to leverage our new capabilities to provide seamless user identity experiences across their digital properties. We’re especially proud to partner with leading identity intelligence tools like Telesign and reCAPTCHA Enterprise to secure customers against account takeover and fraud without adding friction.”

    Anonymous user tracking

    Companies can now track anonymous user activity by assigning temporary tokens to securely capture user traits (e.g. device type, traffic source, attribution) without needing authentication. When the users eventually create an account, all the captured anonymous traits will be folded into the same user record, helping companies improve the effectiveness of acquisition initiatives.

    Anonymous user tracking also helps companies offer frictionless guest checkout processes while still making user activity tracking possible.

    Native mobile flows

    Ecommerce companies can now use the same Descope user journey across web and mobile applications, offering native-looking login experiences on mobile without redirects and without any extra engineering work. Native mobile flows help retail organizations easily adopt passwordless authentication methods like passkeys and social login to boost mobile-driven conversions and purchases. Check out tutorials for Swift and Kotlin to learn more.

    Ecommerce platform integrations

    Countless ecommerce companies rely on hosted platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Salesforce Commerce Cloud to power their storefronts, but the authentication options available therein are either laborious to implement, basic, or expensive. Moreover, ecommerce companies with multiple brand sites–some of them home-grown, some of them on hosted platforms–struggle with identity silos and fragmented account creation across sites.

    Organizations can now power these hosted sites with signup, login, MFA, and SSO with Descope:

    • Shopify: Shopify Plus customers can add Descope as an identity provider and use it as the authentication layer for secure, user-friendly login.
    • WooCommerce: Organizations can use the existing Descope WordPress plugin to enhance their WooCommerce authentication, including anonymous user tracking, Google One Tap, and step-up authentication for sensitive user actions.
    • Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Salesforce CC customers can use Descope as an OpenID Connect provider to add authentication and MFA, as well as unify identity management across Salesforce CC and other storefronts.

    Resources

    About Descope

    Descope is a drag & drop CIAM platform. Our no / low code solution helps hundreds of organizations easily create and customize their entire user journey using visual workflows – from authentication and authorization to MFA and federated SSO. Hundreds of customers use Descope to reduce user friction, prevent account takeover, and get a unified view of their customer journey. Founded in 2022, Descope is backed by Lightspeed and Notable Capital (previously GGV Capital) and is a member of the FIDO Alliance.

    Media Contact
    Erica Anderson
    Offleash for Descope
    descope@offleashpr.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/89b9e1c1-f9eb-43e0-a6af-4586adea70ad

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8c841eb-64c9-493c-a079-4eea47497c3f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CAI Elevates Financial Gains, Market Strategies and Community Impact in 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ALLENTOWN, Pa., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CAI, a global services firm, announced today consecutive growth into 2025 with a company revenue surge amounting to $1.38 billion, new client engagements and a global workforce surpassing 9,000 associates.

    “Our commitments to innovation, client success and corporate social responsibility are the driving factors to our ongoing success,” said Tom Salvaggio, president and CEO at CAI. “We don’t just quantify our growth by a number, we measure it based on the trust of our clients, the impact on our communities and the camaraderie and collaboration of our associates. The milestones from 2024 will propel us in 2025.”

    Portfolio Achievements

    Public Sector portfolio grew its market presence and welcomed new clients including state departments, educational institutions and municipalities. Contingent Workforce Solutions, a leading service offering in the portfolio’s success, experienced record-breaking results through program acquisitions and other expansions.

    Commercial portfolio improved customer satisfaction and cost efficiency rates with blended solutions of CAI’s Service Desk and AI technologies. Made evident by its results, a top tax technology firm achieved a 25% increase in first-level resolution rates with their Service Desk after the first year.

    As a ServiceNow Partner, CAI helped a commercial product company achieve:

    • Three-day reduction in testing time
    • 90%-95% customer satisfaction rates
    • Fast ability to recover from system outages

    CAI Neurodiverse Solutions, specializing in autism employment, helped many neurodivergent individuals find employment opportunities. These roles included business analyst, quality assurance analyst, software developer and others across several industries. With skills such as attention to detail, pattern recognition and problem resolution, both employers and candidates have found success. Honored for the program’s aspects on talent acquisition and management, learning and development, human resources and technology, CAI Neurodiverse Solutions earned the 2024 Disability Matters Award in the Workforce category.

    Technology and Innovation

    With ongoing participation in the National Association of Counties (NACo) AI Exploratory Committee, CAI and other founding corporate partners contributed to the AI County Compass, a comprehensive toolkit designed for the safe and effective deployment of generative AI technologies in county government.

    In practice, a state county’s Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center deployed AI to enhance data-handling efficiency while maintaining operational security. The safeguarded data system enables law enforcement to more quickly solve violent and non-violent crimes.

    Technology-enabled efforts earned CAI the bronze Stevie® Award for Best Use of Technology in Customer Service, and Globee® Awards for American Business in two categories: Gold in Achievement in Technology Adoption and Sliver in Digital Collaboration Achievement. Awards underscored the firm’s technology expertise to improve the client experience and foster innovative workplaces.

    Philanthropy and Community Engagement

    Committed to philanthropy since the company was founded in 1981, CAI continued to champion its five corporate social responsibility (CSR) pillars: Accessible Education, Helping Families Thrive, Food Accessibility, Neurodiversity and Sustainability.

    Dozens of investments and programs benefited local and global communities, including:

    • Salvaggio Academy: A private elementary school founded and funded by CAI and the Salvaggio family, relocated to a more expansive space on a college campus improving student programs and STEAM curriculums
    • CAI United Fund: An investment initiative formed from the partnership between CAI and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, provides financial support to United Way Community Schools Network to reduce absenteeism and improve academic outcomes for over 19,000 students
    • SHE for Society: A nonprofit in India aimed to provide educational opportunities, opened its second computer lab with CAI associates giving users access to conduct research

    CAI earned the bronze Stevie Award for Best CSR Strategy reflecting the firm’s dedication to maximize the tangible impact made for communities around the globe.

    New Leadership and Additional Accolades

    Jon Taglieri joined CAI as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He oversees all activities of Finance, Accounting, Governance and Compliance, which includes reporting, planning, strategy and cash management. Previously, Jon served as CFO for a multibillion-dollar federal government contractor.

    Abe Hunter was appointed to Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and President, Public Sector from his previous role as Executive Vice President, Public Sector for CAI. As CRO, Abe leads enterprise-wide strategies to amplify sales, optimize operations, enhance customer relations and elevate CAI’s market presence. In the dual role, he continues to direct strategies as the company targets new markets and technologies within government.

    Kate Forbes joined CAI as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and provides strategic direction to prepare CAI for growth and scale. She oversees the technology roadmap for internal applications, delivering business value through objectives-based prioritization and technical implementation. Previously, Kate held the position of CIO for a multimillion-dollar global SaaS company.

    In addition to the aforementioned honors, CAI earned a total of 16 awards including:

    • Newsweek: America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity, Parents & Families and the signature list
    • Disability:IN: 100 score on the Disability Equality Index
    • Inspiring Workplaces: North America’s Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces
    • Top Workplace: Lehigh Valley and Delaware regions
    • OnCon Icon: Top 50 Learning & Development Teams, Top 50 Talent Acquisition Teams, and Top 10 HR Professional for Tammy Harper, CHRO at CAI

    To learn more about CAI, visit www.cai.io

    For career opportunities, visit careers.cai.io/us/en

    About CAI

    CAI is a global services firm with over 9,000 associates worldwide and a yearly revenue of $1.3 billion+. We have over 40 years of excellence in uniting talent and technology to power the possible for our clients, colleagues, and communities. As a privately held company, we have the freedom and focus to do what’s right—whatever it takes. Our tailor-made solutions create lasting results across the public and commercial sectors, and we are trailblazers in bringing neurodiversity to the enterprise.

    Contact:

    Madison Oler
    PR & Communications Specialist
    CAI
    Madison.oler@cai.io

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Wrap Taps Former EXIM Bank Executive Stephen M. Renna to Spearhead International Growth and Financing Strategy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wrap Technologies (NASDAQ: WRAP) (“Wrap” or, the “Company”), a global leader in innovative public safety technologies and non-lethal tools, today announced the appointment of Stephen M. Renna as a Strategic Advisor to the Company. Mr. Renna brings more than 35 years of executive experience in both public and private sectors and will focus on international expansion, with an emphasis on Made-in-USA exports and financing strategies through U.S. government resources.

    A seasoned expert at the intersection of business and government, Mr. Renna served as Chief Banking Officer at the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM), where he led the execution of trade financing solutions in support of U.S. exporters, managing a $50 billion portfolio and a $40 billion pipeline. At Wrap, he is expected to advise on leveraging programs, such as the EXIM Bank and the Department of Defense (“DoD”) Office of Strategic Capital, to expand Wrap’s international go-to-market strategy and enhance its international pipeline for services like the Company’s BolaWrap and Managed Safety and Response (MSR).

    “Steve’s appointment underscores our commitment to transforming how U.S. safety technologies are deployed worldwide,” said Jared Novick, President of Wrap. “We believe that his unmatched expertise in federal finance and international deal-making will not only increase our competitiveness globally—but also allow us to create a strategic advantage for U.S.-made public safety solutions.”

    “We have had strong international interest, with many potential purchases, in the final stages,” said Scot Cohen, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Wrap. “We believe offering financial solutions will help deepen our value proposition in a way that also aligns with U.S. strategic interests.”

    Mr. Renna’s career includes leadership roles that positioned American companies to win global contracts against foreign state-backed competitors. As Head of The Advocacy Center at the U.S. Department of Commerce, he helped coordinate government support for U.S. firms bidding on international government contracts—facilitating wins on more than 200 projects totaling over $147 billion in value.

    Made in USA Products and Services

    The Company believes Mr. Renna’s insights will be instrumental in aligning Wrap’s mission with critical U.S. government initiatives, including the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP), which offers competitive financing for key strategic sectors—such as public safety, AI, and communications—to help counter growing Chinese influence in emerging markets.

    “We believe Wrap is uniquely positioned to advance American leadership in public safety innovation,” said Mr. Renna. “I am excited to help extend Wrap’s impact by unlocking financing tools that enable U.S. technologies to compete—and win—on the global stage.”

    Mr. Renna currently serves as Principal at Federal Agency Finance Advisors, LLC, where he advises companies on accessing financing from federal agencies including EXIM, DOE, and the DoD. He previously led the federal agency practice at Ankura’s Global Strategic Advisory Group and served as Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council.

    He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Fairfield University.

    About Wrap Technologies, Inc.

    Wrap Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: WRAP) is a global leader in public safety solutions, bringing together cutting-edge technology with exceptional people to address the complex, modern day challenges facing public safety organizations.

    Wrap’s BolaWrap® solution is a safer way to gain compliance—without pain.

    This innovative, patented device deploys light, sound, and a Kevlar® tether to safely restrain individuals from a distance, giving officers critical time and space to manage non-compliant situations before resorting to higher-force options. The BolaWrap 150 does not shoot, strike, shock, or incapacitate—instead, it helps officers operate lower on the force continuum, reducing the risk of injury to both officers and subjects. Used by over 1,000 agencies across the U.S. and in 60 countries, BolaWrap® is backed by training certified by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST), reinforcing Wrap’s commitment to public safety through cutting-edge technology and expert training.

    Wrap Reality™ VR is a fully immersive training simulator to enhance decision-making under pressure.

    As a comprehensive public safety training platform, it provides first responders with realistic, interactive scenarios that reflect the evolving challenges of modern law enforcement. By offering a growing library of real-world situations, Wrap Reality™ equips officers with the skills and confidence to navigate high stakes encounters effectively, leading to safer outcomes for both responders and the communities they serve.

    Wrap Intrensic is an advanced body-worn camera and evidence management system built for efficiency.

    Designed for efficiency, security, and transparency to meet the rigorous demands of modern law enforcement, Intrensic seamlessly captures, stores, and manages digital evidence, ensuring integrity and full chain-of-custody compliance. With automated workflows, secure cloud storage, and intuitive case management tools, it streamlines operations, reduces administrative burden, and enhances courtroom credibility.

    Trademark Information Wrap, the Wrap logo, BolaWrap®, Wrap Reality™ and Wrap Training Academy are trademarks of Wrap Technologies, Inc., some of which are registered in the U.S. and abroad. All other trade names used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective holders. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements – Safe Harbor Statement This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should”, “believe”, “target”, “project”, “goals”, “estimate”, “potential”, “predict”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “intend”, and variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Moreover, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: the expected benefits of the acquisition of W1 Global, LLC, the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market’s listing standards; the Company’s ability to successfully implement training programs for the use of its products; the Company’s ability to manufacture and produce products for its customers; the Company’s ability to develop sales for its products; the market acceptance of existing and future products; the availability of funding to continue to finance operations; the complexity, expense and time associated with sales to law enforcement and government entities; the lengthy evaluation and sales cycle for the Company’s product solutions; product defects; litigation risks from alleged product-related injuries; risks of government regulations; the business impact of health crises or outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics; the impact resulting from geopolitical conflicts and any resulting sanctions; the ability to obtain export licenses for counties outside of the United States; the ability to obtain patents and defend intellectual property against competitors; the impact of competitive products and solutions; and the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand, as well as other risk factors mentioned in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and were based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67eef813-7ed2-4fff-8a52-90422bb56c55

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Assembles First ZEUS™ Advanced Portable Microreactor Hardware for Initial Testing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, N.Y., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced that it has assembled the first reactor core hardware of its ZEUS microreactor for initial non-nuclear testing.

    ZEUS, a solid core battery reactor, is being developed by NANO Nuclear as part of the next generation of portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors to provide clean, scalable power for data centers, remote locations, industrial sites, military operations, and disaster relief scenarios. The successful validation of the reactor core through scaled testing will position NANO Nuclear to advance toward full prototype construction and licensing efforts in the coming years.

    The assembled hardware consists of a 1:2 scale block, precisely engineered to be representative of a fuel element of the ZEUS microreactor core. This milestone represents a major advancement in NANO Nuclear’s continued development of its proprietary microreactor technology.

    The initial testing phase will focus on the assessment of the thermo-mechanical performance of the block under anticipated prototypical conditions for ZEUS. The results will inform the next stages of reactor development. These results will be crucial for verifying engineering plans, refining physics models, and optimizing ZEUS core and heat management systems.

    Figure 1 – NANO Nuclear Energy Inc.’s fuel element being set up for testing.

    “We are very excited to have completed the first ZEUS reactor core block for non-nuclear testing,” said Prof. Peter Hosemann, Head of Nuclear Reactor Design and Materials of NANO Nuclear. “This very precise component will be heated conventionally using linear heaters as fuel rod surrogates. The test will be used to verify temperature distribution, to investigate fit tolerances, and to confirm and benchmark our models, paving the way for a larger sub-core assembly.”

    “I am thrilled to see our transition from design to hardware assembling and testing for a key component of our ZEUS reactor,” said Prof. Massimiliano Fratoni, Senior Director and Head of Reactor Design of NANO Nuclear. “The lack of an in-core fluid in our ZEUS design not only simplifies greatly the design but also enables rapid prototyping and non-nuclear testing. We are expecting to iterate quickly through progressively larger scale tests up to full core.”

    Figure 2 – Single core block fully outfitted with linear heaters as fuel rod surrogates (left image) Infrared camera image of the block during initial test (right image).

    NANO Nuclear’s engineering team is preparing to mount insulation, fixtures, and instrumentation to create a single-block demonstration unit, which will eventually scale up to a fully functional demo core assembly. In the next phase, the team will integrate cabling, sensors, and additional structural components to build a fully instrumented demo unit. This will enable the team to gather essential data on heat transfer, material performance, and overall reactor safety margins, facilitating real-world validation of the ZEUS reactor’s thermal and structural performance and ensuring that the design meets expectations before full-scale assembly.

    “Achieving this hardware milestone represents a major step forward in our ZEUS microreactor program,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “This testing will provide our team with the key thermal and mechanical insights needed to fine-tune the core design before full-scale fabrication and regulatory engagement.”

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include patented KRONOS MMR™ Energy System, a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that is in construction permit pre-application engagement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in collaboration with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, “ZEUS”, a portable solid core battery reactor, “ODIN”, a portable low-pressure coolant reactor, and the space focused, portable LOKI MMR™, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

    For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

    For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:

    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:

    NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN

    NANO Nuclear Energy YOUTUBE

    NANO Nuclear Energy X PLATFORM

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release, forward-looking statements includes those related to the timing for and results of the ZEUS testing described herein, as well as the overall timing and anticipated steps for ZEUS development. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FE International Advises on the Acquisition of Heywood Business Analysts by Regnology

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FE International, a leading global M&A advisor for technology businesses, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Heywood Business Analysts, an IT software development company by Regnology, a prominent software provider specializing in regulatory reporting solutions backed by Nordic Capital.

    Founded in 1996 by Christopher Strangways-Dixon, Heywood Business Analysts has established itself as a trusted IT partner for both global and local banking institutions. The company’s flagship product, DixII, ensures compliance with the South African Reserve Bank’s Basel 3 requirements by providing robust regulatory reporting, data validation, and seamless electronic submission of BA returns. Heywood’s clientele includes major South African banks such as ABSA, Standard Bank, Discovery Bank, and Old Mutual, as well as international banks like Standard Chartered and Deutsche Bank.

    Regnology’s acquisition of Heywood Business Analysts marks a significant step in expanding its footprint in the African market. The integration of Heywood’s technology into Regnology’s broader regulatory and supervisory technology solutions will enable financial institutions to meet evolving compliance challenges with greater efficiency and reliability.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Heywood Business Analysts to the Regnology family. Their deep expertise in regulatory reporting and strong market presence in Southern Africa will significantly enhance our ability to deliver innovative and client-centric solutions to our combined client base,” said Maciej Piechocki, Chief Revenue Officer, Regnology in a recent press release.

    “Joining forces with Regnology marks an exciting new chapter for Heywood Business Analysts. This partnership will enhance client service and expand reach across South Africa, leveraging Regnology’s extensive resources and expertise. The dedicated and expert Heywood team will drive continued growth and success in the region,” said Christopher Strangways-Dixon, CEO, Heywood Business Analysts in a recent press release.

    FE International, a leader in strategic acquisitions for sector-specific platforms, especially in fintech and regulatory technology, played a crucial role in facilitating this transaction.

    “This deal exemplifies our commitment to supporting strategic acquisitions that strengthen industry-leading platforms,” said Ashley Bohn, Partner at FE International. “With financial regulations becoming more complex worldwide, it is essential to connect innovative companies like Heywood Business Analysts with forward-thinking firms such as Regnology. Their combined expertise will accelerate technological advancements in compliance solutions and ensure financial institutions stay ahead of evolving regulatory requirements. We are proud to have advised on this important transaction.”

    For more information about FE International and its role in regulatory technology M&A, visit www.feinternational.com.

    About FE International

    Founded in 2010, FE International is a globally recognized M&A advisor specializing in SaaS, e-commerce, and digital media businesses. With over 1,500 transactions completed and a total deal value exceeding $50 billion, FE International has been named one of The Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies by the Financial Times from 2020 to 2024 and is a four-time Inc. 5000 company. Learn more at www.feinternational.com

    About Regnology

    Regnology is a leading provider of regulatory, risk, and supervisory technology solutions, serving over 35,000 financial institutions and 70 regulators worldwide. The company is committed to innovation in compliance technology, helping financial organizations streamline reporting processes and enhance regulatory transparency. Learn more at www.regnology.net.

    About Heywood Business Analysts

    Established in 1996, Heywood Business Analysts is a South Africa-based IT software development company specializing in banking and financial institutions. The company is renowned for its innovative solutions, including DixII, designed to ensure compliance with the South African Reserve Bank’s Basel 3 requirements. Learn more at www.heywood.co.za/

    Media Contact:

    Gaj Tanwar
    Marketing Coordinator, FE International
    Email: gaj.tanwar@feinternational.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: VERB Delivers Remarkable 2024 Financial Performance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Quadruple Digit % Gains Year-Over-Year and Triple Digit % Gains Quarter-Over-Quarter Reflected in 2024 Form 10-K

    Debt-Free and $13.50 Cash Value Per Common Share*

    Increased Growth Projected For Q1 2025

    LAS VEGAS and LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB) (“VERB” or the “Company”), Transforming the Landscape of Social Commerce, Social Telehealth and Social Crowdfunding with MARKET.live; VANITYPrescribed; GoodGirlRx; and the GO FUND YOURSELF TV Show, today filed its Form 10-K reporting financial and operating results for the full year and the quarter ending December 31, 2024.

    Summary Financial Results

    For the Year Ended December 31, 2024

    • Total revenue was $895 thousand, an increase of $832 thousand, or 1,321%, over the previous year. Represents the greatest amount of revenue generated since the strategic sale of the Company’s direct sales SaaS business unit in June 2023
    • Cash Value per common share – $13.4 (*includes value of highly-liquid professionally managed investments)
    • *Year-End Cash position $13.5 million ($8.5 million cash, plus $4.9 million in highly-liquid investments). Does not include $1.7 million cash added in Q1 2025.
    • Strong Cash Position – expected to fund operations into 2028 and beyond
    • Net loss from continuing operations reduced by $4.3 million, represents an improvement of 29% over prior year
    • Operating loss reduced by $2.2 million, represents an improvement of 16% over prior year
    • General and Administrative expenses reduced by $0.3 million, represents an improvement of 2% over prior year, indicates enhanced Company financial performance attributable to increases in revenue – not excessive cost cutting measures
    • All Remaining Debt retired in Q1 2025

    Three Months Ended December 31, 2024

    • Total Q4 revenue – $723 thousand, an increase of $694 thousand, or 2,393%, from the prior year comparable quarter – represents an increase of $595 thousand, or 465% over Q3. Indicates enormous revenue growth in Q4 attributable to management’s recent operational and marketing changes which are further validated by projected Q1 2025 results.

    Results of Operations

    Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023

    The following is a comparison of the results of our operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):

        Years Ended December 31,  
        2024     2023     Change  
                       
    Revenue   $ 895     $ 63     $ 832  
                             
    Costs and expenses                        
    Cost of revenue, exclusive of depreciation
    and amortization shown separately below    		     224       19       205  
    Depreciation and amortization     1,077       2,331       (1,254 )
    General and administrative     11,238       11,508       (270 )
    Total costs and expenses     12,539       13,858       (1,319 )
                             
    Operating loss from continuing operations     (11,644 )     (13,795 )     2,151  
                             
    Other income (expense)                        
    Interest income     692       –       692  
    Unrealized loss on short-term investments     (44 )     –       (44 )
    Interest expense     (237 )     (1,193 )     956  
    Financing costs     (90 )     (1,239 )     1,149  
    Other income, net     812       1,162       (350 )
    Change in fair value of derivative liability     1       221       (220 )
    Total other income (expense), net     1,134       (1,049 )     2,183  
                             
    Net loss from continuing operations   $ (10,510 )   $ (14,844 )   $ 4,334  


    Revenue

    Revenue was $895 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $63 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The revenue increase of $832, representing an increase of 1,321%, is primarily attributable to revenue received from our MARKET.live business unit services packages and from our Go Fund Yourself business unit.

    Revenue was $723 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $29 for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The revenue increase of $694, representing an increase of 2,393%, is primarily attributable to tremendous growth from our MARKET.live business unit services packages and from our newly-formed Go Fund Yourself business unit.

    Revenue was $723 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $128 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The revenue increase of $595, representing an increase of 465%, is primarily attributable to tremendous growth from our MARKET.live business unit services packages and from growth in our Go Fund Yourself business unit.

    The table below sets forth our quarterly revenues from the quarter ended September 30, 2023 (first quarter following the direct sales SaaS sale) through the quarter ended December 31, 2024, which reflects the trend of revenue over the past six fiscal quarters:

    Operating Expenses

    Depreciation and amortization expense was $1,077 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $2,331 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease of $1,254 is due to a revision in the amortization of software development costs resulting from extending the life of the asset on January 1, 2024.

    General and administrative expenses including stock compensation expense were $11,238 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $11,508 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease of $270 or 2%, in general and administrative expenses including stock compensation expense is primarily due to a decrease in stock compensation expense and a decrease in legal fees.

    Other Income (Expense), net

    Other income (expense), net, was $1,134 for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was primarily attributable to other income, net of $812 and interest income, net of $455 both offset by financing costs of $90.

    Liquidity and Capital Resources

    Overview

    As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had the following balances of cash, restricted cash, and highly liquid investments.

          As of December 31,
    		  
          2024       2023  
                 
    Cash   $ 7,617     $ 4,353  
    Restricted Cash     878       –  
    Investments: Government-Backed Securities     3,731       –  
    Investments: Corporate Bonds     1,182       –  
    Total     13,408       4,353  

    Subsequent to December 31, 2024, we received $1,724 of our ERC short-term receivable.

    Conference Call Information

    VERB CEO, Rory J. Cutaia will hold a conference call today, March 25, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss the 2024 results and strategic plans for 2025. A telephonic replay of the conference call is available from 4:00 p.m. Eastern time today through April 8, 2025.

    VERB Q4 and FY 2024 Earnings Call
    Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
    Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern time (10:00 a.m. Pacific time)

    To access by phone: Please call the conference telephone number 10-15 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization.

    Meeting Link: CLICK HERE
    Toll Free: 1-877-407-4018
    Toll/International: 1-201-689-8471
    Telephonic Replay: Available after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET

    Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921
    International replay number: 1-412-317-6671
    Replay ID: 13752553

    About VERB
    Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB), is the innovative force behind interactive video-based social commerce. The Company operates three business units, each of which leverages its social commerce technology and video marketing expertise. The Company’s MARKET.live platform is a multi-vendor, livestream social shopping destination at the forefront of the convergence of e-commerce and entertainment, where brands, retailers, creators, and influencers engage their customers, clients, fans, and followers across multiple social media channels simultaneously. GO FUND YOURSELF is a revolutionary interactive social crowd funding platform and TV show for public and private companies seeking broad-based exposure across social media channels for their crowd-funded Regulation CF and Regulation A offerings. The platform combines a ground-breaking interactive TV show with MARKET.live’s back-end capabilities allowing viewers to tap, scan or click on their screen to facilitate an investment, in real time, as they watch companies presenting before the show’s panel of “Titans”. Presenting companies that sell consumer products are able to offer their products directly to viewers during the show in real time through shoppable onscreen icons. VANITYPrescribed.com and GoodGirlRx.com are telehealth portals, intended to redefine telehealth by offering a seamless, digital-first experience that empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare needs. They were designed and developed to disrupt the traditional healthcare model by providing tailored healthcare solutions at affordable, fixed prices – without hidden fees, membership costs, or inflated pharmaceutical markups. GoodGirlRx.com, a partnership with Savannah Chrisley, a well-known lifestyle personality and advocate for health and wellness, offers customers access to convenient, no-hassle telehealth services and pharmaceuticals, including the new weight-loss drugs, with fixed pricing regardless of dosage, breaking away from the industry’s traditional model of excessive pricing and pharmaceutical gatekeeping.

    The Company is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV and operates full-service production and creator studios in Los Alamitos, California.

    For more information, please visit: www.verb.tech

    Follow VERB and MARKET.live here:
    VERB on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VerbTechCo
    VERB on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VerbTech_Co
    VERB on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/verb-tech
    VERB on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0eCb_fwQlwEG3ywHDJ4_KQ

    Sign up for E-mail Alerts here: https://ir.verb.tech/news-events/email-alerts

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
    This communication contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, or achievements. 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, those identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the SEC and the risk factors included in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC today. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Investor Relations Contact: investors@verb.tech

    Media Contact: info@verb.tech

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/98fa0d86-9d94-4cfa-97f5-ffd4c89edad9

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c013f2c6-3f17-4624-bd9a-60b7c28ab5fe

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Innventure, Inc. to Present at April Intellectual Property Conferences in California

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ORLANDO, Fla., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Innventure, Inc. (Nasdaq: INV), a technology commercialization platform, today announced that the company will host two events during the IP Leadership Executive Summit on April 15 and 16 in San Jose, California, and serve as speakers during the LES-SVC’s 21st Annual Chapter Conference on April 17 in Mountain View, California.

    The IP Leadership Executive Summit is a two-day forum in Silicon Valley bringing together representatives from major tech companies and focuses on the future of intellectual property and technology solutions. Innventure is featured as a platinum partner of the event, underscoring the company’s commitment to shaping the future of technology commercialization.

    Innventure will hold a workshop during the summit on April 15 at 4:10 P.M. called “Breaking Industry Boundaries: The Reimagined IP Commercialization Playbook.” During the session, participants will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive discussion exploring how organizations can unlock value from technology innovations across multiple industries.

    The workshop will be moderated by Innventure’s Vice-President of Strategic Partnerships, Brice Dubosq.

    Panelists for the session will include:

    • Matt Cripe, Director, Strategic Partnerships at Innventure
    • Gayle Anderson, Vice President, Business Development/Strategic Partnerships at Innventure
    • Andrew Meyer, CEO, AeroFlexx

    Innventure will also hold a roundtable discussion on April 15 at 11:50 A.M. moderated by Dubosq called, “Maximizing Value: Where the Rubber (TIRE) Meets the Road.”

    The LES Silicon Valley Chapter Conference celebrates Silicon Valley’s unparalleled legacy while addressing the cutting-edge trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of innovation and IP deal-making. This year’s theme, “The Silicon Valley Deal Machine,” encapsulates the ecosystem that catalyzes innovation through intellectual property (IP), fueling transformative technologies and economic growth.

    Innventure is serving as a gold sponsor of the event, with Executive Chairman Mike Otworth speaking at the event for a keynote speech, titled, “Breaking Free: Unleashing Innovation Beyond Corporate Wall,” on April 17 at 8:45 a.m.

    Innventure’s Vice President of Business Development/Strategic Partnerships, Gayle Anderson, will also serve as a panelist on “Scaling Success: Business Models to Scale-up and Scale-out” on April 17 at 11 a.m.

    The panel will explore business models supporting innovation and commercialization deal-making, as AI’s growing demands are fueling hardware breakthroughs, unlocking new IP value and enabling market transformations in the data center cooling space.

    For more information on the IP Leadership Executive Summit or the LES-SVC Chapter Conference and to register, visit: Innventure.com

    About Innventure

    Innventure founds, funds, and operates companies with a focus on transformative, sustainable technology solutions acquired or licensed from multinational corporations. Innventure takes what it believes to be breakthrough technologies from early evaluation to scaled commercialization utilizing an approach designed to help mitigate risk as it builds disruptive companies it believes have the potential to achieve a target enterprise value of at least $1 billion. Innventure defines ‘‘disruptive’’ as innovations that have the ability to significantly change the way businesses, industries, markets and/or consumers operate.

    Events Manager Contact: Erin Steigerwalt, Innventure

    esteigerwalt@innventure.com

    Media Contact: Laurie Steinberg, Solebury Strategic Communications

    press@innventure.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mae Reeves used showstopping hats to fuel voter engagement and Black entrepreneurship

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Reneé S. Anderson, Collections Manager, Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution

    Mae Reeves and her husband, Joel, pose with her hats at Mae’s Millinery in Philadelphia, circa 1953.
     Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture/Gift from Mae Reeves and her children Donna Limerick and William Mincey Jr., CC BY-NC-SA

    Lula “Mae” Reeves, one of the first Black women in Philly to own her own business, created one-of-a-kind and custom hats for celebrities, socialites, professionals and churchgoing women in downtown Philadelphia for over 50 years.

    She made hats for everyday wear, hats for special occasions, and magnificent “showstoppers,” as she called them. Her celebrity clients included Eartha Kitt, Marian Anderson, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and members of the du Pont and Annenberg families.

    A pink cartwheel-style hat with flowers from Mae’s Millinery.
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture/Gift from Mae Reeves and her children Donna Limerick and William Mincey Jr., CC BY-NC-SA

    I am a museum specialist at the National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution and an expert in costumes, textiles and millinery fashion.

    In 2009, I was called upon to visit Mae’s Millinery, her former store at 41 N. 60th St. in West Philadelphia, to help select objects for a new permanent exhibition at the Smithsonian that recreates Reeves’ shop and showcases some of her stunning designs.

    I also met Reeves in person for the first time that day at a nursing home in Darby, Pennsylvania. She was 96 years old.

    A few years later, I returned to Philadelphia to attend Reeves’s 100th birthday celebration. It was during that visit that I learned, to my surprise and intrigue, that Reeves had also used her millinery shop as a polling station.

    Mae Reeves, pictured in first row on right, poses with models wearing her designs.
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture/Gift from Mae Reeves and her children Donna Limerick and William Mincey Jr., CC BY-NC-SA

    Black velvet turban on display

    During my first meeting with Reeves, she shared her memory of the first hat she created after she opened her 60th Street store, a beautifully decorated shop, in 1941. Her original millinery shop was at 1630 South St., and many of her famous clients followed her to the new location in West Philadelphia.

    Reeves recalled creating a black velvet turban that she placed in the window. A young woman walked by on her way home from work and was enthralled. The woman returned to try it on and, Reeves told me, visualized the impressive fashion statement she would make. She purchased the turban for about US$20 – roughly $430 in today’s dollars.

    To open her West Philly millinery store, Reeves had secured a $500 business loan in 1940 from the Citizens and Southern Bank and Trust. The Black-owned bank catered to Philadelphia’s African American community, as most white-owned banks refused to loan money to Black customers.

    Reeves was proud to tell me how she had secured the loan entirely on her own – with no co-signer – by maintaining a reputation of “good standing” and having sound business plans. She was also extremely proud that she “paid back all of the loan.”

    A business card for Mae’s Millinery in West Philadelphia.
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture/Gift from Mae Reeves and her children Donna Limerick and William Mincey Jr., CC BY-NC-SA

    From millinery shop to polling station

    To transition her millinery shop to a polling station, Reeves told me that she and her second husband, Joel Reeves, who sold newspaper advertisements, would remove the beautiful furniture and decorative items to accommodate the polling machines.

    To get the word out about the designated polling station, the couple distributed handbills and hung posters throughout the neighborhood. Reeves offered plates of food to politicians who stopped by and cake to the voters. She wanted to create a safe and welcoming polling place while also emphasizing the importance that Black Philadelphians exercise their right to vote.

    Reeves was also a longtime member of the Freedom Day Association, a group formed in 1941 in Philadelphia to ensure younger African Americans understand the importance of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery; the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S; and the 15th Amendment, which prohibits denying any citizen’s right to vote on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude.

    The association was started by Maj. Richard Robert Wright Sr., a former U.S. Army paymaster, educator, politician, civil rights advocate and founder of the Citizens and Southern Bank – the bank that had offered May that $500 loan. Reeves admired Wright, who had been born into slavery, and considered him a close friend and business associate. She kept a copy of his portrait photo on display in her millinery shop.

    A turquoise turban-style hat with brooch made by Mae Reeves.
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture/Gift from Mae Reeves and her children Donna Limerick and William Mincey Jr., CC BY-NC-SA

    Barbecues and beach trips

    In March 2025, I spoke with Reeves’ daughter, Donna Limerick, by phone. She told me Reeves had been a member and president of the 60th Street Business Association, which promoted good business practices, shared marketing strategies and encouraged support for other businesses in the association.

    Reeves was also active in the National Association of Fashion and Accessory Designers, a Black trade group sponsored by the National Council of Negro Women. The group’s purpose was to promote Black women in the fashion industry by developing their business skills and fostering collaboration and access to mainstream fashion. The Philadelphia chapter was formed in 1950.

    Despite her many professional and civic commitments, Reeves also took care of those closest to her. Limerick shared with me how her parents would take neighborhood kids to their summer home in Mizpah, New Jersey. They would ply the children with delicious homemade meals and desserts, organize regular barbecues and beach trips, and teach the kids to fish.

    Reeves passed away in 2016 at the age of 104. I hope her story encourages others – as it has encouraged me – to be brave enough to dream; to be diligent enough to actualize your dreams; to be mindful to support your community; to be a person of grace; and to be careful to always expect, seek and give joy.

    Read more of our stories about Philadelphia.

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

    – ref. Mae Reeves used showstopping hats to fuel voter engagement and Black entrepreneurship – https://theconversation.com/mae-reeves-used-showstopping-hats-to-fuel-voter-engagement-and-black-entrepreneurship-250735

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The solution to workplace isolation might be in the gap − the generation gap

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Megan Gerhardt, Professor of Management, Farmer School of Business, Miami University

    The potential for friendships and mentorships between colleagues in different stages of life are often overlooked. OwenPrice/E+ via Getty Images

    Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the United States finds itself in the midst of another public health crisis. This particular pandemic is a psychological one: widespread loneliness and isolation.

    About half of adults in the U.S. report feeling lonely – what former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has characterized as an epidemic. The increase in social isolation has extensive costs for “schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished,” he wrote in 2023.

    As a business school professor who studies intergenerational relationships, I believe that our workplaces hold untapped potential for alleviating isolation. When colleagues do form friendships at work, they often gravitate toward people their own age. But fostering meaningful connections across generational lines can benefit not just organizations, but workers’ own sense of purpose and mental health.

    Working solo

    The COVID-19 pandemic affected all ages differently. Prior to 2020, it seemed that younger generations were leading a strong push away from working in the office. Once many Americans were working remotely, however, Generation Z – those born 1997-2012 – reported the highest levels of loneliness.

    Remote work may be common for Gen Z, but that doesn’t mean they prefer it.
    Fiordaliso/Moment via Getty Images

    The problem, I’d argue, is how organizations’ early questions about working through the pandemic centered on efficiency. Was it possible do our jobs remotely? Would we be as productive? Was remote work viable long term? For many jobs, the answer was yes, resulting in persistent work-from-home options even after it became physically safe to return to offices.

    Yet companies overlooked crucial elements that contribute to employees’ commitment and well-being, particularly strong relationships between colleagues. These factors are especially vital during early career years as young workers establish networks, learn their roles and develop professional identities – all considerably more challenging in remote or hybrid environments.

    Just 31% of U.S. employees feel engaged on the job, according to January 2025 data from Gallup – a 10-year low. Only 39% of employees strongly feel that someone at work cares about them as a person, and only 30% strongly agree that someone cares about their development.

    Workers under 35, especially members of Gen Z, experienced a more significant decline in engagement than other age groups, dropping 5 points compared with the previous year.

    5 generations

    Since hybrid and remote work appear to be here to stay, we need innovative solutions to combat disconnectedness. One overlooked opportunity might lie in a demographic reality that many organizations view as a challenge.

    Today, there are five generations in the workplace, more than any other time in history. This increase in diversity is primarily due to older workers remaining in the workforce longer than in the past, whether because of economic necessity or increased longevity and health.

    In 2024, 18% of the U.S. workforce belonged to Gen Z. They’ve surpassed the baby boomers, born 1946-1964, who make up 15%. Gen X, meanwhile – the generation born 1965-1980 – comprise 31%. The largest group are millennials, born 1981-1996, who represent 36% of workers. Finally, 1% of the workforce belong to the Silent Generation, born 1928-1945.

    While such age diversity presents challenges, it also holds unique potential.

    The importance of workplace friendships is well documented. Research has found positive workplace relationships are beneficial to teamwork, career development and building a sense of community, and they help employees find more meaning in their work. Workplace friendships can help offset job stress and exhaustion and contribute to mental health. The benefits of such relationships can reach beyond the workplace, increasing overall well-being.

    However, these friendships rarely cross generational lines. A phenomenon known as “age similarity preference” often causes us to gravitate toward people similar in age, including among our co-workers. This broader tendency to connect with people we deem most similar to ourselves is well documented, and age can be a particularly visible sign of surface-level difference – one that leads people to assume, often incorrectly, that they hold similar views.

    Employees talk in the cafeteria of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., in 2023.
    Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images

    While natural, this tendency limits interactions and relationships,
    leading to higher levels of conflict. Not only do intergenerational connections at work bring professional benefits, but they can combat isolation.

    For example, relationships with colleagues from different generations tend to have fewer feelings of competition and pressure, as they likely occupy different life and career stages. An older colleague who has navigated office politics or balanced raising young children with career demands can provide valuable advice and support to co-workers facing these challenges for the first time.

    Forming intergenerational friendships can help break down negative stereotypes about people who are older or younger by revealing areas of common interest.

    Beyond Gen Z

    The benefits of these relationships extend beyond younger generations, especially given how widespread post-pandemic loneliness is.

    Cross-generational relationships don’t just magically happen – companies can help foster them.
    Tempura/E+ via Getty Images

    Adults in mid-to-late career stages – Gen Xers and baby boomers – are in their prime years for “generativity”: the life stage when people are most likely to be motivated to share knowledge and expertise, preparing the next generation for success. Generativity leads to benefits for the mentors too, such as higher self-esteem.

    People of all ages benefit from meaningful intergenerational relationships, but it takes an effort to create them. Employers can help by setting up opportunities to connect. For example, a mutual mentoring program can be a fantastic way to encourage not only learning, but unexpected friendships as well.

    Jonna, a Gen Xer I met through my generational consulting work, sought out a Gen Z mentor at her office and was grateful for her insight, as well as the chance to give advice. “I like to believe I am someone with a growth mindset and in touch with current realities, but I quickly learned that Hannah had perspectives on many things that stretched me and my thinking,” she said. “Our partnership has helped me approach every situation with curiosity instead of judgment.”

    Hannah, her mentor-mentee, found the partnership just as beneficial. The experience was “a reminder that regardless of age, we all have something to contribute, and bridging generational gaps can lead to innovative solutions and a richer understanding of the world.”

    Reaching out to colleagues who are significantly older or younger might seem unexpected. But it may also build a more connected, resilient workforce, where wisdom and innovation flow freely across generational divides.

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

    – ref. The solution to workplace isolation might be in the gap − the generation gap – https://theconversation.com/the-solution-to-workplace-isolation-might-be-in-the-gap-the-generation-gap-250571

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: AI Influence on Medical Diagnostics Generating Billion Dollar Revenues While Growing Adoption Reduces Healthcare Costs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a significant part of healthcare and is being used in almost all sectors, including diagnostics. The integration of AI has increased the growth and development of the healthcare industry. In diagnostic testing, AI is used to analyze medical images (CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, and DXAs), large patient data, vital signs (pulse rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and respiration rate), medical history, and laboratory test results. AI provides several advantages in diagnostics, such as accuracy, efficiency, reduced human errors, and cost savings. Healthcare professionals can make more informed decisions and develop personalized treatment options. The AI in the diagnostics market is growing due to reduced healthcare costs, reduced healthcare burden on professionals, and enhanced patient satisfaction. A recent report from Towards Healthcare, said: “The global AI in diagnostics market is to value at US$ 1.74 billion in 2025 is to touch US$ 5.24 billion by 2030. In 2023, North America led the AI in diagnostics market with a 53% share, while Asia Pacific is set to experience the fastest growth. The software segment dominated by component and is expected to show the highest CAGR. In diagnosis, neurology held the largest market share, while radiology is predicted to grow at the quickest pace during the forecast period. AI in diagnostics is advancing accuracy and efficiency in medical evaluations, driving its global expansion across various sectors.”   Active healthcare/tech companies active in the markets include: Avant Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI), Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEM), Teladoc Health (NYSE: TDOC), Talkspace (NASDAQ: TALK), BullFrog AI Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BFRG).

    Towards Healthcare continued; “The global AI in diagnostics market was estimated at US$ 1.12 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to US$ 12.65 billion by 2034, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.64% from 2024 to 2034. The demand for AI in diagnostic testing has increased significantly due to the various benefits AI provides. One of the major benefits is reduced human error, which improves overall diagnostic results that can be used by professionals to develop appropriate treatment options. Preventive care has become a really necessary step for improving health. Growing infectious diseases and chronic conditions have increased the burden on healthcare resources and professionals. It is estimated that the healthcare cost will rise up to US$ 176 billion without effective interventions, which is going to increase the demand for preventive care in the future. With the help of AI in diagnostics, this can be reduced as AI can play a significant role in preventive care. Preventive care involves analyzing medical records, medical history, lifestyle, genetics, and other aspects to identify future health risks. However, it is a very time-consuming and tedious process. Healthcare workers are prone to errors when analyzing such a large amount of data, which can lead to misinterpretation. The use of AI can mitigate all these challenges and help in analyzing health risks with data analytics in less time with more accuracy and efficiency.”

    Avant Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI) and Ainnova Begin Designing Clinical Trial Protocol for Company’s Vision AI Platform – Avant Technologies, Inc. (“Avant” or the “Company”) and its partner, Ainnova Tech, Inc., (Ainnova), a leading healthcare technology company focused on revolutionizing early disease detection using artificial intelligence (AI), today announced that the Company has started designing its clinical trial protocol ahead of a pre-submission meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The pre-submission meeting is to request guidance on the clinical testing needed for its Vision AI platform in the early detection of diabetic retinopathy, and Ainnova’s clinical trial will culminate in the submission of an FDA 510(k) to obtain clearance from the regulatory agency to market its technology.

    Ainnova has hired an ophthalmologist, who is assisting in drafting the requirements for the clinical trial protocol that the Company’s Contract Research Organization (CRO), Fortrea, has requested. Upon completion of the protocol, Ainnova will work with its CRO to prepare and send all the documentation to the FDA for its upcoming pre-submission meeting. A clinical trial protocol is a detailed, written plan that outlines the objectives, design, methodology, and organization of a clinical research project, ensuring the safety of participants and the integrity of data collected. The Company expects its pre-submission meeting with the FDA to occur in mid-May 2025.

    Ai-nova Acquisition Corp. (AAC), the Company formed by the partnership between Avant and Ainnova to advance and commercialize Ainnova’s technology portfolio, including its Vision AI platform and its versatile retinal cameras, has the global licensing rights for this portfolio, so the success of Ainnova’s interactions with the FDA are paramount to marketing the technology portfolio in the United States.

    For medical device applicants like Ainnova, the FDA’s pre-submission program is useful to determine a clear regulatory pathway for the successful launch of the device, including the number of patients and the number of clinics needed to generate the necessary clinical data for the FDA to make an informed decision on Ainnova’s Vision AI platform. For Avant, the pre-submission meeting will help define a precise budget for the strategic partnership’s entire FDA process.    CONTINUED… Read this and more news for Avant Technologies at:   https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-avai/

    In other developments and happenings in the healthcare market recently include:

    Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEM), a technology company leading the adoption of AI to advance precision medicine and patient care, recently announced it has acquired Deep 6 AI, a leading AI-powered precision research platform for healthcare organizations and life sciences companies.

    Deep 6 AI enables healthcare organizations to de-risk clinical trials, accelerate recruitment, and generate real-world evidence (RWE) with speed and precision. Its AI-powered software matches patients to clinical trials by mining real-time structured and unstructured electronic medical record (EMR) data across a broad ecosystem, which includes academic medical centers, National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers, and NCI Community Oncology Research Programs.

    “Deep 6’s impressive integration infrastructure is well-suited to complement our connectivity efforts, which are central to our ability to support physicians in delivering optimized care for their patients,” said Eric Lefkofsky, Founder and CEO of Tempus. “This acquisition broadens our reach, adding even more providers to our platform, and enhances our ability to deploy critical applications like Next, which helps physicians close care gaps, and TIME, which helps patients find potentially life saving clinical trials.”

    Carrum Health, the leader in value-based Centers of Excellence (COE) for specialty care, recently announced a strategic partnership with Teladoc Health (NYSE: TDOC), the global leader in virtual care. The new arrangement will allow Teladoc Health’s providers to seamlessly refer eligible members needing specialty care into Carrum’s nationwide network of rigorously vetted, high quality providers. This means employers can contract directly through Teladoc Health’s Connected Care program to access Carrum’s network, and benefit from bi-directional care coordination with deeper technology integration between Teladoc and Carrum to better support members across the healthcare continuum.

    The partnership will address a growing demand from employers for better integrated benefits solutions. Per the Business Group on Health, 70% of employers are concerned about managing multiple point solutions and the lack of coordination between them.

    Talkspace (NASDAQ: TALK), a leading online behavioral health care company, recently announced it will support the U.S. Navy’s pilot program to provide access to therapy and mental health resources for approximately 25,000 sailors and their dependents. The pilot, which is the first of its kind for the U.S. Navy, launched for 6 bases: Newport News Shipyard, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Naval Base Guam, Naval Base Ventura County (Port Hueneme), Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and allows members to access care with Talkspace’s licensed providers for free.

    “Serving those who selflessly serve is a profound privilege and one that inspires our entire organization and network of providers. We applaud the U.S. Navy’s leadership for prioritizing the mental wellbeing of their service members and families and making care accessible and convenient from wherever they are,” said Jon Cohen, MD, CEO of Talkspace.

    BullFrog AI Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BFRG), a technology-enabled drug development company using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to enable the successful development of pharmaceuticals and biologics, recently announced its entry into a collaboration agreement with Eleison Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Eleison”), a Phase 3 oncology company focused on novel chemotherapeutic treatments for rare cancers. Under the terms of the agreement, BullFrog AI will provide access to its BullFrog Data Networks™ AI solution to enhance clinical trial efficiency and patient insights. Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.

    “The integration of artificial intelligence in clinical trials represents a transformative shift in how pharmaceutical companies can de-risk drug development and optimize patient outcomes,” said Vin Singh, CEO of BullFrog AI. “We are thrilled to partner with Eleison to apply our bfLEAP® AI technology, which has the potential to refine patient selection, improve trial efficiency, and ultimately accelerate the path to market for life-saving therapies.”

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    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kugler, Latinos, Entrepreneurs, and the U.S. Economy

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Thank you, Ramiro, and thank you for the opportunity to speak with all of you today.1 Welcome to Washington, D.C.! Bienvenidos a la capital! I hope you have a productive conference and an enjoyable visit. I am honored to speak with you today because I have long appreciated the efforts of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in supporting Hispanic-owned businesses, especially small businesses and entrepreneurs. It is also gratifying to speak to you today as the first Latin policymaker in the Federal Reserve’s history.
    The support and mentorship from my family and my communities, including many in the Hispanic community, have been foundational to my career. I am proud that I can bring my own perspective and background to how I view the economy and economic data—just as I value learning and hearing from others—because I know the decisions I make can affect the lives of all Americans. As a Fed Governor, I serve all Americans, and I strive to recognize the economic contributions that come from all corners of this country.
    Today, I will talk about the entrepreneurial spirit that many Latinos embody and share with you the importance of Latinos to the whole of the U.S. economy. I will then provide my outlook for the U.S. economy.
    Entrepreneurial SpiritLet me start by saying that I have a strong affinity for entrepreneurs and recognize that they are a driving force behind economic growth and job creation—which I know from the data, as I have spent most of my career as a labor economist and researcher. But I truly understand the crucial role they play in the economy because my grandparents and father were entrepreneurs. My maternal grandfather was a dairy farmer, and I still recall the effort and dedication I saw as a child while joining him as he went from store to store selling milk early in the morning—before starting his other job as mayor of the town. And my paternal grandparents owned an electronics shop, where they worked shoulder to shoulder. My grandpa ran the front end of the shop, and my grandma was in charge of the accounting and inventory. The lessons on the value of hard work and taking initiative have stayed with me throughout my career in academia and continue to now in my work as a policymaker. I have always brought an entrepreneurial spirit to everything I do, seeking to be proactive about identifying opportunities and pursuing new or better solutions to long-standing challenges.
    And that is exactly what millions of Latino entrepreneurs do across the U.S. every day. There are roughly 5 million Latino-owned businesses that provide jobs to millions of other workers across the country.2 And the number of entrepreneurs is growing fast. Between 2007 and 2022, there was a 57 percent increase in the number of Latin-owned businesses, and the number of employees on their collective payrolls grew 1.2 million. As I have emphasized in my past speeches, the growth in new business formation has been critical in sustaining the productivity growth that we have experienced in recent years, which has allowed us to achieve an economic expansion while reducing inflation.
    I see this growth as I travel around the country and meet with workers and business leaders. For example, I noted in a recent speech in Miami that South Florida is an area with a large and vibrant Latino community and is also one of the top regions for new business formation.3
    Other data are also consistent with an elevated level of entrepreneurship in our community. Latino adults who did not previously own a business created a new company at nearly twice the national rate in 2023.4 And while the overall new entrepreneurship rate edged lower after a pandemic-era jump, the rate for Latino entrepreneurs continued to rise to a new record high in 2023. This growth matters to the U.S. economy. Entrepreneurs improve the way of doing business and generate new jobs and wealth. They often create new processes, products, markets, and services that solve problems and improve the quality of life for many. Entrepreneurs also bring fresh perspectives and contribute to economic progress. For example, a recent survey by the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative shows that Latino-owned businesses outperform others in the adoption of artificial intelligence.5
    Latinos in the EconomyBeyond starting businesses and creating jobs, Latinos are a large and growing part of the economy—as consumers, workers, and investors. Collectively, Latino households generate trillions of dollars in economic activity each year in the U.S. There are 34 million Latino workers in the U.S. labor force, and the median weekly earnings of Latinos working full time has doubled over the past 20 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those data points suggest that many Latino workers are moving into higher-wage, higher-productivity jobs. Overall, nearly one in every five Americans are of Latino heritage. In some states, such as Texas, that figure is closer to two in five. And given that the Latino population is growing, it is not surprising that Texas also led the country in job creation last year, adding 284,000 jobs to payrolls.6 Across the U.S., the Latino labor force has grown 14 percent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, much faster than the about 4 percent growth for the total labor force.
    Latinos tend to work or seek employment at high rates. The Latino labor force participation rate was 66.9 percent in February versus 62.4 percent for the population overall. In addition to filling jobs for employers and meeting consumer demand for goods and services, this labor force growth was a helpful counter to inflation at a time when the labor market was historically tight.
    The growth in the Latino workforce contributed to the rebalancing of the U.S. labor market in recent years. The labor market has cooled from an overheated state to a stable position characterized by low unemployment and diminished wage pressures. Latino workers especially aided that rebalancing by taking positions that had been difficult for employers to fill. For example, early in the pandemic many Americans remodeled or expanded their homes, where they were suddenly spending much more time. And anyone in this room that undertook such a project in 2021 or 2022 likely remembers how difficult it was to hire carpenters, plumbers, and other workers. Many skilled Latino workers filled that void. As of February, Latinos accounted for 35 percent of all construction workers, up from about 30 percent five years ago. Similarly, Latino workers have outsized representation in several other fields in which hiring has been challenging in recent years. Over one-third of warehouse and storage workers and one-fourth of couriers—both important to the e-commerce industry—are Latino. Latinos also represent a large share of critical childcare, automotive repair, and building maintenance positions—the people that make it possible for everyone to get to work and do their jobs well.
    Moving forward, the young Latino population will continue to contribute to the labor force, as 1 million Latinos every year will turn 18 over the next two decades. And the educational attainment growth of Latinos is three times faster than that of other groups. Already one-fourth of the nation’s K–12 students are Latino—thus on track to soon contribute to the skilled labor force.
    Economic OutlookOf course, I am always studying how the economy is playing out for Americans of all backgrounds. As such, I would like to share with you my economic outlook before I conclude.
    The U.S. economy has been on solid footing in recent years. Consistent with that assessment, real gross domestic product grew 2.5 percent last year. The most recent data on economic activity in the early part of this year have shown some signs of softness: Retail sales plunged more than 1 percent in January. However, that slowing was not entirely unexpected after the strong showing in December, some bad weather earlier this year, and the difficulties in the seasonal adjustment of the data. Moreover, growth in retail sales moved back up into positive territory, increasing 0.2 percent in February.
    The labor market appears to be stable through February. U.S. employers added 151,000 jobs in February and 125,000 in January. The pace of hiring during the first two months of the year is a slowdown compared with the strong gains in November and December, but, again, that could reflect weather disruptions and seasonal adjustment challenges. Over the past six months, employers added a solid average of 190,000 jobs a month. The unemployment rate—4.1 percent last month—is low and has remained near its current level since last summer.
    Turning to inflation, I have been keenly aware that price increases have been painful for American families, and I have supported policies intended to bring inflation sustainably back to our 2 percent target. This effort has paid dividends. Inflation has come down a long way from its peak of more than 7 percent in June 2022. Based on the consumer price index and producer price index data for February, it is estimated that the 12-month change in the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index was 2.5 percent last month. That is welcome progress, but that progress has slowed since last summer. In certain subcategories there is evidence that inflation reaccelerated in recent months. Importantly, while goods inflation was negative in 2024—as was the norm before the pandemic—it has turned positive in recent months. This development is unhelpful because goods inflation has often kept a lid on total inflation and also affects inflation expectations. In addition to the increase in prices already captured in official data, surveys show that consumers are expecting further increases in the near term. For instance, both short-run and long-run inflation expectations from the Michigan survey have climbed in recent months. According to comments from survey respondents, much of this uncertainty appears to be tied to trade policy. I am paying close attention to the acceleration of price increases and higher inflation expectations, especially given the recent bout of inflation in the past few years. Given the economy’s overall solid position and the heightened level of uncertainty, I supported the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) decision last week to maintain the policy rate at its current level. I see current policy as continuing to be restrictive and I judge that FOMC policy is well positioned. The committee can react to new developments by holding at the current rate for some time as we closely monitor incoming data and the cumulative effects of new policies. I remain committed to bringing inflation back down to our 2 percent goal while maintaining a solid labor market. As always, I will carefully assess the incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks when considering the appropriate policy rate.
    Thank you again for having me here.

    1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
    2. See Bárbara Gómez-Aguiñaga, George Foster, and Jerry I. Porras (2024), 2023 State of Latino Entrepreneurship (PDF), a publication of the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (Palo Alto, Calif.: Stanford Graduate School of Business, in collaboration with the Latino Business Action Network, March). Return to text
    3. See Adriana D. Kugler (2025), “Entrepreneurship and Aggregate Productivity,” speech delivered at the 2025 Miami Economic Forum, Economic Club of Miami, Miami, Florida, February 7. Return to text
    4. See Robert W. Fairlie (2024), “Indicators of Entrepreneurial Activity: 2023,” working paper, January, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4708111. Return to text
    5. See Gómez-Aguiñaga, Foster, and Porras, 2023 State of Latino Entrepreneurship, in note 2. Return to text
    6. See Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), “State Employment and Unemployment Summary,” news release, March 17. Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: CMA seeks changes to the way Ticketmaster labels tickets and provides pricing information to fans

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    CMA seeks changes to the way Ticketmaster labels tickets and provides pricing information to fans

    The CMA sets out its concerns over Ticketmaster’s sale of Oasis tickets.

    iStock

    • CMA is concerned that Ticketmaster’s approach may have misled Oasis fans 

    • CMA is engaging with Ticketmaster to improve information given to consumers

    Today the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is providing a progress update on its investigation into Ticketmaster following widespread complaints about the sale of Oasis’ concert tickets.

    Following a formal investigation, the CMA is now consulting with the ticketing platform on changes to ensure fans receive the right information, at the right time.  

    The concerns 

    The CMA is concerned that Ticketmaster, which sold more than 900,000 tickets during the Oasis ticket sale, may have breached consumer protection law by:

    • Labelling certain seated tickets as ‘platinum’ and selling them for near 2.5 times the price of equivalent standard tickets, without sufficiently explaining that they did not offer additional benefits and were often located in the same area of the stadium. This risked giving consumers the misleading impression that platinum tickets were better.
    • Not informing consumers that there were two categories of standing tickets at different prices, with all of the cheaper standing tickets sold first before the more expensive standing tickets were released, resulting in many fans waiting in a lengthy queue without understanding what they would be paying and then having to decide whether to pay a higher price than they expected.

    Next steps 

    Since the opening of the investigation, Ticketmaster has made changes to some aspects of its ticket sales process, but the CMA does not currently consider these changes are sufficient to address its concerns.  

    The CMA has provided Ticketmaster with details of the further steps required to address its concerns and is seeking changes to Ticketmaster’s processes – including to the information it provides to customers, when it provides that information, and how it labels some of its tickets. The CMA is now consulting on these changes with Ticketmaster. 

    Hayley Fletcher, Interim Senior Director of Consumer Protection, says:   

    Fans reported problems when buying Oasis tickets from Ticketmaster and we decided those concerns warranted investigation. 

    We’re concerned that Oasis fans didn’t get the information they needed or may have been misled into buying tickets they thought were better than they were.  We now expect Ticketmaster to work with us to address these concerns so, in future, fans can make well-informed decisions when buying tickets.  

    All ticketing websites should check they are complying with the law and treating their customers fairly. When businesses get it right, consumers benefit – and that’s the best outcome for everyone.

    The CMA is not able to advise on individual complaints so anyone seeking advice or support should contact the relevant consumer advice organisation in their area. 

    For more information visit the Ticketmaster investigation case page. 

    Notes to editors

    1. Ticketmaster UK Ltd  (Ticketmaster) is a company which sells and supplies tickets to consumers for a range of third-party events via its website and mobile application in the UK. In particular, it sold tickets for the ‘Oasis Live ‘25’ tour. 

    2. As an enforcer under Part 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002, the CMA currently enforces consumer law through the courts. It cannot currently levy administrative fines for breaches of consumer law. From 6 April 2025, the CMA will have new consumer powers, which will enable the CMA to decide when consumer law has been broken without taking a case to court. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) will, once it comes into effect, also enable the CMA to fine those firms that do break consumer law up to 10% of their turnover. 

    3. The main consumer protection legislation relevant to the CMA’s concerns about misleading claims and other harmful online selling practices is the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs). The CPRs aim to protect consumers from unfair commercial practices such as the misleading provision or omission of information as part of sales processes. The CMA recently consulted on draft guidance in relation to unfair commercial practices (UCPs). Provisions prohibiting UCPs are due to replace and update the CPRs once the relevant provisions of the DMCCA come into force on 6 April 2025. The CMA currently has the ability to ask a court to enforce the CPRs. Under the DMCCA, the CMA will gain the ability to enforce the UCP provisions itself, without needing to apply to a court.   

    4. ‘Primary’ tickets are tickets which are being sold for the first time, at the original price for tickets as determined by artists, event organisers or box offices. ‘Secondary’ tickets are those which are resold after their original sale, often (but not always) at prices other than the original ‘face value’. 

    5. All media enquiries should be directed to the CMA press office by email on press@cma.gov.uk, or by phone on 020 3738 6460.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Spanish Leadership Program Continues to Build Power at Winpisinger Center

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    En Español

    Recently, 24 IAM members from 15 Locals across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, representing multiple industries, participated in the Spanish Leadership I Program at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center.

    WATCH VIDEO

    The Spanish-language programs at the Winpisinger Center are coordinated and developed by the Spanish Language Working Group (SLWG), which is comprised of IAM staff and members. The program covers a wide range of subjects designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective union leadership. Some of the topics include labor history, parliamentary procedure in local administration, the role of the steward, human rights, the importance of organizing, and government and politics. 

    “One of the missions of the IAM is to empower our members through education,” said IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes. “By offering a comprehensive curriculum in Spanish, we can ensure that more members have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills.”

    SEE PHOTOS

    In addition to Leadership I, the Winpisinger Center offers an extended Spanish language curriculum that includes Leadership II and Advanced Leadership programs, alongside various other educational offerings. These classes cater to different levels of union leadership and engagement, ensuring that members are well-prepared for the challenges they may face in their workplace and while servicing their fellow IAM siblings.

    For more information on enrolling in these educational programs, please contact your Local Officers, Business Representative, or General Chairperson.

    —

    El Programa de Liderazgo en Español Continúa Fortaleciendo el Poder en el Centro Winpisinger

    Recientemente, 24 miembros de la IAM de 15 Locales de los Estados Unidos, Canadá y Puerto Rico, los cuales representan múltiples industrias, participaron en el Programa de Liderazgo I en Español en el Centro de Educación y Tecnología William W. Winpisinger.

    VER VIDEO 

    Los programas en español en el Centro Winpisinger son coordinados y desarrollados por el grupo de facilitadores de Liderazgo en Español (SLWG, por sus siglas en inglés), que está compuesto por personal y miembros de la IAM. El programa cubre muchos temas importantes diseñados para preparar a los participantes con el conocimiento y las habilidades necesarias para un liderazgo sindical eficaz. Algunos de los temas incluyen la historia laboral, procedimientos parlamentarios en la administración de las Locales, el papel del delegado, los derechos humanos, la importancia de organizar y el gobierno y la política.

    “Una de las misiones de la IAM es empoderar a nuestros miembros a través de la educación”, dijo la Secretaria-Tesorera General de la IAM Dora Cervantes. “Al ofrecer un plan de estudios integral en español, podemos garantizar que más miembros tengan la oportunidad de desarrollar sus habilidades cómo líderes.”

    VER FOTOS

    Además del Liderazgo I, el Centro Winpisinger ofrece un currículo extendido en español que incluye los programas de Liderazgo II y Liderazgo Avanzado, junto con otras cursos. Estas clases están dirigidas a diferentes niveles de liderazgo sindical, asegurando que los miembros estén bien preparados para los desafíos que puedan enfrentar en su lugar de trabajo y al proveer servicios a sus compañeros miembros de la IAM.

    Para más información sobre cómo inscribirse en estos programas educativos, por favor contacte a sus Oficiales Locales, Representante Sindical o Presidente de la Local.

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ministers Burke and Dillon welcome the publication of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    25th March 2025

    New legislation allows workers whose contract has a retirement age of 65 or under to work to State Pension Age of 66, if they so wish

    The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, and the Minister of State for Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon, have published the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025.

    The Bill, once enacted, will deliver a new employment right.  It will allow, but in no way compel, an employee to stay in employment until the State Pension Age (66).

    The Bill delivers a statutory provision which sets out that that an employer may not enforce a contractual retirement age which is below the State Pension Age if the employee does not consent to retire. The Bill implements a key commitment included in the Government’s response to the Pensions Commission Recommendations and Implementation Plan.

    Following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Minister Burke said:

    “This Bill will effectively create a new employment right specifically for employees who are subject to a retirement age in their employment contract which is set below the State Pension Age of 66. One of the main objectives of the Bill is to bridge the income gap experienced by a person who is required to retire at an age which is lower than the age at which they can access the State Pension. 

    The publication of this Bill, together with the wider package of pension reforms being rolled out by Government, is a significant step in improving the predictability of retirement income for employees and helping to protect workers when they are approaching retirement. Workers may still retire at 65 as per their contract if they so wish, but there are a cohort of people who are happy to continue to work for an extra year and this change in employment law will allow for this.” 

    Minister Dillon said:

    “I am very pleased with the publication of this Bill which will implement a recommendation from the Pensions Commission and a key Government commitment relating to contractual retirement ages. 

    The legislation reaffirms our long-standing policy to encourage and support longer and fuller working lives, where older people are facilitated in continuing in employment, if they wish to, until the age at which they can first access the State Pension.”

    ENDS

    Notes to Editors:

    The Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund. The Commission’s Report was published on 7 October 2021. It is a comprehensive and authoritative report based on various analyses of population, labour force and expenditure projections; an examination of international approaches; and responses to an extensive consultation process.

    In September 2022, in response to the Pensions Commission Recommendations and Implementation Plan, the Government committed to a range of pension reforms which will ensure the pensions system is sustainable in the face of demographic change and that people relying on the State Pension have adequate and predictable income in retirement. The majority of the commitments relate to significant reform of the State Pension System and are being led by the Department of Social Protection.

    One key commitment relates the introduction of measures that allow, but do not compel, an employee to stay in employment until the State Pension Age.

    The main provisions of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025, which will implement that commitment, provide that:

    • In situations where an employee is subject to a contractual retirement age which is below the State Pension Age they may provide written notification to the employer that they do not consent to retire at the contractual retirement age.
    • On receipt of such notification, if an employer still proposes to enforce the contractual retirement age, they must not enforce the retirement before providing the employee with a written reasoned reply.
    • The employer must not enforce the contractual retirement age unless they can establish that the contractual retirement age of that individual employee is objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate aim, and the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary.
    • Employees will have the right to refer complaints and seek redress through the Workplace Relations Act for non-compliance with the Act.
    • There is no impact on retirement ages which are set out in law, for example for certain public servants.

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: RTI Secures $1.25M U.S. Air Force Contract to Enhance Next-Generation Data and Networking Systems

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the infrastructure software company for smart-world systems, today announced that it has been awarded a $1.25M Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract. The company will leverage its RTI Connext® platform to accelerate the integration and performance of real-time communication systems. This funding will advance the integration and support of the IEEE Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) protocol, enabling enhanced configurability, reliability, and efficiency for mission-critical applications across USAF programs.

    Connext, built on the Data Distribution Service (DDS™) standard, was chosen for its maturity, security, performance, and ability to streamline interoperability between diverse systems, ensuring seamless data flow across technologies. This data-centric approach allows the Air Force to retain control over how systems communicate and interact, allowing primes to handle the actual building and execution of systems. By using a modular and flexible framework, the U.S. Air Force can rapidly upgrade and replace individual components without a full system overhaul, reducing long-term risks and costs, while accelerating the fielding of enhanced capabilities to meet evolving needs. RTI is the world’s largest DDS supplier and the most trusted software framework for mission-critical systems, delivering nonstop availability with no single point of failure.

    “With Connext, we’re providing a next-generation solution that ensures seamless, reliable communication while meeting stringent latency and determinism requirements,” said Dr. Paul Pazandak, Director of Research at RTI. “By extending our application modeling tools to support TSN, we empower developers to streamline the deployment of mission-critical systems.”

    IEEE TSN (802.1) is a set of specifications designed to enhance Ethernet by providing real-time, high-performance capabilities. By ensuring precise time synchronization and guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS), TSN provides optimized network bandwidth and streamlined system management. The advanced scheduling capabilities streamline the development of synchronized control systems, offering superior network convergence, performance, and cost-efficiency.

    Connext is field-proven across many industries to communicate real-time data with exceptional reliability. Offering advanced capabilities and backed by global engineering and support teams, Connext has brought technical success to more than 2,000 systems. Uniquely, Connext allows applications to
    work together as one and users can build applications that combine advanced sensing, fast control, and AI algorithms.

    To learn more about RTI’s advanced research activities, please visit the RTI Research page.

    About RTI

    Real-Time Innovations (RTI) is the infrastructure software company for smart-world systems. RTI Connext® is the world’s leading software framework for intelligent distributed systems. Uniquely, Connext users can build systems that combine advanced sensing, fast control, and AI algorithms.

    With 2,000 customer designs, RTI excels at getting customers to production. RTI software runs over 300 autonomous vehicle programs, supports dozens of automotive ADAS and software-defined architectures, controls the largest power plants in North America, integrates over 500 major defense programs, drives a new generation of MedTech systems and robotics, and underlies Canada’s air traffic control and NASA’s launch control systems.

    RTI runs a smarter world.

    RTI is the market leader in products compliant with the Data Distribution Service (DDS™) standard. RTI is privately held and headquartered in Silicon Valley with regional offices in Colorado, Spain, and Singapore.

    Download a free trial of the latest, fully-functional Connext software today: www.rti.com/downloads

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: TrueCommerce Boosts Coterie’s Multi-Channel Sales Management with Scalable Transaction Processing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PITTSBURGH, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TrueCommerce, a global provider of supply chain and trading partner connectivity, integration and omnichannel solutions, today shared key results from its work with Coterie, the premium baby care brand devoted to engineering thoughtful diapering solutions. TrueCommerce delivered a robust Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solution integrated with NetSuite for Coterie, streamlining the management of its high transaction volumes.

    TrueCommerce’s integration with NetSuite provides Coterie with unmatched control and flexibility. Previously, Coterie was required to submit tickets for backend changes when migrating its SKU structure. With TrueCommerce’s solution, its team can make adjustments themselves, eliminating stoppages and significantly reducing resolution times. The ability to take control of processes, have greater visibility into transaction data, and eliminate unnecessary delays allows Coterie to focus on scaling operations with confidence and efficiency.

    “Having worked with multiple EDI solutions throughout my career, TrueCommerce has consistently stood out as the most reliable and user-friendly option,” said Rajiv Unnikrishnan, Head of Technology at Coterie. “I’ve made the switch back to TrueCommerce more than once because I know they will streamline operations, reduce manual effort, and provide the flexibility we need. It’s a trusted solution that I can rely on, no matter the brand.”

    “At TrueCommerce, we’re committed to delivering solutions that not only meet the immediate needs of fast-growing companies like Coterie, but also provide the scalability and flexibility required for long-term success,” said Amy Harvey, SVP of Customer Experience at TrueCommerce. “By empowering their team with direct control over their EDI processes and providing the multi-threading capabilities needed to handle their substantial order volume, we’ve helped transform what was once a bottleneck into a competitive advantage.”

    As a result of its work with TrueCommerce, Coterie experienced:

    • Operational Efficiency: TrueCommerce’s multi-threading capabilities enabled Coterie to seamlessly process over 3,000 orders daily, including high-volume subscriptions.
    • Superior Support: Personalized assistance and interactive issue resolution ensured Coterie’s needs were met quickly and efficiently.
    • Increased Control and Visibility: Cross-reference tools and mapping features gave Coterie greater visibility into transaction data, allowing for faster issue resolution and optimized EDI processes.

    Amanda Brislin, NetSuite Delivery Manager at Coterie added, “Working with TrueCommerce has been a game-changer as we’ve gained direct control and responsive service, which streamlined our maintenance processes. The transition was seamless and empowering, confirming that it was the right decision for us.”

    Coterie’s shift to TrueCommerce’s Integrated Managed Services EDI for NetSuite highlights the transformative power of selecting the right technology partner. By prioritizing control, visibility, and support, TrueCommerce enabled Coterie to optimize its EDI processes and achieve improved productivity.

    Connect with TrueCommerce

    About Coterie
    Coterie is the premium baby care brand devoted to engineering thoughtful diapering solutions, with a mission to make parents’ lives easier. Coterie products are meticulously crafted to ensure they meet the highest quality, performance, and safety standards. The company has sold over 100 million diapers to date and continues to grow, with a commitment to expanding innovative product offerings to additional parenting and baby products in the future. To learn more, visit https://www.coterie.com/.

    About TrueCommerce 
    At TrueCommerce, we empower businesses to improve their supply chain performance and drive better business outcomes. Through a single connection to our high-performance global supply chain network, businesses receive more than just EDI, they get access to a fully integrated network that connects their customers, suppliers, logistics partners and internal systems. Our cloud-based, fully managed services help businesses achieve end-to-end supply chain management, streamlined delivery, and simplified operations. With 25+ years of expertise and trusted partnership, TrueCommerce helps businesses reach their true supply chain potential today while preparing them for the future with our integration-agnostic network. That’s why thousands of companies—from SMBs to the global Fortune 100, across various industries—rely on us. To learn more, visit https://www.truecommerce.com. 

    TrueCommerce is a trademark of True Commerce, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BigCommerce Enhances B2B Features to Improve Operational Efficiency and Drive Revenue Growth for Merchants

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC), a leading provider of open, composable commerce solutions for B2C and B2B brands and retailers, today unveiled innovative enhancements to its B2B products designed to help sales teams operate more efficiently and streamline processes so they can respond quickly to market demands and focus on growth.

    These updates, Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ) and Multi-Company Account Hierarchy and Advanced Permissioning, enable faster quote conversion and minimize redundant account management processes so that merchants can respond dynamically to market demands and scale without being bogged down by manual tasks.

    “For manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers, improving efficiency is the name of the game,” said Lance Owide, general manager of B2B at BigCommerce. “The updates BigCommerce is announcing today mark a huge step forward to help organizations streamline their operations and allow sales teams to focus on customer relationships instead of managing workflows.”

    “BigCommerce continues to lead the way in B2B ecommerce, and these latest enhancements are a gamechanger,” said Amandeep Singh, founder and president of BigCommerce partner Cronix. “We’re especially excited about the Multi-Company Account Hierarchy—an invaluable addition for enterprise merchants needing better access control, management and reporting for companies with multiple branches. Along with the new control panel, enhanced quoting engine and API improvements, these features bring more power and flexibility to B2B sellers. We’re excited about where BigCommerce is headed and the impact these innovations will have on merchants.”

    The new Enhanced Account Hierarchy and Advanced Permissioning includes:

    • Support for multi-tier account structures
    • Intuitive configuration tools for quick replication of complex buyer organizational setups
    • Granular, role-based access and dynamic permissioning for secure account management
    • Simplified bulk invoice payments and aggregated account data views
    • Self-service features for buyers to view invoices, orders and financial data across accounts
    • Streamlined assignments and delegated control to reduce manual administrative tasks

    Designed for today’s complex B2B environment, these enhancements support enterprise-level account hierarchies and detailed, role-based permissions, unlocking the ability to scale rapidly while maintaining a personalized, high-touch customer experience. These features benefit B2B merchants by providing a platform that not only adapts to organizational structures but also accelerates sales cycles and enhances customer loyalty whether they’re selling to franchises or multinational corporations. The system’s advanced permissioning and intuitive account hierarchy enable faster negotiations, quicker decision-making and long-term scalability, ensuring a superior competitive edge in a fast-moving market.

    “We can begin to truly extend our business towards that B2B2C vision model,” said Donald P. Polansky, senior manager of corporate systems development at GlassCraft Door Company, one of BigCommerce’s B2B customers. “Whether our direct customer has 2 or 20 locations, we can tailor their accounts to match their corporate structures and even bring their client’s business customers into our ecosystem. Working together with BigCommerce and their B2B team gives us a continual disruptive advantage without destroying the business foundations that already exist.”

    “BigCommerce’s Multi-Company Hierarchy feature allows us to more easily support merchants whose buyers manage payment and credit limits at the HQ level, within a single screen,” said Matt Sandham, director at Bspoq, a BigCommerce agency partner. “We’re also able to put multiple companies who belong in the same group into a singular reference number for a more seamless integration with the buyer’s ERP. Our merchants’ account management teams say it has made huge time savings and significantly reduced the admin involved in setting up and managing their customer accounts.”

    CPQ was built to help B2B businesses accelerate quote-to-cash cycles, drive revenue growth and improve customer satisfaction. With a streamlined quoting process, sales teams can spend more time building relationships and closing deals.

    The new CPQ product features:

    • Single-page, mobile-optimized quote interface
    • Configurable quote views with customizable fields
    • Built-in company account creation and quick add products
    • Integrated shipping & tax API for real-time calculations
    • Auto-quoting options and tailored discount view controls
    • Support for both B2B and B2C quoting channels

    “CPQ will help our clients speed up their quote approval processes,” Adam Thibodeaux, senior vice president of global sales at McFadyen Digital. “It will streamline call-in orders for our clients who take orders by phone, helping their sales teams and customers transition to self-service.”

    “These innovations represent a forward-thinking approach to B2B ecommerce by marrying agility with enterprise-grade functionality without enterprise-level costs,” Owide said. “They reflect BigCommerce’s commitment to evolving its platform to meet increasingly complex use cases without added costs, technical debt and administrative overhead, positioning the company not only as a robust ecommerce solution provider but as a strategic partner in digital transformation.”

    To learn more about BigCommerce’s B2B ecommerce solutions, click here.

    About BigCommerce
    BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) is a leading open SaaS and composable ecommerce platform that empowers brands, retailers, manufacturers and distributors of all sizes to build, innovate and grow their businesses online. BigCommerce provides its customers sophisticated professional-grade functionality, customization and performance with simplicity and ease-of-use. Tens of thousands of B2C and B2B companies across 150 countries and numerous industries rely on BigCommerce, including Coldwater Creek, Harvey Nichols, King Arthur Baking Co., MKM Building Supplies, United Aqua Group and Uplift Desk. For more information, please visit www.bigcommerce.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    BigCommerce® is a registered trademark of BigCommerce Pty. Ltd. Third-party trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

    Media Contact:
    Brad Hem
    pr@bigcommerce.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Regula Reaches 15,000 ID Templates in Its Industry’s Largest Database, Revealing New Document Trends

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESTON, Va., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Regula, a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification solutions, now has 15,000 templates in its identity document template database, the most comprehensive in the world. This significant update ensures that businesses and government agencies around the globe can verify the latest IDs, including the most advanced biometric documents, with the highest accuracy.

    Regula’s proprietary identity document template database contains detailed descriptions of each document’s security features. Combined with the advanced capabilities of Regula Document Reader SDK, this enables online ID verification with the same level of precision previously achievable only in on-site scenarios. Incorporating ID templates from 251 countries and territories and capable of reading 138 national languages, this database enables the recognition and proper verification of nearly every ID from any corner of the world, even the rarest ones.

    Tracking Global Shifts in Identity Documents

    The latest expansion of Regula’s ID template database reflects the global shift towards more sophisticated identity documents. More and more countries are introducing biometric passports, which are considered the most secure at the moment. For example, among the recent additions to Regula’s database are the first-ever biometric passports issued by India, Sri Lanka, and Guyana.

    Apart from the format, documents’ security features are also becoming more complex and elaborate. First and foremost, ID issuers are switching from paper substrates in favor of polycarbonate pages, which are much harder to counterfeit. For this reason, states like Benin, Burkina Faso, Chile, and Djibouti have recently issued new IDs with polycarbonate data pages.

    Another advanced security feature that has become quite widespread across different identity documents is the Multiple Laser Image (MLI). An MLI embeds two distinct images within a document. Typically, these include the passport holder’s photo and their personal data. Special lenses positioned above the images can visualize either image clearly by tilting the document. Hard to illegally duplicate by design, MLIs significantly enhance document protection. Among the IDs that were added to Regula’s ID template database with the latest update, the US driver’s license from Wisconsin, as well as the ID cards of Jamaica, San Marino, and Yemen contain such security features.

    “The growing complexity of identity documents presents notable challenges for ID verification workflows. Businesses and government agencies must be prepared to properly verify all the document security features so as not to miss any forgery or identity fraud attempts. Furthermore, they have to handle multiple ID versions from the same country simultaneously, as many older documents remain in circulation alongside the new formats. By keeping pace with evolving security features and document standards, we help streamline ID verification workflows, reduce fraud risks, and maintain compliance with global regulations,” says Ihar Kliashchou, Chief Technology Officer at Regula.

    Among the new IDs added to Regula’s database to hit 15,000 templates are the following, issued in 2024-2025:

    Passports:

    • Azerbaijan
    • Benin
    • Burkina Faso
    • Burundi
    • Chile
    • Djibouti
    • Germany
    • Guyana
    • India
    • Kosovo
    • Malawi
    • Myanmar
    • Netherlands
    • Romania
    • Saint Kitts and Nevis
    • Slovakia
    • Sri Lanka
    • Tajikistan

    ID cards:

    • Argentina
    • Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Chile
    • Guatemala
    • Jamaica
    • Kazakstan
    • Kosovo
    • Netherlands
    • Nigeria
    • Norway
    • Philippines
    • Puerto Rico
    • San Marino
    • Slovakia
    • Somalia
    • Sri Lanka
    • Vietnam
    • Yemen

    Driver’s licenses:

    • Azerbaijan
    • Denmark
    • Honduras
    • Iran
    • Kosovo
    • Mongolia
    • Puerto Rico
    • Slovakia
    • Sweden
    • Venezuela
    • Bolivia
    • US states: Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin

    To get the full list of the documents supported by Regula’s software solutions, visit Regula’s official website.

    About Regula

    Regula is a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification solutions. With our 30+ years of experience in forensic research and the most comprehensive library of document templates in the world, we create breakthrough technologies for document and biometric verification. Our hardware and software solutions allow over 1,000 organizations and 80 border control authorities globally to provide top-notch client service without compromising safety, security, or speed. Regula has been repeatedly named a Representative Vendor in the Gartner® Market Guide for Identity Verification.

    Learn more at www.regulaforensics.com.

    Contact:
    Kristina – ks@regulaforensics.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a3cd960-c05b-412f-9df8-ce5052474afa.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: New member of Jyske Bank’s Group Executive Board

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Jyske Bank’s Supervisory Board has appointed Ingjerd Blekeli Spiten as Head of Personal Banking and Wealth Management and new member of the Group Executive Board.

    Ingjerd Blekeli Spiten is Master of Business and Economics and was during the period 2018-2024 Group Executive Director of Retail Banking at DNB (Norway). Previously, she held leadership positions with responsibility for sales, development, and implementation at DNB and tech companies such as Ericsson, Microsoft and Telenor.

    Kurt Bligaard Pedersen, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, states:

    Ingjerd Blekeli Spiten brings a unique combination of skills and experience in banking, technology and management of a large customer-oriented organisation. Ingjerd has been instrumental in the development of one of the strongest digital customer solutions in Scandinavia and will play a central role in the execution of Jyske Bank’s group strategy in the Personal Banking and Wealth Management area.

    Ingjerd Blekeli Spiten will take office on 1 June 2025.

    Yours faithfully,
    Jyske Bank

    Contact person: Susanne Faber, Press Manager, tel.: +45 26 29 11 29.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Promotion Export of Products by Self-Help Groups

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 5:01PM by PIB Delhi

    As a marketing initiative under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) SARAS Aajeevika Mela is organised at national and state levels. An export pavilion was in place at SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2025 at Noida, Uttar Pradesh organised by the Ministry of Rural Development to showcase products of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) having export potential, with the primary goal of encouraging and promoting SHGs towards export of their products. Training sessions cum Workshops were conducted in this Mela for capacity building and generating export potential in SHGs, and to creating awareness.

    National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) has conducted a national-level workshop in Delhi on 14th and 15th May 2024 to deliberate the scope of ‘Export Marketing of Handicraft and Handloom Products of SHGs’.

    Ministry of Textiles under Marketing component of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), organized the following events to provide a marketing platform to artisans and promote export of handicrafts:

            (I) Domestic Marketing events including Gandhi Shilp Bazar/Fashion Show/Hiring of Stalls in events organized by other organizations/CDAP.

    (II) International Marketing Events in India & Abroad include:

    1. International Marketing Events.
    2. International Craft Exposure Programme.
    3. Buyer Seller Meet & Reverse Buyer Seller Meet.
    4. Fairs/Exhibitions/Events on Virtual Platforms.

    The Ministry has undertaken tie-ups with eCommerce Players for promotion of SHG products. In collaboration with Government e-Marketplace (GeM) a “SARAS Collection” has been created as a Store Front in GeM for marketing of SHG products. Also, Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been entered between Ministry and Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd., Amazon, Fashnear Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Meesho) and Jiomart respectively to allow the Self Help Groups (SHGs) producers including the artisans, weavers and craftsmen to access national markets through the Flipkart Samarth programme, Amazon Saheli initiative, Meesho and Jiomart for marketing of SHGs products. An e-Commerce platform (www.esaras.in) has also been launched by the Ministry for online marketing of SHG products. eSARAS is also live as a Seller Network Participant on ONDC. Curated products of women SHGs are available on 11 Apps of ONDC network i.e. Paytm, Mystore, Craftsvilla, Jagran, Snapdeal, Novopay, Easypay, Gonuclei, Rubaru, Mappls, Himira.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    *****

    MG/RN/KSR/4087

    (Release ID: 2114885) Visitor Counter : 28

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government Strengthens Startup Ecosystem with Robust Initiatives and Funding Support

    Source: Government of India

    Government Strengthens Startup Ecosystem with Robust Initiatives and Funding Support

    217 Incubators Selected Under Startup India Scheme with ₹916.91 Crore Approved Funding

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 4:33PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government with an intent to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation, startups and encouraging investments in the startup ecosystem of the country launched the Startup India initiative on 16th January 2016.

    Under the Startup India initiative, incubators from both private sector and academic institutions are supported through the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS). The Scheme provides financial assistance to eligible startups through incubators for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization. The Experts Advisory Committee (EAC) of SISFS, evaluates and selects incubators for allocation of funds. SISFS is implemented from 1st April 2021. As on 31st January 2025, 217 incubators have been selected under the Scheme with a total approved funding of Rs. 916.91 crore.

    Under the Startup India initiative, the Government constantly undertakes various efforts for the development and growth of startup ecosystem. All steps undertaken under the Startup India initiative are inclusive and support entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds, and rural and tribal communities.

    The flagship Schemes namely, Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) support Startups at various stages of their business cycle. The Government also implements periodic exercises and programs including States’ Startup Ranking, National Startup Awards, and Innovation Week which play an important role in the holistic development of the startup ecosystem. The Government also encourages and supports ecosystem led initiatives such as Startup Mahakumbh which serve as a vibrant platform for stakeholders to network and collaborate. Initiatives to improve market access and enable public procurement which support startups in growing and scaling up their businesses have also been undertaken. Digital platforms such as the Startup India portal and BHASKAR enable easy access to resources and startup ecosystem collaboration. The Government is also encouraging corporates for supporting startups by way of mentorship, access to infrastructure, sharing resources and knowledge, assistance in market linkages and investor connect. These measures are complemented by regulatory reforms and other ecosystem development events and programs.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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    Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

    (Release ID: 2114865) Visitor Counter : 12

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government Implements Comprehensive Measures to Boost Exports and Strengthen Trade Competitiveness

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 4:32PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government has taken various proactive measures aimed at enhancing domestic capacities, boosting exports, diversifying supply chains, exploring alternate sources of imports and fostering economic resilience. Several key initiatives and policy measures undertaken by the Government to boost exports, attract investments and to promote ease of doing business from time to time are as follows-

    1. The Foreign Trade Policy effective from April 01, 2023 is designed to integrate India more effectively into the global market, improve trade competitiveness, and establish the country as a reliable and trusted trade partner.
    2. Establishment of 65 Export Facilitation Centres (EFCs) across the country with an aim to provide requisite mentoring and handholding support to exporters especially MSMEs in exporting their products and services to foreign markets.
    3. Assistance being provided through several schemes to promote exports, namely, Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) and Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme.
    4. The Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Scheme to promote labour- oriented certain items of textiles sector export has been implemented since March 07, 2019.
    5. Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme has been implemented since January 01, 2021. The benefit of RoDTEP scheme had also been extended to sectors like steel, pharma and chemicals with effect from December 15, 2022 to enhance export competitiveness of these sectors. Currently, 10,642 tariff lines (8-digit ITC(HS) Codes) are covered under this Scheme. The budget allocation for RoDTEP Scheme for the current financial year 2024-25 is Rs. 16,575 crores. The benefits of the RoDTEP scheme have also been extended to exports from Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) units till September 30, 2025.
    6. A Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin has been launched to facilitate trade and increase Free Trade Agreement (FTA) utilization by exporters.
    7. Districts as Export Hubs initiative had been launched by identifying products with export potential in each district, addressing bottlenecks for exporting these products and supporting local exporters/manufacturers to generate employment in the district.
    8. The Government has launched the Trade Connect e-Platform as an information and intermediation platform for international trade bringing together Indian Missions Abroad and officials from Department of Commerce and other organisations to provide comprehensive services for both new and existing exporters.
    9. Active role of Indian missions abroad towards promoting India’s trade, tourism, technology and investment goals has been enhanced. Regular monitoring of export performance with Commercial Missions abroad, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards/Authorities and Industry Associations is being done and corrective measures are being taken from time to time.
    10. With the changing trade scenario, India is moving towards having Preferential/Free Trade Agreements (PTA/FTA) wherein customs tariffs and non-tariff barriers are reduced or eliminated on substantial trade items between the PTA/FTA members. At present, India is a member of 13 FTAs and 9 PTAs apart from the negotiations with the EU, the UK, and Oman.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

    (Release ID: 2114863) Visitor Counter : 15

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Department of Consumer Affairs, GoI invites applications for filling up of two vacancies in National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission

    Source: Government of India

    Department of Consumer Affairs, GoI invites applications for filling up of two vacancies in National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission

    Application invited only in online mode; last date of submission is 23rd April, 2025

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 12:33PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Consumer Affairs under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has invited applications to fill up two anticipated vacancies for the post of Members in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, which is a quasi-judicial body established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The Commission is headquartered in New Delhi.

    The Department of Consumer Affairs has invited application only through Online Mode.

    The qualifications, eligibility, salary and other terms and conditions of the appointment of a candidate will be governed by the provisions of the Tribunal Reforms Act and the Tribunal (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2021.

    The Search-Cum-Selection Committee constituted under the Tribunal Reforms Act 2021 for recommending names for appointment to the said post shall scrutinize the applications with respect to the suitability of application for the posts by giving due weightage to qualification and experience of candidates and shortlist candidates for conducting personal interaction. The final selection will be done on the basis of overall evaluation of candidates done by the Committee based on the qualification, experience and personal interaction.

    The Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, the Tribunals (conditions of service) Rules, 2021 and the Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) Rules are also placed on the Ministry’s website “www.consumeraffairs.nic.in” for ready reference.

    Applications of eligible and willing candidates are requested online through https://jagograhakjago.gov.in/ncdrc from 25.03.2025 onwards. The last date of receipt of applications is 23.04.2025. Wherever applicable, a copy of the application submitted online may be submitted through proper channel along-with prescribed documents to Under Secretary (CPU), Department of Consumer Affairs, Room No. 466-A, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi by 23rd April, 2025.

    ****

    Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma

    (Release ID: 2114703) Visitor Counter : 31

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by FS at 2025 Hong Kong Climate Forum (English only) (with photo/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the 2025 Hong Kong Climate Forum today (March 25):

    Professor Gong Peng (Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development) of the University of Hong Kong), Dr Dai (Director of the California-China Climate Institute, Dr Dai Fan), Duncan (Legislative Council Member, Mr Duncan Chiu), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

    It is a pleasure to join you all again at the Hong Kong Climate Forum. Let me begin by extending my heartfelt thanks to the University of Hong Kong and the Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality for convening this second edition of a truly meaningful initiative. 

    Building on the strong foundation of last year’s inaugural gathering, this year’s forum deepens our collective focus – from scientific understanding and green investment to youth leadership, health resilience, and the transformative power of technology. The breadth and depth of today’s agenda are both inspiring and necessary. It reminds us that climate change is not a siloed issue; it touches every corner of our economy, society and daily life.

    Climate challenges and collective responsibility

    Last year, we gathered here against the backdrop of a record-breaking year of heat. Sadly, 2024 has only reaffirmed the urgency, and became the new record. The impacts are increasingly clearer: more frequent extreme weather, rising sea levels, threats to biodiversity and stress on public health.

    Climate change is no longer a future risk; it is a clear and present danger. The cost of inaction is unbearable – environmentally, economically and socially.

    It is therefore disappointing to learn that elsewhere in the world, there was still a blatant denial of climate change, followed by withdrawal from climate commitments.

    But we must not succumb to pessimism. Around the world, support for green transition remains the mainstream. Energy systems are shifting, technologies are advancing, and people – especially the younger generation – are demanding bold and collaborative responses.

    Our country, China, has placed green development at the heart of her national development strategy, with concrete steps taken. They include not only launching green projects, but also establishing mechanisms for carbon auditing, footprint management and carbon certification. China is also actively participating in global climate governance. In the China Development Forum held last Sunday, Premier Li Qiang reiterated the importance of green transition as a driver of economic growth.

    So are we here in Hong Kong. We are firmly committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 with four key areas of focus: net-zero electricity generation, green transport, green buildings and waste reduction.

    We do not view combating climate change as a burden that will hurt business. Of course, it entails necessary changes to our lifestyles, production methods and business practices. However, climate goals are creating new opportunities for business as well. That cannot be better encapsulated than in President Xi’s famous words: “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, or “綠水é�’山就是金山銀山”.  Through the many changes to our ways of life, new business cases are emerging. The most obvious examples are the Mainland’s stellar industries of the New Three – electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels and lithium batteries.

    Hong Kong’s green progress

    For us, it is clear that Hong Kong, and the Greater Bay Area, will be able to ride this new wave of change with commitment and leadership.

    A recurrent topic in combating climate change is the significant funding gap for green transition, measured in trillions of US dollars. In other words, there is a need to mobilise capital to support green projects on a massive scale. Hong Kong, as an international financial centre adhering to the best green finance standards, excels at matching quality green projects with funding. To enable broader participation in funding green projects, Hong Kong has recently rolled out innovative financing arrangements, such as tokenised green bonds and securitised infrastructure loans.

    Moreover, Hong Kong is progressing into the new space of transition finance to help high-emitting sectors invest in clean technologies and decarbonise. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is working to include transition activities in the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance. 

    Then there is green tech. We are home to many green tech start-ups, all sharing the mission to develop practical technological solutions. In our Science Park and Cyberport, there are approximately 300 green start-ups specialising in energy-efficient materials, carbon capture, EV infrastructure, and much more.

    In this year’s Budget, we announced the establishment of a GreenTech Hub, which would house around 200 green enterprises and bring together innovators in the green industry, forming a nexus for fostering fresh ideas, transformative solutions and business partnerships. The hub was opened earlier this month. 

    Going forward, our green tech sector will benefit from the technological prowess of the Greater Bay Area as well.

    Speaking of green tech, it would be remiss of me not to address an important subject, which is also a theme for discussion at the forum this morning: how AI (artificial intelligence) will drive and benefit the green transition. Allow me to share a few thoughts on their intersection. 

    AI and green: a strategic alliance

    To begin with, AI is a game changer. It is fundamentally altering production, business and consumption models, redefining the competitiveness of economies. When considering AI’s relationship with green development, a broader perspective should be taken. It is not only empowering specific green technologies but also acting as a catalyst for driving behavioural change. 

    Clearly, AI has vast potential in optimising energy production and consumption. The World Economic Forum, for example, has indicated that AI’s benefits in these areas are especially impactful in emerging markets with significant infrastructure gaps, as they have enormous potential to leapfrog to cleaner systems.

    AI can also accelerate the invention of new materials. It can improve climate modelling and forecasting, enhancing our preparedness in the face of natural disasters. 

    The many applications of AI can permeate into our daily life and transform various sectors and businesses across the community, culminating in significant climate change mitigation. From energy saving tech for home appliances and vehicles to smarter traffic management, these innovations are spreading across our country and the world at large. 

    Even simply taking environmentally friendly driving routes recommended by AI could significantly reduce emissions. 

    In green finance, AI helps identify green opportunities with strong climate impact potential and sustainable returns, thereby optimising the allocation of capital across clean energy projects.  

    In ESG (environmental, social and governance) analysis and sustainability reporting, AI improves transparency. It can monitor and cross-check corporate disclosures, strengthening accountability and increasing market confidence in green-labelled financial products. In risk management, AI-powered climate analytics can help us assess exposure to physical risks, such as flooding or wildfires, as well as transition risks, including changes in regulation, market preferences and technology disruption.

    Above all, the application of AI for the green movement presents opportunities everywhere. What we need is a whole-of-community approach.

    Hong Kong’s vision

    That’s why in Hong Kong, we have envisioned AI as a core industry. We are driving this development on five fronts: supercomputing capabilities, algorithms, data, capital and talent. We have positioned Hong Kong as an international exchange and co-operation hub for the AI sector. This year, we will host events of global significance, including the inaugural International Young Scientist Forum on Artificial Intelligence and the International Conference on Embodied AI Robots. We believe these platforms will be ideal occasions to discuss how AI could reinforce our efforts in combating climate change. 

    Ladies and gentlemen, we need not just action but also thought leadership. That’s what makes fora like today’s highly meaningful and productive. 

    Hong Kong will continue to host various climate platforms. For example, the second edition of Hong Kong Green Week will be held this September. Anchored by the Climate Business Forum co-hosted with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank, the event will offer a platform for dialogue, deal-making and partnership. 

    All of these efforts reflect our belief and commitment that Hong Kong can – and must – play a meaningful role in the global climate response. 

    Let us act together – with courage and a sense of urgency – for our planet, our community and future generations.

    I wish you all a most successful forum. Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: China VC funding value nosedives more than 35% during January-February 2025, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    China VC funding value nosedives more than 35% during January-February 2025, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    As the world’s second-largest economy, China has historically been a powerhouse for venture capital (VC) funding activity. However, the January-February 2025 data reveals a sharp year-on-year (YoY) decline of more than 20% in VC deals volume. Concurrently, the total deals value experienced a staggering more than 35% drop, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Several factors contribute to the shift in investors’ approach. Heightened regulatory scrutiny, particularly in the technology sector, has created an environment of uncertainty, prompting investors to reassess their strategies. Additionally, geopolitical tensions and economic challenges have further complicated the investment landscape.”

    Nevertheless, China continues to hold a significant share of global deal volume and value, although this share has been shrinking as other markets, particularly the US and India, have shown more robust growth in their VC funding activities.

    The US, for instance, has experienced a remarkable surge in VC funding, with total deal value increasing by over 50% during January-February 2025 compared to the same period in previous year. Similarly, India also managed to see double-digit growth in both VC deal volume and value during the review period.

    An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database revealed that China, which accounted for 18% share of the total number of VC funding deals announced globally during January-February 2024, saw its volume share dropping to 15% during January-February 2025. Meanwhile, its share of global value fell sharply from 18% to 10%.

    Bose concludes: “China’s VC funding landscape is undergoing a structural recalibration. While the current slowdown reflects investor caution amid regulatory and macroeconomic headwinds, the market’s long-term fundamentals remain intact. However, to reclaim its leadership position, China must focus on policy clarity, investor confidence, and fostering innovation-led sectors that align with global capital trends.”

    Note: Historic data may change in case some deals get added to previous months because of a delay in disclosure of information in the public domain.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Nissan’s advertising strategy showcases innovation, sustainability, and human connection, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Nissan’s advertising strategy showcases innovation, sustainability, and human connection, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    Nissan Motor Co Ltd’s (Nissan) YouTube advertising campaigns from September 2024 to February 2025 engaged a wide audience by showcasing its technological advancements, celebrating its legacy of craftsmanship, and highlighting community-focused initiatives to forge emotional connections with viewers. This multifaceted strategy underscores Nissan’s appeal to car enthusiasts, eco-conscious consumers, and socially aware individuals who value quality and purpose, reveals Global Ads Platform of GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    Satya Prasad Nayak, Ads Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Nissan’s advertisements blend cutting-edge technology, like the e-POWER system and Vehicle-to-Grid capabilities, with a deep respect for its motorsport heritage and skilled workforce. By featuring diverse employees learning sign language and supporting causes like animal welfare and hunger relief, Nissan reinforces its dedication to inclusivity and community impact. Additionally, by focusing on the people behind the brand and their dedication to creating quality vehicles, Nissan fosters a sense of trust and connection with consumers.”

    GlobalData’s Global Ads Platform reveals the key focus areas of Nissan’s advertisements below:

    Innovation and Technology: Nissan’s ads spotlight advanced technologies such as the e-POWER system, which delivers EV-like responsiveness without charging, and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities that enable energy cost savings. The reimagined R32 EV exemplifies this focus, blending electric power with manual shift simulation, appealing to those who value cutting-edge automotive solutions and a progressive brand ethos.

    Performance: Campaigns like the X-Trail e-POWER and NISMO 40th anniversary ads emphasize thrilling driving experiences and high-performance engineering. By showcasing drifting capabilities and motorsport heritage, Nissan targets adventure seekers and car enthusiasts who prioritize agility, power, and the passion of racing in their vehicles.

    Sustainability and Responsibility: Nissan promotes eco-friendly practices through its e-POWER technology, V2G systems, and electric vehicles like the Ariya. These efforts highlight fuel efficiency, reduced fossil fuel reliance, and grid stability, resonating with environmentally conscious consumers who seek sustainable transportation options aligned with a cleaner future.

    Mentorship and Training: Nissan celebrates the importance of passing down knowledge and skills to the next generation, highlighting Nissan’s investment in training and development. This emphasis on mentorship adds a human element to the brand’s narrative, showing that Nissan values not only its current workforce but also the future of automotive craftsmanship, ensuring the continued quality and innovation of its vehicles.

    Community Engagement: Nissan’s initiatives, such as employees learning sign language, fostering rescue dogs with the Ariya, and supporting hunger relief via Onigiri Action, underscore its commitment to inclusivity and social good. These efforts appeal to audiences who appreciate brands that prioritize diversity, compassion, and cultural contributions.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI: MDS Global Secures Strategic Partnership with PlatformX Communications (PXC)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WARRINGTON, United Kingdom, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  MDS Global, a leading provider of Business Support Systems (BSS) for digital telcos, is delighted to announce a new strategic partnership with PlatformX Communications (PXC), the UK’s leading wholesale provider of connectivity, voice, cloud and security solutions. With this landmark agreement, MDS Global will continue to deliver its industry-leading Converged Monetisation Platform (CMP) as a fully outsourced end-to-end monetisation service to power PXC’s ambitious digital transformation and innovation goals.

    Under this partnership, MDS Global’s CMP will serve as the single strategic wholesale billing platform for PXC, supporting their plans to build a powerful altnet aggregation platform while simplifying PXC’s IT infrastructure and merging multiple BSS environments. The platform optimises PXC’s operations and brings process automation to reduce operational costs, power innovation and deliver digital customer experiences.

    This partnership is a testament to MDS Global’s track record of delivering value and ensuring effective, trouble-free operations. PXC’s decision to extend this relationship, following a long partnership history, demonstrates their trust in MDS Global’s commitment to align with their strategy and help PXC achieve their ambitious goals.

    Phil Haslam, Chief Technology Officer of PXC, said, “Our relationship with MDS Global spans over 2 decades and we are delighted to renew our agreement to further strengthen our partnership. The MDS Converged Monetisation Platform enables us to simplify our technology stack and drive innovation which has been critical in our journey to become the UK’s leading wholesale connectivity provider. We look forward to continuing our successful collaboration and achieving new milestones together.”

    John Burton, CEO of MDS Global, commented, “We are delighted to extend our long-standing relationship with PXC. MDS Converged Monetisation Platform will not only simplify PXC’s IT architecture, but also drive innovation and efficiency, further underpinning PXC’s leading position in the UK wholesale telecoms market. This partnership highlights our commitment to work closely with our customers to deliver reliable solutions that power growth and digital transformation.”

    About PlatformX Communications (PXC)

    PlatformX Communications (PXC) is the UK’s leading provider of innovative solutions for connectivity, voice, cloud and security underpinned by the UK’s most robust, secure, resilient and reliable network.  

    PXC is uniquely positioned with a scaled customer base and diversified fibre infrastructure partners, powered by a national network covering of more than 3,000 exchanges covering 98% of homes and businesses.  

    Born from the combination of TalkTalk’s wholesale services and national network business with Virtual1, PXC’s deep understanding of the issues facing players in the wholesale market equips it to uniquely support all types of businesses.   

    Visit: www.PXC.co.uk  

    About MDS Global

    MDS Global powers digital telcos for revenue growth, customer delight, and cost reduction. We offer industry-leading Business Support Systems (BSS), including solutions for Monetisation, Customer Experience, eSIM and AI-powered Decision Intelligence designed for B2B, B2C, B2B2X, and IoT business models.

    From successful MVNOs like iD Mobile to Tier-1 operators like BT, our highly scalable, cloud-based solutions power MVNOs, MVNEs, Network Operators, and Wholesale Providers across mobile, fixed, and converged services.  

    Originally a B2B MVNO, we bring 35+ years of billing excellence. Our friendly, international teams are committed to long-term, collaborative partnerships helping our customers succeed. MDS Global is a Lumine Group company (TSXV:LMN)

    Visit mdsglobal.com and follow us on linkedin.com/company/mdsglobal. 

    Contact for more information

    Corine Suscens
    Head of Global Marketing
    marketing@mdsglobal.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fa94b87-7250-4c03-9be7-25e33ce798c8

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9efca876-29d9-4ac7-99bd-f703d62b148b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Centre safeguards consumer rights via various provisions under Consumer Protection Act, 2019

    Source: Government of India

    Centre safeguards consumer rights via various provisions under Consumer Protection Act, 2019

    Central Consumer Protection Authority imposes penalty of ₹ 77 lakh 60 thousand on 24 coaching institutes for misleading advertisements

    Department of Consumer Affairs secures refunds of ₹1.56 crores for over 600 aspirants and students in education sector through National Consumer Helpline

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 3:44PM by PIB Delhi

    Department of Consumer Affairs is continuously working for consumer protection and empowerment of consumers by enactment of progressive legislations. With a view to modernize the framework governing the consumer protection in the new era of globalization, technologies, e-commerce markets etc. Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was repealed and Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was enacted.

    Salient features of the new Consumer Protection Act, 2019 are establishment of a Central Consumer Protection Authority(CCPA); simplification of the adjudication process in the Consumer Commissions such as enhancing pecuniary jurisdiction of the Consumer Commissions, online filing of complaint from the Consumer Commission having jurisdiction over the place of work/residence of the consumer irrespective of the place of transaction, videoconferencing for hearing, deemed admissibility of complaints if admissibility is not decided within 21 days of filing; provision of product liability; penal provisions for manufacture/sale of adulterated products/spurious goods; provision for making rules for prevention of unfair trade practice in e-commerce and direct selling.

    The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides for a three tier quasi-judicial machinery at District, State and Central levels commonly known as “Consumer Commissions” for protection of the rights of consumers and to provide simple and speedy redressal of consumer disputes including those related with unfair trade practices. The Consumer Commissions are empowered to give relief of a specific nature and award compensation to consumers, wherever appropriate.

    The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs has emerged as a single point of access to consumers across the country for their grievance redressal at a pre-litigation stage. Consumers can register their grievances from all over the country in 17 languages including Hindi, English, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Nepali, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Maithili, Santhali, Bengali, Odia, Assamese and Manipuri through a toll-free number 1915. These grievances can be registered on Integrated Grievance Redressal Mechanism (INGRAM), an omni-channel IT enabled central portal, through various channels- WhatsApp (8800001915), SMS (8800001915), email (nch-ca[at]gov[dot]in), the NCH app, the web portal (consumerhelpline.gov.in) and the Umang app, as per their convenience.  1049 companies, who have voluntarily partnered with NCH, as part of the ‘Convergence’ programme directly respond to these grievances according to their redressal process and revert by providing feedback to the complainant on the portal. Complaints against those companies, who have not partnered with National Consumer Helpline, are forwarded to the company for redressal.

    To safeguard the interests of consumers from unfair trade practices in e-commerce, the Department of Consumer Affairs has notified the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. These rules, inter-alia, outline the responsibilities of e-commerce entities and specify the liabilities of marketplace and inventory e-commerce entities, including provisions for consumer grievance redressal.

    The Department of Consumer Affairs, in consultation with all the stakeholders, has finalized a “safety Pledge” which is a voluntary public commitment of e-Commerce platforms to ensure the safety of goods sold online and respect the consumer rights. Aligned with global best practices, this initiative strengthens consumer protection in the e-Commerce. On the National Consumer Day 2024, 13 major e-Commerce companies including Reliance Retail group, Tata sons group, Zomato, Ola, Swiggy etc. signed the Safety Pledge for ensuring consumer safety. The support and agreement of major e-Commerce companies to abide by the safety pledge will go a long way in ensuring protection of consumer rights.

    Under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), an executive agency, came into existence on 24.07.2020. It is designed to intervene, to prevent consumer detriment arising from unfair trade practices and to initiate class action(s), including the enforcement of recalls, refunds and return of products. Its core mandate is to prevent and regulate false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the public interest.

    Dark patterns involve using design and choice architecture to deceive, coerce, or influence consumers into making choices that are not in their best interest. Dark patterns encompass a wide range of manipulative practices such as drip pricing, disguised advertisement, bait and switch, false urgency etc. Such practices fall under the category of “unfair trade practices” as defined in the Sub-section 47 under Section 2 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

    The CCPA, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 18 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, has issued “Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023” on 30th November, 2023 for prevention and regulation of dark patterns listing 13 specified dark patterns identified in e-Commerce sector. These dark patterns include false urgency, Basket Sneaking, Confirm shaming, forced action, Subscription trap, Interface Interference, Bait and switch, Drip Pricing, Disguised Advertisements, Nagging, Trick Wording, Saas Billing and Rogue Malwares.

    The CCPA has also notified the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022 on 9th June, 2022. These guidelines inter-alia provide for; (a) conditions for an advertisement to be non-misleading and valid; (b) certain stipulations in respect of bait advertisements and free claim advertisements; and, (c) duties of manufacturer, service provider, advertiser and advertising agency. These guidelines states that due diligence is required for endorsement of advertisements such that any endorsement in an advertisement must reflect the genuine, reasonably current opinion of the individual, group or organisation making such representation and must be based on adequate information about, or experience with, the identified goods, product or service and must not otherwise be deceptive.

    Further to strengthen consumer protection, the CCPA enacted the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing and Misleading Environmental Claims, 2024 (effective 15th October 2024), mandating transparency in environmental claims and the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector, 2024 (effective 13th November 2024), addressing false claims, exaggerated success rates and unfair practices in coaching institutes.

    The CCPA has imposed a penalty of ₹ 77 lakhs 60 thousands on 24 coaching institutes  for misleading advertisements. The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) has successfully secured refunds amounting to ₹1.56 crores for over 600 aspirants and students in the education sector through National Consumer Helpline (NCH). These students, enrolled in coaching centres for Civil Services, Engineering Course and other programmes, were previously denied rightful refunds despite following the terms and conditions set forth by the coaching institutes. The action by the Department has helped students receive compensation for unfulfilled services, late classes, or cancelled courses, ensuring they do not bear the financial burden of unfair business practices.

    Action has already been taken by the CCPA against various entities including e-commerce platforms for affecting consumers, as a class, for violation of consumer rights, false and misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices as defined under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Action has also been taken against the sale of domestic pressure cookers that do not meet compulsory BIS standards on e-commerce platforms. Additionally, as per CCPA’s directions, travel companies have refunded Rs. 1,454 Crores as of 20.03.2024 to consumers for cancelled flights due to the Covid-19 lockdown. CCPA has also mandated that these companies update their websites with clear instructions and status updates on refund claims related to cancelled tickets. Further, 13,118 listings of car seat belt alarm stopper clips have been delisted from major e-commerce platforms based on the Orders passed by CCPA to delist all such products which violates consumer rights and are unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 as the sale or marketing of said product compromise with the life and safety of consumer by stopping alarm beep when not wearing seat belts.

    The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified framework on ‘Online Consumer Reviews — Principles and Requirements for their Collection, Moderation and Publication’ on 23.11.2022 for safeguarding and protecting consumer interest from fake and deceptive reviews in e-commerce. The standards are voluntary and are applicable to every online platform which publishes consumer reviews. The guiding principles of the standard are integrity, accuracy, privacy, security, transparency, accessibility and responsiveness.

    Under CONFONET scheme, VC equipment for conducting hearing through video conferencing mode has been installed and made functional at 10 benches of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) and 35 benches of State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions (SCDRCs).

    This information was given by the Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri B.L. Verma in a written reply today in the Rajya Sabha.

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    Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma

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