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Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray, Former NOAA Administrator and WA State NOAA Employees Fired for No Reason Slam Trump & Elon’s Destructive Mass Layoffs at NOAA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on Mass Layoffs Beginning at NOAA
    WA state NOAA employee fired for no reason by Trump & Elon: “I’m here because I care. I care about the people and communities that are impacted by reduced or closed fisheries that my work supported. I care about the devastating effects a diminished NOAA may have on Washingtonians and Americans across our country… I care because I am a grandpa and a fisherman, and I want to ensure these resources are perpetuated for the generations following me.”
    ***WATCH HERE, DOWNLOAD VIDEO HERE***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a virtual press conference with former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad, and former NOAA employees in Washington state who were recently fired through no fault of their own and with zero justification as part of Trump and Elon Musk’s unprecedented assault on the federal workforce. About 650 NOAA employees have already been dismissed for no reason by Trump and Elon, with another round of job cuts targeting more than 1,000 additional employees expected.
    Joining Senator Murray for today’s press conference were: former NOAA Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad, Dr. Rebecca Howard, former Research Fish Biologist at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle; Dennis Jaszka, former NOAA Investigative Support Technician for Office of Law Enforcement for the Alaska Division based in Seattle; and Mark Baltzell of Olympia, a former Fisheries Management Specialist at the Sustainable Fisheries Division in the Anadromous Harvest Management Branch at NOAA.
    “NOAA scientists play a crucial role protecting our waters, oceans, and our fisheries. The Puget Sound, the Columbia River, they all rely on NOAA. In Washington state, salmon are not just a pillar of our economy—and of the seafood industry that is so prominent in our state—it is also a way of life for our communities, for our tribes, and it’s part of our state identity, So NOAA’s work could not be more important when it comes to that. I think we all know that we can take the weather for granted, we can take our fish and water for granted. But this work is make or break—not just for Washington state, but for our entire country. So, it is beyond alarming to me that right now, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are choosing ‘break’ and taking a wrecking ball to NOAA offices. They are firing public servants they’re firing our experts, they’re closing buildings, like at Port Angeles, and they’re throwing a lot of critical work into jeopardy,” Senator Murray said on today’s press call. “About half of the National Weather Service offices were already understaffed, and then came this hiring freeze and then came the mass firings—and that was just round one. Musk and Trump have already fired 650 NOAA workers—including dozens of people right here in Washington state—with no rhyme or reason, with no clue or concern how it will seriously harm our economy and our communities. And now we are hearing that NOAA intends to lay off another 10 percent of its workforce—that is more than a thousand critical jobs Trump and Elon are putting on the chopping block.”
    NOAA has a major footprint in Washington state, employing over 700 people—and communities across Washington state rely on the agency’s work, from providing storm warnings and weather forecasts to protecting and restoring marine resources that are essential to our state’s economy and culture. Senator Murray has been outspoken in calling attention to how Trump and Elon’s indiscriminate mass layoffs are hurting people across the country and will undermine services Americans everywhere rely on.
    “The firings, facilities closures, and program terminations currently ongoing by this Administration are misguided, ill-informed, often illegal, and just plain stupid actions.  They will also cause great harm. In short, this is ‘All cost, no benefit,’” said Dr. Rick Spinrad, a former NOAA Administrator, who abruptly lost his job because of the Trump administration’s mass firings.
    “Our branch is small but mighty. Our work is responsible for regulatory oversight of salmon and steelhead fisheries occurring in the EEZ off the West Coast, the Columbia River, and Puget Sound. An additional significant portion of our work involves implementing the relevant chapters Pacific Salmon Treaty. The work that my branch conducts enables hundreds of millions in economic activity around salmon fisheries coast-wide,” said Mark Baltzell from Olympia, who worked as a Fisheries Management Specialist at the Sustainable Fisheries Division in the Anadromous Harvest Management Branch, before he was abruptly fired for no reason by Trump and Elon on February 27th and given only 68 minutes to pack his office and leave. “I’m here because I care. I care about the people and communities that are impacted by reduced or closed fisheries that my work supported. I care about the devastating effects a diminished NOAA may have on Washingtonians and Americans across our country. I care about the tens of millions of dollars in Federal Money that is funneled through NOAA for salmon recovery, monitoring, hatchery improvements, and supporting fisheries that is in danger of going away. I care because I was in an Agency loaded with people who care and were devoted because they believed in the science and the mission. I care because I am a grandpa and a fisherman, and I want to ensure these resources are perpetuated for the generations following me. Gutting NOAA and the federal government puts all those things that I care about at risk.”
    “At the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, I was part of the groundfish bottom trawl survey team. This meant I was involved in the work needed to assess Alaska’s populations of shellfish and groundfish, which are fish that live near the seafloor like pollock, cod, and flatfish. These fish make up not only some of the largest and most valuable fisheries in the country, but also the world. The team I was part of was in the midst of preparing for the two bottom trawl surveys that are expected to happen this summer, as they have for the last four decades. We were busy staffing surveys, preparing scientific equipment and software, setting up staff and volunteer trainings, and making sure we have necessary supplies. This requires an immense amount of time and effort, and is done by a team that was very understaffed and stretched thin even before I was fired. Several NOAA employees who were supposed to participate in the survey were fired, including myself, making it even more challenging to find the necessary staff,” said Dr. Rebecca Howard, former Research Fish Biologist at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, who was fired from her dream job with NOAA for no reason by Trump and Elon on February 27. “If more employees from the bottom trawl teams retire or are fired in upcoming reductions in force, the surveys will be extremely difficult to pull off, if not impossible. And, we have recent examples of how important these kinds of data are. In 2020, the Bering Sea bottom trawl survey did not happen due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This led to a missing year of data and critically, missing information on the snow crab population. As many of you know, the snow crab fishery collapsed in 2021 and consequently, we don’t have a good idea of what their population looked like in 2020. We need these types of data to know how many fish and crabs we can catch each year, where those populations are going as the oceans changes, and to keep track of environmental trends. Firing people like me will make it incredibly hard for NOAA Fisheries to fulfill its mission and provide the best available science.”
    “The work I did was essential to Office of Law Enforcement’s efforts to ensure the safety of fisheries observers. While the Alaska Division is spread throughout coastal Alaska, the observer operations staff is mostly located in Seattle. Therefore, one of my main roles was to be the point of contact for enforcement officers. Having an enforcement representative in Seattle is essential to connect people and ensure fisheries observers are familiar with the enforcement arm of NMFS,” said Dennis Jaszka, former NOAA Investigative Support Technician for Office of Law Enforcement for the Alaska Division based in Seattle, who was with NOAA for 26 years before being abruptly fired by Trump and Elon as part of their massive indiscriminate staffing cuts. “The rapport between Alaska Division, the North Pacific Observers, and the Observer support staff is lauded every year as being the gold standard of partnerships between an enforcement division and a scientific division. It was an honor to play such a role in this partnership. But practically speaking, having someone in that position who is familiar with both observer and enforcement operations, is simply the most efficient way to do things. Without a person to represent and connect law enforcement to the observers in Seattle, NMFS loses an opportunity to continue building rapport with observers. Support staff will have no contact with an individual who can answer compliance-related questions. This will result in an excess of complaints being filed. Additionally, the task of reviewing, vetting, and sending documents falls on others who already have a high workload. The whole point of my job was to streamline and educate people in a very proactive way.”
    Senator Murray’s full remarks from today’s press conference are below and video is HERE:
    “Thank you all for joining me to talk about something people actually rely on every day, they take for granted, and they may not even know the name of—and that is NOAA. NOAA does work that is crucial to our safety, to our economy, and to our everyday lives.
    “People all across the state of Washington count on the National Weather Service, which is at NOAA, when you watch the weather forecast on the news and decide whether it’s a great week for hiking or you check the weather app on your phone and grab your umbrella in Seattle—you are relying on NOAA.
    “Farmers in Yakima Valley rely on NOAA for seasonal outlooks for crop advice—which means our groceries actually rely on it too. When pilots take off from Sea-Tac airport, or boats head out from our ports, they are consulting NOAA data to prepare for a safe journey.
    “When there is a dangerous storm coming, a blizzard, or flooding, or a tsunami, or high winds, local officials and disaster experts use NOAA’s data to help issue public safety guidance, to protect property, and most importantly—to save lives.
    “NOAA is also tracking data that is crucial to understanding climate change and showing us how serious this threat is. When we warn that 2024 was the hottest year on record—it’s NOAA that tracks that data so you can know that and people can raise the alarm.
    “NOAA scientists also play a crucial role protecting our waters, oceans, and our fisheries. The Puget Sound, the Columbia River, they all rely on NOAA. In Washington state, salmon are not just a pillar of our economy—and of the seafood industry that is so prominent in our state—it is also a way of life for our communities, for our tribes, and it’s part of our state identity—so NOAA’s work could not be more important when it comes to that.
    “I think we all know that we can take the weather for granted, we can take our fish and water for granted. But this work is make or break—not just for Washington state, but for our entire country. So, it is beyond alarming to me that right now, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are choosing ‘break’ and taking a wrecking ball to NOAA offices.
    “They are firing public servants they’re firing our experts, they’re closing buildings, like at Port Angeles, and they’re throwing a lot of critical work into jeopardy.
    “About half of the National Weather Service offices were already understaffed, and then came this hiring freeze and then came the mass firings—and that was just round one.
    “Musk and Trump have already fired 650 NOAA workers—including dozens of people right here in Washington state—with no rhyme or reason, with no clue or concern how it will seriously harm our economy and our communities.
    “And now we are hearing that NOAA intends to lay off another 10 percent of its workforce—that is more than a thousand critical jobs Trump and Elon are putting on the chopping block.
    “Meanwhile—the problems this has already caused are already mounting. NOAA has already had to stop releasing weather balloons due to some staff shortages.
    “Here in Washington state, I have heard from fired NOAA employees who worked to support Tribal fish and infrastructure projects, another was an engineering technician who worked to make sure that our radar locations and our forecast offices could produce the data that we all need. Others were fired that worked to educate the public about our coast at the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in Port Angeles—gone.
    “A NOAA employee of the year—someone who helped divert orcas from an oil spill off San Juan Island a few years ago—was fired as a result of the fact that she had been promoted in the last year.
    “And that is just the tip of the iceberg Trump and Musk are steering us into, as you will hear from the people on this call, who did really important work for our country only to have the rug pulled out from under them by a couple of billionaires without a clue. 
    “So, I want to again say personally thank you to each one of you. I am really grateful to your years of public service, what you have done for all of us, and I so appreciate you coming here today.
    “I know you’re all dealing with personal things as well as a result of being laid off—but I appreciate you coming here today to send one more forecast. And that is a forecast that warns a dark cloud is coming if Trump and Musk don’t reverse this course and reverse the unthinkable damage they are doing to NOAA.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock Announces “NO” Vote on Dangerous Government Funding Legislation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senator Reverend Warnock Announces “NO” Vote on Dangerous Government Funding Legislation

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released the following statement on his intention to vote “NO” on the immensely harmful Continuing Resolution. This vote comes after Washington Republicans halted bipartisan negotiations and left two terrible options, both of which would cause pain for the people of Georgia.
    “This whole conversation is Washington at its worst. Instead of working together to actually improve people’s lives, craven politicians shut the door on bipartisan conversation and reemerged with an ultimatum: vote for a partisan government funding package or let the government shut down. Make no mistake, this government funding bill is bad policy: it would spike grocery prices, cut investments in education and health care, and defund care for servicemembers exposed to burn pits. More troubling, this legislation would give the President additional unchecked power to stifle Georgia’s economy.”  
    “I do not want to see a government shut down, but passing this legislation would cause pain to millions of Georgians. I will be voting “NO” on the Continuing Resolution.” 
    This continuing resolution would:
    Defund the PACT Act, which provides critical care for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.
    Cut $27 million from health inspectors working to address the avian flu outbreak, which would continue to spike the price of eggs.
    Omit standard Congressional directives outlining how agencies should spend tax payer dollars, giving the President unchecked spending power to hurt Georgians.
    With this new power, the President could cut renewable energy investments, devastating Georgia’s advanced manufacturing economy or the President could choose which Army Corps of Engineers projects to fund, potentially halting the expansion of the Port of Savannah.

    Eliminate $130 million in funding, agreed to on a bipartisan basis in the draft Senate funding bill, for projects  in every corner of Georgia, including construction of new housing in LaGrange and Savannah, clean drinking water improvements in Dade County and Wrens, a new generator for a rural hospital in Appling County, improvements to Abraham Baldwin College’s nursing program, and much more.
    Cut nearly $1 billion from medical research on health conditions impacting service members and their families.
    Disrupts hurricane recovery efforts for South Georgians, who are still reeling from Hurricane Helene.
    Shuts off rental assistance for rural Georgians.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Colleagues Demand Answers on Trump Admin’s Mass Firings of Federal Workers, Impact on Colorado

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    Colorado is home to 57,000 federal employees who manage public lands, serve veterans, support wildfire mitigation, and more
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Representatives Brittany Pettersen, Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, and Jason Crow demanded answers from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) about the Trump administration’s recent firings, layoffs, and resignations of federal employees in Colorado.
    “The consequences of mass firings of our federal employees will undermine the mission and services provided by each agency serving our state, harm the economy, and threaten our Colorado way of life,” wrote the Colorado lawmakers.
    The letter comes after the Trump administration illegally fired thousands of federal workers. These cuts threaten essential programs that millions of Coloradans rely on and have caused widespread uncertainty for the federal employees affected.
    Specifically, the lawmakers are requesting more information regarding:
    Federal Employee Firings in Colorado: The number of probationary and non-probationary federal employees fired since January 20, 2025, with breakdowns by agency, location, job level, veteran/disability status, and service length.
    Deferred Resignations: The number of federal employees in Colorado who accepted DOGE’s “deferred resignation” offer, with detailed lists and copies of signed contracts.
    Impact on Federal Lands: The effects of federal workforce downsizing on managing Colorado’s federal lands.
    Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Firings: How DOD civilian employee firings or resignations are affecting military operations at key Colorado bases, with detailed personnel data and signed contracts.
    Workforce Reductions & Public Services: How OPM is ensuring federal workforce cuts don’t disrupt essential programs like Social Security.
    Data Collection & Security: What worker/employer data DOGE is collecting and how it’s being secured, including any firings linked to Elon Musk or DOGE members.
    Full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.
    We write to request information regarding the recent firings, layoffs, and resignations of federal employees in Colorado. Our state is home to 57,000 federal employees who are critical to managing and protecting Colorado’s public lands, ensuring veterans receive their benefits, helping entrepreneurs start businesses, delivering our mail, forecasting weather, conducting research, and more.1 We are deeply concerned about the Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s efforts to indiscriminately cut the workforce in our state. The consequences of mass firings of our federal employees will undermine the mission and services provided by each agency serving our state, harm the economy, and threaten our Colorado way of life.
    In Colorado, we have a year-round wildfire season, and our Wildland Firefighters and other essential U.S. Forest Service employees are our frontline defense and stewards of our public lands. Layoffs of U.S. Forest Service employees threaten life-saving wildfire mitigation efforts, undercut our wildfire prevention and recovery efforts, and impede our robust outdoor recreation industry.
    Colorado is also home to more than 928,000 people over the age of 65—a number that is expected to grow to 1.2 million by 2030. Reductions in the number of Social Security Administration employees in our state could result in delays in processing the Social Security payments that seniors rely on. Additionally, as tax season is underway, IRS layoffs could delay
    hardworking Coloradans from getting their federal tax returns. These are just a few examples of how sweeping Reductions in Force (RIF) and other actions to arbitrarily cut the federal workforce will hurt the constituents we serve.
    Therefore, we request the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) share information about how, and to what extent, the Trump Administration’s actions are impacting our state. Specifically, please respond to the following questions:
    How many probationary federal employees in Colorado have been fired since January 20, 2025? Please share a complete list by agency, county, congressional district, GS level, veterans status, disability status, and average length of service.
    How many non-probationary federal employees in Colorado have been fired since January 20, 2025? Please share a complete list by agency, county, congressional district, GS level, veterans status, disability status, and average length of service.
    How many federal employees in Colorado have accepted the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) “deferred resignation” offer? Please include the following information:
    A complete list by agency, county, congressional district, GS level, veterans status, disability status, and average length of service.
    A copy of the final contract signed by all employees who accepted the “deferred resignation” offer to better understand their benefits and rights.

    How will federal workforce downsizing affect the management of federal lands in Colorado?
    To what extent are the firings of civilian Department of Defense employees impacting operations or military readiness at Peterson Air Force Base, Buckley Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, United States Air Force Academy, United States Northern Command, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, United States Space Command and Fort Carson? In your response, please include a list of DOD employees who have been fired or accepted a deferred resignation offer and include the following information:
    A complete list by military base, congressional district, GS level, veterans status, disability status, and average length of service.
    A copy of the final contract signed by all employees who accepted the “deferred resignation” offer to better understand their benefits and rights.

    How does OPM plan to work with agencies to ensure that the reductions in force do not result in delays or disruptions to the programs and benefits that constituents rely on? For example, is OPM working with the Social Security Administration to ensure that reductions in force do not result in delays or disruptions to individuals receiving their social security checks?
    What types of worker and employer data are being harvested or reviewed by DOGE?
    Additionally, what measures are OPM and DOGE taking to ensure that worker and employer data are secure? Please provide all documents and communications referring or related to each federal employee fired on orders, advice, or recommendation of Elon Musk, or any individual considered to be a member of DOGE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: CLIK Announces Strategic Acquisition of Leading Nursing Care Competitor, Expanding Market Presence and Talent Pool

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Hong Kong, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Click Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: CLIK) (“Click” or the “Company” or “we” or “our”), a provider of human resources (“HR”) solutions in Hong Kong specializing in Seniors Nursing Care, Logistics, and Professional HR services, today announced the 25% acquisition of a prominent nursing care competitor. The acquired company, which has over 10-year experience in serving Hong Kong seniors and maintains a talent pool of over 9,000 nursing personnel, significantly strengthens Click’s position in the healthcare HR sector.

    This strategic acquisition aligns with Click’s mission to enhance workforce solutions and bridge the growing demand for skilled nursing professionals. By integrating the acquired company’s extensive talent pool with Click’s existing database of over 11,000 registered personnel, Click will be able to provide a more robust and comprehensive HR solution for healthcare institutions and clients across Hong Kong and beyond.

    “This acquisition marks a transformative milestone for Click as we continue to expand our footprint in the nursing care HR sector,” said Mr. Chan, CEO of Click. “By combining our expertise, technology-driven approach, and an enlarged talent pool, we are poised to meet the increasing demand for high-quality nursing professionals. This move also reinforces our commitment to delivering innovative and reliable workforce solutions to our clients.”

    The acquisition is expected to generate significant synergies, optimizing operational efficiencies, and expanding service offerings. With the combined talent pool exceeding 19,000 registered personnel, Click will strengthen its ability to support healthcare providers with a larger, highly skilled workforce. Additionally, the acquisition will enable Click to further expand its market share in Home Seniors Nursing Services, aligning with its strategic vision of developing ‘Smart Home Nursing Solutions for Seniors.’

    With this strategic move, Click continues its growth trajectory and commitment to providing top-tier HR solutions across multiple industries. Further details regarding integration plans and long-term strategies will be announced in the coming months.

    About Click Holdings Limited

    We are a fast-growing human resources solutions provider based in Hong Kong, aiming to match our client’s human resources shortfall through our proprietary AI-empowered talent pool by one “click”. Our key businesses primarily include nursing solution (mainly seniors) services, logistics solution services and professional solution services.

    For more information, please visit https://clicksc.com.hk.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.

    For enquiry, please contact:

    Click Holdings Limited
    Unit 709, 7/F., Ocean Centre
    5 Canton Road
    Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
    Hong Kong
    Email: jack.wong@jfy.hk
    Phone: +852 2691 8200

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: OBSI 2024 Annual Report Released

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) released its 2024 Annual Report.

    In 2024, OBSI responded to 16,420 public inquiries – a 5% decrease from the record levels reached in 2023. OBSI opened 3,202 investigations in 2024, compared to last year’s record high of 3,050, representing a 5% year-over-year increase.

    “2024 was a pivotal and exciting year for OBSI,” said Sarah Bradley, Ombudsman and CEO, OBSI. “During the year, we responded to the highest ever levels of consumer demand for our services and we successfully prepared for our newly expanded role as the single ombudsman for banking in Canada.”

    Banking cases reached a new record high in 2024, increasing 7% year over year to 2,553, up from 2,388 cases in 2023. Investment cases decreased 2% year over year to 649, down from a record high of 662 cases in 2023.

    Banking case highlights

    In 2024, fraud continued to be the leading issue for consumer banking complaints, representing 38% of banking cases. Fraud investigations increased 2% year over year to 966 cases, up from 950 cases in 2023. Significant issues also included consumer complaints about service issues, representing 21% of all banking cases and a significant year-over-year increase. Cases related to credit card chargebacks made up 7% of all banking cases, while complaints related to product information disclosure or misrepresentation increased significantly year over year and represented 6% of all banking cases.

    The top banking product concerns focused on credit cards, e-transfers, and personal savings and chequing accounts. In 2024, we opened:

    • 756 credit card complaints, making up 30% of banking cases.
    • 607 e-transfer complaints, representing 24% of banking cases.
    • 305 personal saving and chequing complaints, accounting for 12% of banking cases.

    Investment case highlights

    Service issues and investment suitability were the leading issues for investors in 2024, with 110 cases opened each, representing 17% of investment cases respectively. Service issues increased 7% year over year, while suitability cases decreased 38% from last year. There were 93 cases related to fraud, representing 14% of all investment cases opened, a 5% decrease year over year. Notably, cases related to fee disclosure issues increased 76% from last year to 74 cases, accounting for 11% of investment cases.

    Common shares were the most complained-about investment product in 2024, with 231 cases opened representing 36% of all investment complaints, up from 27% in 2023. Mutual fund cases decreased 34% year over year to 197 cases, representing 30% of investment cases. Crypto assets remained the third most common product for complaints for investors this year, decreasing 11% to 89 cases, down from 100 cases in 2023.

    Low settlements at OBSI

    For the first time, the annual report includes aggregate data related to low settlements. OBSI’s recommendations are not binding, meaning that firms do not have to follow them. Over many years, we have seen that this can lead to firms offering less than what we recommend as fair in all the circumstances of the case, and consumers accepting these offers because they have no other options.

    In the period from 2019 to 2023, there were no banking cases with settlements below the amount we recommended and there were 33 investment cases with settlements below our recommended amount. In total, these 33 consumers received $1,147,470 less than we recommended.

    In our review of low settlements data we observed that low settlements are more likely as the value of our recommendations increases. While almost no consumers with recommendations under $10,000 experienced a low settlement, in cases with recommendations of over $100,000, half of consumers settled for less than we recommended, and these consumers received nearly 44% less than we recommended on average.

    In 2024, there were four banking cases with settlements below our recommended amount, although all were relatively low value. We saw improvement in the number of investment cases experiencing low settlements in 2024, with just two cases settling below our recommended amount. However, those two consumers received $289,268 less than we recommended as fair.

    Systemic issues and disclosures to regulators

    In 2024, OBSI continued its practice of communicating regularly with financial services regulators about systemic issues and issues affecting multiple consumers. During the year, a range of topics were reported and discussed at meetings with regulators that included:

    • Detailed aggregate data including:
      • Products, issues and outcomes details and trends
      • Specific (anonymized) case outcomes and summaries
      • Additional information relating to cases involving low settlements
    • Cryptocurrency fraud
    • Banking fraud
    • Information relevant to the effective transition to the single ECB framework for Canadian banks
    • CSA work towards development of a binding authority framework
    • Claims management company activity in Canada
    • Investment fund risk rating practices
    • OBSI’s loss calculation methodology

    In 2024, OBSI reported two specific systemic issues to regulators related to banking. The first report related to cases involving fraud, particularly e-transfer fraud and other digital fraud, impacting an unprecedented number of Canadian consumers. The second report related to the impact of a specific firm’s account opening policies and procedures on a class of vulnerable consumers.

    Canada’s Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) is a national, independent, not-for-profit organization that helps resolve and reduce disputes between consumers and financial services firms in both official languages. OBSI is responsive to consumer inquiries, conducts fair and accessible investigations of unresolved disputes, and shares its knowledge and expertise with all stakeholders and the public. If a consumer has a complaint against an OBSI participating bank or investment firm that they are not able to resolve with the bank or firm, OBSI will investigate at no cost to the consumer. Where a complaint has merit, OBSI may recommend compensation up to a maximum of $350,000.

    For more information, please contact:
    Mark Wright, Director, Communications and Stakeholder Relations
    416-287-2877 ext.2225
    publicaffairs@obsi.ca

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: TRM Labs and Magnet Forensics Join Forces to Merge Digital Forensics and Blockchain Intelligence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Magnet Forensics, a global leader in digital investigation solutions, has announced a joint strategic technology partnership with TRM Labs, a global leader in blockchain intelligence. This partnership will empower law enforcement and national security agencies to uncover critical blockchain evidence from seized devices analyzed in Magnet Forensics reports.

    Magnet Forensics has long been recognized for its advanced digital investigations solutions, enabling law enforcement, government entities, and enterprises to investigate and analyze digital evidence across a wide range of devices. Through this new partnership, Magnet Forensics will integrate capabilities from TRM’s BLOCKINT API into its digital forensics workflows. This integration gives agencies investigating complex criminal enterprises a critical edge in tracking the rapid rise of illicit activity on the blockchain.

    “By partnering with TRM Labs, we’re empowering investigators with the critical insights needed to address the growing complexity of crimes with blockchain-related evidence,” said Braden Thomas, Chief Product and Research Officer at Magnet Forensics. “Together, we are making it easier for law enforcement to connect the dots between digital and blockchain evidence, ensuring the truth is unlocked and justice is served.”

    Agencies leveraging Magnet Forensics to uncover blockchain evidence can enhance their investigations with a TRM Forensics license, enabling them to trace cryptocurrency transactions and combat illicit activities like fraud, money laundering, and cybercrime. This partnership expands access to TRM Labs’ intelligence through Magnet Forensics’ integration of TRM’s BLOCKINT API, providing investigators with deeper insights into both digital forensics and blockchain-based financial systems.

    “Criminal proceeds aren’t just stashed in offshore accounts or hidden in walls anymore—they’re sitting in crypto wallets on phones and laptops, sometimes worth billions. These wallets hold the keys to solving cases, but only if investigators have the right data and tools to act fast,” said Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy at TRM Labs. “Our partnership with Magnet Forensics delivers cutting-edge blockchain intelligence directly to digital forensics teams, equipping law enforcement to follow the money, seize assets, and dismantle criminal networks faster than ever.”

    This partnership is a key step in strengthening both organizations’ capabilities, driving their shared mission to combat cybercrime and financial fraud in an increasingly digital and decentralized world.

    For more information, visit www.magnetforensics.com and www.trmlabs.com.

    About Magnet Forensics

    Founded in 2010, Magnet Forensics is a developer of digital investigation solutions that acquire, analyze, report on, and manage evidence from digital sources, including mobile devices, computers, IoT devices, and cloud services. Magnet Forensics products are used by more than 5,000 public and private sector customers in over 90 countries and help investigators fight crime, protect assets, and guard national security.
    www.magnetforensics.com

    Contacts
    For further information:
    Rick Andrade
    PR@magnetforensics.com

    About TRM Labs

    TRM Labs provides blockchain intelligence to help government agencies investigate and build cases for digital asset fraud and financial crime. TRM’s blockchain intelligence platform includes solutions to follow the money, identify illicit actors, build cases, and construct an operating picture of threats. TRM is trusted by a growing number of leading agencies worldwide who rely on TRM for their blockchain intelligence needs. TRM is based in San Francisco, CA, and is hiring across engineering, product, sales, and data science. To learn more, visit www.trmlabs.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Country Winners of DRI and NY Forward Announced

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Village of Malone will receive $10 million in funding as the North Country winner of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and the Hamlet of Keeseville and the Village of Gouverneur will each receive $4.5 million as the North Country winners of the third round of NY Forward. For Round 8 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Round 3 of the NY Forward Program, each of the State’s 10 economic development regions are being awarded $10 million from each program, to make for a total state commitment of $200 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods.

    “My goal for New York is to help transform downtown areas across the state into vibrant, thriving hubs. This funding will support new housing, attract businesses, and create public spaces that enhance quality of life,” Governor Hochul said. “By revitalizing these communities, we are strengthening local economies, creating more opportunities for growth, and ensuring a brighter, more sustainable future for the North Country.”

    To receive funding from either the DRI or NY Forward program, localities must be certified under Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities Program — an innovative policy created to recognize and reward municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential. Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities initiative allocates up to $650 million each year in discretionary funds for communities that pledge to increase their housing supply; to date, 287 communities across New York have been certified as Pro-Housing Communities. This year, Governor Hochul is proposing an additional $100 million in funding to cover infrastructure projects necessary to create new housing in Pro-Housing Communities, and a further $10.5 million for technical assistance to help communities seeking to foster housing growth.

    Many of the projects funded through the DRI and NY Forward support Governor Hochul’s affordability agenda. The DRI has invested in the creation of more than 4,400 units of housing — 1,823 of which are affordable or workforce housing. The programs committed over $8.5 million to 11 projects that provide affordable or free child care and child care worker training. DRI and NY Forward have also invested in the creation of public parks, public art (such as murals and sculptures) and art, music and cultural venues that provide free outdoor recreation and entertainment opportunities.

    $10 Million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award for Malone

    The Village of Malone’s downtown sits at the heart of a commercial district that is listed on both the State and the National Registers of Historic Places, with a built environment boasting a timeless charm that embodies all the nostalgic elements of Main Street America. Wide cobbled sidewalks are flanked by welcoming storefronts tucked neatly under second and third stories articulated with unique prewar detailing. The downtown also includes Arsenal Green Park, Veteran’s Memorial Park, Mill Park, and the Salmon River riparian corridor, providing natural elements and public spaces that complement the commercial activity of Main Street. The Village seeks to become a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood that is home to a growing number of residents, prosperous locally owned businesses, strong civic institutions, a thriving cultural scene and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities along the Salmon River.

    $4.5 Million NY Forward Award for Keeseville

    Situated where the Champlain Valley meets the Adirondack mountains and just three miles west of Lake Champlain, the hamlet of Keeseville offers tremendous recreational, commercial and residential opportunities. When Keeseville was founded in the 1800s its commercial and residential activity was closely tied to the Ausable River. The downtown includes a vibrant mixed-use development district framed by two historic bridges and three main streets, which create an accessible, walkable perimeter for residents and visitors to enjoy. It also acts as a bridge between two towns and counties uniting them into a single community. Keeseville’s vision for its future is to revitalize its historic and character-defining assets and to cultivate a vibrant and desirable community where current and future residents can live, work, play and thrive.

    $4.5 Million NY Forward Award for Gouverneur

    The Village of Gouverneur is a charming historic community located along the Oswegatchie River. The Village embodies the feel of community with a beautiful downtown and park area. The Village is home to many festivals and events, including the St. Lawrence County Fair, that entertains residents and attracts visitors from across the region. Gouverneur will capitalize on its historical charm, vibrant and expanding downtown business community, safe, friendly, and walkable environment and its proximity to major regional employers to enhance quality of life, strengthen resilience and increase economic opportunities for both current and future residents. Additionally, Gouverneur aims to attract visitors to experience its rich recreational, cultural and retail assets, positioning the village as a regional destination.

    New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “The Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs are making huge impacts in communities all across the State. We’re excited for Malone, Keeseville and Gouverneur to join this ongoing renaissance and experience the benefits of these programs first-hand. Congratulations to these three communities as they begin their new paths toward revitalization!”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Through the DRI and NY Forward programs, these three North Country communities will develop and implement strategic plans that maximize the impact of public funding to create economic growth. Targeted investments in Malone, Keeseville and Gouverneur will generate new developments that encourage more people, visitors and businesses to establish roots, grow and thrive.”

    New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Today’s $19 million investment in Malone, Gouverneur and Keeseville will have a transformative impact on these North Country communities by creating opportunities for them to leverage their historic, small-town charm to generate tourism, revitalize local economies, and create more housing. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to life-changing investments that leave no region of our State behind.”

    North Country Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs James McKenna and Dr. Kathryn Morris said, “The North Country is home to unparalleled history and culture, and one-of-a-kind natural beauty, and these awards will support new economic development in three regional downtown destinations. DRI and NY Forward funds will help to transform Malone, Keeseville and Gouverneur by adding needed housing and powering projects that will ensure sustainable long-term growth.”

    Assemblymember Billy Jones said, “Congratulations to the Village of Malone and Keeseville for being selected for the DRI and New York Forward programs! This funding will help revitalize these communities, preserve their historic charm, and improve the quality of life for current and future residents. I have been a strong supporter of these projects since their inception and throughout the process and I want to congratulate the local officials who made this possible by working with Empire State Development. It is great to see these programs make a difference in the North Country and I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for Malone and Keeseville.”

    Assemblymember Ken Blankenbush said, “Gouverneur is a true treasure to the 117th Assembly District. I always like to see NYS invest in our rural villages. When you invest in downtowns you invest in small businesses and residents. I am always in support of that.”

    Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall said, “On behalf of the Village of Gouverneur, I would like to thank Governor Hochul for this opportunity. This NY Forward Grant will be such a benefit to our community and we look forward to revitalizing our downtown.”

    Village of Malone Mayor Andrea Dumas said, “On behalf of the Village of Malone, we want to express our sincere gratitude for the announcement of the $10 million DRI grant award. This investment represents a significant moment for our community and reflects the cooperative spirit of our residents, business community, and local organizations that supported our application. Having applied in Round 7 and not giving up, this victory proves that persistence does pay off! We extend our sincerest thanks to the Regional Economic Development Council for having faith in Malone’s potential and moving our vision of a revitalized downtown forward. This funding will leverage meaningful projects that create new economic opportunities and enhance community engagement. This award isn’t just financial support—it’s a vote of confidence in Malone’s future, and we’re committed to making every dollar count for generations to come!”

    Chesterfield Town Supervisor Clayton Barber said, “I’m so very excited to hear that our community was selected to receive a NY Forward grant. This will allow us the opportunity to upgrade our sidewalks, make beautification improvements and attract more businesses and tourists to the downtown area. We also have plans to light up our downtown park and add a new walkway. The Town of Chesterfield is looking forward to working with the Town of Ausable on projects to enhance our two towns. Thanks to our NY Forward committee for all their hard work.”

    Ausable Town Supervisor Tim Bresett said, “I am deeply grateful and thrilled that Keeseville has been awarded a NY Forward grant, a testament to the incredible collaboration between the towns of AuSable and Chesterfield. This achievement reflects the tireless dedication of the NY FORWARD Committee, whose vision and hard work have paved the way for a brighter, more vibrant future for our community. Together, we’re not just revitalizing Keeseville—we’re celebrating its unique spirit and building a legacy for generations to come. It’s a moment to celebrate and a promise of progress we can all rally behind!”

    Malone, Keeseville and Gouverneur will now begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize their downtowns. A Local Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners. The Strategic Investment Plan will guide the investment of DRI and NY Forward grant funds in revitalization projects that are poised for implementation, will advance the community’s vision for their downtown and that can leverage and expand upon the state’s investment.

    The North Country Regional Economic Development Council conducted a thorough and competitive review process of proposals submitted from communities throughout the region and considered all criteria before recommending these communities as nominees.

    About the Downtown Revitalization Initiative

    The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment. Led by the Department of State with assistance from Empire State Development, Homes and Community Renewal and NYSERDA, the DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative “plan-then-act” strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation and results in compact, walkable downtowns that are a key ingredient to helping New York State rebuild its economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to achieving the State’s bold climate goals by promoting the use of public transit and reducing dependence on private vehicles. Through eight rounds, the DRI will have awarded a total of $900 million to 89 communities across every region of the State.

    About the NY Forward Program

    First announced as part of the 2022 Budget, Governor Hochul created the NY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The program works in concert with the DRI to accelerate and expand the revitalization of smaller and rural downtowns throughout the State so that all communities can benefit from the State’s revitalization efforts, regardless of size, character, needs and challenges.

    NY Forward communities are supported by a professional planning consultant and team of State agency experts led by DOS to develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a slate of transformative, complementary and readily implementable projects. NY Forward projects are appropriately scaled to the size of each community; projects may include building renovation and redevelopment, new construction or creation of new or improved public spaces and other projects that enhance specific cultural and historical qualities that define and distinguish the small-town charm that defines these municipalities. Through three rounds, the NY Forward program will have awarded a total of $300 million to 60 communities across every region of the State.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: VeeMost Technologies Expands Growth Strategy, Provides Update on FINRA Approval & Strategic Direction

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RED BANK, NEW JERSEY, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VeeMost Technologies Inc. (OTC: $GDVM) is pleased to provide key updates on its strategic growth initiatives, government contracting progress, and corporate updates that reflect the company’s commitment to delivering long-term value for shareholders.

    Strategic Decision to Prioritize Internal Growth Over Acquisition

    As part of its long-term growth strategy, VeeMost Technologies made a strategic decision to redirect funds originally earmarked for the acquisition of a Dallas-based company into strengthening the company’s internal operations.

    After careful evaluation, we determined that proceeding with the acquisition was not in the best financial interest of VeeMost at this time. While the acquisition initially aligned with our expansion plans, further due diligence revealed challenges in securing favorable financing terms.

    Although we received offers for financing, a thorough review of the proposed terms revealed that they could have resulted in excessive shareholder dilution and unfavorable financing conditions. Many of these offers came from firms specializing in high-risk funding structures, which could have placed undue financial strain on the company and negatively impacted shareholder value. Rather than pursuing an acquisition under these terms, VeeMost made the strategic decision to reinvest capital into core growth areas, ensuring long-term value creation while protecting shareholder equity.

    While this particular acquisition was not the right fit at this time, VeeMost remains actively engaged in evaluating other strategic acquisition opportunities. The company continues to seek financially viable businesses that align with its growth strategy and can be acquired under terms that are fiscally responsible and beneficial to shareholders. Management remains committed to pursuing opportunities that strengthen VeeMost’s market position while maintaining financial discipline and protecting long-term value.

    Instead, VeeMost channeled resources into high-growth areas, including:
    ✅Expanding government contracting capabilities by initiating the GSA Schedule approval process with Government Services Exchange (GSE)
    ✅Winning new E-Rate contracts, positioning the company for continued success in the education sector
    ✅Securing contracts with a company serving the defense sector, expanding its cybersecurity and IT solutions footprint
    ✅Forming new vendor partnerships with Vertiv, Nutanix, Lenovo, and more, enhancing its technology offerings
    ✅Marketing and positioning the newly launched VeeStore platform (store.veemost.com) as a trusted technology store for organizations.

    This decision fortifies VeeMost’s financial future while ensuring that resources are allocated toward revenue-generating initiatives that enhance shareholder value.

    FINRA Approval Process Nearing Completion

    VeeMost Technologies is also pleased to provide an update on its corporate restructuring process with FINRA. The company has worked diligently to resolve legacy SEC reporting gaps dating back to 2006, and other key requirements before FINRA could finalize the company name change, ticker change, and implementation of the newly approved CUSIP.

    With these compliance matters now largely addressed, VeeMost is in the final stages of securing FINRA approval.

    “The process has been meticulous, but we are confident that we are now very close to completing this transition,” said Melvin Ejiogu, President of VeeMost Technologies. “Once finalized, these changes will provide greater transparency, streamline trading access, and strengthen our standing in the public markets. This completion will also allow us to move forward with key board appointments as part of our broader corporate growth strategy.”

    Looking Ahead

    With a stronger financial foundation, new contracts in key sectors, and a pending FINRA approval that will bring corporate clarity, VeeMost Technologies is well-positioned for sustained growth.

    The company remains committed to:
    ✅ Expanding its government contracting business through the GSA Schedule process
    ✅ Securing more E-Rate contracts to support schools and educational institutions
    ✅ Strengthening its cybersecurity and IT services footprint through new strategic vendor partnerships
    ✅ Delivering shareholder value through smart financial decisions and targeted growth initiatives

    With newly secured contracts from a company serving the defense sector, VeeMost is further expanding its presence in government-focused IT solutions, reinforcing its ability to provide cutting-edge technology and security-driven services.

    The company appreciates the patience and support of its investors as it continues to execute on its long-term vision.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by the use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “continue,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to successfully execute its expanded business strategy, including by entering into definitive agreements with suppliers, commercial partners and customers; general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing various engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technical advances and delivering technological innovations, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, regulatory requirements and the ability to meet them, government agency rules and changes, and various other factors beyond the Company’s control.

    CONTACT: VeeMost Technologies Inc.
    info@veemost.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Takes Action to Protect New York Consumers and Small Businesses 

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today advanced new legislation to protect consumers and small businesses from unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices. The Fostering Affordability and Integrity through Reasonable Business Practices, or FAIR Business Practices Act, is a program bill from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and championed in the state legislature by Senator Leroy Comrie and Assemblymember Micah Lasher. This legislation will strengthen New York’s consumer protection law, GBL §349, to protect New Yorkers from a wide array of scams, including deed theft, artificial intelligence (AI)-based schemes, online phishing scams, hard-to-cancel subscriptions, junk fees, data breaches, and other unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices. Forty-seven other states and federal law already prohibit unfair practices, making New York’s current law both antiquated and inadequate. 

    The FAIR Business Practices Act would also help stop lenders, including auto lenders, mortgage servicers, and student loan servicers, from deceptively steering people into higher cost loans. It would reduce unnecessary and hidden fees, stop unfair billing practices by health care companies, and prevent companies from taking advantage of New Yorkers with limited English proficiency. With the federal government rolling back protections for consumers and small businesses, the FAIR Business Practices Act authorizes OAG and victims to seek civil penalties and restitution against businesses that use unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices against vulnerable New Yorkers. 

    “In New York right now, companies can make canceling a subscription so hard it seems impossible; nursing homeowners can sue relatives of deceased former residents; and debt collectors can steal Social Security benefits,” said Attorney General James. “This legislation will put a stop to this all. At a time when the federal government is making life harder, we want to make life easier for New Yorkers. The FAIR Business Practices Act will close loopholes that make it too easy for New Yorkers to be scammed, and will allow my office to go after anyone who violates the law and look forward to working with my partners in state government to ensure that as Washington retreats from protecting consumers, New York steps up to lead.” 

    “Strong consumer protection tools are essential for protecting Americans from unfair and abusive business practices,” said former FTC Chair Lina Khan. “At the FTC, we used these tools to tackle a range of exploitative tactics, from outrageous subscription traps and predatory scams to dangerous commercial surveillance. By passing a strong consumer protection bill, New York lawmakers can empower Attorney General James to fully defend New Yorkers’ pocketbooks, privacy, and economic freedoms.”

    “Businesses should compete by providing great products and superior service, not by devising schemes to rip people off,” said former CFPB Director and FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra. “We need stronger state laws to combat abuses that harm families and honest businesses. With stronger laws on the books, Attorney General James and state law enforcement across the country can stop the scourge of junk fees and other crimes against consumers.”

    “When unscrupulous actors take advantage of New Yorkers through online scams, junk fees, and hidden costs, our community and our economy suffer,” said Senator Leroy Comrie. “From unfair debt collection to deed theft, too many consumers have been hurt by abusive and deceptive practices. Let’s get the FAIR Business Practices Act passed this year and put the power back in the hands of the people, ensuring that businesses play fairly and put New York on par with 47 other states that already have these protections. I’m proud to work alongside Assemblyman Micah Lasher and Attorney General Letitia James to bring much-needed protections to the people who need them most.”

    “Consumer protection equals affordability. Every year, billions of hard-earned dollars are extracted from American consumers by companies, big and small, that take advantage of us,” said Assemblymember Micah Lasher. “And as we speak, Donald Trump, who ran on the issue of affordability, is turning the lights off at the Federal agencies responsible for protecting our pocketbooks. The news today is that New York is going to fight back with the FAIR Business Practices Act. Making sure that the Attorney General has the tools she needs to look out for New Yorkers is one of the best ways we can stop the damage Trump is trying to do. By passing this bill, we will protect consumers from the high costs of unfair business practices and make sure they can spend the money they earn on the things they need. It is an honor to stand together in this fight with Attorney General James, who is a beacon for New York and for the nation in this moment of darkness, and with Senator Comrie, who has taught me a great deal over many years about combining conviction and common sense to deliver for constituents.”

    New York’s current consumer protection law, GBL §349, was passed in 1970 and only prohibits deceptive business acts and practices, leaving consumers vulnerable to unfair or abusive acts by companies. The FAIR Business Practices Act will protect New Yorkers from unfair and abusive business acts, such as: 

    • Companies that make it difficult for consumers to cancel a subscription;
    • Student loan servicers that steer borrowers into the most expensive repayment plans;
    • Car dealers that refuse to return a customer’s photo ID until a deal is finalized and charge for add-on warranties that the customer did not actually purchase;
    • Nursing homes that routinely sue relatives of deceased residents for their unpaid bills despite not having any basis for liability;
    • Companies that take advantage of consumers with limited English proficiency and obscure pricing information and fees;
    • Debt collectors that collect and refuse to return a senior’s Social Security benefits, even though they are exempt from debt collection; and
    • Health insurance companies’ that use long lists of in-network doctors who turn out not to accept the insurance.

    On February 9, the Trump administration ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to stop all work protecting consumers and decline any new cases. The CFPB is an independent agency that oversees big banks, lenders, credit card companies, and mortgage servicers and ensures companies are following federal consumer protection laws. As a result of the Trump administration’s actions, the nation’s largest banks are no longer being closely watched for compliance with key consumer protections by any federal regulator. The administration’s efforts to destroy the CFPB could also prevent consumers from reporting issues of fraud or deception. 

    “For months, I battled my student loan servicer over errors that delayed my payments, cost me critical progress toward loan forgiveness, and left me in financial limbo—all with no clear explanation or accountability,” said Erik Krause, a student loan borrower. “My case is just one of many. Too often, consumers are left vulnerable to mismanagement from financial institutions with little recourse. The legislation advanced by Attorney General James and the bill sponsors will change that, ensuring real protections for millions of New Yorkers against these unfair and harmful practices.”

    “Nearly every one of the small business clients I advise has had some experience with predatory lenders,” said Eda Henries, Founder & Managing Principal of Henries and Co. in Brooklyn. “This is the case because traditional banks have largely exited the small business lending space, meaning that when a small business owner needs capital they often turn to non-traditional lenders that can offer quick turnarounds on underwriting and disbursing a loan. But the flip side of that is these loans come with hidden interest rates that are very high and extremely onerous repayment terms. What may look like growth funding or growth capital often ends up being a debt trap. New York must stop allowing bad actors in the lending space to act without guardrails and should provide small businesses with more meaningful protections from abusive practices by these lenders, vendors, and other predatory businesses. That is why I support Attorney General James’ efforts to advance the FAIR Business Practices Act.”

    “I am a co-op owner and up to date on my mortgage,” said Richard Barrett, a senior homeowner in Harlem. “Last year my mortgage servicer – a company I never even chose to do business with – improperly paid my entire building’s property taxes and is demanding that I reimburse them even though they are entitled to a refund from the City. I believe this practice is unfair and abusive and that Attorney General James’ FAIR Act would incentivize the company to fix the problem it created, instead of taking advantage of New Yorkers due to New York’s weak consumer protection laws.”

    “New York once stood as a model of consumer protection, but over time has fallen behind most other states in this regard,” said Carolyn Carter, Deputy Director of the National Consumer Law Center. “New Yorkers are especially vulnerable in this moment as our strongest line of defense – the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission – are being eroded, and there are no state-level protections in New York against unfair and abusive market conduct. From large financial transactions such as student loan borrowing and auto sales to the everyday “subscription” economy, we see consumers fall victim to nefarious business practices without the ability for redress. NCLC applauds the Attorney General, Senator Comrie, and Assemblyman Lasher for championing the Fair Business Practices Act which will again make New York a leader in general consumer protection laws and promote a fairer economy for all.”

    “All too often we see seniors and their families fall victim to predatory business practices such as unfair debt collection by nursing homes, home repair scams, and financial exploitation,” said Karen Nicolson, CEO and Executive Director of the Center for Elder Law and Justice. “Our attorneys work tirelessly to help secure redress for our clients, but New York’s weak general consumer protection law – which notably does not ban unfair or abusive business activity – limits our ability to secure restitution. We applaud Attorney General James, Senator Comrie, and Assemblymember Lasher for championing the FAIR Business Practices Act which will better protect aging New Yorkers from nefarious marketplace conduct, hold bad actors accountable, and ensure that victims will be made whole.”

    “Every single day we hear from older adults who have been victims of scams,” said Ann Marie Cook, President and CEO of Lifespan of Greater Rochester. “Scams are serious crimes that, at a minimum, disrupt a person’s life and usually impact their financial future for a long time. At Lifespan we work to educate older adults, protect them against unscrupulous people, and help them if they have been scammed. I want to sincerely thank Attorney General Letitia James for her leadership on this issue and for protecting all consumers from deceptive practices.” 

    New Yorkers, especially seniors, veterans, low-income New Yorkers, and immigrant communities, are most vulnerable to these types of unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices. The FAIR Business Practices Act will authorize OAG and impacted individuals to bring a civil case against individuals or companies that engage in unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices to seek penalties and restitution. This legislation has been introduced in the State Senate and State Assembly, and Attorney General James will work to have it advanced and signed into law so New York consumers are better protected regardless of what happens on the federal level. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Long Island DRI and NY Forward Winners Announced

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that Hempstead will receive $10 million in funding as the Long Island winner of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and Farmingdale will receive $4.5 million as the Long Island winner of the third round of NY Forward. For Round 8 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Round 3 of the NY Forward Program, each of the State’s 10 economic development regions receive awards from each program, to make for a total State commitment of $200 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods.

    “Long Island’s downtowns are more than hubs for business, they’re the infrastructure that inspires people to build a better world around them,” Governor Hochul said. “By investing nearly $15 million in revitalizing Hempstead and Farmingdale, we’re creating stronger communities that honor their history and possibility — paving a path for generations of Long Islanders to experience all they have to offer.”

    To receive funding from either the DRI or NY Forward program, localities must be certified under Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities Program — an innovative policy created to recognize and reward municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential. Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities initiative allocates up to $650 million each year in discretionary funds for communities that pledge to increase their housing supply; to date, 287 communities across New York have been certified as Pro-Housing Communities. This year, Governor Hochul is proposing an additional $100 million in funding to cover infrastructure projects necessary to create new housing in Pro-Housing Communities, and a further $10 million to technical assistance to help communities seeking to foster housing growth and associated municipal development.

    Many of the projects funded through the DRI and NY Forward support Governor Hochul’s affordability agenda. The DRI has invested in the creation of more than 4,400 units of housing — 1,823 of which are affordable or workforce. The programs committed over $8.5 million to 11 projects that provide affordable or free child care and child care worker training. DRI and NY Forward have also invested in the creation of public parks, public art (such as murals and sculptures) and art, music and cultural venues that provide free outdoor recreation and entertainment opportunities.

    $10 Million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award for the Village of Hempstead
    Hempstead’s Main Street is the social, retail and civic heart of the community, serving as a key destination for the Village, Town and County. Its strategic location offers walkable access to essential transit services, commercial corridors and cultural institutions, including restaurants, Denton Green and the Nassau County African American Museum. Signature buildings with distinctive facades line the street, adding to its character and enhancing its unique visual identity. With a vibrant mix of arts, culture and retail, Hempstead seeks to transform its Main Street into a thriving hub of activity, community and commerce. Specific community goals include creating a broad mix of housing opportunities, increasing business and service offerings, enhancing cultural arts and fostering recreation and entertainment.

    $4.5 Million NY Forward Award for the Village of Farmingdale
    The Village of Farmingdale’s downtown is a compact area mixed with small parcels and dense building coverage, mixed land uses and charming architecture. It is situated among some of the most popular tourist destinations in New York State. Due to the Village’s characteristics, Farmingdale is focusing on projects that will yield dramatic and positive effects, thereby advancing an active downtown with a strong sense of place. The Village seeks to attract new businesses, encourage a diverse population, improve downtown living and quality of life and enhance the pedestrian walkability and cyclability of the downtown.

    New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “Residents and visitors of Long Island have witnessed first-hand how impactful the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs have been for countless communities and the entire region. Now, the Villages of Hempstead and Farmingdale will receive this critical funding that will help to jumpstart their downtowns and join in on the wave of revitalization that is sweeping our state. Congratulations to both of these communities, and we look forward to working with you throughout this process!”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs continue to be transformative forces for communities across Long Island. With these strategic investments in Hempstead and Farmingdale, New York State is supporting locally-driven solutions that will create vibrant, walkable downtowns while expanding housing opportunities and strengthening local economies. These projects demonstrate the State’s commitment to building sustainable, prosperous communities that attract both residents and businesses.”

    New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Today’s $14.5 million in transformative NY Forward and the Downtown Revitalization Initiative investments demonstrate Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to rewarding communities that are serious about expanding housing and economic opportunities for current and future residents. As two of the 287 current participants in the Governor’s Pro-Housing Communities program, Farmingdale and Hempstead have unlocked access to today’s funding that will enrich their neighborhoods and grow the housing supply through targeted investment. We thank these communities for their commitment to improving housing supply and congratulate them on today’s awards.”

    LIREDC Co-Chairs Linda Armyn, President & CEO at Bethpage Federal Credit Union and Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, President of Long Island University, said, “Hempstead and Farmingdale presented compelling visions for their downtown corridors that will create new opportunities for housing, business growth, and community engagement. The Village of Hempstead’s focus on enhancing its historic Main Street while expanding housing and cultural amenities, coupled with Farmingdale’s plans to strengthen its walkable downtown core, exemplify the kind of forward-thinking development that will benefit Long Island for generations to come. We look forward to working with both communities as they implement their strategic investment plans.”

    State Senator Siela Bynoe said, “This Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant will provide much-deserved investment to the Village of Hempstead. As we’ve seen in Westbury Village, this grant will have a transformational impact on Hempstead’s downtown by improving walkability, and creating opportunities through investment in the Village’s commercial downtown. In Westbury Village, the Downtown Revitalization Initiative provided a blueprint for innovation to address our housing and infrastructure needs, and it is exciting to see Hempstead have this same opportunity. I’d like to thank the Governor and the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council for their commitment to helping to empower our communities.”

    Assemblymember Noah Burroughs said, “I’m pleased to hear that finally the Village Of Hempstead is being recognized as the great hub in Nassau County as well as Long Island. Today I was notified that the Village of Hempstead has been awarded the downtown revitalization initiative. I would like to thank Governor Hochul for seeing the vision we have in the 18th assembly district. This brings us one step closer to having a downtown that the residents could be proud to visit, shop, dine and enjoy on a daily basis.”

    Village of Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs said, “Hempstead is a proud, hardworking community, and this $10 million investment will go a long way in making our downtown a place where families, businesses, and visitors can thrive. We’re incredibly grateful to Governor Hochul for believing in Hempstead and for giving us the tools to build a stronger, more vibrant future. This funding means more opportunities for local businesses, more housing for our residents, and a downtown that truly reflects the energy and diversity of our village. We’re excited to get to work and make this vision a reality.”

    Village of Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand said, “On behalf of Myself and the Board of Trustees, all Farmingdale Village Residents, Our Merchants & Local Community; we are thrilled to have won a $4.5 million grant for a Performing Arts Center! Thank you to New York State! We are so fortunate and thankful for the incredible efforts of all involved who helped secure the grant, it’s truly spectacular news for our community! As everyone knows, Farmingdale Village has been going through an incredible Revitalization and has become a downtown destination. Our (BID) Business Improvement District was formed in 2021, and shortly thereafter; our Downtown was designated as “the Culinary Quarter Mile”. Farmingdale Village was also voted Best LI Downtown 2025 – in the Four Leaf (Formerly BFCU), Annual contest, the last 10 out of 11 years! In the Village; we all work as a team; and there are also many Music Fests (“Music on Main, etc..); Art Shows and basically Culture Everywhere! But the one desire was always for a Cultural Arts Center! So this is the Icing on the Cake; the Farmingdale Village Cake! We are beyond thrilled and our community will be dancing in the street! (Literally!) Thank You!”

    Nassau County Legislator Scott Davis said, “Thank you, Governor Hochul, for selecting the Village of Hempstead as a recipient of the 2025 Downtown Revitalization Program Award in the amount of $10,000,000. These funds will provide much needed assistance in helping to make the vision of a vibrant downtown become a reality. I look forward to seeing the village continue on the path toward a promising future for residents and a destination for visitors.”

    Hempstead and Farmingdale will now begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize their downtowns. A Local Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners. The Strategic Investment Plan will guide the investment of DRI and NY Forward grant funds in revitalization projects that are poised for implementation, will advance the community’s vision for their downtown and that can leverage and expand upon the State’s investment.

    The Long Island Regional Economic Development Council conducted a thorough and competitive review process of proposals submitted from communities throughout the region and considered all criteria before recommending these communities as nominees.

    About the Downtown Revitalization Initiative
    The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment. Led by the Department of State with assistance from Empire State Development, Homes and Community Renewal and NYSERDA, the DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative “plan-then-act” strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation and results in compact, walkable downtowns that are a key ingredient to helping New York State rebuild its economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to achieving the State’s bold climate goals by promoting the use of public transit and reducing dependence on private vehicles. Through eight rounds, the DRI will have awarded a total of $900 million to 89 communities across every region of the State.

    About the NY Forward Program
    First announced as part of the FY22 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul created the NY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The program works in concert with the DRI to accelerate and expand the revitalization of smaller and rural downtowns throughout the State so that all communities can benefit from the State’s revitalization efforts, regardless of size, character, needs and challenges.

    NY Forward communities are supported by a professional planning consultant and team of State agency experts led by DOS to develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a slate of transformative, complementary and readily implementable projects. NY Forward projects are appropriately scaled to the size of each community; projects may include building renovation and redevelopment, new construction or creation of new or improved public spaces and other projects that enhance specific cultural and historical qualities that define and distinguish the small-town charm that defines these municipalities. Through three rounds, the NY Forward program will have awarded a total of $300 million to 60 communities across every region of the State.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Navicore Solutions Empowers Consumers via Credit Counseling, Filling an Essential Need in Today’s Economic Climate

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MANALAPAN, N.J., March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In the midst of a changing economic landscape marked by a rising cost of living, and increasing consumer uncertainty, Navicore Solutions is proud to provide its credit counseling services to help individuals and families navigate these challenging times.

    With credit card balances reaching record highs and more Americans struggling to keep up with payments, the need for proactive financial strategies is evident. Navicore Solutions recognizes this growing challenge and remains steadfast in its mission to provide comprehensive financial counseling to those who need it most.

    Inflationary pressures and the elevated cost of goods have led many to question how best to secure their financial futures. In response to these pressures, Navicore is providing tailored financial education and personalized counseling sessions that empower clients to develop sound budgeting strategies, manage debt, and safeguard against economic volatility.

    “Our mission is to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to regain control over their finances during these unpredictable times,” said Michael Leon, Senior Director of Counseling at Navicore Solutions. “Credit and budget counseling offers a practical pathway to financial stability, enabling consumers to make informed decisions even as external factors influence daily expenses and overall economic sentiment.”

    By offering credit counseling, educational workshops, and one-on-one consultations, Navicore is dedicated to supporting communities as they adapt to the changing economic environment. The organization’s initiatives are designed to help clients reduce debt, improve credit scores, and build resilience against future economic challenges.

    About Navicore Solutions

    Founded in 1991, Navicore Solutions is a national leader in the field of nonprofit financial counseling with a mission to strengthen the well-being of individuals and families through education, guidance, advocacy, and support.

    Navicore counselors provide a wide range of services including credit counseling to consumers in need; education programs through workshops, courses and written material; debt management plan to provide relief for applicable consumers; student loan counseling for those struggling with student loan debt; and housing counseling services in the areas of rental, pre-purchase, default and reverse mortgage. The agency is an advocate of financial education helping communities achieve and maintain financial stability.

    Contact:
    Lori Stratford
    Digital Marketing Manager
    Navicore Solutions
    lstratford@navicoresolutions.org
    navicoresolutions.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Diversified Energy Completes Maverick Acquisition

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Further to the announcements on January 27, 2025 and February 20, 2025, Diversified Energy Company PLC (LSE: DEC; NYSE: DEC) (“Diversified” or the “Company”), an independent energy company focused on natural gas and liquids production, transportation, marketing and well retirement, today announces the completion of its previously announced acquisition of Maverick Natural Resources (the “Acquisition”).

    Issue of shares

    In connection with the Acquisition and following the overwhelming approving by the shareholders of the Company at the general meeting on March 10, 2025, the Company has allotted and issued 21,194,213 new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (the “Consideration Shares”). The Consideration Shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and will rank pari passu in all respects with Diversified’s existing ordinary shares of £0.20 nominal value each.

    Applications have been made to (i) the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) for admission of the Consideration Shares to listing on the equity shares (commercial companies) category of the Official List; and (ii) London Stock Exchange plc for admission of the Consideration Shares to trading on its main market for listed securities (together, “Admission“). It is expected that Admission will occur at 8.00 a.m. (London time) on 17 March 2025.

    Governance and Leadership

    Following the closing of the Acquisition, Rick Gideon, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maverick Natural Resources will become the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Company effective March 18th, 2025.

    Other than as set out above, there has been no material change affecting any matter relating to the Acquisition contained in the announcements released by Diversified on January 27, 2025 and February 20, 2025.

    Total voting rights

    For the purposes of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, the total number of ordinary shares of £0.20 each in the capital of the Company in issue as at March 14, 2025 is 80,990,155 with each ordinary share carrying the right to one vote. There are no ordinary shares held in treasury and therefore the total number of voting rights as at in the Company as at March 14, 2025 is 80,990,155.

    The above figure may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

    Citi served as financial and transaction advisor to Diversified. KeyBanc Capital Markets, Truist and Stifel served as additional advisors to Diversified. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Latham & Watkins (London) LLP served as legal advisor to Diversified on the Acquisition. Jefferies Securities served as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal advisor to Maverick and EIG.

    For further information, please contact:

    Diversified Energy Company PLC +1 973 856 2757
    Doug Kris dkris@dgoc.com
    Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications  
       
    FTI Consulting dec@fticonsulting.com
    U.S. & UK Financial Public Relations  
       

    About Diversified
    Diversified is a leading publicly traded energy company focused on natural gas and liquids production, transport, marketing, and well retirement. Through our unique differentiated strategy, we acquire existing, long-life assets and invest in them to improve environmental and operational performance until retiring those assets in a safe and environmentally secure manner. Recognized by ratings agencies and organizations for our sustainability leadership, this solutions-oriented, stewardship approach makes Diversified the Right Company at the Right Time to responsibly produce energy, deliver reliable free cash flow, and generate shareholder value.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s beliefs and expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties may relate to factors that are beyond the Company’s ability to control or estimate precisely, including the risk factors described in the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s Annual Report and Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the risk factors described in Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Form 6-K furnished with the SEC on January 27, 2025. Forward-looking statements speak only as of their date and neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates or advisers expressly disclaim any obligation to supplement, amend, update or revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, except where it would be required to do so under applicable law. As a result, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HK holds int’l trade law forum

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Conference on Climate Change & International Trade Law was held in hybrid format in Hong Kong today, attracting about 600 registrations from jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Africa.

    Jointly organised by the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice, the conference discussed how international trade law can effectively support the achievement of climate action goals set by the international community.

    Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, UNCITRAL Secretary Anna Joubin-Bret and Deputy Director General, Department of Treaty & Law of the Ministry of Commerce Tian Ya gave opening remarks, while Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan delivered closing remarks.

    International Law Commission Member Ma Xinmin gave a keynote address, with prominent speakers from around the world joining the panel discussions.

    Noting that various local climate change initiatives have demonstrated Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre as well as a green and sustainable finance hub, Mr Lam said the wide spectrum of issues discussed at the conference illustrates how international trade law can effectively support the climate action goals set by the global community.

    ​The International Legal Talents Training Academy will continue to work with UNCITRAL in different areas and is planning to co-organise the 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit in Hong Kong later this year.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: SAIC Board of Directors Declares Cash Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESTON, Va., March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Science Applications International Corp. (NASDAQ: SAIC) announced today that the company’s board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.37 per share of the company’s common stock payable on April 25, 2025 to stockholders of record on April 11, 2025.

    SAIC intends to continue paying dividends on a quarterly basis, although the declaration of any future dividends will be determined by the board of directors each quarter and will depend on earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors.

    About SAIC

    SAIC is a premier Fortune 500® technology integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian and intelligence markets includes secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.

    We are approximately 24,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.4 billion.​​​​ For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this release contain or are based on “forward-looking” information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “guidance,” and similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements in this release may include, among others, estimates of future revenues, operating income, earnings, earnings per share, charges, total contract value, backlog, outstanding shares and cash flows, as well as statements about future dividends, share repurchases and other capital deployment plans. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risk, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from the guidance and other forward-looking statements made in this release as a result of various factors. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause or contribute to these material differences include those discussed in the “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Legal Proceedings” sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated in any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC, which may be viewed or obtained through the Investor Relations section of our website at saic.com or on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. SAIC expressly disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statement provided in this release to reflect subsequent events, actual results or changes in SAIC’s expectations.

    SAIC also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by investment analysts or others.

    Media Contact:

    Kara Ross

    publicrelations@saic.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Helport AI Announces CFO Transition

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company Names 25-Year+ Seasoned Financial Executive, Amy Fong, as Interim Chief Financial Officer

    SINGAPORE and SAN DIEGO, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Helport AI Limited (NASDAQ: HPAI) (“Helport AI” or the “Company”), an AI technology company serving enterprise clients with intelligent customer communication software, services, and solutions, today announced that Mr. Tao Ke is no longer serving as Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of the Company, effective March 12, 2025. The Company has appointed Amy Fong, President and Director of Helport AI, as interim CFO, effective immediately.

    “We take this opportunity to thank Tao for his contributions in assisting Helport AI in its transition into a public company this past year and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” said Guanghai Li, Chief Executive Officer of Helport AI. “We believe that Amy’s extensive financial and operational leadership experience, coupled with her deep understanding of capital markets, makes her well-positioned to oversee our finance functions, as we search for a permanent replacement for this role.”

    Ms. Fong, who was appointed President and Director of Helport AI in January 2025, brings over 25 years of experience as a seasoned professional across multiple industries, including banking, private equity, management consulting, and the not-for-profit sector. Prior to joining Helport AI, she was the Chief Operating Officer and later Managing Director of Sustainability and Strategic Initiatives at FountainVest Partners (Asia) since 2019, before transitioning to the role of Senior Advisor in 2024. She previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Hong Kong, a non-governmental organization, and spent two decades in financial services with JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, and Merrill Lynch in both the U.S. and Asia. She holds an MBA degree in Finance from Columbia Business School and a BSBA degree in Accounting and International Finance from Georgetown University.

    “I look forward to working closely with our talented teams and supporting the identification of a suitable candidate to serve as our permanent Chief Financial Officer,” said Amy Fong. “We believe that Helport AI is at an exciting inflection point, and we remain focused on accelerating growth and delivering value to our customers and shareholders.”

    About Helport AI

    Helport AI (NASDAQ: HPAI) is an AI technology company dedicated to optimizing customer communication through its digital platform and intelligent software solutions. Offering enterprise-level customer contact services, Helport AI’s mission is to empower everyone to work as an expert. Learn more at www.helport.ai.

    Forward-Looking Statements

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

    Helport AI Investor Relations:
    Website: https://ir.helport.ai/
    Email: ir@helport.ai

    External Investor Relations Contact:
    Chris Tyson 
    Executive Vice President
    MZ North America
    Direct: 949-491-8235
    HPAI@mzgroup.us
    www.mzgroup.us

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Rumble Announces Timing of Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call as well as Investor Conference Participation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Rumble’s Founder and CEO Chris Pavlovski to Hold a Post-Earnings Call Live Stream with Matt Kohrs 

    LONGBOAT KEY, FL, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rumble Inc. (NASDAQ: RUM) (“Rumble” or the “Company”), the video-sharing platform and cloud services provider, today announced that it will release financial results for the fiscal quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024 before market open on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. The Company will host a conference call on the same day at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

    Access to the live webcast and replay of the conference call, along with related earnings release materials, will be available here and on Rumble’s Investor Relations website at investors.rumble.com.

    Following the earnings call, Chris Pavlovski, Chairman, Founder and CEO of Rumble, will be interviewed by Matt Kohrs. The interview will be streamed live on the Matt Kohrs Rumble channel at rumble.com/MattKohrs using Rumble’s streaming platform, Rumble Studio. Viewers will be able to submit questions to Mr. Pavlovski in the comments section of the live stream.

    Upcoming Investor Conference

    Rumble management will attend the 37th Annual ROTH Conference which will be held March 16-18, 2025, at The Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point, CA and participate in a fireside chat on Monday, March 17 at 1:00 p.m. PT. The fireside chat will be available in the Company Events section of Rumble’s Investor Relations website at investors.rumble.com.

    ABOUT RUMBLE

    Rumble is a high-growth video platform and cloud services provider that is creating an independent infrastructure. Rumble’s mission is to restore the internet to its roots by making it free and open once again. For more information, visit: corp.rumble.com.

    For investor inquiries, please contact:

    Shannon Devine

    MZ Group, MZ North America

    203-741-8811

    investors@rumble.com

    Source: Rumble Inc.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Champion Safe’s 2025 Triumph Series Gains Dealer Attention with Advanced Security Enhancements

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Provo, UT, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The 2025 Triumph Series from Champion Safe Company, a leading manufacturer of premium safes and wholly-owned subsidiary of American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB), America’s Patriotic Brand (americanrebel.com), has been generating strong dealer interest since its January release, as retailers recognize the latest upgrades set it apart from competing high-security safes. Known for its elite-level security and fire protection, the Triumph Series is now even more formidable thanks to key feature enhancements.

    For 2025, the Triumph Series introduces several major upgrades, including:

    NEW Tempered Glass Relocker System – Now available on the Triumph Series, this advanced security feature automatically engages a secondary relock mechanism if the safe is attacked, significantly enhancing burglary resistance.

    NEW 3/16” Steel Body – A thicker steel body reinforces the safe’s durability and outperforms many competitor models.

    UPGRADED Fire Rating: 1750°F for Two Hours – Now offering some of the highest fire protection in its class.

    NEW Door Adjustment System – A more user-friendly mechanism that allows for precise fit and improved long-term security.

    The Triumph Series remains one of the strongest safes available, thanks to its 5½-inch-thick Double-Step™ door, four-way active boltworks, and Champion’s exclusive Diamond-Embedded Armor Plate™. The high-capacity gun racks, plush interior, adjustable shelving, and motion-activated LED lighting further enhance convenience and usability.

    “Dealers are recognizing that the Triumph Series offers superior security and build quality compared to similarly priced competitors,” said Tom Mihalek, CEO of Champion Safe Company. “By upgrading the steel body, adding the glass relocker, and increasing the fire rating, we’ve positioned Triumph as one of the most secure and feature-rich safes in its class.”

    With multiple sizes and finishes, including high-gloss Black, Ivory, and Platinum, the Triumph Series offers unmatched security, superior craftsmanship, and a refined design.

    For more information about the Triumph Series and to find a dealer, visit ChampionSafe.com.

    —

    About Champion Safe Company
    championsafe.com

    Champion Safe Company has been at the forefront of safe manufacturing for over 25 years, offering a range of high-quality safes designed for ultimate security and fire protection. With a commitment to craftsmanship and innovation, Champion Safes are trusted by homeowners, gun owners, and businesses across the nation.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit americanrebel.com and americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit americanrebel.com/investor-relations.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of the 2025 product innovations, actual revenues for fiscal 2025, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Company Contacts
    ir@americanrebel.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SUNation Energy Announces Retirement of Senior and Junior Secured Debt in Full

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RONKONKOMA, N.Y., March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SUNation Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNE) (“SUNation” or the “Company”), a leading provider of sustainable solar energy and backup power solutions for households, businesses, and municipalities, today announced that has repaid in full all of the accrued principal and interest associated with a total of $9.4 million in senior and junior secured loans with maturity dates ranging between July 2025 and June 2027.

    In connection with these repayments, the respective loan and related agreements were terminated, all associated monthly payment obligations eliminated, and certain material restrictive covenants which were contained in the respective loan agreements were removed. The retirement of this debt removes an annual cash drain of approximately $3.4 million through 2027.

    As previously disclosed, on February 27, 2025, SUNation consummated the first tranche of a securities offering for gross proceeds of $15 million (the “Equity Financing”). The secured loan repayments were made using a portion of the proceeds from the Equity Offering.

    “These repayments have materially deleveraged our balance sheet, resulting in improved cash flow to fund our operations and providing us with financial flexibility to pursue our long-term growth objectives, including strategic acquisitions of regionally strong solar companies across the United States,” said Scott Maskin, Chief Executive Officer. “This marks an important step in our efforts to stabilize our operations and create a strong and sustainable platform to pursue the opportunities inherent in our industry.”   

    Additional information regarding these repayments is available in a Form 8-K that the Company filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 13, 2025, a copy of which is available free of charge on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

    About SUNation Energy, Inc.

    SUNation Energy, Inc. is focused on growing leading local and regional solar, storage, and energy services companies nationwide. Our vision is to power the energy transition through grass-roots growth of solar electricity paired with battery storage. Our portfolio of brands (SUNation, Hawaii Energy Connection, E-Gear) provide homeowners and businesses of all sizes with an end-to-end product offering spanning solar, battery storage, and grid services. SUNation Energy, Inc.’s largest markets include New York, Florida, and Hawaii, and the company operates in three (3) states.

    Forward Looking Statements 

    This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. While the Company believes its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, these plans, intentions, or expectations may not be achieved. For information about the factors that could cause such differences, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in subsequent filings. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Our prospects here at SUNation Energy Inc. are subject to uncertainties and risks. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor provided by the foregoing Sections. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations or forecasts of future events, can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, and are subject to various business risks and known and unknown uncertainties, a number of which are beyond the control of management. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation. The Company cannot predict or determine after the fact what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements or other statements. The reader should consider statements that include the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, “projects”, “should”, or other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends, to be uncertain and forward-looking. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information respecting factors that could materially affect the Company and its operations are contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC which can be found on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Contacts: 
    Scott Maskin
    Chief Executive Officer
    +1 (631) 823-7131
    smaskin@sunation.com

    SUNation Energy Investor Relations
    IR@sunation.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Canada Contributes CAD 2M to Support Inclusive, Sustainable APEC Growth Gyeongju, Republic of Korea | 14 March 2025 APEC Secretariat Canada is providing a total of CAD 2 million over the next three fiscal years to support APEC’s efforts in promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the Asia-Pacific region.

    Source: APEC – Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

    Canada is providing a total of CAD 2 million over the next three fiscal years to support APEC’s efforts in promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the Asia-Pacific region.

    The contribution, delivered through a grant arrangement with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) reinforces Canada’s commitment to translating APEC’s policy directions into tangible outcomes that benefit all member economies.

    “This contribution is a significant step in our commitment to ensuring that economic growth in the Asia-Pacific is both inclusive and sustainable,” said Alan Bowman, Canada’s Senior Official for APEC. “By supporting targeted capacity-building initiatives and the work of the Policy Support Unit, we are helping to build a resilient regional economy where even the most vulnerable communities can benefit.”

    Under the grant arrangement, payments will be made in three instalments: CAD 667,000 in 2025; CAD 667,000 in 2026; and CAD 666,000 in 2027. The funds are designated to support key capacity building initiatives that help bridge gaps in economic participation and drive sustainable development.

    Canada’s contribution will support three critical areas of APEC’s work. First, it will bolster the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sub-Fund, which aims to directly involve developing economies’ MSMEs in project activities that promote inclusive growth and poverty reduction.

    Second, the Women and the Economy Sub-Fund will receive support to advance women’s economic participation, enhancing legal and institutional frameworks to empower female entrepreneurs and workers.

    Finally, a portion of the funds will be directed to the APEC Policy Support Unit, the research and analysis arm of APEC, to strengthen its ability to provide high-quality, evidence-based policy recommendations.

    APEC-funded projects play a vital role in translating the policy directions set by APEC Economic Leaders and Ministers into practical actions. Each year, APEC provides funding for over 100 projects that aim to enhance trade, drive innovation, and promote sustainable development. Canada’s new contribution will add to these efforts by strengthening the capacity of member economies to implement reforms that are critical for long-term prosperity.

    Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, highlighted the broader impact of Canada’s contribution. “Canada’s support for our inclusive and sustainable growth initiatives reinforces the shared vision of an Asia-Pacific that is dynamic, open, and resilient. This funding will enhance our ability to deliver quality research, build capacity, and support projects that create real economic opportunities for people across the region.”

    In addition to supporting MSMEs and women’s economic empowerment, the grant will assist in furthering projects that improve the quality of APEC’s deliberations and decision-making processes. The Policy Support Unit provides critical data, analysis, and policy support that help APEC member economies design and implement initiatives aimed at achieving balanced and sustainable growth.

    By contributing to these targeted sub-funds, Canada is not only reinforcing its longstanding commitment to regional cooperation but also setting a precedent for how public funds can be used to foster long-term economic security and prosperity. The impact of this grant will be felt through improved trade environments, strengthened regulatory frameworks, and enhanced capacities that empower businesses and communities alike.

    For further details and media inquiries, please contact:
    [email protected] 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier calls for greater cooperation with Laos on AI, digital economy

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Chinese vice premier calls for greater cooperation with Laos on AI, digital economy

    BEIJING, March 14 — Chinese Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Beijing on Friday, calling on both countries to expand cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence and the digital economy.

    Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that as socialist comrades and brothers, China and Laos should earnestly implement the important consensus reached between the top leaders of the two parties and countries, intensify high-level exchange, deepen political mutual trust, and work together to safeguard security and development interests.

    Ding called on both countries to strengthen their development strategy alignment, advance the construction of the China-Laos Economic Corridor, and improve the quality and efficiency of the China-Laos Railway.

    Thongsavanh congratulated China on its successful convening of the “two sessions,” noting that Laos firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests. Laos is willing to deepen its comprehensive, practical cooperation with China and push the construction of a Laos-China community with a shared future to a new level.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: ACT in the engine room behind new infrastructure projects

    Source: ACT Party

    ACT MP and former civil engineer Simon Court is welcoming the suite of projects announced at the Investment Summit set to capitalise on new and improved private infrastructure delivery pathways.

    “The private sector brings innovation, expertise and capital – both domestic and international – that drives faster delivery of better infrastructure that stands the test of time.

    “After a long PPP hiatus, supercharging New Zealand’s PPP model was priority number one for me as Infrastructure Under-Secretary, and it’s pleasing to see several PPP projects take centre stage as we showcase to global investors New Zealand’s opportunities.”

    There are several PPP announcements from the Summit:

    • Transport: Northland Roads of National Significance PPP, with the first 26-kilometre stage approved for the next procurement stage.
    • Corrections: Christchurch Men’s Prison Redevelopment PPP, with funding approved through Budget 2025.
    • Justice: three upcoming new courts in Waitakere and Rotorua to be delivered via PPP.

    Speaking from the Summit, Mr Court is buoyed by investor interest in other private-friendly opportunities relating to models he has led as Under-Secretary, including strategic leasing (or ‘PPP-lite’), market-led (or ‘unsolicited’) proposals, and Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act ‘special purpose vehicles’ (SPVs).

    “Health Minister Simeon Brown has signalled the trifecta of PPPs, strategic leasing, and market-led proposals are all on the cards for upcoming health infrastructure – all have important roles to play as we drive our health infrastructure recovery.

    “Summit attendees have already expressed particular interest to me in this ‘PPP-lite’ strategic leasing pathway as an easier way to get involved on smaller scale projects.

    “There was also significant interest in SPV opportunities – where private capital finances infrastructure in exchange for levies on those benefitting – under the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act I am panel beating into shape. This is great news, particularly for local government infrastructure.”

    Mr Court is also welcoming the tolling concession announcements. Tolling concessions have delivered great infrastructure abroad, including through PPPs, where users – rather than taxpayers – foot the bill.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: World Consumer Rights Day 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    World Consumer Rights Day 2025

    Key Initiatives and Developments in Consumer Protection

    Posted On: 14 MAR 2025 5:19PM by PIB Delhi

    Introduction

    World Consumer Rights Day, observed annually on March 15, serves as an essential reminder of the need to uphold consumer rights and protection. The day is an opportunity to promote the basic rights of all consumers and encourage those rights to be respected and protected. World Consumer Rights Day was first observed in 1983. This date was chosen to commemorate President John F. Kennedy’s address to the US Congress on March 15, 1962, where he became the first world leader to formally recognize consumer rights.

    The theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2025 is, ‘A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles.’ This theme reflects the urgent need to make sustainable and healthy lifestyle choices available, accessible, and affordable for all consumers – while ensuring that these transitions uphold people’s basic rights and needs. This year’s campaign highlights the pathways needed to achieve sustainable lifestyles and call for stronger consumer protection and empowerment worldwide.

    The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, has introduced several new initiatives and policies to empower consumers, strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms, and ensure a transparent and fair marketplace. In 2024, major developments included improvements in e-commerce regulations, digital consumer protection, product safety standards, and sustainable consumption initiatives.

    Consumer Protection Act, 2019

    With a view to modernize the framework governing the consumer protection in the new era of globalization, technologies, e-commerce markets etc., the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was repealed and Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was enacted. 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, wherever appropriate, compensation to consumers.

    Further, in terms of Section 38 (7) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, every complaint shall be disposed of as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made to decide the complaint within a period of three months from the date of receipt of notice by opposite party where the complaint does not require analysis or testing of commodities and within five months if it requires analysis or testing of commodities.

    Consumer Welfare Fund

    The overall objective of the Consumer Welfare Fund is to provide financial assistance to promote and protect the welfare of consumers and strengthen the consumer movement in the country. Under the Rules, funds are given to the states/UTs as seed money as one time grant on 75:25 basis (90:10 in the case of Special Category states/UTs) to create a Consumer Welfare (Corpus) Fund. The states/UTs are required to carry out activities to provide coverage to projects for consumer welfare of local relevance out of the interests generated in the Corpus Fund every year.

    During the FY 2024-25, ₹32.68 crore have been released to various states for the establishment/enhancement of their respective State Consumer Welfare (Corpus) Fund as Central Govt. share. As such, out of 28 States and 8 UTs, 24 States and 1 UT have established the Consumer Welfare (Corpus) Funds.

    Strengthening Consumer Grievance Redressal Mechanisms

    1. Expansion of E-Daakhil for Online Consumer Complaints

    Going through restrictions on consumers due to COVID-19, the E-Daakhil portal was introduced as inexpensive, speedy and hassle-free mechanism for filing consumer complaints. E-Daakhil is an innovative online platform designed to streamline the consumer grievance redressal process, providing an efficient and convenient way for consumers to approach the relevant consumer forum, dispensing the need to travel and be physically present to file their grievances. Since its inception, E-Daakhil has been a game-changer in promoting consumer rights and ensuring timely justice.

    The portal offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, allowing consumers to file complaints with minimal effort. From filing complaints to tracking their status, E-Daakhil ensures a paperless and transparent process with respect to filing of cases.

     

    The E-Daakhil portal was first launched on 7th September 2020 by the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission. In furtherance to the launching of E-Daakhil across the country, the government has also launched e-Jagriti, which will further streamline case filing, tracking, and management, ensuring a hassle-free experience for consumers and other stakeholders. It will also facilitate seamless communication between all parties, allowing for faster resolution of disputes. By automating and digitizing the process, e-Jagriti will reduce delays, minimize paperwork, and ensure timely disposal of cases, ultimately contributing to a more effective and accessible justice system for consumers.

    1. Enhancements to the National Consumer Helpline (NCH)

    The NCH has emerged as a central point of access for consumers seeking to address their grievances. It has played an essential role in enabling consumers to register complaints and seek resolutions in an efficient and effective manner. To further enhance the consumer grievance redressal process, the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) has rolled out the NCH 2.0 initiative, which incorporates advanced technologies to streamline complaint handling. This includes the introduction of AI-powered Speech Recognition, a Translation System, and a Multilingual Chatbot. The NCH was upgraded with AI-powered assistance and extended multilingual support to help consumers lodge grievances effectively. Additionally, the helpline was further integrated with various regulatory bodies such as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for swift resolution of consumer issues.

    The number of calls received by NCH have grown more than tenfold, from 12,553 in December 2015 to 1,55,138 in December 2024. The Department has revamped the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), making it a central platform for grievance redressal at the pre-litigation stage. Available in 17 languages, including Hindi, English, and regional languages, the helpline allows consumers to register complaints via the toll-free number 1915. Complaints can also be filed through the Integrated Grievance Redressal Mechanism (INGRAM) portal, which provides multiple channels such as WhatsApp, SMS, email, the NCH app, web portal, and the Umang app for ease of access.

    NCH has also partnered with over 1000 companies under its Convergence Programme to expedite grievance resolution. These companies span major sectors, including e-commerce, travel and tourism, private education, FMCG, consumer durables, electronic products, retail outlets, automobiles, DTH & cable services, and banking. Complaints related to these convergence companies are directly transferred to them for online resolution.

    1. Jaago Grahak Jaago Portal and Mobile App

    The Department of Consumer Affairs provides essential e-commerce information about all URLs during a consumer’s online activities, alerting them if any URL may be unsafe and requires caution, through the Jaago Grahak Jaago online portal and the recently launched mobile application. These portals are dedicated to empowering consumers by providing them with the information, resources and support they need to make informed decisions and assert their rights in the marketplace.

    Consumer Protection in E-Commerce and Digital Transactions

    1. New E-Commerce Guidelines

    To safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices in e-commerce, the Department of Consumer Affairs has also 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 customer grievance redressal.

    The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued the “Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023” on 30th November, 2023. These guidelines address and regulate 13 specific dark patterns identified in the ecommerce sector, aiming to prevent deceptive practices that mislead consumers. 

    1. E-Commerce – Principles and Guidelines for Self-Governance Draft Standard by BIS

    The draft Indian standard on “E-Commerce – Principles and Guidelines for Self-Governance” by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) aims to establish a transparent, fair, and consumer-friendly framework for online marketplaces. It outlines principles across three key phases—pre-transaction, contract formation, and post-transaction—to ensure ethical e-commerce operations. The document mandates clear product disclosures, including pricing breakdowns, seller details, country of origin, return policies, and data privacy measures. It enforces explicit consumer consent for transactions, prohibits misleading advertisements, and strengthens grievance redressal mechanisms under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Additionally, it introduces strict measures against counterfeit products, unfair trade practices, and preferential treatment of sellers, ensuring a level playing field for all stakeholders.

    By prioritizing consumer rights and fair business practices, the standard seeks to empower buyers with greater transparency and security in online transactions. It prevents deceptive pricing, hidden charges, and forced bundling of services while ensuring secure payment processes and clear refund policies. The document also includes anti-counterfeiting measures, requiring platforms to swiftly address complaints regarding fake products. Additionally, it mandates that e-commerce platforms protect consumer data, obtain explicit consent for marketing communications, and provide accessible mechanisms for dispute resolution. If implemented, this framework will enhance consumer trust in e-commerce, promote ethical business conduct, and create a more accountable digital marketplace in India.

    As India observes World Consumer Rights Day 2025, the focus remains on ensuring a safer, more transparent, and consumer-friendly economy.

    References

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2088051

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2100545

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2077618

    https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=151874

    https://www.consumersinternational.org/what-we-do/world-consumer-rights-day/a-just-transition-to-sustainable-lifestyles-2025/

    https://www.facebook.com/MyGovIndia/posts/consumer-protection-act-2019-comes-into-force-which-empowers-and-protects-the-ri/3162267540554080/

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2076557

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2077857

    https://e-jagriti.gov.in/

    https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/183/AU3702_dFKDBW.pdf?source=pqals

    https://www.services.bis.gov.in/tmp/WCSSD41126940_16012025_1.pdf

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2057940

    https://x.com/jagograhakjago

    Kindly find the pdf file.

    ***

    Santosh Kumar | Sarla Meena | Rishita Aggarwal

    (Release ID: 2111397) Visitor Counter : 12

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: illumin Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Fourth Quarter Revenue shows Growth Across All Service Lines by 35% YoY to $49.9 Million
    Full Year Revenue Grows 11% YoY to $140.4 Million
    Self-Service Revenue Grew by 45% YoY for the Quarter and 78% for the Full Year
    Adjusted EBITDA Improved by 42% YoY for the Quarter and 104% for the Full Year

    (All monetary figures are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated)

    TORONTO, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — illumin Holdings Inc. (TSX: ILLM and OTCQB: ILLMF) (“illumin” or the “Company”), a journey advertising technology company that empowers marketers to make smarter decisions about communicating with online consumers, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

    • Revenue was $49.9 million, up 35% year-over-year, driven by increases across all three service lines.
    • Self-service revenue was up 45% to $13.0 million, compared to $8.9 million in the year ago period and represented 26% of total revenue, up from 24% in Q4 2023.
    • The Company onboarded 23 net new self-service clients during the quarter, reflecting sales initiatives targeting higher-spend clients and positioning the Company for continued self-service revenue growth.
    • Managed service revenue was up 28% from the prior year to $23.7 million, increasing for the 3rd consecutive quarter.
    • Exchange services revenue increased by 39% from prior year to $13.2 million.
    • Gross margin was 45%, compared to 49% for the same period in 2023, and was lower mainly due to product mix.
    • Net revenue, or gross profit (revenue less media-related costs), was $22.7 million, compared with $18.0 million in the same quarter of the prior year.
    • Adjusted EBITDA was $3.9 million, compared to $2.8 million in the prior year period. The increase was primarily attributable to higher revenue and a strengthened US dollar.
    • Net income was $4.1 million, compared to a net loss of $2.6 million in Q4 2023. The increase was primarily a result of higher revenue and a net foreign exchange gain versus a loss in the prior year period, partially offset by higher costs.
    • Cash and cash equivalents increased by $4.5 million, or 9%, from September 30, 2024, to $56.0 million.
    • On December 23, 2024, the Company commenced a new normal course issuer bid (“2024 NCIB”) to purchase for cancellation up to 3,914,167 of its outstanding common shares. The 2024 NCIB replaces the previous NCIB (“2023 NCIB”), which expired on November 12, 2024. The Company did not purchase and cancel any of its outstanding common shares under either NCIB plan in the quarter.

    Fiscal Year 2024 Highlights

    • Revenue rose 11% year-over-year to $140.4 million.
    • Self-service was up by 78% from the prior year to $38.4 million.
    • Managed service decreased by 7% year-over-year to $67.7 million. The decline was limited by the efforts in the second half of the year, which showed significant growth in this service line.
    • Exchange services increased by 8% from the prior year to $34.3 million.
    • Gross margin was 47% compared to 48% for the prior year.
    • Net revenue, or gross profit (revenue less media-related costs), was $65.5 million, compared to $60.3 million for the same period in 2023.
    • Adjusted EBITDA was $6.3 million compared to $3.1 million for the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to higher revenues, partially offset by higher operating costs.
    • Net income was $0.9 million, compared to a net loss of $11.0 million in the prior year.
    • During the year, the Company repurchased 3,310,384 of its common shares at an average price of $1.61 per share for total consideration of $5.3 million under the 2023 NCIB. No repurchases were made under the 2024 NCIB in the year.
    • At December 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $56.0 million, compared to $55.5 million as of December 31, 2023. This increase was primarily attributable to a favorable foreign exchange impact on cash and cash equivalents, positive cash from operating activities before changes in working capital, and fluctuations in timing of non-cash operating working capital in the year. This was partially offset by the repurchase of the Company’s shares, investments in our technology platform, property and equipment, and payments on leases.

    Simon Cairns, illumin’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We delivered strong revenue growth in the fourth quarter, which rose 35% year-over-year fueled by increases across all of our revenue lines. During the quarter, we continued to see considerable revenue growth in self-service, which grew 45% year-over-year. This also represents our third consecutive quarter of managed service growth, which increased 28% year-over-year. These results indicate that more companies are recognizing the value of both our managed service and self-service solutions. In addition, we continued to see substantial growth and momentum in our exchange services business, which increased 39% from the prior year.”

    Mr. Cairns added, “As these results show, the customer-centric approach we implemented in the second half of 2024, which focuses on marketing and selling more effectively and efficiently, has proven to be very successful in helping us bring on new customers and expanding our relationships with existing clients. This approach lets us leverage our technology platform and offer our clients a full range of answers, whether it be self-service, managed campaigns, exchange services or a hybrid approach, if that best fits their evolving needs. Our results also showcase our success to date in advancing our illumin self-service roadmap and addressing operational efficiencies throughout our organization. We are extremely pleased with our progress to date and look forward to continuing this momentum in 2025.”

    “As we advance into 2025, we know our first quarter is the toughest due to impacts of seasonally lower client spend-which is extra challenging this year due to more recent heightened economic instability.  As a management team, we’re focused on winning the year as we advance on our platform to drive leads through better marketing and a new brand strategy. We will deliver a quicker selling process to onboard customers, improve platform stickiness, and more effectively present a choice of options on how customers can be supported over their lifecycle with us.”

    Elliot Muchnik, illumin’s Chief Financial Officer, commented, “During the fourth quarter, we reported a significant year-over-year increase in total revenue, reflecting growth in self-service, managed service and exchange services revenue, which helped drive a year-over-year improvement in Adjusted EBITDA of 42% and 104% for the quarter and year, respectively. As we look ahead into 2025, operational discipline remains a priority for us so we can further grow our Adjusted EBITDA while funding continued product development and expansion of our sales and marketing capabilities.”

    The following table presents a reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods ended:

    (in $000s) Three months ended   Twelve months ended  
      December 31,   December 31,   December 31,   December 31,  
        2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Net income (loss) for the period $ 4,127   $ (2,579 ) $ 867   $ (10,987 )
    Adjustments:        
    Finance income, net   (414 )   (528 )   (1,821 )   (2,122 )
    Foreign exchange loss (gain)   (3,617 )   2,034     (5,066 )   2,827  
    Depreciation and amortization   1,309     1,110     5,355     5,482  
    Income tax expense (benefit)   826     82     988     (1,095 )
    Share-based compensation   850     1,141     3,732     5,725  
    Severance expenses   835     940     1,195     1,307  
    Nasdaq-related costs   –     431     736     1,813  
    Other non-recurring expenses   31     157     347     157  
    Total adjustments   (180 )   5,367     5,466     14,094  
    Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 3,947   $ 2,788   $ 6,333   $ 3,107  
     

    Conference Call Details:

    Date: Friday, March 14, 2024
    Time: 8:30AM Eastern Time

    To register for the conference call webcast and presentation, please visit https://events.illumin.com/q4-2024-earnings-call.

    Please connect 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be needed to hear the webcast. A recording of the conference call webcast will be available after the call by visiting the Company’s website at https://illumin.com/investor-information/.

    Non-IFRS Measures

    This press release makes reference to certain non-IFRS Accounting Standard measures (“non-IFRS measures”). These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS Accounting Standards (“IFRS”), do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management’s perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. We use non-IFRS measures including “revenue less media-related costs”, “Gross margin”, and “Adjusted EBITDA” (as well as other measures discussed elsewhere in this press release).

    The term “Gross margin” refers to the amount that “revenue less media-related costs” represents as a percentage of total revenue for a given period. Gross margin is used for internal management purposes as an indicator of the performance of the Company’s solution in balancing the goals of delivering excellent results to advertisers while meeting the Company’s margin objectives and, accordingly, the Company believes it is useful supplemental information.

    “Adjusted EBITDA” refers to net income (loss) after adjusting for finance costs (income), impairment loss, fair value gain, income taxes, foreign exchange loss (gain), depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, acquisition and related integration costs, severance expenses and adjustments to the carrying value of investment tax credits receivable. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful supplemental information as it provides an indication of the results generated by the Company’s main business activities before taking into consideration how those activities are financed and taxed and prior to taking into consideration depreciation of property and equipment and certain other items listed above. It is a key measure used by the Company’s management and board of directors to understand and evaluate the Company’s operating performance, to prepare annual budgets and to help develop operating plans.

    These non-IFRS measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. We believe that securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers, and that these non-IFRS measures are relevant to their analysis of the Company.

    About illumin:

    illumin is evolving the digital advertising landscape by empowering marketers to achieve transformative results through its customer-centric approach. Featuring a unified canvas built around the open web, illumin lets brands and agencies seamlessly plan, build, and execute campaigns across the entire marketing funnel—connecting programmatic channels, email, and social media within a single platform. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, illumin serves clients across North America, Latin America, and Europe. For more information, visit illumin.com.

    Disclaimer with regard to forward looking statements

    Certain statements included herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company’s belief that the NCIB is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and that underlying value of the Company may not be reflected in the market price of the Shares.   Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, illumin does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events.

    For further information, please contact:

    Steve Hosein
    Investor Relations
    illumin Holdings Inc.
    416-218-9888 x5313
    investors@illumin.com    		   David Hanover
    Investor Relations – U.S.
    KCSA Strategic Communications
    212-896-1220
    dhanover@kcsa.com
         

    Please note that the following financial information is an extract from the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (the “Financial Statements”) provided for readers’ convenience and should be viewed in conjunction with the Notes to the Financial Statements, which are an integral part of the statements. The full Financial Statements and MD&A for the period may be found by accessing SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.


    illumin Holdings Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
    (Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

        December 31,
    2024    		     December 31,
    2023
    		  
    Assets          
               
    Current assets          
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 55,952     $ 55,455  
    Accounts receivable     44,650       32,136  
    Income tax receivable     613       3,301  
    Prepaid expenses and other     2,864       4,123  
               
          104,079       95,015  
    Non-current assets          
    Other assets     115       63  
    Property and equipment     7,406       9,329  
    Intangible assets     9,352       7,618  
    Goodwill     4,870       4,870  
               
          125,822       116,895  
               
    Liabilities          
               
    Current liabilities          
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     39,148       26,488  
    Income tax payable     137       717  
    Borrowings     48       131  
    Lease obligations     1,513       1,726  
               
          40,846       29,062  
    Non-current liabilities          
    Borrowings     –       47  
    Deferred tax liability     1,241       1,001  
    Lease obligations     4,702       6,087  
               
          46,789       36,197  
               
    Shareholders’ equity     79,033       80,698  
               
          125,822       116,895  
               

    illumin Holdings Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
    (Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars, except share amounts)
    For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023

          2024       2023  
           
    Revenue   $ 140,389     $ 126,318  
           
    Media-related costs     74,931       66,023  
           
    Gross profit     65,458       60,295  
           
    Operating expenses      
    Sales and marketing     25,927       26,104  
    Technology     20,407       19,695  
    General and administrative     15,069       14,666  
    Share-based compensation     3,732       5,725  
    Depreciation and amortization     5,355       5,482  
           
          70,490       71,672  
           
    Loss from operations     (5,032 )     (11,377 )
           
    Finance income, net     (1,821 )     (2,122 )
    Foreign exchange loss (gain)     (5,066 )     2,827  
           
          (6,887 )     705  
           
    Net income (loss) before income taxes     1,855       (12,082 )
           
    Income tax expense (benefit)     988       (1,095 )
           
    Net income (loss) for the year     867       (10,987 )
           
           
    Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share     0.02       (0.20 )
           
    Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)      
           
    Items that may be subsequently reclassified to net income (loss):      
    Exchange loss on translating foreign operations     (980 )     (1,860 )
           
    Comprehensive loss for the year     (113 )     (12,847 )
     

    illumin Holdings Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)
    For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023

          2024       2023  
    Cash provided by (used in)        
             
    Operating activities        
    Net income (loss) for the year   $ 867     $ (10,987 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows        
    Depreciation and amortization     5,355       5,482  
    Finance income, net     (1,821 )     (2,122 )
    Share-based compensation     3,732       5,725  
    Foreign exchange loss (gain)     (5,066 )     2,827  
    Severance expense     789       850  
    Income tax expense (benefit)     988       (1,095 )
    Change in non-cash operating working capital        
    Accounts receivable     (11,578 )     (296 )
    Prepaid expenses and other     1,361       (2,906 )
    Other assets     (53 )     185  
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     11,883       (1,811 )
    Income taxes refunded (paid), net     1,573       99  
    Interest received     2,101       2,658  
             
          10,131       (1,391 )
             
    Investing activities        
    Additions to property and equipment     (1,690 )     (867 )
    Additions to intangible assets     (4,257 )     (4,375 )
             
          (5,947 )     (5,242 )
             
    Financing activities        
    Repayment of term loans     –       (4,411 )
    Proceeds from international loans     –       1,181  
    Repayment of international loans     (130 )     (1,435 )
    Payment of leases     (2,132 )     (3,020 )
    Repurchase of common shares for cancellation     (5,310 )     (15,313 )
    Proceeds from the exercise of stock options     33       7  
             
          (7,539 )     (22,991 )
             
    Decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (3,355 )     (29,624 )
             
    Impact of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents     3,852       (862 )
             
    Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of year     55,455       85,941  
             
    Cash and cash equivalents – end of year     55,952       55,455  
             
    Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions        
    Adjustments to property and equipment under leases     –       4,403  
    Unpaid additions (reversals) to property and equipment, net     (734 )     734  
    Unpaid taxes on share repurchases     7       –  
             

    1Nasdaq-related costs are listing fees and directors’ and officers’ insurance specific to the Company’s Nasdaq listing and have been reclassed below Adjusted EBITDA as they are not recurring. The prior year numbers have been adjusted to conform to the current year presentation.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Primech AI to Showcase HYTRON AI-Powered Autonomous Bathroom Cleaning Robot at RoboSG 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Primech AI Pte. Ltd. (“Primech AI”) or (the “Company”), a subsidiary of Primech Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: PMEC), today announced its participation at RoboSG 2025, where it will showcase HYTRON, its groundbreaking AI-powered autonomous bathroom cleaning robot. HYTRON represents Primech AI’s continued efforts to transform facility services.

    From left to right: Leng Wei Jie, Senior Executive, Innovation & Technology, Charles Ng, Chief Operating Officer of Primech AI, HYTRON, and Leow Joon Kiat, Senior Maintenance Engineer

    HYTRON will be demonstrated live at Booth T18 in The Nexus, Punggol Digital District’s Discovery Hub section, during the two-day RoboSG 2025 event on March 14-15, 2025. The robot combines cutting-edge AI technology with advanced smart sensors to deliver precision cleaning solutions specifically designed for high-traffic bathroom facilities.

    RoboSG 2025 is Singapore’s premier robotics and automation exhibition, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and technology enthusiasts to explore the latest advancements in robotics and their practical applications across various sectors. The event serves as a platform for showcasing cutting-edge solutions that address real-world challenges through automation and artificial intelligence.

    “HYTRON represents the future of cleaning technology and demonstrates our commitment to redefining hygiene standards through innovation,” said Charles Ng, Chief Operating Officer of Primech AI. “This autonomous solution boosts operational efficiency and addresses the industry’s ongoing challenges with maintaining consistently high cleanliness standards in high-traffic facilities. We’re excited to showcase this revolutionary technology at RoboSG 2025 and invite all stakeholders in facility management, real estate, and technology sectors to witness the future of cleaning in action.”

    About Primech Holdings Limited
    Headquartered in Singapore, Primech Holdings Limited is a leading provider of comprehensive technology-driven facilities services, predominantly serving both public and private sectors throughout Singapore. Primech Holdings offers an extensive range of services tailored to meet the complex demands of its diverse clientele. Services include advanced general facility maintenance services, specialized cleaning solutions such as marble polishing and facade cleaning, meticulous stewarding services, and targeted cleaning services for offices and homes. Known for its commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Primech Holdings integrates eco-friendly practices and smart technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction. This strategic approach positions Primech Holdings as a leader in the industry and a proactive contributor to advancing industry standards and practices in Singapore and beyond. For more information, visit www.primechholdings.com.

    About Primech AI
    Primech AI is a leading robotics company dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation in technology. With a team of passionate individuals and a commitment to collaboration, Primech AI is poised to revolutionize the robotics industry with groundbreaking solutions that make a meaningful impact on society. For more information, visit www.primech.ai.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements about completing the acquisition, anticipated revenues, growth, and expansion. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are also based on assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that such expectations will be correct. The Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    Company Contact:
    Email: ir@primech.com.sg

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Matthew Abenante, IRC
    President
    Strategic Investor Relations, LLC
    Tel: 347-947-2093
    Email: matthew@strategic-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Depot Appoints Chris Ryan as Chief Legal Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin Depot (NASDAQ: BTM), a U.S.-based Bitcoin ATM (“BTM”) operator and leading fintech company, announced today that Chris Ryan has been appointed Chief Legal Officer. With a strong background in financial services, cryptocurrency, and regulatory compliance, Ryan will be instrumental in guiding the company’s legal operations as it continues expanding access to Bitcoin.

    As Chief Legal Officer, Ryan will lead Bitcoin Depot’s legal and compliance strategy, advising the executive team on governance, risk management, and regulatory matters. He will also oversee partnerships, legal operations, and policy initiatives to support the company’s continued expansion.

    Before joining Bitcoin Depot, Ryan served as Deputy General Counsel at MoneyGram International, where he led global legal teams working on cryptocurrency initiatives, regulatory strategy, and commercial partnerships across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Africa. With over a decade of experience, he has negotiated high-profile fintech deals, advised on blockchain product strategies, and developed compliance frameworks for digital assets and payments. He has also worked closely with policymakers on evolving cryptocurrency regulations and overseen key areas like AML, KYC, and financial compliance. His expert understanding of risk management, corporate transactions, and regulatory affairs will be key as Bitcoin Depot continues to strengthen its position as the largest Bitcoin ATM operator in the U.S.

    “Chris has spent his career navigating complex financial and regulatory landscapes while leading high-performing legal and compliance teams,” said Brandon Mintz, CEO and founder of Bitcoin Depot. “His experience in fintech, blockchain, and global regulatory strategy will be invaluable as we continue expanding access to Bitcoin, enhancing compliance, and positioning Bitcoin Depot for long-term success. With the cryptocurrency industry evolving rapidly, Chris’s leadership will ensure we remain ahead of the curve.”

    “Bitcoin Depot is at the forefront of making Bitcoin more accessible to people everywhere, and I’m excited to join at such a transformational time,” said Ryan. “With the crypto industry rapidly evolving, building a strong regulatory and compliance foundation is more important than ever. I look forward to working alongside the team to support Bitcoin Depot’s growth and advance its mission of bringing Bitcoin to the masses through its cash-to-crypto model.”

    Ryan holds a J.D. from the Florida Coastal School of Law and a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Dayton.

    About Bitcoin Depot 
    Bitcoin Depot Inc. (Nasdaq: BTM) was founded in 2016 with the mission to connect those who prefer to use cash to the broader, digital financial system. Bitcoin Depot provides its users with simple, efficient and intuitive means of converting cash into Bitcoin, which users can deploy in the payments, spending and investing space. Users can convert cash to bitcoin at Bitcoin Depot kiosks in 48 states and at thousands of name-brand retail locations in 29 states through its BDCheckout product. The Company has the largest market share in North America with approximately 8,400 kiosk locations as of December 31, 2024. Learn more at www.bitcoindepot.com.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release and any oral statements made in connection herewith include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations of plans, business strategies, objectives and growth and anticipated financial and operational performance, including our growth strategy and ability to increase deployment of our products and services, our ability to strengthen our financial profile, and worldwide growth in the adoption and use of cryptocurrencies. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “anticipate,” “appears,” “approximately,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “designed,” “effect,” “estimate,” “evaluate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “initiative,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “outlook,“ ”plan,“ ”potential,“ ”priorities,“ ”project,“ ”pursue,“ ”seek,“ ”should,“ ”target,“ ”when,“ ”will,“ ”would,” or the negative of any of those words or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. In making these statements, we rely upon assumptions and analysis based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors we consider appropriate under the circumstances. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any future events or financial results. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond our control.

    These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination; risks relating to the uncertainty of our projected financial information; future global, regional or local economic and market conditions; the development, effects and enforcement of laws and regulations; our ability to manage future growth; our ability to develop new products and services, bring them to market in a timely manner and make enhancements to our platform; the effects of competition on our future business; our ability to issue equity or equity-linked securities; the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; and those factors described or referenced in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that we do not presently know or that we currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect our expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our assessments to change.

    We caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where we are expressly required to do so by law. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

    Contacts: 

    Investors  
    Cody Slach 
    Gateway Group, Inc.  
    949-574-3860  
    BTM@gateway-grp.com 

    Media  
    Brenlyn Motlagh, Ryan Deloney  
    Gateway Group, Inc. 
    949-574-3860  
    BTM@gateway-grp.com 

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ab09ac94-e75b-4fd6-9010-b8652a89fc74

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Athabasca Oil Announces Renewal of Normal Course Issuer Bid

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Athabasca Oil Corporation (TSX: ATH) (“Athabasca” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) has approved the renewal of the Corporation’s normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”) to purchase up to 50,432,973 common shares during the 12-month period commencing March 18, 2025 and ending March 17, 2026 or such earlier time as the NCIB is completed or terminated at the option of Athabasca. The Company’s current NCIB is scheduled to expire on March 17, 2025.

    Athabasca’s renewal of its NCIB is based on the strength of the balance sheet and the Company’s commitment to augmenting shareholder returns through a buyback program. The Company’s capital allocation framework balances material near-term return of capital initiatives for shareholders, with a multi-year growth trajectory of cash flow per share. Athabasca sees intrinsic value not reflected in the current share price and in 2025 is planning to allocate 100% of Free Cash Flow to shareholders through buybacks.

    Pursuant to the NCIB, the maximum number of common shares to be purchased represents 10% of the public float, as defined by the TSX. As of March 4, 2024, the Company had a public float of 504,329,730 common shares and 513,745,684 common shares issued and outstanding. Purchases will be made on the open market through the facilities of the TSX and/or alternative trading systems in Canada at market prices prevailing at the time of the acquisition. The number of common shares that can be purchased pursuant to the NCIB is subject to a daily maximum of 594,362 common shares (which is equal to 25% of the average daily trading volume on the TSX of 2,377,450 from September 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025), with the exception that one block purchase in excess of the daily maximum is permitted per calendar week. Common shares acquired under the NCIB will be cancelled.

    In connection with the NCIB, Athabasca will enter into an automatic share purchase plan (“ASPP”) with its designated broker to allow for purchases of its common shares under the NCIB during blackout periods. Such purchases would be at the discretion of the broker based on parameters established by the Company prior to any blackout period or any period when it is in possession of material undisclosed information. Outside of these blackout periods, common shares will be repurchased in accordance with management’s discretion, subject to applicable law.

    Under the Company’s current NCIB that is scheduled to expire on March 17, 2025, the Company was approved by the TSX to repurchase up to 55,423,786 common shares, being 10% of the public float. As of March 4, 2024, the Company has repurchased 51,574,700 common shares through market purchases on the TSX and other alternative Canadian securities trading platforms, at a volume-weighted average purchase price of approximately $5.12 per common share. The Company expects to fully execute the annual NCIB allotment before termination, for the second consecutive year.

    About Athabasca Oil Corporation

    Athabasca Oil Corporation is a Canadian energy company with a focused strategy on the development of thermal and light oil assets. Situated in Alberta’s Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, the Company has amassed a significant land base of extensive, high quality resources. Athabasca’s light oil assets are held in a private subsidiary (Duvernay Energy Corporation) in which Athabasca owns a 70% equity interest. Athabasca’s common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol “ATH”. For more information, visit www.atha.com.

    For more information, please contact:
    Matthew Taylor Robert Broen
    Chief Financial Officer President and CEO
    1-403-817-9104 1-403-817-9190
    mtaylor@atha.com rbroen@atha.com
       

    Reader Advisory:

    This News Release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks, uncertainties and other factors. All information other than statements of historical fact is forward-looking information. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “plan”, “project”, “continue”, “maintain”, “estimate”, “expect”, “will”, “target”, “forecast”, “could”, “intend”, “potential”, “guidance”, “outlook” and similar expressions suggesting future outcome are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is not historical fact, but rather is based on the Company’s current plans, objectives, goals, strategies, estimates, assumptions and projections about the Company’s industry, business and future operating and financial results. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information included in this News Release should not be unduly relied upon. This information speaks only as of the date of this News Release. In particular, this News Release contains forward-looking information pertaining to, but not limited to, the following: our strategic plans; repayment plans; the allocation of future capital; timing and quantum for shareholder returns including share buybacks; the terms of our NCIB program and ASPP; and other matters.

    The actual number of common shares that will be repurchased under the NCIB, and the timing of any such purchases, will be determined by the Company on management’s discretion, subject to applicable securities laws. There cannot be any assurances as to how many common shares, if any, will ultimately be acquired by the Company.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NR: DAGS LOOKS TO FILL ENGINEERING AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR JOBS ACROSS STATE

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    NR: DAGS LOOKS TO FILL ENGINEERING AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR JOBS ACROSS STATE

    Posted on Mar 13, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

    DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES

    KA ʻOIHANA LOIHELU A LAWELAWE LAULĀ

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    KEITH A. REGAN

    COMPTROLLER

    KA LUNA HOʻOMALU HANA LAULĀ

    MEOH-LENG SILLIMAN

    DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

    KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOMALU HANA LAULĀ

     

    DAGS LOOKS TO FILL ENGINEERING AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR JOBS ACROSS STATE

    Some Jobs are Part of the Operation Hire Hawaiʻi (OH-HI) Project to Hire Federal Workers

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    March 13, 2025

    HONOLULU — Engineers and building construction inspectors of all experience levels are wanted at the state of Hawaiʻi Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS).

    The top engineering jobs are supervisory positions whose salary range tops out at more than $16,000 a month. The staff engineer job openings requiring entry level experience are Engineer II jobs that start at nearly $6,000 a month.

    The building construction inspector jobs salary range goes from slightly more than $6,000 a month to just over $7,000 a month. Inspectors, in addition to their salaries, can also earn a shortage differential that varies by position, and can be substantial.

    The state is recruiting the building construction inspectors under the Operation Hire Hawaiʻi (OH-HI) initiative announced by Governor Josh Green, M.D. It is a targeted outreach featuring an expedited hiring process, fast-tracking qualified applicants into job opportunities throughout Hawaiʻi.
    Most of the engineering jobs (all but the program managers) are being recruited under the state Department of Human Resources Wikiwiki Hire program, which is also a fast-tracked process. The Wikiwiki Hire program can speed up the hiring process by months.

    The open civil service positions and their locations are:

    Engineering Program Manager in Kona and on Maui

    Engineer II, III, IV and V on Maui

    Engineer III, IV and V on Oʻahu and on Hawaiʻi Island

    Building Construction Inspector I and II on Maui

    Building Construction Inspector II on Oʻahu

    Building Construction Inspector II and III on Hawaiʻi Island

    Building Construction Inspector III on Kauaʻi

    DAGS Director and Comptroller Keith Regan said, “There’s a lot of uncertainty and movement in the workforce right now due to the federal Department of Government Efficiency layoffs and ongoing efforts to downsize. We hope to be part of the solution for people needing a new job or simply seeking more secure employment. We want people to know that we have good paying, stable, high-level jobs on all the islands on which DAGS has a presence.”

    DAGS Public Works Administrator Gordon Wood said, “We have a variety of engineering jobs, and mostly all of them are related to project management. Our architects, engineers, and building construction inspectors play such a critical role in our state. Without them, the facilities the state needs to provide services to the public can’t get built.”

    Wood added the positions help keep the state’s economy flowing. “DAGS currently has 67 projects on Oʻahu alone worth roughly $520 million in construction. We have eight building construction inspectors overseeing them. That means each inspector is responsible for $65 million in construction.”

    DAGS Central Services Administrator James Kurata noted, “Central Services completes the project delivery cycle; Public Works builds facilities and we maintain them. We are always looking for engineers who can help us with facility maintenance so the state departments who work out of those buildings can seamlessly continue to serve the public.”

    RESOURCES

    (Image courtesy: DAGS)

    # # #

     

    Media contact:

    Diane Ako

    Communications Officer

    Department of Accounting and General Services, State of Hawaiʻi

    Cell: 808-764-7256

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025-41 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ LEADS MULTISTATE COALITION SUING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP DISMANTLING OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND PROTECT STUDENTS

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    2025-41 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ LEADS MULTISTATE COALITION SUING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP DISMANTLING OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND PROTECT STUDENTS

    Posted on Mar 13, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    ANNE LOPEZ

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    LOIO KUHINA

    ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ LEADS MULTISTATE COALITION SUING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP DISMANTLING OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND PROTECT STUDENTS

    News Release 2025-41

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       

    March 13, 2025

     HONOLULU – Attorney General Anne Lopez today led a coalition of 21 attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. On March 11, the Trump administration announced that the U.S. Department of Education would be firing approximately 50 percent of its workforce as part of its goal of a “total shutdown” of the department. Attorney General Lopez and the coalition today filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the targeted destruction of this critical federal agency that ensures tens of millions of students receive a quality education and critical resources.  

    “Neither a president nor his administration can abolish or render useless a department of the United States on a whim. Students in Hawaiʻi—from K-12 to the University of Hawaiʻi—rely upon the U.S. Department of Education, its programs and its public servants because they are supported by federal laws passed by Congress,” said Attorney General Lopez. “There is no higher calling in government than to fight for a better future for our children. My department will proudly fight for that future, including for federal support for low-income children and students with disabilities and for combatting discrimination in education.”

    “The U.S. Department of Education plays a critical role in ensuring that students—especially those with the greatest needs—have access to the resources and opportunities they deserve. Federal education dollars support essential services in our public schools, including special education and school meal programs, and provide salaries for more than 1,100 of our dedicated full-time educators and staff,” said Hawaiʻi Department of Education Superintendent Keith T. Hayashi. “Any effort to dismantle this agency threatens not only these vital programs but also the stability of our entire public education system. We appreciate the leadership of Attorney General Lopez in standing up for students, families and educators, and we remain committed to advocating for the resources necessary to best support our students.”

    “The proposed elimination of 50% of U.S. Department of Education employees raises serious concerns about the future of critical student services and programs that support educational access,” said University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel. “While the full impact on our university system is still unknown, we anticipate significant disruptions if these reductions move forward as planned. Currently, more than 270 positions across our 10-campus system are funded through U.S. Department of Education resources. These employees and the programs they administer play a crucial role in supporting our students—particularly through initiatives such as Title III, which strengthens UH’s capacity to serve Native Hawaiian students, and Title VII, which upholds essential protections against discrimination. Any reduction in these areas would not only affect our institution but also diminish opportunities for the many communities we serve.”

    Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes and Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave Day jointly stated: “We are all molded by the education we receive as children and young adults. The Department of the Attorney General will challenge all unlawful attempts to deprive the next generation of educational opportunities and privileges promised to them by the laws of this nation.” Hawaiʻi is represented in this litigation by Solicitor General Fernandes, Special Assistant to the Attorney General Day, and Deputy Solicitor General Ewan Rayner.

    The U.S. Department of Education’s programs serve nearly 18,200 school districts and over 50 million K-12 students attending roughly 98,000 public schools and 32,000 private schools throughout the country. Its higher education programs provide services and support to more than 12 million postsecondary students annually. Students with disabilities and students from low-income families are some of the primary beneficiaries of U.S. Department of Education services and funding. U.S. Department of Education funds for special education include support for assistive technology for students with disabilities, teacher salaries and benefits, transportation to help children receive the services and programming they need, physical therapy and speech therapy services, and social workers to help manage students’ educational experience. The U.S. Department of Education also supports students in rural communities by offering programs designed to help rural school districts that often lack the personnel and resources needed to compete for competitive grants.

    As Attorney General Lopez and the coalition assert in the lawsuit, dismantling the U.S. Department of Education will have devastating effects for states like Hawaiʻi. The administration’s lay-off is so massive that the U.S. Department of Education will be incapacitated and unable to perform essential functions. As the lawsuit asserts, the administration’s actions will deprive students with special needs of critical resources and support. They will gut U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, which protects students from discrimination and sexual assault. They would additionally hamstring the processing of financial aid, raising costs for college and university students who will have a harder time accessing loans, Pell Grants, and work study programs.  

    With this lawsuit, Attorney General Lopez and the coalition are seeking a court order to stop the administration’s policies to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education by drastically cutting its workforce and programs. Attorney General Lopez and the coalition argue that the administration’s actions to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education are illegal and unconstitutional. The department is an executive agency authorized by Congress, with numerous different laws creating its various programs and funding streams. The coalition’s lawsuit asserts that the Executive Branch does not have the legal authority to unilaterally incapacitate or dismantle it without an act of Congress.

    This lawsuit is led by Attorney General Lopez and the attorneys general of California, Massachusetts, and New York. Joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont and the District of Columbia.

    A link to the virtual press conference Attorney General Lopez held today with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, and New York Attorney General Letitia James can be found here. 

    # # #

    Media contacts:

    Dave Day

    Special Assistant to the Attorney General

    Office: 808-586-1284                                                  

    Email: [email protected]        

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

    Toni Schwartz

    Public Information Officer

    Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General

    Office: 808-586-1252

    Cell: 808-379-9249

    Email: [email protected] 

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DAGS Looks To Fill Engineering and Building Construction Inspector Jobs Across State

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DAGS Looks To Fill Engineering and Building Construction Inspector Jobs Across State

    Posted on Mar 13, 2025 in Main

    HONOLULU — Engineers and building construction inspectors of all experience levels are wanted at the state of Hawaiʻi Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS).

    The top engineering jobs are supervisory positions whose salary range tops out at more than $16,000 a month. The staff engineer job openings requiring entry level experience are Engineer II jobs that start at nearly $6,000 a month.

    The building construction inspector jobs salary range goes from slightly more than $6,000 a month to just over $7,000 a month. Inspectors, in addition to their salaries, can also earn a shortage differential that varies by position, and can be substantial.

    The state is recruiting the building construction inspectors under the Operation Hire Hawaiʻi (OH-HI) initiative announced by Governor Josh Green, M.D. It is a targeted outreach featuring an expedited hiring process, fast-tracking qualified applicants into job opportunities throughout Hawaiʻi.

    Most of the engineering jobs (all but the program managers) are being recruited under the state Department of Human Resources Wikiwiki Hire program, which is also a fast-tracked process. The Wikiwiki Hire program can speed up the hiring process by months.

    The open civil service positions and their locations are:
    Engineering Program Manager in Kona and on Maui
    Engineer II, III, IV and V on Maui
    Engineer III, IV and V on Oʻahu and on Hawaiʻi Island
    Building Construction Inspector I and II on Maui
    Building Construction Inspector II on Oʻahu
    Building Construction Inspector II and III on Hawaiʻi Island
    Building Construction Inspector III on Kauaʻi

    DAGS Director and Comptroller Keith Regan said, “There’s a lot of uncertainty and movement in the workforce right now due to the federal Department of Government Efficiency layoffs and ongoing efforts to downsize. We hope to be part of the solution for people needing a new job or simply seeking more secure employment. We want people to know that we have good paying, stable, high-level jobs on all the islands on which DAGS has a presence.”

    DAGS Public Works Administrator Gordon Wood said, “We have a variety of engineering jobs, and mostly all of them are related to project management. Our architects, engineers, and building construction inspectors play such a critical role in our state. Without them, the facilities the state needs to provide services to the public can’t get built.”

    Wood added the positions help keep the state’s economy flowing. “DAGS currently has 67 projects on Oʻahu alone worth roughly $520 million in construction. We have eight building construction inspectors overseeing them. That means each inspector is responsible for $65 million in construction.”

    DAGS Central Services Administrator James Kurata noted, “Central Services completes the project delivery cycle; Public Works builds facilities and we maintain them. We are always looking for engineers who can help us with facility maintenance so the state departments who work out of those buildings can seamlessly continue to serve the public.”

    If you would like to apply, DAGS job listings are at https://ags.hawaii.gov/employment/.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: T4Trade Expands Online Trading Offerings with Multi-Asset Access

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LIMASSOL, Cyprus, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — T4Trade has announced the expansion of its online trading services, reinforcing its position as a multi-asset brokerage. With access to over 300 financial instruments across forex, commodities, metals, indices, and shares, T4Trade continues to provide a comprehensive trading environment for both new and experienced traders.

    The broker supports trading via the industry-standard MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform and WebTrader, enabling access across Windows, macOS, iPhone/iPad, and Android devices. The MT4 platform includes advanced charting tools, encrypted communications, customizable interfaces, and algorithmic trading capabilities. Additionally, traders can utilize pre-installed Expert Advisors and over 50 technical indicators for automated trading.

    T4Trade also offers TradeCopier, a copy trading feature that allows traders to follow strategies from other market participants or earn performance-based fees as strategy providers.

    With multiple account types, T4Trade provides various trading conditions, including fixed and floating spreads, leverage options, and commission-free trading on select accounts. The broker also offers educational resources such as eBooks, webinars, podcasts, and market analysis to support traders at different experience levels.

    Licensed by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority, T4Trade follows client fund protection protocols, including segregated bank accounts and transparent trading practices. The company provides multilingual customer support available 24/5 via telephone, email, and live chat.

    For more information, users can visit T4Trade’s website.

    About T4Trade

    T4Trade is a regulated online trading broker providing access to a wide range of financial instruments across multiple asset classes. With a focus on technology, market accessibility, and educational support, T4Trade offers trading solutions designed to meet the needs of traders at all levels. The company operates under a financial services license from the Seychelles Financial Services Authority and adheres to industry standards for client fund protection and transparency.

    Contact

    Media Officer

    George Nicolaou

    T4Trade

    support@t4trade.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/47e5726a-3957-405b-84f6-6ac58cad09b2

    The MIL Network –