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Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is a quantum-cryptography apocalypse imminent?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Keith Martin, Professor, Information Security Group, Royal Holloway University of London

    Be afraid, be very … FOTOKITA

    Will quantum computers crack cryptographic codes and cause a global security disaster? You might certainly get that impression from a lot of news coverage, the latest of which reports new estimates that it might be 20 times easier to crack such codes than previously thought.

    Cryptography underpins the security of almost everything in cyberspace, from wifi to banking to digital currencies such as bitcoin. Whereas it was previously estimated that it would take a quantum computer with 20 million qubits (quantum bits) eight hours to crack the popular RSA algorithm (named after its inventors, Rivest–Shamir–Adleman), the new estimate reckons this could be done with 1 million qubits.

    By weakening cryptography, quantum computing would present a serious threat to our everyday cybersecurity. So is a quantum-cryptography apocalypse imminent?

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Quantum computers exist today but are highly limited in their capabilities. There is no single concept of a quantum computer, with several different design approaches being taken to their development.

    There are major technological barriers to be overcome before any of those approaches become useful, but a great deal of money is being spent, so we can expect significant technological improvements in the coming years.

    For the most commonly deployed cryptographic tools, quantum computing will have little impact. Symmetric cryptography, which encrypts the bulk of our data today (and does not include the RSA algorithm), can easily be strengthened to protect against quantum computers.

    Quantum computing might have more significant impact on public-key cryptography, which is used to set up secure connections online. For example this is used to support online shopping or secure messaging, traditionally using the RSA algorithm, though increasingly an alternative called elliptic curve Diffie-Hellman.

    Public key cryptography is also used to create digital signatures such as those used in bitcoin transactions, and uses yet another type of cryptography called the elliptic curve digital signature algorithm.

    If a sufficiently powerful and reliable quantum computer ever exists, processes that are currently only theoretical might become capable of breaking those public-key cryptographic tools. RSA algorithms are potentially more vulnerable because of the type of mathematics they use, though the alternatives could be vulnerable too.

    Such theoretical processes themselves will inevitably improve over time, as the paper about RSA algorithms is the latest to demonstrate.

    What we don’t know

    What remains extremely uncertain is both the destination and timelines of quantum computing development. We don’t really know what quantum computers will ever be capable of doing in practice.

    Expert opinion is highly divided on when we can expect serious quantum computing to emerge. A minority seem to believe a breakthrough is imminent. But an equally significant minority think it will never happen. Most experts believe it a future possibility, but prognoses range from between ten and 20 years to well beyond that.

    And will such quantum computers be cryptographically relevant? Essentially, nobody knows. Like most of the concerns about quantum computers in this area, the RSA paper is about an attack that may or may not work, and requires a machine that might never be built (the most powerful quantum computers currently have just over 1,000 qubits, and they’re still very error prone).

    From a cryptographic perspective, however, such quantum computing uncertainty is arguably immaterial. Security involves worst-case thinking and future proofing. So it is wisest to assume that a cryptographically relevant quantum computer might one day exist. Even if one is 20 years away, this is relevant because some data that we encrypt today might still require protection 20 years from now.

    Experience also shows that in complex systems such as financial networks, upgrading cryptography can take a long time to complete. We therefore need to act now.

    What we should do

    The good news is that most of the hard thinking has already been done. In 2016, the US National Institute for Standards and Technology (Nist) launched an international competition to design new post-quantum cryptographic tools that are believed to be secure against quantum computers.

    In 2024, Nist published an initial set of standards that included a post-quantum key exchange mechanism and several post-quantum digital signature schemes. To become secure against a future quantum computer, digital systems need to replace current public-key cryptography with new post-quantum mechanisms. They also need to ensure that existing symmetric cryptography is supported by sufficiently long symmetric keys (many existing systems already are).

    The US NIST published post-quantum cryptographic standards in 2024.
    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A

    Yet my core message is don’t panic. Now is the time to evaluate the risks and decide on future courses of action. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has suggested one such timeline, primarily for large organisations and those supporting critical infrastructure such as industrial control systems.

    This envisages 2028 as a deadline for completing a cryptographic inventory and establishing a post-quantum migration plan, with upgrade processes to be completed by 2035. This decade-long timeline suggests that NCSC experts don’t see a quantum cryptography apocalypse coming anytime soon.

    For the rest of us, we simply wait. In due course, if deemed necessary, the likes of our web browsers, wifi, mobile phones and messaging apps will gradually become post-quantum secure either through security upgrades (never forget to install them) or steady replacement of technology.

    We will undoubtedly read more stories about breakthroughs in quantum computing and upcoming cryptography apocalypses as big technology companies compete for the headlines. Cryptographically relevant quantum computing might well arrive one day, most likely far into the future. If and when it does, we’ll surely be ready.

    Keith Martin receives funding from EPSRC.

    – ref. Is a quantum-cryptography apocalypse imminent? – https://theconversation.com/is-a-quantum-cryptography-apocalypse-imminent-257993

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What birds can teach us about repurposing waste

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Farrier, Professor of Literature and the Environment, University of Edinburgh

    Some birds use deterrent spikes to make their nests. Chemari/Shutterstock

    Modern cities are evolution engines. Urban snails in the Netherlands and lizards in Los Angeles have developed lighter shells and larger scales to cope with the heat island effect, where temperatures can be several degrees above the surrounding area.

    Artificial light makes an artificial dawn, shifting the time when birds sing, and has prompted urban bridge-dwelling spiders to develop an attraction to light, whereas ermine moths are losing theirs altogether. A mutation in the so-called “daredevil gene”, also found in downhill skiers and snowboarders, is making urban swans bolder and more tolerant of humans.

    Our urban environments are pushing many species to reimagine their bodies and behaviours to suit municipal living; but some are also reimagining our cities. There’s lots to learn from how nature adapts to city life.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Anti-bird spikes are a hostile architecture for wildlife, designed to keep messy nature away from buildings. Yet, crows and magpies in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Glasgow strip the spikes away and use them to make their nests.

    It’s difficult to imagine finding ease in a nest that has all the comfort of a tangled ball of wire, but the birds occupy them contentedly, improvising shelter from materials intended to exclude.

    Evolutionary biologists call this process “exaptation”. For example, feathers originally evolved to keep bird-like dinosaurs like Archaeopteryx warm. These feathers were adaptations to colder temperatures and only later repurposed, or exapted, to allow flight.

    Exaptation places repurposing at the heart of evolution; what if we were to design our homes on the same basis?

    Repurposing waste

    The Waste House is a two-storey model home in Brighton, made almost entirely from household and construction waste. When I visited the Waste House while researching my book, Nature’s Genius: Evolution’s Lessons for a Changing Planet, I loved the sense of possibility found in a staircase made of compressed paper or carpet tiles lapped like slates round its outside walls.

    But what lingered most vividly were the little windows built into the inside walls, showing what materials they’d used as insulation: old duvets and bicycle inner tubes, and in one window a library of DVDs. One of these was a copy of Groundhog Day – a film where the same day repeats on an endless loop.

    Built in 2013–14 behind the University of Brighton’s faculty of arts building, Waste House is made from construciton and household waste.
    Hassocks5489/Wikimedia, CC BY-NC-ND

    We’re similarly stuck in a rigid pattern of extraction, consumption and waste that plays again and again, day after day. But rather than a loop, this pattern is stubbornly linear, with hundreds of millions of tonnes of usable materials flowing into the dead end of landfill every year.

    The problem is that so much of what we make is designed with a single use or purpose in mind. We tend not to think about what a material or an object could become at the end of its life. But exaptation teaches us to stop seeing things as they are, and instead imagine their potential to be something new.

    In Edinburgh, Pianodrome is a performance space that’s assembled entirely from old pianos. Audiences climb staircases made of soundboards, clutching bannisters that were piano lids and rest their heads against seatbacks conjured from reclaimed keyboards. Destined for landfill, these instruments have instead found a new life as space for people to gather and perform.

    But like all exapted features, their new life hasn’t erased the old. Pianodrome’s makers left the strings of the old piano harps in place, buried in the heart of the structure. Just as feathers still keep flighted birds warm, and spikes that kept birds from buildings help crows and magpies to protect their nests from predators, whenever a performance takes place inside it, pianodrome resonates like one giant instrument.

    An exaptive approach could help birth a circular economy, taking us out of this damaging loop of extraction and consumption, and finding value in what we currently discard. Leaving materials to waste imposes a barrier, a limit on what could be. But the birds who build their nests from anti-bird spikes teach us that what was once a barrier can become a shelter.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

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

    – ref. What birds can teach us about repurposing waste – https://theconversation.com/what-birds-can-teach-us-about-repurposing-waste-256519

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justin R. Simmons Appointed as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – Attorney General Pamela Bondi has appointed Justin R. Simmons as Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546, which provides that “the Attorney General may appoint a United States Attorney for the district in which the office of United States Attorney is vacant.” This appointment took effect on May 30, 2025.

    “I want to thank President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for placing their trust in me to lead the incredible AUSAs and support staff we have working here in the Western District,” said Simmons. “I am humbled and honored to serve in this role.”

    Simmons joined the Western District of Texas as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in December 2020 and has prosecuted a wide variety of cases, including cases involving trans-national criminal organizations, human trafficking, gun crimes, white-collar crimes, and immigration offenses.

    Simmons also served as the SAR Coordinator for the district, a role in which he was tasked with leading a group of federal, state and local law enforcement agents and officers in reviewing and evaluating SARs filed by various financial institutions. Simmons also served as the Elder Justice Coordinator, giving presentations to various groups in the San Antonio area regarding the many criminal schemes perpetrated on the elderly. Additionally, he served on the leadership team for the South Texas Officers and Prosecutors Human Trafficking Task Force, giving various presentations to law enforcement personnel regarding financial investigations in the human trafficking context.

    “The Western District of Texas has for many years been on the front lines of the fight against the narco-terrorists that have enriched themselves to the detriment of the United States,” said Simmons. “In keeping with the President’s priorities, we will continue to push back against their efforts by aggressively enforcing the laws of the United States. We will also continue to root out and bring to light those who would enrich themselves by perpetrating fraud on the government or individual citizens. Additionally, our civil litigators will continue with their important work representing the interests of the United States in our federal courts. Hand in hand with our law enforcement partners, we will do our part to make the Western District a place where the American people cannot just survive but thrive. I look forward to leading in this effort.”

    Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s office, Simmons was a commercial litigator at the law firm of Scheef & Stone in Frisco, Texas, and, before that, he was an Assistant District Attorney in Collin County, Texas.

    Simmons received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Samford University in 2004, and his Juris Doctorate from Texas A&M in 2016.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plymouth commissions strategic economic research to prepare for once-in-a-generation investment

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Plymouth City Council, working as part of Growth Alliance Plymouth (GAP), has commissioned a major economic study to help the city prepare for the opportunities and challenges arising from an investment programme worth in excess of £4.4 billion at HM Naval Base Devonport and Babcock’s Devonport Royal Dockyard.

    The research will provide critical insight into shaping Plymouth’s economic future and maximising the impact of MOD investment over the next decade and beyond. Babcock’s pivotal role in delivering the next phase of the Royal Navy’s submarine programme and the Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD) with support extending through to at least 2070 represents one of the most sustained and significant long-term financial commitments ever made to the city and wider region.

    To help ensure Plymouth best manages this opportunity, the Council has appointed one of the UK’s leading economic and labour market research consultancies, Stantec, to deliver a detailed economic forecast and skills gap analysis from 2025 – 2035. Working with major city employers including Babcock and Growth Alliance Plymouth (GAP), this research will address two key questions: What will Plymouth’s economy look like as a result of this investment? And what skills and workforce capacity will be needed to support it?

    This work builds on earlier research commissioned in partnership with Homes England, elevated by Growth Alliance Plymouth (GAP) to support the development of the Plymouth City Centre Housing Vision. It forms a key part of the Council’s evidence base for strategic planning, inward investment, and future funding bids. It also directly supports the delivery of the Plymouth Plan, the city’s long-term strategy that sets out how Plymouth will grow in a sustainable way, covering areas such as housing, jobs, transport and the environment.

    Councillor Tudor Evans OBE, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said:

    ‘This investment is unlike anything Plymouth has seen before—not just in scale, but in its long-term significance. It will shape the future of our economy and our communities, and we need to be ready. This research will give us the hard evidence we need to make good decisions now, so that the benefits are felt across the whole city for decades to come’.

    The commissioning of the study reflects the coordinated approach being taken through Growth Alliance Plymouth (GAP), a strategic partnership between Plymouth City Council, Devonport Naval Base, and Babcock International Group, established to align local and national priorities in support of long-term, sustainable growth. The commissioning of this study was fully endorsed at a city-wide skills roundtable in April, which was attended by a large cross-section of industry, academic and other leaders from the city and wider region.

    The research will also play a critical role in helping to attract further investment into Plymouth, supporting bids for additional Government funding and giving confidence to both public and private sector partners looking to invest in the city’s future.

    Brigadier, Mike Tanner OBE, Commander HMNB Devonport, said:

    ‘This study marks another significant step forward for the growth and prosperity of the city. When I arrived in post three years ago, I was able to reassure the city leaders that the Royal Navy and the Naval Base were here to stay. Over the last couple of years, we’ve shown that not only are we staying, we’re modernising and upgrading our capabilities, focused around our submarine maintenance role.  This opens up massive opportunities for highly paid, high skills work inside the Base and together with the City and Babcock our work in the GAP alliance is centred around ensuring Plymouth and the region create those skilled people locally’.

    John Gane, Managing Director for Babcock’s Devonport site, said:

    “Babcock is proud to be deeply rooted in Plymouth, where we’re not just creating jobs – we’re building careers for life. Our investment in people and skills is central to supporting a critical national endeavour, and we remain committed to developing a highly skilled workforce that will sustain both our community and the UK’s defence capability for generations to come.”

    Gareth Brown, Development Economics Director at Stantec, said:

    “Sustainable economic growth requires a comprehensive understanding of the local labour market, and how this needs to evolve strategically over time. Our teams will be supporting Plymouth City Council with a range of insight to identify immediate and long-term focus areas, create job opportunities across different sectors, and unleash the full potential of this investment.”

    The study is expected to conclude by Autumn and will inform both immediate planning priorities and longer-term strategy across skills, housing, infrastructure, and regeneration.

    Notes to Editors

    Growth Alliance Plymouth (GAP)

    In September 2024 the Ministry of Defence announced an additional £4.4bn investment over 10 years into HMNB and Babcock’s Devonport Royal Dockyard to support the next phase of the Royal Navy’s submarine works and the continuous at sea deterrent (CASD). The requirement to maintain the Royal Navy’s fleet in Plymouth extends beyond 2070 and therefore creates an extremely rare, long-term financial commitment to Plymouth and its wider region.

    Devonport and the broader defence industry’s local impact is vast. The sector currently contributes 14 per cent of the city’s economic output, with HM Naval Base Devonport and Babcock’s Devonport Royal Dockyard employing 11,600 workers and this number is set to rise significantly as a result of the MoD announcement. Investment in Plymouth is nationally significant and links to similar investments in Barrow-in-Furness and Derby. Nationally, The UK’s Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills has forecasted an additional nuclear skills requirement of 40,000 new roles by 2030.

    Babcock, Plymouth City Council and the Royal Navy have established Growth Alliance Plymouth (GAP) as a partnership to ensure the vital defence outputs are delivered into the future whilst supporting the region’s growth. Through working together in partnership, GAP aims to maximise the opportunities that the MOD investment can drive into local communities.

    Find out more about Growth Alliance Plymouth (GAP) here: Growth Alliance Plymouth | Invest Plymouth

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: ConnectM Provides Update to Stockholders on Buyout Group’s Offer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MARLBOROUGH, Mass., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. (OTC: CNTM) (“ConnectM” or the “Company”), a high-growth technology company on the leading edge of the modern energy economy, today issued an update to its stockholders regarding the recent buyout offer by a group of longstanding stockholders.

    ConnectM received a letter from Optimax Solutions Inc., on behalf of SriSid LLC, Arumilli LLC, and Win-Light Global Co Ltd (collectively, the “Buyout Group”), informing the Company that in light of ConnectM’s recent delays filing its Form 10-K and Form 10-Q reports, the Buyout Group have decided to pause their previously submitted buyout proposal and place further acquisition discussions on hold.

    The Buyout Group expressed continued support for ConnectM and its management team, particularly in regard to the comprehensive four-month recovery plan the Company recently announced, which is aimed at regaining compliance and relisting on major stock exchange like Nasdaq or NYSE. The Buyout Group stated that they view the successful execution of this plan as critical and indicated their willingness to reengage in buyout discussions upon ConnectM’s successful relisting.

    ConnectM’s Board of Directors and management team remain focused on implementing the strategic actions necessary to restore compliance and deliver long-term value to all stockholders.

    ConnectM intends to file its 2024 Annual Report and Q1 2025 Quarterly Reports in June 2025, which will show strong performance across all its operating segments.

    The Company appreciates the support and partnership of its major stockholders during this period.

    About ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.

    ConnectM is a constellation of companies powering the next generation of electrified equipment, mobility, and distributed energy—thus enabling a faster, smarter transition to a modern energy economy. The Company provides residential and light commercial service providers and original equipment manufacturers with a proprietary Energy Intelligence Network platform to accelerate the transition to all-electric heating, cooling, and transportation. Leveraging technology, data, artificial intelligence, and behavioral economics, ConnectM aims to lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions globally.

    For more information, please visit: https://www.connectm.com/

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding our future financial performance and our strategy, expansion plans, future operations, future operating results, estimated revenues, losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “project” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. In addition, we caution you that the forward-looking statements regarding the Company contained in this press release are subject to the risks and uncertainties described in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 18, 2024. Such filing identifies and addresses other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and ConnectM is under no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Contact:

    Investor Relations
    ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
    (617) 395-1333
    irpr@connectm.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Spokane Dermatologist Agrees to Pay $1.4 Million to Resolve Claims of Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Funds

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    Click Here to View the Original U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Press Release

    The United States Attorney’s Office announced William Philip Werschler, age 66, of Spokane, Washington, along with his businesses Spokane Dermatology Clinic, Premier Clinical Research L.L.C., and 3rd and Sherman Plaza L.L.C., have agreed to pay $1,400,000 to resolve claims under the False Claims Act related to alleged mis-spending of funds intended to benefit struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic.  EIDL funds were to be used solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury to a business caused by the COVID-19 disaster, such as paying payroll, health insurance premiums, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments.  EIDL funds were not to be used for personal purposes or to obtain real property or to refinance indebtedness which was incurred prior to the disaster event is a prohibited use of EIDL funding.

    According to the settlement agreement, beginning no later than April 2020 and continuing until at least July 2022, Werschler applied for EIDL loans for his businesses: Spokane Dermatology Clinic, Premier Clinical Research, and 3rd and Sherman Plaza L.L.C.

    Shortly after receiving EIDL funds, Werschler made personal purchases of a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 and a 1997 Porsche Carrera for a total of $252,375.00.  Werschler also used $553,143 to purchase two properties across from his Spokane Dermatology Clinic.  The purchase of personal automobiles and real property are both contrary to the proper use of EIDL funds.  The global resolution entered into by Werschler and his companies also resolved related criminal charges.

    This case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigations, the FBI, and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General.

    The settlement agreement can be viewed at the link below.

    settlement_agreement.pdf

    Related programs: COVID EIDL, Pandemic Oversight

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Louis Nonprofit Executive Admits $2.3 Million-Dollar Student Meal Fraud

    Source: US FBI

    ST. LOUIS – The owner of a nonprofit on Tuesday admitted fraudulently obtaining more than $2 million in funds intended to feed low-income Missouri children, both before and during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Cymone McClellan, 32, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She admitted that she and Terra Davis, 43, submitted $2.3 million worth of false and fraudulent meal reimbursement claims to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services from about January 2019 to June 2022, on behalf of their nonprofit, Sister of Lavender Rose (S.O.L.R.). Davis was McClellan’s second-in-command at S.O.L.R.

    McClellan and Davis submitted false reimbursement claims for a total of 860,876 meals that they purportedly supplied to Missouri children. But McClellan actually only purchased enough food and milk to serve fewer than a quarter of those meals, her plea agreement says.

    McClellan provided bogus sign-in sheets to DHSS falsely claiming to have taken the attendance of meal recipients at certain food distribution locations. S.O.L.R. submitted management plans to DHSS falsely asserting that state meal reimbursement dollars were spent only in connection with the provision of meals to low-income children, and that the nonprofit did not use meal money to make purchases over $5,000. McClellan’s management plans also falsely claimed that all checks were signed by her finance director, who was not a signor on S.O.L.R.’s account.

    McClellan admitted spending $60,000 of the money that was to be used for feeding children for the down payment on a house in Collinsville, Illinois. She spent another $86,172 on a house in Florissant, Missouri, and almost $135,000 more to buy five vehicles: a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse, a 2012 Chevrolet Express G3500 van, a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris van, a 2012 Ford E350 box truck and a 2018 Lexus RX SUV.

    As part of her plea, McClellan has agreed to forfeit the vehicles and houses. At her sentencing, now set for August 26, she will be ordered to repay the rest of the money.

    Davis pleaded guilty in December to the same wire fraud conspiracy charge. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.  

    Anyone with information about pandemic fraud should call the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or report via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: BNP Paribas share buyback programme – Declaration of transactions in own shares from May 26, 2025 to May 30, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PRESS RELEASE

    Paris, 2 June 2025

    In accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on Market Abuse and Article 3 (3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 through regulatory technical standards concerning the conditions applicable to buyback programs and stabilization measures, BNP Paribas informs the market of the following transactions in own shares:

    Name of issuer Identification code of issuer (Legal Entity Identifier) Day of transaction Identification code of financial instrument Aggregated daily volume (in number of shares) Daily weighted average price of the purchased shares * Market (MIC Code)
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 26/05/2025 FR0000131104 39,050 77.0839 AQEU
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 26/05/2025 FR0000131104 212,882 77.0836 CEUX
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 26/05/2025 FR0000131104 44,409 77.0837 TQEX
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 26/05/2025 FR0000131104 598,659 77.0783 XPAR
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 27/05/2025 FR0000131104 39,781 77.6076 AQEU
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 27/05/2025 FR0000131104 206,211 77.6062 CEUX
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 27/05/2025 FR0000131104 43,673 77.6059 TQEX
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 27/05/2025 FR0000131104 605,335 77.6162 XPAR
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 28/05/2025 FR0000131104 39,206 77.1428 AQEU
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 28/05/2025 FR0000131104 201,729 77.1209 CEUX
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 28/05/2025 FR0000131104 42,964 77.1279 TQEX
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 28/05/2025 FR0000131104 603,101 77.0850 XPAR
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 29/05/2025 FR0000131104 31,911 77.1304 AQEU
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 29/05/2025 FR0000131104 243,039 77.1412 CEUX
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 29/05/2025 FR0000131104 34,633 77.1342 TQEX
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 29/05/2025 FR0000131104 587,417 77.1558 XPAR
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 30/05/2025 FR0000131104 31,280 77.2809 AQEU
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 30/05/2025 FR0000131104 236,872 77.2800 CEUX
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 30/05/2025 FR0000131104 34,668 77.2829 TQEX
    BNP PARIBAS R0MUWSFPU8MPRO8K5P83 30/05/2025 FR0000131104 564,180 77.2721 XPAR
    * Four-digit rounding after the decimal TOTAL 4,441,000 77.2432  

    As of 30 May 2025 included, BNP Paribas purchased 8,988,000 millions of shares for a total consideration of EUR 695 million.

    The description of the share buyback programme is available on BNP Paribas’s website:

    https://invest.bnpparibas/en/search/reports/documents/regulated-information

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What birds can teach us about repurposing waste

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Farrier, Professor of Literature and the Environment, University of Edinburgh

    Some birds use deterrent spikes to make their nests. Chemari/Shutterstock

    Modern cities are evolution engines. Urban snails in the Netherlands and lizards in Los Angeles have developed lighter shells and larger scales to cope with the heat island effect, where temperatures can be several degrees above the surrounding area.

    Artificial light makes an artificial dawn, shifting the time when birds sing, and has prompted urban bridge-dwelling spiders to develop an attraction to light, whereas ermine moths are losing theirs altogether. A mutation in the so-called “daredevil gene”, also found in downhill skiers and snowboarders, is making urban swans bolder and more tolerant of humans.

    Our urban environments are pushing many species to reimagine their bodies and behaviours to suit municipal living; but some are also reimagining our cities. There’s lots to learn from how nature adapts to city life.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Anti-bird spikes are a hostile architecture for wildlife, designed to keep messy nature away from buildings. Yet, crows and magpies in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Glasgow strip the spikes away and use them to make their nests.

    It’s difficult to imagine finding ease in a nest that has all the comfort of a tangled ball of wire, but the birds occupy them contentedly, improvising shelter from materials intended to exclude.

    Evolutionary biologists call this process “exaptation”. For example, feathers originally evolved to keep bird-like dinosaurs like Archaeopteryx warm. These feathers were adaptations to colder temperatures and only later repurposed, or exapted, to allow flight.

    Exaptation places repurposing at the heart of evolution; what if we were to design our homes on the same basis?

    Repurposing waste

    The Waste House is a two-storey model home in Brighton, made almost entirely from household and construction waste. When I visited the Waste House while researching my book, Nature’s Genius: Evolution’s Lessons for a Changing Planet, I loved the sense of possibility found in a staircase made of compressed paper or carpet tiles lapped like slates round its outside walls.

    But what lingered most vividly were the little windows built into the inside walls, showing what materials they’d used as insulation: old duvets and bicycle inner tubes, and in one window a library of DVDs. One of these was a copy of Groundhog Day – a film where the same day repeats on an endless loop.

    Built in 2013–14 behind the University of Brighton’s faculty of arts building, Waste House is made from construciton and household waste.
    Hassocks5489/Wikimedia, CC BY-NC-ND

    We’re similarly stuck in a rigid pattern of extraction, consumption and waste that plays again and again, day after day. But rather than a loop, this pattern is stubbornly linear, with hundreds of millions of tonnes of usable materials flowing into the dead end of landfill every year.

    The problem is that so much of what we make is designed with a single use or purpose in mind. We tend not to think about what a material or an object could become at the end of its life. But exaptation teaches us to stop seeing things as they are, and instead imagine their potential to be something new.

    In Edinburgh, Pianodrome is a performance space that’s assembled entirely from old pianos. Audiences climb staircases made of soundboards, clutching bannisters that were piano lids and rest their heads against seatbacks conjured from reclaimed keyboards. Destined for landfill, these instruments have instead found a new life as space for people to gather and perform.

    But like all exapted features, their new life hasn’t erased the old. Pianodrome’s makers left the strings of the old piano harps in place, buried in the heart of the structure. Just as feathers still keep flighted birds warm, and spikes that kept birds from buildings help crows and magpies to protect their nests from predators, whenever a performance takes place inside it, pianodrome resonates like one giant instrument.

    An exaptive approach could help birth a circular economy, taking us out of this damaging loop of extraction and consumption, and finding value in what we currently discard. Leaving materials to waste imposes a barrier, a limit on what could be. But the birds who build their nests from anti-bird spikes teach us that what was once a barrier can become a shelter.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

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

    – ref. What birds can teach us about repurposing waste – https://theconversation.com/what-birds-can-teach-us-about-repurposing-waste-256519

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Roy Sends a Letter to Ambassador Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Urging Action Against the New World Screwworm (NWS)

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)

    Washington, D.C.  – Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21) sent a letter to Ambassador Ronald D. Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, urging for action against the northward spread of the New World Screwworm (NWS).

    “While the U.S. has effectively eradicated NWS in the past, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that the NWS has recently been detected as far north as the Mexican state of Veracruz, roughly 700 miles from the U.S.’s southern border. If an outbreak were to occur in Texas, the USDA estimates it could cause $1.8 billion in damage to the state’s economy – devastating ranchers’ entire livelihoods. If left unaddressed, the NWS will have catastrophic impacts on the U.S. cattle industry and our country’s food supply.

    While Mexico has taken some action to try and contain the NWS spread, those efforts remain wholly insufficient. I respectfully request that you leverage all available diplomatic tools to urge the Mexican authorities to fully cooperate with U.S. officials and spur Mexican authorities to take aggressive action to contain the NWS spread. My constituents in the 21st congressional district, many of whom rely on ranching for their livelihoods, cannot afford delays.”

    Read the full letter below.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sanders Announces Batesville as Arkansas’ Capital for a Day on June 5

    Source: US State of Arkansas

    TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS COME – GREETINGS:

    WHEREAS:  Batesville was founded where the rapids and bends of the White River headwaters turn into the navigable waters of the lower White, and during the 19th century the town became a center of steamboat shipping and agriculture, followed by light industry and rail transit;

    WHEREAS:  Arkansas College, now Lyon College, was founded in the town in 1872 and has become one of Arkansas’ premier small liberal arts colleges, attracting students, faculty, and business to Batesville. The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville opened in 1975 and prepares students for the workforce;

    WHEREAS:  Batesville’s downtown is home to many buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and visitors to the town can enjoy the Old Independence Regional Museum and the native son Mark Martin’s NASCAR Museum;

    WHEREAS:  Today, Batesville is known for its many festivals and small shops, growing economy, and friendly and hospitable attitude that welcomes students and tourists alike each year, part of the reason it was recently listed as one of the “100 Best Small Towns in America;”

    WHEREAS:  Governor Sanders’ “Capital for a Day” program highlights great cities around Arkansas like Batesville and brings senior state government officials into town to meet with their local counterparts; and

    WHEREAS:  Batesville will serve as the fourteenth “Capital for a Day” under Governor Sanders and will momentarily serve as Arkansas’ seat of government.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, Governor of the State of Arkansas, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Arkansas, do hereby name Batesville, Arkansas, our Capital for a Day on June 5th, 2025, and invite our senior state government officials to join me in a visit to the city. 

    IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 30th day of May, in the year of our Lord 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Techcrisis Investment Guild Launches Trend Stability Scanner, Led by Roland Preston

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Oakland, CA, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Techcrisis Investment Guild, under the direction of founder Roland Preston, has announced the launch of its latest proprietary innovation: the Trend Stability Scanner, a real-time analytical engine designed to help investors recognize unsustainable market momentum and identify trends driven primarily by short-term sentiment fluctuations.

    In today’s fast-moving digital environment, financial markets are increasingly influenced by hype cycles, speculative headlines, and social media amplification. These signals, while often attention-grabbing, rarely reflect meaningful or lasting change. The Trend Stability Scanner was developed in response to this growing mismatch between market behavior and market substance.

    By leveraging multi-layer signal analysis, the scanner evaluates several key variables, including momentum structure, news flow intensity, signal divergence across correlated assets, and rate of narrative saturation. The system then assigns a confidence score to each trend, flagging those most likely to reverse due to lack of structural support.

    “Too many investors confuse visibility with validity,” said Roland Preston. “What appears to be a strong trend may actually be a shallow ripple driven by reactive behavior. At Techcrisis Investment Guild, we want to shift the focus away from surface-level interpretation and toward a deeper understanding of underlying forces.”

    The tool supports decision-making across asset classes—equities, digital assets, commodities—and is built to adapt to diverse market conditions. It is particularly useful for discretionary investors, analysts, and institutional strategists seeking to improve signal reliability and avoid being misled by market noise.

    Unlike conventional trend analysis tools that focus on raw technical indicators, the Trend Stability Scanner integrates contextual intelligence. It not only tracks price movement but also factors in narrative momentum, velocity of crowd sentiment, and cross-channel volatility correlations. This layered perspective enables users to evaluate whether a trend is being organically formed or artificially amplified.

    The scanner is now fully integrated within Techcrisis Investment Guild’s platform interface and available to members across desktop and mobile environments. It complements the organization’s broader commitment to rational investing, cognitive empowerment, and behavioral resilience.

    The launch of this tool is part of a broader initiative led by Roland Preston to introduce judgment-based innovation into the financial space—technology that doesn’t override decision-making, but supports human reasoning in an increasingly complex environment.

    About Techcrisis Investment Guild
     Techcrisis Investment Guild is a globally oriented financial cognition platform guided by Roland Preston. The Guild develops tools and frameworks that help investors cut through information overload, build structured decision-making systems, and cultivate durable market insight grounded in logic and discipline.

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

    https://techcrisis.com/

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Heliene Celebrates the Grand Opening of Rogers, MN Solar Manufacturing Facility

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROGERS, Minn., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Heliene, Inc., a customer-first provider of North American-made solar PV modules, celebrated the grand opening of a new solar PV module manufacturing facility in Rogers, MN on May 30. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, MN Commissioner Matt Varilek, and Rogers’ Major Shannon Klick together with other State elected officials were in attendance to mark this milestone achievement for domestic clean energy manufacturing, regional job creation, and economic development.

    The Rogers facility houses Minnesota Line 3, Heliene’s third U.S.-based manufacturing line. Minnesota Line 3 has been operational since April 29 and has an annual capacity of 500MW. Heliene also owns and operates 300MW-Minnesota Line 1 and 500MW-Minnesota Line 2 at its existing Mountain Iron, MN facility. The opening of Line 3 brings Heliene’s total U.S.-made module manufacturing output per year to 1.3GW.

    “Heliene is experiencing continued demand for our high-quality, high-domestic content solar PV modules,” said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene. “By nearly doubling our manufacturing capacity at our new Rogers, Minnesota facility, we can continue to provide best-in-class fully domestic content products and service to our customers, while we deliver on our broader goal of onshoring U.S. solar supply chains, by incorporating domestically-produced, cells, frames, polymers and other critical components.”

    The completion of Minnesota Line 3 expands Heliene’s commitment to offering U.S. solar developers high-quality PV modules made with an industry-leading percentage of domestic content. The Company is hiring more than 220 new employees in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area to support operations, maintenance, and engineering at the new facility. Heliene received $2.3M in funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), with specific funding from the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF), Minnesota Job Creation Fund (JCF) and the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP), to support the above mentioned job creation.

    “The opening of this new manufacturing plant means high-quality solar panels will be produced in Rogers to meet increasing demand for energy across our state and throughout the country—and it will create hundreds of new jobs for the region,” said Senator Klobuchar. “I’m committed to working together to strengthen our manufacturing economy, increase affordable clean energy, and bring the jobs of the future to Minnesota.”

    Across all its U.S. manufacturing lines, Heliene is producing bifacial, high-efficiency crystalline solar PV modules with the highest possible percentage of domestic content available on the market. To support this effort, Heliene has secured a number of strategic partnerships with domestic solar module component manufacturers in recent years.

    About Heliene
    Heliene is one of North America’s fastest-growing, domestic PV manufacturers serving the utility-scale, commercial, and residential markets. With an in-house logistics team and remarkably responsive support staff, Heliene delivers competitively priced, high performance solar modules precisely when and where customers need them to accelerate North America’s clean energy transition. Founded in 2010, Heliene consistently ranks as a highly bankable module manufacturer. For more information, visit www.heliene.com.

    For more information, please contact:
    Heliene
    Media inquiries:
    heliene@fischtankpr.com
    646-699-1414

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Zopes Exchange Upgrades Core Trading System for Greater Stability

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, CA, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zopes Exchange today announced the successful deployment of a comprehensive upgrade to its core trading infrastructure, a move designed to further improve platform stability, execution speed, and scalability under extreme market conditions. This system-wide enhancement aims to provide all users—from retail traders to enterprise clients—with a seamless and reliable trading experience even during periods of peak activity.

    The upgraded architecture introduces a distributed computing framework, real-time system diagnostics, and multi-tier failover protections. It is supported by a robust orchestration layer that balances load across global data centers and automatically reroutes traffic to maintain 99.99% platform uptime. With this enhancement, Zopes Exchange is now capable of processing a significantly higher volume of orders per second with reduced latency and enhanced fault tolerance.

    “Our infrastructure team has worked tirelessly to build a system that doesn’t just meet today’s demands, but anticipates tomorrow’s expectations,” said Ethan Zhao, Director of Infrastructure Engineering at Zopes Exchange. “This upgrade marks a critical step in our evolution toward becoming the most stable and high-performance environment for digital finance services—on a global scale.”

    In addition to hardware and software optimization, Zopes Exchange has also implemented a unified monitoring dashboard, offering internal teams real-time observability over service health, latency, and throughput. The system is also equipped to flag anomalies proactively, enabling preemptive system tuning and rapid incident response.

    This upgrade lays the groundwork for Zopes Exchange’s continued development of advanced trading services, institutional APIs, and cross-region redundancy—ensuring that as user demand scales, system performance will scale with it.

    Zopes Exchange remains committed to providing a platform where every technical layer is built with security, transparency, and performance in mind. This latest enhancement reflects the platform’s long-term focus on engineering excellence and operational maturity.

    About Zopes Exchange

    Zopes Exchange is a global financial infrastructure platform dedicated to delivering secure, high-performance digital trading solutions. Since its inception, the company has prioritized user experience, operational transparency, and technical resilience, supporting users across multiple regions with scalable architecture and localized services. Zopes Exchange continues to invest in future-ready systems that empower users and institutions to engage confidently in the evolving digital economy.

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

    https://zopes.com/

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Temenos Named Best Core Banking System at Banking Tech Awards USA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GRAND-LANCY, Switzerland, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Temenos (SIX: TEMN), a global leader in banking technology, today announced it has received the award for Best Core Banking System at the Banking Tech Awards USA 2025. These prestigious industry awards recognize the cutting-edge innovations and outstanding achievements driving the future of banking technology across the United States.

    With its best-of-suite core banking and modular core solutions, Temenos offers US financial institutions choice, flexibility and a proven path to banking modernization – all underpinned with cloud-native architecture, and embedded AI. Trusted by over 950 banks around the world, Temenos’ core banking software can be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or as SaaS.

    US financial institutions using Temenos also benefit from robust regionalization, pre-configured banking capabilities for the US market, and a Model Bank framework which enables faster, more cost-efficient implementation.

    Rodrigo Silva, President Americas, Temenos, commented: “Winning this major award demonstrates the strength and depth of Temenos’ US banking capabilities, as well as our continued investment in this strategic growth market, which is helping to drive innovation in the US banking industry. With its advanced functionality, US-specific capabilities and flexible deployment options, Temenos is a compelling choice for US financial institutions.”

    Temenos has further strengthened its commitment to innovation for the US market with the announcement of a new Innovation Hub in Central Florida. This modern, collaborative space will be home to around 200 technology and product developers, enabling co-innovation with US financial institutions and fueling cutting-edge research and development for US-specific solutions.

    Investing around 20% of revenues in R&D, Temenos continues to enhance its core banking suite. Recent innovations include the launch of a Gen AI Copilot to help financial institutions design, launch, test and optimize financial products faster. The tool makes it easier for banking employees to access the full breadth of Temenos’ core banking functionality in a simple, conversational way. This builds on Temenos’ existing leadership in AI, with its launch of the first Responsible Generative AI solutions for core banking in 2024.

    Temenos was also named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for North America Digital Core Banking Platforms 2024 Vendor Assessment and in the The Forrester Wave™: Digital Banking Processing Platforms, Q4 2024.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nevada Man Who Stole Over $7 Million in Treasury Checks, Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

    Source: US FBI

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Kyle Eugene Duncan-Carle, 41, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release after he admitted to bank fraud in 2023.

    In addition to his term of imprisonment, Duncan-Carle, was ordered to pay $3,490,634.75 in restitution.

    According to court documents and statements made at Duncan-Carle’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, from January 2023 through September 2023 in the District of Utah. Duncan-Carle stole U.S. Treasury checks made out to individuals and companies, assumed the identity of the individuals whose names were on the checks, opened credit union accounts under the assumed identities, and then deposited the checks and withdrew the funds. Duncan-Carle admitted the scheme resulted in at least eight stolen treasury checks that totaled $7,975,621.22. As a result, Duncan-Carle cost the United States government, financial institutions, and a financial institution’s insurance provider $3,490,634.75.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.  

    The case was investigated jointly by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); the Internal Revenue Service Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.  

    Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen P. Dent and Luisa Gough of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. 
     

    Release No. 25-71

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Secretary General joins the Vilnius Summit of B9 and Nordic Allies

    Source: NATO

    NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte participated in the B9 and Nordic Summit in Vilnius on Monday (2 June 2025), hosted by President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, at which Allied leaders were joined by President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. Discussions focused on preparing the NATO Summit in The Hague and strengthening support for Ukraine.

    The Secretary General thanked President Nausėda for hosting the meeting and commended Lithuania’s leadership and commitment to NATO. “Lithuania is a staunch Ally, and continues to lead by example,” said Mr Rutte, highlighting Lithuania’s current investment of over 4% of GDP in defence and its plans to increase this to between 5-6% in 2026. “This sends an incredibly powerful message of commitment to our collective defence, and it also sets an example for our other Allies. On this stage, and in our meetings today, it is clear that the commitment to collective defence is strong,” he said. 

    During their meeting, leaders discussed how to further strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence. “We are facing the most dangerous security environment in decades,” said Mr Rutte. “We are not at war – but we are not at peace either.” He stressed the need to pivot to warfighting readiness, including significantly more forces that are well-trained, well-equipped, fully supported and sustainable. Mr Rutte said he expects the Summit in The Hague to demonstrate Allies’ enduring commitment to collective defence – through increased defence investment and defence industrial production, and agreement on ambitious new capability targets. “We continue to count on the B9 and our Nordic Allies to play a key role in these important efforts,” he said.

    Support for Ukraine will also be a priority for the Summit in The Hague. The Secretary General commended Ukraine’s efforts, and the role of Baltic and Nordic countries in providing persistent military and financial assistance. “A strong, sovereign Ukraine is essential for Euro-Atlantic security,” said Mr Rutte.

    The B9 format brings together Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.  This summit was held jointly with Nordic Allies Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine attended elements of the meeting.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Announcement of the total number of voting rights as at 31 May 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Regulated information, Leuven, 2 June 2025 (17.40 hrs CEST)

    Announcement of the total number of voting rights as at 31 May 2025

    In application of Article 15 of the Act of 2 May 2007 on the disclosure of major shareholdings in issuers whose shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market, KBC Ancora publishes on its website and via a press release on a monthly basis the total capital, the movements in the total number of voting shares and the total number of voting rights, in so far as these particulars have changed during the preceding month.

    Situation as at 31 May 2025
    Total capital :         EUR 3,158,128,455.28
    Total number of voting shares :            77,011,844
    Number of shares with double voting rights :        39,774,914
    Total number of voting rights (= denominator) :        116,786,758

    The total number of voting rights (the ‘denominator’) serves as the basis for the disclosure of major shareholdings by shareholders.

    On the basis of this information, shareholders of KBC Ancora can verify whether they are above or below one of the thresholds of 3% (threshold set by the Articles of Association), 5%, 10%, and so on (in multiples of five) of the total voting rights, and whether there is therefore an obligation to notify the company that they have exceeded this threshold.

    ———————————

    KBC Ancora is a listed company which holds 18.6% of the shares in KBC Group and which together with Cera, MRBB and the Other Permanent Shareholders ensures the shareholder stability and further development of the KBC group. As core shareholders of KBC Group, they have to this end signed a shareholder agreement.

    Financial calendar:
    29 August 2025                        Annual press release for the financial year 2024/2025
    23 September 2025                 Annual report 2024/2025 available
    31 October 2025                     General Meeting of Shareholders

    This press release is available in Dutch, French and English on the website www.kbcancora.be.

    KBC Ancora Investor Relations & Press contact: Jan Bergmans
    tel.: +32 (0)16 27 96 72 – e-mail: jan.bergmans@kbcancora.be or mailbox@kbcancora.be

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Quadient Accelerates its Digital Financial Automation Strategy in Europe with the Acquisition of Serensia

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Serensia is a leading French electronic invoicing platform, accredited by the French Government as a Partner Dematerialization Platform (PDP)
    • The acquisition provides Quadient with first-class electronic invoicing technology, advanced PDP capabilities and certified access to the Pan-European Public Procurement Online (Peppol) market
    • With mandatory e-invoicing regulations approaching, Quadient is now strongly positioned in Europe’s digital compliance market, offering a comprehensive, end-to-end solution

    Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT), a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections, today announced the acquisition of Serensia, a highly recognized a leading French electronic invoicing platform provider accredited by the French government as a Partner Dematerialization Platform (PDP). This strategic acquisition strengthens Quadient’s position in digital compliance and its ability to support both its 150,000 European customers and the more than 8 million businesses impacted in France as they transition to mandatory electronic invoicing.

    Serensia’s robust, scalable, API-driven and modular technology stack provides Quadient with operational autonomy as an independent and certified e-invoicing platform. Its Peppol-ready infrastructure ensures seamless integration with Quadient’s digital automation solutions and third-party systems, enabling immediate readiness for regulatory deadlines in Belgium, France, and Germany, as well as the upcoming ViDA (VAT in the Digital Age) regulation.

    With ownership of a Peppol access point—a secure gateway for document exchange—Quadient can now offer a compliant, end-to-end e-invoicing solution to the millions of companies across Europe that will be required to transition to electronic invoicing under upcoming regulatory mandates.

    Geoffrey Godet, CEO of Quadient, stated: “This acquisition marks a strategic milestone in our ambition to lead the digital financial automation market in Europe. Integrating Serensia’s certified e-invoicing platform into our Digital Automation portfolio strengthens our ability to support our 150,000 European customers, from large enterprises to SMBs, as they prepare for next year’s new regulations. Serensia brings proven expertise, a robust platform processing hundreds of millions of invoices annually, and a talented team. This accelerates our time to market and enhances our ability to deliver scalable, compliant, and future-ready invoicing solutions.”

    Serensia, with a team of approximately 40 employees, serves over 160 organizations across key sectors such as utilities, property management, and telecommunications. Its platform demonstrates strong operational maturity and deep industry expertise.

    The acquisition, completed on June 2, 2025, aligns with Quadient’s long-term strategy to deliver trusted, end-to-end digital solutions that help organizations navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

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

    Contacts
    Investor Relations
    Anne-Sophie Jugean, Quadient

    +33 (0)1 45 36 30 24
    as.jugean@quadient.com
    financial-communication@quadient.com

    Media relations
    Nathalie Labia, Quadient
    +33 (0)1 70 83 18 53
    n.labia@quadient.com

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ABC arbitrage – Trading update – New elements of the 2025 financial year – increasing Pace of Activity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, June 2 2025 05:45 PM

    ABC arbitrage -Trading update

    New elements of the 2025 financial year – increasing Pace of Activity

    The purpose of this press release is to factually inform shareholders of any significant new developments regarding the first months of the 2025 fiscal year. As a reminder, to date, the statutory auditors have not yet completed all their work on the first semester of the 2025 fiscal year. The estimates provided in this press release do not replace the audited consolidated financial results for the first semester of the 2025 fiscal year, which will be published on September 23, 2025.

    Business activity for the fiscal year 2025

    Market parameters during the first months of 2025 are broadly comparable to those of the 2020 financial year, with notably higher volatility than in 2024. As at 31 May 2025, in line with these parameters, the monthly average Pace of Activity for the Group over the first five (5) months is more than 10% higher than the monthly average for the 2020 financial year (see 2020 Results). The Pace of Activity is regularly used in the Group’s communications. It is a non-audited indicator similar to the financial aggregate Net Trading Income1, which reflects a form of gross result (before expenses, taxes, and other specific or exceptional impacts). As a reminder, the Net Trading Income for the 2020 financial year was close to 69 million euros, representing a monthly average of approximately 6 million euros.

    Expenditures for 2025 were estimated in the “FY2024” annual presentation, available since the end of March 2025 on the ABC arbitrage website (see Publications/2024 Annual Results Presentations). Based on 2024 expenses, slide 37 outlines the outlook for additional investments in the 2025 financial year, estimated at +3.5 million euros on a full-year basis (personnel and information technology-related expenses). As a reminder, personnel expenses are partly correlated with the Pace of Activity generated by the Group, through discretionary variable bonus distributions.

    Group assets under management

    As of today, assets under management stand at 253 million euros, compared with 265 million euros as at January 1st, 2025. This decrease is primarily due to the withdrawal of a European client (12 million euros), which occurred at the end of January. With regard to the impact on management fees, all other things being equal, the effect of this withdrawal on the 2025 fiscal year results will be marginal (less than 0.2 million euros).

    ABC arbitrage shareholding

    The Group was informed by Eximium of a downward crossing of the statutory thresholds in place at ABC arbitrage. These thresholds require a disclosure notification each time a 1% ownership threshold is crossed. As at 30 May 2025, Eximium is recorded as holding 5.2% of ABC arbitrage’s share capital. Eximium also stated that it intends to remain above the 5% ownership threshold in the Group’s capital.

    1 Presented in the Group’s activity reports, available at the following link: Publications/Financial Reports

    EURONEXT Paris – Compartiment B
    ISIN – FR0004040608
    Reuters BITI.PA / Bloomberg ABCA FP

    Internet – www.abc-arbitrage.com

    Relations actionnaires – actionnaires@abc-arbitrage.com

    Relations presse – VERBATEE / v.sabineu@verbatee.com

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Subsidized social housing promotes economic well-being for Canadian renters, new study finds

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Xavier Leloup, Professor in Urban Studies, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)

    The years following the COVID-19 pandemic were difficult for renters. The pandemic was followed by an economic recovery marked by inflation, population growth and rising interest rates. These increased the cost of financing for landlords and limited the ability of first-time buyers to access homeownership.

    Overall, these dynamics increased the shortage of affordable housing. Rents have risen sharply in many regions, and housing continues to be the main expense for many.

    Of course, access to affordable housing is an important factor in economic well-being — the ability to meet basic needs, absorb financial shocks, build assets and maintain financial means throughout one’s life.

    Research shows that higher housing costs are associated with greater material hardship, particularly among low-income households. Without affordable housing options, many are forced to make difficult trade-offs just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

    Evolving housing policy in Canada

    Canada’s housing policies have evolved over decades, dating back to the end of the Second World War. This long history has led to the creation of various housing programs involving provincial, territorial and municipal governments.

    Today, housing interventions take a variety of forms and have undergone a revival since 2017, when Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government launched the National Housing Strategy (NHS). The objective of the strategy is to “ensure everyone in Canada has access to housing that meets their needs.”



    Read more:
    Canada’s National Housing Strategy: Is it really addressing homelessness and affordability?

    Rental housing is owned by four main types of landlords in Canada: the private sector, along with governments, co-operatives and non-profit organizations. Each of these sectors includes units subsidized by public programs, called social housing.

    At a time when the federal government intends to reinvest in social housing through the NHS, rising rents and the range of assistance available to low-income renters raises the following question: what type of assistance contributes the most to the economic well-being of Canadian renters?

    Types of rental housing and economic well-being

    Our recent study addressed this question by documenting the relationships between different types of rental housing and the level of economic well-being of tenants. We were particularly interested in households with working-age members aged 15 to 65.

    Our study is based on the first cycle of the Canadian Housing Survey in 2018. This sample represents all provinces, the Yukon and Nunavut. The study used various statistical methods to model the economic well-being of tenant households.

    We compared social housing tenants with other tenants who share the same profile — that is, lower-income households who tend to be older, in poorer health, less likely to have employment income, who are often single parents and who are more likely to have experienced homelessness.

    Our results showed that different types of social and non-market housing improve the economic well-being of tenants in different ways. Households living in co-operatives, non-profits and government-owned (also called public) social housing reported greater ease in securing their basic needs like food, clothing, housing and transportation.

    This positive effect was also observed for households renting in the private market who received a rent supplement — a program in place since the beginning of the 1970s that offers housing with rent representing 25 to 30 per cent of a household’s total income.

    However, no significant effect was observed for housing allowance programs, a form of in-cash assistance paid directly to households administrated by the provinces and territories, and now supported through the Canada Housing Benefit program.

    Paying rent on time

    Another important element of tenants’ economic well-being is their ability to pay rent on time. Some groups face greater challenges in meeting this obligation.

    Our study found that one-person households, single-parent households and households with children are more likely to skip rent payments. The same is true if the household’s main respondent identifies as LGBTQ+, is Indigenous, is unemployed, has a chronic illness or has experienced homelessness or eviction in the past.

    Our study also showed that tenants living in non-profit organizations, public social housing, who received a rent supplement while renting in the private market or who received a housing allowance were less likely to skip or postpone rent payments.

    These findings point to the stabilizing role of social housing and targeted financial support in helping vulnerable households avoid cycles of poverty and displacement.

    Improving the economic well-being of tenants

    The newly elected Liberal government is looking to make structural changes to housing policies by creating a new Crown corporation, Build Canada Homes. This entity would take on the development of new housing for Canadians.

    Our findings show that it’s important for Canada to produce social and non-market housing financed over the long term, with rents set according to households’ ability to pay. These social and non-market housing models have long existed in Canada and are the most likely to help low-income tenants pay their rent and other bills.

    The new government’s challenge appears daunting as organizations across the country call for more social housing at a time when Canada has relatively less social housing than it did 30 years ago.

    While Canada is facing renewed economic challenges, it is time to return to an ambitious social housing model to address the affordability crisis and ensure the economic well-being of all tenants.

    Xavier Leloup receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (grant number:1004-2019-0001).

    Catherine Leviten-Reid receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. She is affiliated with the Canadian Association for Policy Alternatives – Nova Scotia Office.

    – ref. Subsidized social housing promotes economic well-being for Canadian renters, new study finds – https://theconversation.com/subsidized-social-housing-promotes-economic-well-being-for-canadian-renters-new-study-finds-256208

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch, Idaho Commerce Launch 6th Annual Support Local Gems Initiative

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch
    Invites Idahoans to support small businesses on Friday, June 6, 2025
    BOISE, Idaho – Today, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and the Idaho Department of Commerce launched the sixth annual Support Local Gems initiative—an all-day event dedicated to supporting Idaho small businesses.          
    On Friday, June 6, 2025, Idahoans are invited to Support Local Gems by giving their business to their favorite local shops and restaurants. Idahoans can get involved by shopping at a small business, dining at an independent restaurant, purchasing a gift card, writing a review online, or simply saying “thank you” to an Idaho small business they love.    
    “The Gem State is powered by our small businesses. The entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners and employees is vital to our state’s economy, workforce, and way of life,” said Risch. “Friday, June 6 is a special day to show our appreciation and support for these pillars of our communities. I invite all Idahoans to join me and Support Local Gems.”
    “The majority of Idaho workers are employed by a small business and almost all of the registered businesses in our state are small businesses. The State of Idaho is a beacon of prosperity because we greatly value our small businesses and promote policies that help them succeed. I will join many Idahoans on Friday, June 6 as we celebrate and support Idaho small businesses – the local gems of our great state,” Governor Brad Little said.
    Background: In 2020, Idaho’s small businesses faced unprecedented hardships as they worked through the pandemic. To support these businesses, Senator Jim Risch and the Idaho Department of Commerce launched the Support Local Gemsinitiative to encourage Idahoans to shop and dine locally. As challenges like inflation and supply chain disruptions continue, support for Idaho’s small businesses through Support Local Gems remains essential.
    As we celebrate the sixth annual Support Local Gems initiative, Idahoans are encouraged to once again give their full support to the small businesses – our local gems – that make Idaho a special place to live and thrive.         
    If your organization or small business would like to get involved in the Support Local Gems initiative, visit www.risch.senate.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Amit Shah chairs review meeting on world’s largest cooperative food grain storage scheme in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi to discuss the progress of the world’s largest cooperative food grain storage scheme, a flagship initiative of the Modi government aimed at bolstering rural economies and achieving self-reliance under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The meeting was attended by Ministers of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar and Murlidhar Mohol, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Food and Public Distribution, Food Corporation of India (FCI), NABARD, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), and other key institutions.

    Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah emphasized that the scheme aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Sahkar Se Samriddhi (Prosperity through Cooperation). He highlighted its dual objectives of boosting India’s economic growth by contributing to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and generating rural employment opportunities. The scheme is designed to enhance the financial viability of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) by increasing their income through active participation in the storage initiative.

    To ensure the scheme’s success, Shah called for expanding loan facilities for PACS under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and urged immediate action to strengthen their financial condition. He directed the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution and FCI to undertake a nationwide mapping of warehouses to streamline implementation based on regional needs. Additionally, he instructed FCI, the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF), the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), and State Warehousing Corporations to integrate PACS with as many warehouses as possible to maximize their involvement.

    The meeting also resolved to encourage states and state-level marketing federations to engage more PACS in the scheme, fostering a robust cooperative supply chain. Shah stressed the importance of coordinated and timely implementation to ensure the initiative becomes a cornerstone of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Sahkar Se Samriddhi.

  • MIL-OSI USA: $75M Alstom Manufacturing Facility Expansion Completed

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that rail transportation manufacturer Alstom marked the completion of a major expansion that featured the addition of a car body shell production facility in the City of Hornell. Thanks to New York State assistance, Alstom reshored this critical operation back to the United States from Brazil, investing $75 million in this state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facility, assisting the storied company with fulfilling a major order with Chicago’s Metra commuter rail line. Alstom is producing 200 new multi-level commuter cars that will have modern features, greater capacity and a smoother ride. Alstom will also soon begin production on new light rail vehicles for Philadelphia on the Hornell campus. Alstom’s stock facility in Hornell is the largest passenger rail manufacturing facility in North America.

    “Alstom’s $75 million expansion is proof that manufacturing is back in the Southern Tier,” Governor Hochul said. “We are reshoring good, union jobs and rebuilding Upstate, making New York the place where things get made and made well. I am committed to rebuilding New York’s manufacturing base, creating opportunity in every part of the State and ensuring the future is made right here at home.”

    Because of New York State support, Alstom has pledged to create 258 union supported jobs on-site and retain 390 jobs. Up to $7 million is being made available through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program in exchange for the job creation commitments.

    An earlier expansion at the Hornell site, bolstered by up to $30 million in funding from the Southern Tier Soaring Upstate Revitalization Initiative, supported facility construction and renovation, and installation of crucial machinery and equipment. That support facilitated the retention of more than 1,000 existing positions in Hornell and at other Alstom operations in New York. The State’s support for the project was also a crucial factor in Alstom’s efforts to secure a contract with Amtrak in support of its high-speed train initiative.

    The Acela contract with Amtrak involved the design and production of 28 next-generation, high-speed trainsets. These trains, named Avelia Liberty, will replace Acela’s current fleet that is nearly a quarter century old. The new ‘tilting’ trainsets will operate along the Washington – New York – Boston Northeast Corridor, initially at speeds up to 160 mph, and will have one-third more passenger seats, as well as modern amenities such as improved Wi-Fi access, personal outlets, USB ports and adjustable reading lights at every seat, enhanced food service and a smoother, more reliable ride.

    Alstom Americas Region President and CEO Michael Keroullé said, “Americans deserve high-quality transportation options and good jobs. Alstom’s continued investments in our U.S. manufacturing sites deliver both. As the largest employer in Hornell, we have witnessed the positive impact of rail investment and innovation on this community and the opportunities it generates. We thank Governor Hochul and all our state and local partners for their continued support of our growth and expansion.”

    IAM Union International President Brian Bryant said, “The IAM Union could not be more proud to represent the dedicated and skilled workforce at Alstom. IAM Union members right here in Hornell, New York are building the future of rail transportation in the United States and beyond. These are generational, family-sustaining union careers that benefit the entire community. We look forward to continuing this important work with Governor Hochul, Alstom, and our state and local partners to grow this workforce and the entire U.S. rail industry.”

    The Hornell site has been a major employer for the community for over a century and plays a critical role in the Southern Tier regional economy. The Hornell plant has delivered more than 8,000 new or refurbished rail vehicles to customers across North America, including 1,000 subway cars to New York City Transit. Alstom helps 10 million commuters make their way to and around New York City.

    Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said,
    “Alstom’s ongoing commitment to expanding its operations and advancing rail technology will keep Hornell, and the entire region, on track for continued economic growth. Advanced manufacturing is a critical Upstate industry, and we are grateful to Alstom for its dedication in reshoring the company’s car body shell production to the United States and for creating solid job opportunities right here in the Southern Tier.”

    Senator Charles Schumer said, “It’s full steam ahead for Plant 4, Alstom’s new Hornell cutting-edge manufacturing facility! I was proud to secure $3.4 million in federal funding to put Alstom on the fast track to expand and house this new manufacturing facility. The opening of Plant 4 today is a win-win-win for American manufacturing leadership, the Southern Tier economy, and Alstom’s powerhouse union workforce, getting even stronger with 250 new good-paying jobs. Today, Alstom solidifies the Southern Tier and New York State as the beating heart for its North American operations. I’ve long fought to support Alstom’s growth in Steuben County and will continue to fight to ensure Hornell has the resources it needs to be one of the nation’s main hubs for rolling stock manufacturing.”

    Senator Kirstin Gillibrand said, “Alstom’s $75 million expansion will create hundreds of new union jobs, generate new economic opportunities in the Southern Tier, and strengthen New York’s manufacturing base. I’m proud to support this project, and I will continue fighting to bring jobs, opportunity, and long-term economic growth to working families across New York.”

    Hornell Mayor John Buckley said, “Hornell has long thrived as a hub for the railroad transportation industry, and our longstanding partnership with Alstom has played a vital role in that success. Alstom’s continued investment in our city has not only created high-quality jobs and driven economic growth here in Hornell but has also delivered substantial benefits to the surrounding communities and the entire region. This collaboration strengthens Hornell’s position as a leader in transportation innovation and manufacturing. We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul and Alstom for their ongoing support and commitment to our community’s future.”

    Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Judy McKinney-Cherry and Dr. Mary Bonderoff said, “This project has indeed proven to be a win-win for the Southern Tier and all of New York State. Thanks to the Governor’s leadership, we are making transformative investments in leading industries and improving our transportation equipment manufacturing network for the 21st century, ensuring that the region will continue to soar for years to come.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Poynex Strengthens Global Compliance System with the Official Launch of the France Regional Agent System

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amid the increasingly mature global regulatory landscape for digital assets, global compliant digital asset trading platform Poynex has announced the official launch of an independent general agent system in France. As part of its ongoing global compliance strategy, Poynex has appointed Mr. Tom Tragett, a veteran executive in the European financial industry, as the General Agent for the French region. He will be fully responsible for overseeing the development of local compliance, operations, and user service systems.

    Poynex is a cryptocurrency trading platform registered in the U.S. and holds an MSB (Money Services Business) financial license issued by FinCEN (the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network). Since its establishment, Poynex has adhered to the business philosophy of “compliance first, safety above all,” committed to providing global users with safe, transparent, and convenient digital asset trading services. The platform’s technology team hails from international tech hubs like Silicon Valley, Zurich, and Hong Kong, leveraging advanced matching engines and intelligent risk control models to deliver efficient and smooth trading experiences. Poynex has integrated multiple national compliance systems, including those in major financial centers like Singapore, Canada, and the UAE, and is gradually building a global compliance network.

    As an important financial power in the EU, France has particularly strict regulations for the digital asset market. The introduction of the MiCA regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets) has raised compliance standards for cryptocurrency trading platforms across Europe. Therefore, establishing the local general agent system in France is a crucial step in Poynex’s compliance strategy and signifies a deeper service phase in its European layout.

    Tom Tragett, the newly appointed general agent for France, focuses on global macroeconomics, foreign exchange policy, and market liquidity strategy research. In addition to his extensive experience in the banking system, Mr. Tragett is active in financial education and public affairs, providing risk control and market strategy support to several fintech companies. He is one of the few experts with expertise in both traditional finance and digital assets.

    Poynex stated: “We are honored to announce the addition of Tom Tragett. His professional experience will greatly enhance Poynex’s local responsiveness and compliance governance capabilities in France and Europe, further reflecting the platform’s strategic direction of ‘global layout, localized service.’”

    According to official information, Poynex will build a complete local service ecosystem in France, including a French-speaking customer service system, compliance support center, user education training, and local market operations team. France will serve as a “strategic hub” for Poynex’s European operations, connecting key markets such as Belgium, Italy, and Spain, and promoting a unified and efficient European service network.

    The platform also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of responsibility for user asset security. In the event of any issues related to user funds in the France region, Tom Tragett will address and coordinate as the general agent to ensure that platform operations are compliant and transparent, and asset management is open and reliable.

    As one of the fastest-growing compliant trading platforms globally, Poynex continues to earn the trust of global investors and users through strong technological support, robust regulatory strategies, and effective localized service execution.

    Media Contact:
    Company Name: Poynex
    Contact: Gabriel E. Shaffer
    Website: https://poynexmax.net/, https://h5.poynexmax.net/
    Email: Gabriel(at)poynexmax.net

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens react to Starmer’s defence plans following Strategic Defence Review

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    / by Green Party

    Reacting to the Strategic Defence Review and Keir Starmer’s speech earlier today outlining the government’s defense spending plans, Ellie Chowns MP, who holds the defence brief for the Parliamentary Green Party, said: 

    “Keir Starmer is sounding like he is on a war path with his “battle-ready, armour-clad nation” rhetoric. Security is not just based on arms expenditure and threats, but on real leadership that uses diplomacy and development too. There must be a real commitment to an international order based on human rights, equality and genuine cooperation.

    “To avoid the horrors of war and armed conflict, we need to look at the deeper causes of insecurity, including poverty and climate breakdown. This is why the Green Party strongly supports the restoration of the international aid budget to at least 0.7% of GNI. And we will continue to argue that real patriotism means ending UK-made weapons or components being sold to dictators, human rights abusers or for use against civilians anywhere in the world.

    “The prime minister has talked up the boost to jobs and the economy through increased defence expenditure, but there are many more jobs of the future to be created right now in the clean, green – and peaceful – economy, a sector growing four times faster than the rest of the economy. This is where the government’s focus for investment should be if they are serious about a secure and resilient future.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Bank of Canada Media Interview – The Globe and Mail

    Source: Bank of Canada

    The Canadian economy ended 2024 in a strong position. However, the trade conflict and tariffs are expected to slow growth and add to price pressures. The outlook is very uncertain because of the unpredictability of US trade policy and the magnitude of its impact on the Canadian economy.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Bank of Canada Media Interview – The New York Times

    Source: Bank of Canada

    The Canadian economy ended 2024 in a strong position. However, the trade conflict and tariffs are expected to slow growth and add to price pressures. The outlook is very uncertain because of the unpredictability of US trade policy and the magnitude of its impact on the Canadian economy.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Press Conference: Policy Rate Announcement – June 2025

    Source: Bank of Canada

    The Canadian economy ended 2024 in a strong position. However, the trade conflict and tariffs are expected to slow growth and add to price pressures. The outlook is very uncertain because of the unpredictability of US trade policy and the magnitude of its impact on the Canadian economy.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Bank of Canada Museum announces 2025 recipients of Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics

    Source: Bank of Canada

    The Bank of Canada Museum is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics, recognizing two remarkable educators who are helping students build real-world financial skills through innovative, community-focused learning.

    Angela Larocque, a middle school teacher from Forest Hills School in St. John, New Brunswick and Nicole Feisst, a high school educator from École Clément-Cormier in Bouctouche, New Brunswick are the winners of the Museum’s fourth annual award.

    Both teachers helped students connect their interests and ambitions to economic reality through programs that included input from parents and professionals in the local economy. By involving the community, these programs provided students with an approach to learning financial literacy that goes beyond the theoretical.

    Angela Larocque moved economic education outside the classroom through community-based financial literacy initiatives. These include “Idea Market,” an annual money-making entrepreneurship event, and “Money Matters,” a community financial literacy night. Money Matters brought together local businesses, banks, and financial experts, creating open, judgment-free conversations about money between families and financial institutions.

    Nicole Feisst created a comprehensive and personalized financial simulation for her grade 11 and 12 students. Each learner built a financial profile before navigating a realistic, and sometimes unpredictable, simulation of adult economic life. Local professionals offered real-time advice, grounding the experience in real-world insight.

    “Both Angela and Nicole’s projects are exemplary,” said Sharon Kozicki, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada. “What set their work apart this year was how they brought the wider community—including parents—into the learning process. They introduced economic and financial topics in ways that were grounded in real life, creating experiences that will have a lasting impact on the youth who participated.”

    Each winner receives a trophy along with a personal cash prize of $1,000 and another $1,000 for their school. More information on this year’s winners is available on the Museum’s website.

    Nominations came in from across the country and were reviewed by a selection committee made up of representatives from the Bank of Canada and other experts in the fields of economics and education, and a youth representative.

    Nominations for next year’s award will open in early 2026.

    Notes to editors

    • The Bank of Canada Museum creatively brings the work of the central bank to Canadians by demystifying the Bank’s key functions and interpreting Canada’s monetary heritage. It also provides access to Canada’s National Currency Collection which is comprised of over 130,000 objects.
    • The Museum supports teachers and students through free school programs, lesson plans and activities available on its Learn page.
    • For more information about the Museum and its services, visit the website.

    MIL OSI Canada News –