Category: Economy

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK reaffirms its support for Ukraine’s self-defence, while President Putin rejects ceasefire as war deepens Russia’s economic and global isolation: UK Statement to the OSCE
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

UK reaffirms its support for Ukraine’s self-defence, while President Putin rejects ceasefire as war deepens Russia’s economic and global isolation: UK Statement to the OSCE

UK Military Advisor, Lt Col Joby Rimmer, says that Russia’s invasion shatters European security and undermines peace. Despite President Putin’s claims, continued attacks show absolutely no intent to negotiate. The UK urges an immediate, lasting ceasefire to enable real dialogue and end the humanitarian crisis.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The United Kingdom remains resolute in its commitment to supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion. Our immediate priority is to secure a ceasefire as swiftly as possible – one that endures long enough to create the conditions necessary for meaningful negotiations toward a robust and lasting peace.

President Putin claims that he is interested in peace, all the while Russian attacks increasingly escalate the humanitarian crisis. These are not the actions of a government seeking peaceful resolution, but of one determined to prolong suffering and instability. Over the weekend, Russia launched a massive aerial assault involving 69 missiles and 298 drones, targeting over 30 cities and towns across Ukraine. At least 12 civilians, including children, were killed, and dozens more were injured. Kyiv was among the hardest hit, suffering casualties and significant damage during its Kyiv Day celebrations. A symbolic, cynical and deliberate act of aggression.

At last week’s Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), Russia accused NATO of ‘pumping up military budgets and militarising at the expense of ordinary taxpayers.’ As it continues to escalate the conflict, the economic toll on Russia’s own population is becoming increasingly severe: Interest rates in Russia have surged to 21%, reflecting deep financial instability; 40% of Russia’s federal government spending in 2025 has been committed to defence; for the first time in post-Soviet history, defence spending has exceeded social spending; Russia has depleted two-thirds of the liquid assets in its National Wealth Fund; and due to international sanctions, Russia has lost an estimated $450 billion USD in energy revenues. These figures reveal a government that clearly prioritises war over the welfare of its own citizens. The Kremlin’s choices are impoverishing Russia. We stand ready to ratchet up the pressure on President Putin with new sanctions if our calls for a ceasefire are not answered now.

The UK stands by its economic and military support to Ukraine – a sovereign nation defending itself against an unprovoked attack. We would remind Russia, that alongside the billions already committed in aid and military assistance, the UK is also investing in Ukraine’s long-term recovery and reconstruction through non-military support. It is estimated that Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction will require $524 billion USD over the next decade. It represents the cost of rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure destroyed by Russian aggression. It is a moral and strategic investment in the future of a free and democratic Ukraine.

The United Kingdom condemns Russia’s illegal invasion in the strongest possible terms. We will continue to stand with Ukraine – militarily, economically, and diplomatically -until peace is achieved, and Ukraine’s sovereignty is safeguarded. Russia’s invasion is a flagrant violation of international law, of the United Nations Charter and the principles enshrined in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, to which Russia is a signatory. These principles include the sovereign equality of states, the inviolability of frontiers, and the prohibition of the threat or use of force. Russia’s actions have shattered the foundations of European security. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Updates to this page

Published 28 May 2025

Invasion of Ukraine

UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals

Move to the UK if you’re coming from Ukraine

Homes for Ukraine: record your interest

Find out about the UK’s response
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Labour Market Ministers taking action to improve labour mobility in Canada

Source: Government of Canada News (2)

May 28, 2025

Federal, provincial and territorial Forum of Labour Market Ministers (FLMM) met virtually on Monday to discuss progress on their joint commitment to breaking down barriers to labour mobility as one of the strategies to mitigate the negative effects of tariffs and unlock the full economic potential of free trade within Canada. The meeting was co-chaired by the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Federal Minister of Jobs and Families and the Honourable Nolan Young, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration of Nova Scotia.

Over recent months, the FLMM has accelerated efforts to address labour mobility barriers, strengthen Canada’s workforce and get individuals working faster. Ministers agreed that concrete progress has been made on labour mobility, with some jurisdictions having introduced legislation with more ambitious timelines and launched new initiatives to further break down barriers and reduce administrative burden.

Ministers agreed on the actions to be taken by governments to build a more resilient, adaptable and mobile workforce to support stronger domestic economic growth.

This aligns with a commitment made to the First Ministers earlier this year, to collaborate with the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT) on developing a plan for Canada-wide credential recognition that takes into account the unique characteristics of each jurisdiction, such as language provisions, by June 1, 2025. Ministers look forward to providing the CIT with an update on their action plan for labour mobility.

Ministers discussed the value of conducting consultations to determine the best approach while continuing to explore additional opportunities to bolster economic growth, productivity and support for workers. Ministers also discussed possible collaboration with other ministerial tables to tackle areas linked to labour mobility, such as occupational health and safety training and licensing.

Ministers committed to continued information sharing across orders of government and to meet regularly as part of their focused efforts to build a resilient Canadian workforce and economy.

Finally, Ministers reiterated the vital role of Labour Market Transfer Agreements (LMTAs), which empower the provinces and territories to deliver tailored employment assistance and reskilling services that respond to the unique needs of their respective labour markets. Provincial and territorial ministers reaffirmed their position on the need for additional LMTA funding to support workers in Canada and ensure effective tariff-related responses at this critical time.

The federal minister committed to further discussions with provincial and territorial ministers on LMTA modernization.

About the Forum

The FLMM was established in 1983 as an intergovernmental forum aimed at strengthening cooperation on federal, provincial and territorial labour market priorities.

MIL OSI Canada News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: 2025 Annual Meetings: Africa’s Vast Human and Natural Capital Key to Achieving African Union’s Agenda 2063, experts affirm

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 28, 2025/APO Group/ —

Africa, the world’s youngest continent with immeasurable natural resources, has all it needs to achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063, provided the right public policies are implemented, according to government officials and development experts.

The experts expressed this shared conviction on Monday during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group, taking place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, under the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development.”

Speaking at a knowledge event titled “Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan for Agenda 2063: An Opportunity to Develop and Finance Africa’s Capital,” Koffi N’Guessan, Ivorian Minister of Vocational Training and Apprenticeships, reaffirmed that Agenda 2063 — adopted in January 2015 by the African Union – remains the strategic framework for the continent’s economic and social transformation.

N’Guessan noted that, despite a challenging global environment, the last decade has seen notable progress in Africa, particularly in economic and political integration, gender equality, and access to employment opportunities.

However, he acknowledged that previous efforts have often fallen short of addressing the continent’s structural transformation needs, including job creation for youth and poverty reduction.

“The second Agenda 2063 implementation plan, adopted in February 2024 by the African Union, offers a crucial opportunity to tackle these challenges and accelerate development outcomes,” he said.

According to the Ivorian Minister, Africa is poised to become a major global power, alongside China and India, due to its demographic potential. However, he stressed that African countries should prioritize vocational and technical training to fully harness this demographic dividend.

He highlighted a worrying trend: approximately 22.5 percent of young people aged 15 to 24 are unemployed with no education or training. Additionally, 250 million children and young people in low-income countries are not in school, underlining the disconnect between education systems and labor market needs. “Youth can become a liability if robust training policies are not implemented – from nursery school through to university,” he warned.

Taking natural capital into account when calculating GDP

Hervé Lohouès, Division Manager in the Country Economics Department at the African Development Bank, emphasized the importance of natural wealth in calculating the GDP of African countries.

“The GDP of a country like the Central African Republic would increase by 300 percent if its natural resources were taken into account in the calculation of its GDP,” he asserted.

He added: “It is essential to go beyond natural enhancement and ensure that all African countries adopt a compulsory development plan. We also need to ensure that governments provide incentives for transformation while considering accountability that can directly help the transition from natural to social infrastructure.”

Jide Okeke, Regional Program Coordinator for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme, and Dagmawit Moges Bekele, former Eritrean Minister of Transport and Director of the Peace Fund at the African Union Commission, both stressed the need to leverage human, financial, natural and digital resources to drive inclusive and sustainable development — key to achieving the objectives outlined in the second decade of Agenda 2063.

MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China to issue new local government bonds worth about 1.5 trillion yuan in January-April 2025

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — Local governments across China issued new bonds worth about 1.49 trillion yuan (about 207.63 billion U.S. dollars) in the first four months of this year, data released by the Ministry of Finance showed Wednesday.

The volume of targeted bonds issued amounted to over 1.19 trillion yuan, while ordinary bonds amounted to 302.3 billion yuan.

As of the end of April, the remaining debt obligations of local governments across the country amounted to about 50.69 trillion yuan, according to data from the aforementioned department.

China plans to take more proactive financial policies this year to support sustainable economic and social development. According to the government work report released this year, the country plans to issue 4.4 trillion yuan of local government bonds this year, up 500 billion yuan from the previous year. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: Kalle Virtanen appointed Oma Savings Bank’s Chief Operating Officer and member of the management team

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 28 MAY 2025 AT 17.00 PM CHANGES IN BOARD/MANAGEMENT/AUDITORS

Kalle Virtanen appointed Oma Savings Bank’s Chief Operating Officer and member of the management team

Oma Savings Bank Plc (OmaSp or the company) has appointed Kalle Virtanen (L.LM, trained on the Bench, L.LM (Stockholm) and CEFA) Chief Operating Officer (COO) and member of the management team. Virtanen will start in his position on 1 August 2025.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a new role within OmaSp and the unit lead by Virtanen will be responsible for OmaSp’s retail and corporate banking support functions such as back-office and financial crime prevention. Kalle Virtanen focuses particularly on enhancing the bank’s operational efficiency and, through that, improving the customer experience.

Virtanen has over 25 years of experience in banking and finance, and he has held several expert and business leadership roles in the sector. Virtanen has most recently worked as EY’s Financial Services Law practice lead in Finland and before that in Nordea.

”Our transformation journey continues. We have significantly strengthened our resources in regulatory compliance, risk management, and back-office functions — all critical areas in banking — and have recruited new professionals for key roles. We are very pleased to welcome an experienced and capable leader like Kalle to our team to help further develop OmaSp operations. Kalle’s strong leadership and expertise are exactly what we need at this stage,” says Karri Alameri, OmaSp CEO.

“OmaSp is a well-capitalized bank, its staff is active, and OmaSp has a nationwide network for meeting and serving customers. I look forward to the upcoming tasks and collaboration with new colleagues and stakeholders with interest and enthusiasm,” says Kalle Virtanen.

The appointment is subject to the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority’s approval of the fit and proper assessment concerning Virtanen.

Oma Savings Bank Plc

Additional information:
Karri Alameri, CEO, tel. +358 45 656 5250, karri.alameri@omasp.fi

Distribution:

Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
Major media
www.omasp.fi

OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 600 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

The MIL Network –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: ROTH Announces the Addition of Kyle Bauser, Ph.D. to its Healthcare Research Team

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN – Roth Capital Partners (“ROTH”), www.roth.com, today announced Kyle Bauser, Ph.D., as Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst. Dr. Bauser has joined the firm’s healthcare research team, covering the medical technology sector. He has over a decade of MedTech experience across equity research and industry.

Dr. Bauser began his career in MedTech equity research over 12 years ago at Piper Sandler. He later worked in marketing and corporate development at Vascular Solutions before returning to research at Dougherty & Co, where he became Managing Director and Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets. His research primarily focuses on small- to mid-cap and underfollowed companies with novel technologies. He studied Mathematical Economics and Pre-Med at Colorado College as an undergraduate and earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the City University of New York Graduate Center.

Jeff Martin, CFA, Co-Director of Research & Senior Research Analyst at ROTH, commented, “I’m pleased to welcome Kyle to our healthcare research team. I am confident his strong research background and understanding of equity markets in MedTech will serve our clients well.”

“We are committed to expanding our research department across industries and market caps”, said Sagar Sheth, CEO of ROTH. “I’m confident that Kyle’s expertise will provide valuable insights for our clients and help expand our healthcare practice.”

Dr. Bauser noted, “I am thrilled to be joining the impressive ROTH platform, which has a full suite of offerings dedicated to small-cap growth companies. I look forward to collaborating with the team and utilizing my diverse set of experiences to identify unique MedTech opportunities for our clients.”

Since 2010, ROTH has been involved in over 600 transactions for its healthcare clients, with a total transaction value of over $25 Billion. (Source: ROTH 05.21.25)

About ROTH:
ROTH is a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving growth companies and their investors. Our full-service platform provides capital raising, high impact equity research, macroeconomics, sales and trading, technical insights, derivatives strategies, M&A advisory, and corporate access. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, Roth is a privately held, employee-owned organization and maintains offices throughout the U.S. For more information on Roth, please visit www.roth.com.

Investor Contact
ROTH
Isabel Mattson-Pain
Managing Director, Chief Marketing Officer
imattson-pain@roth.com | 949.720.7117
ROTH – Member FINRA/SIPC – www.roth.com

Wire Service Contact:
IBN
Austin, Texas
www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
512.354.7000 Office
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

The MIL Network –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: Oma Savings Bank Plc’s Board of Directors resolved on a directed share issue to the personnel on of the company for the transfer of savings shares in the share savings plan

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 28 MAY 2025 AT 17.30 P.M EET, OTHER INFORMATION DISCLOSED ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF THE EXCHANGE

Oma Savings Bank Plc’s Board of Directors resolved on a directed share issue to the personnel on of the company for the transfer of savings shares in the share savings plan

The Board of Directors of Oma Savings Bank Plc established on 29 February 2024 a share savings plan for the employees of the company (“OmaOsake-plan”). The main terms and conditions of the OmaOsake-plan were described in a stock exchange release issued on 29 February 2024. In the OmaOsake-plan, the employees can save a proportion of their salary and invest the savings to the shares of Oma Savings Bank Plc. The savings are used to acquire shares two times in a year.

To implement the OmaOsake-plan, the Board of Directors resolved to issue a total of 24,318 new shares of Oma Savings Bank Plc. The share issue is directed, deviating from the shareholders’ pre-emptive subscription right, to the participants of the OmaOsake-plan. The company has a weighty financial reason for the deviation from the shareholders’ pre-emptive right, since the purpose of the share issue is to implement the OmaOsake-plan in accordance with its terms and conditions. The share issue is based on the authorisation given by the Annual General Meeting on 8 April 2025.

The new shares are the savings shares subscribed for with the savings accumulated under the OmaOsake-plan during 1 October 2024 – 31 March 2025. The shares have been subscribed for 7.51 euros per share, which corresponds to the volume-weighted average price of the share during 1 April – 30 April 2025, deducted by 10 per cent. The subscription price is credited to the Company’s reserve for invested unrestricted equity.

The estimated registration date of the new shares to the trade register is 12 June 2025 and the new shares are estimated to be traded alongside the old shares on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd on 13 June 2025. After the share issue, the number of Oma Savings Bank Plc’s shares is 33,317,089.

Oma Savings Bank Plc

Additional information:
Karri Alameri, CEO, tel. +358 45 656 5250, karri.alameri@omasp.fi

Distribution:

Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
Major media
www.omasp.fi

OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 600 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

The MIL Network –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Press Release: FDIC-Insured Institutions Reported Return on Assets of 1.16 Percent and Net Income of $70.6 Billion in the First Quarter

Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC

Net Income Increased From the Prior Quarter, Led by Higher Noninterest Income: For the 4,462 FDIC-insured commercial banks and savings institutions quarterly net income totaled $70.6 billion, up $3.8 billion (5.8 percent) from the prior quarter. The banking industry reported an aggregate ROA of 1.16 percent in first quarter 2025, up from 1.11 percent in fourth quarter 2024 and 1.09 percent in the year-ago quarter. The quarterly increase in net income was led by higher noninterest income (up $5.4 billion, or 7 percent). Gains in noninterest income were due to market movements and volatility as several large firms reported mark-to-market gains on certain financial instruments in the quarter. Lower losses on the sale of securities also contributed to an increase in net income.

Community Bank Net Income Increased From Last Quarter: Quarterly net income for the 4,022 community banks insured by the FDIC totaled $6.8 billion in the first quarter, an increase of $621.0 million (10 percent) from fourth quarter 2024. The community bank pretax ROA increased 11 basis points from last quarter to 1.18 percent. Higher net interest income (up $315.7 million, or 1.4 percent) and lower losses on the sale of securities (up $313.7 million, 54.8 percent) along with lower provision expenses (down $249.7 million, or 19 percent) and noninterest expenses (down $423.2 million, or 2.3 percent) more than offset lower noninterest income (down $476.6 million, or 9.1 percent).

Quarterly Net Interest Margin Ticked Down From the Prior Quarter: The industry reported a modest quarterly decline in net interest income (down $278.3 million, or 0.2 percent), as interest income decelerated slightly more than interest expense. The net interest margin (NIM) fell by two basis points to 3.25 percent, equal to the pre-pandemic average. [1] The community bank NIM of 3.46 percent increased two basis points quarter over quarter, increasing for the fourth consecutive quarter, but is still below the pre-pandemic average of 3.63 percent.

Asset Quality Metrics Remained Generally Favorable, Though Weakness in Certain Portfolios Persisted: Past-due and nonaccrual (PDNA) loans, or loans that are 30 or more days past due or in nonaccrual status, fell one basis point from the prior quarter to 1.59 percent of total loans. The industry’s PDNA ratio is still below the pre-pandemic average of 1.94 percent. While banks reported quarterly decreases in PDNA of credit card loans (down $2.7 billion, or 9 basis points to 3.22 percent), and auto loans (down $2.6 billion, or 48 basis points to 2.84 percent), weaknesses persisted in certain portfolios. The PDNA rate for commercial real estate (CRE) portfolios is the highest it has been since the fourth quarter of 2014 at 1.49 percent. Multifamily CRE PDNAs have grown the most in the past year, up 88 basis points to 1.47 percent.

The industry’s net charge-off ratio decreased three basis points to 0.67 percent from the prior quarter and is one basis point higher than the year-ago quarter. This ratio is 19 basis points above the pre-pandemic average. Most portfolios had net charge-off rates above their pre-pandemic averages including credit card loans, 123 basis points above the pre-pandemic average at 4.71 percent.

Loan Growth Remains Modest: Total loan and lease balances increased $62 billion (0.5 percent) from the previous quarter. The largest portfolio increases were reported in loans to non-depository financial institutions, in part due to continued reclassifications following the finalization of changes to how certain loan products should be reported. In addition to these reclassifications, commercial and industrial, and multifamily CRE contributed to the industry’s quarterly loan growth. The industry’s annual rate of loan growth in the first quarter was 3.0 percent, below the pre-pandemic average of 4.9 percent.

Total loans at community banks increased 0.8 percent from the prior quarter and 4.9 percent from the prior year, led by increases in nonfarm nonresidential CRE loans and 1-4 family residential mortgage portfolios.

Domestic Deposits Increased for the Third Consecutive Quarter: Domestic deposits increased $180.9 billion (1 percent) from fourth quarter 2024, rising for a third consecutive quarter. Savings deposits increased, with declines in small time deposits partially offsetting the increases. Brokered deposits decreased $14.9 billion (1.2 percent) from the prior quarter, declining for the fifth consecutive quarter. Estimated insured deposits increased this quarter (up $110.5 billion, or 1 percent).

The Deposit Insurance Fund Reserve Ratio Increased Three Basis Points to 1.31 Percent: In the first quarter, the Deposit Insurance Fund balance increased $3.8 billion to $140.9 billion. The reserve ratio increased three basis points during the quarter to 1.31 percent.

Change in Number of Insured Institutions: The total number of FDIC-insured institutions declined by 25 during the first quarter to 4,462. During the quarter, one bank opened, one bank failed and did not file a Call Report in the prior quarter, one bank was sold to an uninsured institution, and 25 institutions merged with other banks.

ATTACHMENTS:
Quarterly Banking Profile Home Page
Charts & Data
FDIC Statement

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:
Julianne Breitbeil
202-340-2043
JBreitbeil@FDIC.gov

[1] The “pre-pandemic average” refers to the period of first quarter 2015 through fourth quarter 2019 and is used consistently throughout this press release.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A660: Next stage of improvements to begin from Monday 2 June

Source: City of Leeds

Leeds City Council is to begin the latest stage of its £10.4m improvement works along the A660, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists and helping speed up bus journeys between Headingley and the city centre.

Starting from Monday 2 June, works will begin to deliver a segregated inbound and outbound cycle track on both sides of the road, change pedestrian crossings outside the Arndale Centre and The Original Oak to toucan crossings, along with a major upgrade of both the junctions of Hyde Park Corner and North Lane.

Other improvements include introducing a 20mph speed limit between Shaw Lane and St. Michael’s Road, wider pavements and continuous crossings at most junctions, upgrading bus stops and shelters, and providing better access to public transport outside the Arndale Centre.

From Monday 16 June, the junction of St. Michael’s Road and the A660 will be permanently closed to motor vehicles, with the area being transformed into a public space following a public consultation which saw 57% of responses backing this particular proposal.

The junction of the A660 with Regent Park Avenue will also be closed to motor vehicles from 30 July, and the existing left turn road closure from Woodhouse Street to A660 Woodhouse Lane will also be made permanent, with greenery and space for outdoor dining.

The improvements are funded by a £10.4m grant from Active Travel England, with this phase of work being delivered by construction partners Hinko Construction.

The works aim to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists along a route which saw 172 casualties between 2016 and 2021, encouraging people to choose more active and sustainable methods of travel which can boost health and wellbeing and help tackle climate change. They follow previous phases which were completed earlier this year, with 63% of respondents supporting the overall proposals during public consultation.

Deputy Leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, said:

“The A660 is one of our city’s busiest routes with thousands of people walking between north Leeds and the city centre every day, along with more than 1,000 cyclists daily and a high number of cars and buses.

“It’s important that we make these improvements so it’s safer for everyone using it, helping to meet our Vision Zero strategy goal of eliminating road deaths and serious injuries on Leeds’ roads by 2040.

“As with any scheme of this nature there is likely to be some disruption during construction, but we will work to keep this to a minimum, so we are encouraging people to plan ahead when travelling along this route.”

The works are expected to be completed by summer 2026, with several measures being put in place to minimise disruption wherever possible.

The majority of works will be carried out between 9.30am and 3.30pm on weekdays. In some instances, to ensure safety lanes will be narrowed where traffic will continue to flow in both directions.

In some instances, temporary traffic lights will be required which will take the road down to a single lane, and there will also be some temporary road closures in place. This is likely to lead to delays.

Bus routes will not be affected but there will be some temporary bus stops in place.

More details about the works can be found at the scheme’s dedicated website.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Western Cape launches Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing System

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Western Cape Government marked a significant milestone in its commitment to safer roads and smarter service delivery with the official launch of the Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing (CLLT) system.

“If we are to grow our economy and create more jobs, we need to ensure that our residents have the skills that they need to participate in the economy, and a driver’s licence is a critical requirement for many jobs, so we must make getting a driver’s licence as easy as possible for all our residents,” said Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku.

The event took place at the Beaufort West Driving Licence Testing Centre on Monday and showcased a live demonstration of a state-of-the-art digital testing system that replaces the traditional manual booklet method.

This innovation is set to transform the learner’s licence testing process across the Western Cape.

“This digital shift is a big step toward safer roads and a stronger economy. By improving driver skills through fair and efficient testing, we’re also boosting employability, supporting the Western Cape’s Growth for Jobs Strategy,” said the MEC.

The new system is being rolled out in partnership with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and ultimately aims to improve the quality of drivers on Western Cape roads.

Benefits include promoting safer and more responsible driving through standardised testing, reducing opportunities for corruption, supporting hearing-impaired applicants with on-screen multilingual instructions to eliminate the need for an interpreter, and delivering faster and more accurate results through instant digital processing.

“This is not just a technological upgrade – it’s a values-driven transformation. The system ensures that every applicant, regardless of ability, is treated with fairness and dignity,” added Sileku.

The testing terminals, each secured with fingerprint verification, connect directly to the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) and generate randomised test questions.

Results are automatically verified and securely processed, significantly improving both accuracy and data integrity.
The CLLT classroom includes fully networked workstations, touch-screen kiosks, and a 6kVA uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to maintain continuity in the event of electricity outages.

All provincial driving licence testing centres outside of the metro have been equipped with the new CLLT system, with the Western Cape Mobility Department currently engaging the City of Cape Town regarding its roll-out of the new system.

Residents can make appointments for learner’s licence testing at their local Driving Licence Testing Centre and prepare for their tests using free downloadable study guides for road signs, vehicle controls and the rules of the road via www.natis.gov.za.

The provincial government remains committed to building a safe and accessible transport environment that supports a thriving economy.– SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: No plans to reform SA’s mineral royalty regime – President Ramaphosa

Source: South Africa News Agency

Government remains committed to ensuring that South Africa continues to benefit equitably from its mineral wealth, while reaffirming that there are no current plans to reform the country’s mineral royalty regime.

Responding to oral questions in the National Assembly on Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed concerns raised by members regarding the country’s ability to fully capture the potential fiscal benefits of its mineral resources amid a global surge in demand for metals and minerals critical to the renewable energy transition.

“Any company that extracts a mineral resource in our country is required to pay the South African government a mineral royalty. This is because mineral resources are finite and cannot be replaced.

“While it is always good to review existing policies against national priorities, there is no intention at this stage to reform the current mineral royalty regime,” the President said.

On the issue of the resource rent taxes, the President said that such taxes aim to ensure that companies extracting minerals pay a larger share of their profits to government whenever profits are high.

He explained that South Africa’s mineral royalty regime incorporates an element of the principle underlying resource rent taxes.

The royalty rate is applied to the sales value of a mineral and is determined by a formula that varies according to profitability, as well as whether the mineral has been refined or is unrefined.

“There is a minimum rate to ensure that even if profitability is low, the country is still reimbursed for resources that are extracted. In this way, government collects more corporate tax revenue and mineral royalty revenue during commodity booms leading to a higher level of taxation,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa cited statistics from the South African Revenue Service which show that mineral royalties doubled from R14.2 billion to R28.5 billion between 2020/21 and 2021/22 because of the commodity boom.

They remained elevated in 2022/23 before dropping to almost R16 billion in 2023/24, indicating that companies were not as profitable in that year.

In addition to the payment of mineral royalties, mining companies contribute to national revenue through the payment of corporate income tax, capital gains tax on the disposal of assets, VAT and employees’ pay-as-you-earn tax contributions.

In the past financial year, the mining industry paid 14% of all corporate taxes in South Africa. Earlier this month, Cabinet adopted a Critical Minerals Strategy for the country, which places a sharper focus on domestic mineral value addition.

“The strategy itself aims to maximise the country’s potential particularly in the global market for critical minerals, particularly those crucial for the country’s just energy transition and the ones for which the country holds comparative advantage.

“This strategy aims to ensure that South Africa derives greater benefits from its mineral wealth through beneficiation, through localisation and the people who work for those companies,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI China: State visit by Palauan President Whipps concludes; successfully deepens bilateral relations
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

State visit by Palauan President Whipps concludes; successfully deepens bilateral relations
- Date：2025-05-24
- Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
May 24, 2025
No. 173

President of the Republic of Palau Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. and his delegation concluded a successful state visit to Taiwan on the morning of May 24. Following President Lai Ching-te’s December visit to Pacific allies entitled “Smart and Sustainable Development for a Prosperous Austronesian Region” and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung’s January trip to Palau as special presidential envoy and head of an industrial fact-finding mission, this visit marked the further deepening of diverse and robust cooperation between Taiwan and Palau under the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. It also underlined the significant accomplishments that the two countries had achieved thanks to their staunch commitment to jointly promoting sustainable development.

During his visit, President Whipps met with President Lai, attended a state banquet, and together with President Lai witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements on technical cooperation and diplomatic staff training and cooperation. Accompanied by Minister Lin, President Whipps also visited industries related to the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project in central and southern Taiwan. The tour reflected Taiwan’s continuing efforts to strengthen the resilience of Palau’s tourism-centered economy through integrated diplomacy and demonstrated the substantive success of bilateral collaboration.

Leaving Taiwan today, the Palauan delegation was seen off at the airport by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Remus Li-kuo Chen. Since establishing diplomatic ties 26 years ago, Taiwan and Palau have enjoyed a solid friendship, mutual trust, and steadfast cooperation across all domains. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to uphold the close and cordial cooperative partnership between the two countries, promote the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, and deepen bilateral relations. It will also work with Palau to advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. (E)

MIL OSI China News –
May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: Charli Capital Revolutionizes Private Equity Investing with Smart Deal Finder, Offers Access to Over 2 Million Private and Public Companies
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Charli Capital, the force behind the proprietary Multidimensional AI™, is excited to unveil its latest breakthrough: Smart Deal Finder—a game-changing tool designed to reshape how investors, analysts, and financial leaders identify and evaluate opportunities across public and private markets. From venture capitalists to CFOs and CEOs, Smart Deal Finder delivers powerful insights not only to guide investment decisions but also to benchmark performance, track market sentiment, and understand how companies stack up against competitors in real time.

Smart Deal Finder introduces a frictionless, intelligent experience for surfacing investment-grade companies—without the need for complex filters, tedious prompts, or keyword gymnastics. With a single, intuitive query, users can instantly identify businesses that align with their investment strategies, accessing detailed insights that have traditionally been out of reach.

“We’re simplifying the future of deal discovery,” said Kevin Collins, CEO of Charli Capital. “With Smart Deal Finder, users get a data-rich, analyst-quality experience—without needing a team of researchers. This is about empowering every investor to discover the overlooked, the emerging, and the exceptional—with speed and confidence.”

What Makes Smart Deal Finder a Game-Changer?

Charli’s signature interface now offers a “Shopify-like” marketplace for investments, where investors can explore and purchase detailed scorecards and deep-dive reports in seconds. It’s all powered by the trusted depth of Charli’s Multidimensional AI™, known for its unmatched accuracy across more than 2 million companies.

Built for Everyone—from Private Investors to Institutional Analysts to C-Suite Executives
- Instant Access, No Commitment
  Explore high-potential deals with no subscription required. Simply log in, search, and evaluate—when and how you want.
- Actionable, Qualified Deal Flow
  Gain access to real-time insights across 2 M+ companies—including financials, sentiment analysis, and investment-grade indicators to validate every opportunity.
- Ask. Discover. Invest.
  Use natural language to find exactly what you’re looking for. Charli interprets your investment goals and uncovers deals that match—no technical filters required.
- Built for How You Work
  From desktop to mobile, the experience is fast, interactive, and built for decision-making. Add companies to watchlists, purchase insights, and download reports—all in a few clicks.
- Enterprise-Ready Intelligence
  For enterprise clients, Smart Deal Finder integrates directly into your internal platforms, giving teams and clients the power of Charli’s investment intelligence under your own brand.
A New Era for Investment Discovery

Whether you’re looking to spot rising stars in emerging markets or validate targets across fragmented private equity landscapes, Smart Deal Finder removes the guesswork and delivers clarity. It’s investment intelligence—on demand.

Try the Smart Deal Finder today by visiting www.charliai.com

About Charli Capital
Charli Capital is redefining the future of private investing with a first-of-its-kind dual-sided network, powered by Charli’s multidimensional AI. Our platform empowers investors to uncover hidden opportunities, access high-quality deal flow, and engage in a new era of data-driven, intelligent capital allocation. Charli Capital is where next-generation investment decisions begin.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Fatema Bhabrawala
Director of Media Relations
fbhabrawala@allianceadvisors.com

The MIL Network –
May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: Gevo to Sell Luverne, Minnesota Ethanol Facility to A.E. Innovation; Will Retain Isobutanol Assets for Future Innovation

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Agri-Energy, LLC (“Agri”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Gevo, to A.E. Innovation, LLC (“A.E.”) for $7 million. The transaction includes Agri’s 18-million-gallon-per-year ethanol-production facility located in Luverne, Minnesota. Gevo will retain ownership of certain isobutanol-production-related assets and a portion of the vacant land at the site for future use. With these retained assets, Gevo could potentially produce up to 1 million gallons per year of isobutanol, which can be sold as a specialty chemical, or converted into isooctane and jet fuel.

A.E., an agriculture-oriented buyer group located in Minnesota, will acquire the ethanol plant and a portion of the land with the intent to restart ethanol production, which has been idled since 2022. A.E. also intends to make the site available for other companies to scale up new technologies and ideas as an innovation hub.

“We’re seeing rapid innovation in the direction of bio-based fuels and chemicals and Agri-Energy has the demonstrated history that it can work on the cutting edge,” says Dave Kolsrud, principal of A.E. Innovation, LLC. “We see Gevo and others making strides and we know we’ll be a part of that. We are excited to host the next generation of biofuel innovations that need a friendly, practical place where they can scale them up. That’s Luverne, with its history of innovation, its low-carbon corn supply, wind power, and great people.”

Over the last several years, the Luverne plant, in conjunction with local farmers, has been used as a demonstration site for educating Gevo’s stakeholders about regenerative agriculture and the versatility of corn and its co-products, as well as biofuel production, including synthetic aviation fuel (“SAF”), isobutanol, and ethanol. Gevo and A.E. look forward to continuing and expanding upon this valuable stakeholder outreach.

“We see tremendous potential for future growth and new partnerships with A.E. Innovation,” says Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo. “Minnesota’s farming communities, especially in places like Luverne, are leading the way with smart, sustainable agricultural practices. We believe it’s the perfect foundation for building innovative solutions in carbohydrate-based energy and chemicals that the world urgently needs.”

Gevo notes that the sale of Agri-Energy to A.E. Innovation provides $2 million of cash upon closing and an additional $5 million of future cash under the purchase agreement, along with an estimated annual savings of approximately $3 million per year of current facility idling costs. Gevo also anticipates potential future benefits from isobutanol fermentation through a side-by-side operational model with the ethanol assets. Restarting ethanol production is expected to bring positive impacts to the City of Luverne, including support for local farmers and strengthening the regional economy.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025, subject to the procurement of financing by A.E. and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

About Gevo
Gevo is a next-generation diversified energy company committed to fueling America’s future with cost-effective, drop-in fuels that contribute to energy security, abate carbon, and strengthen rural communities to drive economic growth. Gevo’s innovative technology can be used to make a variety of renewable products, including SAF, motor fuels, chemicals, and other materials that provide U.S.-made solutions. By investing in the backbone of rural America, Gevo’s business model includes developing, financing, and operating production facilities that create jobs and revitalize communities. Gevo owns and operates one of the largest dairy-based renewable natural gas (“RNG”) facilities in the United States, turning by-products into clean, reliable energy. Gevo also operates an ethanol plant with an adjacent carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”) facility, further solidifying America’s leadership in energy innovation. Additionally, Gevo owns the world’s first production facility for specialty alcohol-to-jet (“ATJ”) fuels and chemicals. Gevo’s market-driven “pay for performance” approach regarding carbon and other sustainability attributes, helps ensure value is delivered to our local economy. Through its Verity subsidiary, Gevo provides transparency, accountability, and efficiency in tracking, measuring and verifying various attributes throughout the supply chain. By strengthening rural economies, Gevo is working to secure a self-sufficient future and to make sure value is brought to the market.

For more information, see www.gevo.com.

About A.E. Innovation, LLC
A.E. Innovation, LLC, is an agriculture-oriented buyer group located in Minnesota founded to purchase the ethanol-production assets of Agri-Energy, LLC, with the intent of operating the plant as an innovation facility providing companies with the opportunity to certify that new technologies can transition from laboratory or bench-top status to full production-level performance using locally sourced, regeneratively grown corn as a feedstock. For more information regarding innovation opportunities at the Luverne, MN facility, contact David Kolsrud (507-920-5348) email: david@dakrenewableenergy.com or Dan Heard (605-929-2047) email: dan@dakrenewableenergy.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements related to the expected closing of the acquisition or the timing thereof, and future plans for the assets. These statements relate to analyses and other information, which are based on forecasts of future results or events and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. We claim the protection of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for all forward-looking statements in this release.

These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target” and similar terms and phrases or future or conditional verbs such as “could,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and “would.” However, these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and other expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve those plans, intentions or expectations. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that we expected.

Important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from our expectations, or cautionary statements, include among others, failure to satisfy any conditions to the closing of the transaction in a timely manner or at all; the occurrence of any event that could give rise to termination of the definitive agreement, including the inability to obtain financing; changes in legislation or government regulations affecting the proposed transaction or the parties; and other risk factors or uncertainties identified from time to time in Gevo’s filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements identified above and in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 as well as other cautionary statements that are made from time to time in our other SEC filings and public communications. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this release in the context of these risks and uncertainties.

We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not reflect all of the factors that could cause actual results or events to differ from our expectations. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences or affect us or our operations in the way we expect. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

Media Contact
Heather L. Manuel
VP, Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
PR@gevo.com

IR Contact
Eric Frey
VP, Finance & Strategy
IR@Gevo.com

The MIL Network –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: AI-Powered Defense at the Edge: Check Point Launches New Branch Office Security Gateways with 4x Faster Threat Prevention Performance
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point^® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today announced major advancements to its family of Quantum Force Security Gateways. All Quantum Force Security Gateways for the data center and perimeter are receiving a 15%-25% performance boost in threat prevention throughput – delivered automatically via software update. In parallel, Check Point is launching a new lineup of AI-powered Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateways designed to provide enterprise-level firewall security with up to a 4x increase in threat prevention performance from previous models.

These four new branch firewalls deliver industry-leading 99.9% block rate, lightning-fast cloud application performance, and are optimized for SD-WAN to meet the growing demands of hybrid networks and the modern distributed workforce. According to the latest data from Check Point Research (CPR), branch offices are now facing an average of 713 weekly attack attempts per location, a 36% rise from the same period last year. Additionally, 50% of branch offices encounter attempts to exploit vulnerabilities from external sources, highlighting the urgent requirement for robust branch security and scalable management in the AI era.

“As we continue to prioritize innovation and efficiency, Check Point’s new Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateway firewalls are built for speed, simplicity, and security,” said Nataly Kremer, Chief Product Officer at Check Point. “They’re 4x faster than previous models, optimized for SD-WAN, and backed by our latest AI-powered threat prevention. And with automatic performance upgrades, existing Quantum Force customers will receive a 15-25% performance boost with a software update — no hardware changes required.”

Today’s branch offices play a crucial role in engaging directly with customers but often represent the most vulnerable point in network security. Their direct links to the public cloud and the internet make them more susceptible to cyber threats. With the current threat environment and a staggering 44% rise in cyber-attacks year over year, as highlighted in CPR’s 2025 Security Report, there is a significant need to implement strong enterprise firewalls that can effectively defend against online threats without impacting network performance by causing delays or disruptions.

“World Wide Technology (WWT) provides security products and services to customers across a variety of industries including financial services, manufacturing, retail and healthcare with distributed branch offices,” said Chris Konrad, Vice President of Global Cyber at WWT. “Check Point’s new next-generation Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateways with enhanced AI powered threat prevention, empower us to protect these customers from the latest attacks on branch offices. These innovations help our clients reduce risk, streamline operations, and scale securely across hybrid environments — turning cyber resilience into a competitive advantage.”

Check Point’s Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateways capabilities include:
- Industry-leading threat prevention: A 4x boost in threat prevention throughput with a tried and tested industry leading 99.9% block rate based on Miercom’s 2025 security benchmark report.
- Optimized for Cloud Applications: Lightning-fast security performance for SaaS apps by optimizing for SD-WAN, expanding network connectivity up to 10X to 10 GbE, and increasing port capacity 2X.
- Unified Management: Top rated unified security management for enterprise, campus, branch, and cloud environments along with zero-trust policy across the entire enterprise.
“Branch offices are often the soft spots in enterprise security, providing vulnerable entry-points for attacks and compromising the security posture across the enterprise,” said Pete Finalle, Security Research Manager, at IDC. “Check Point’s new Quantum Branch Office Security Gateways deliver robust threat prevention to the edge, enabling organizations to secure their branch offices from emerging cyber threats while keeping pace with the demands of the hybrid workforce.”

Availability
The four new Check Point Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateways are available now through our network of global partners. For more details about Check Point Quantum Force, visit our website or check out our blog.

Follow Check Point via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies
X: https://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware
Blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal

About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (checkpoint.com) is a leading protector of digital trust, utilizing AI-powered cyber security solutions to safeguard over 100,000 organizations globally. Through its Infinity Platform and an open garden ecosystem, Check Point’s prevention-first approach delivers industry-leading security efficacy while reducing risk. Employing a hybrid mesh network architecture with SASE at its core, the Infinity Platform unifies the management of on-premises, cloud, and workspace environments to offer flexibility, simplicity and scale for enterprises and service providers.

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point’s industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

The MIL Network –
May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: Check Point Accelerates Threat Detection and Response with AI-Powered Security Management for the Modern Enterprise
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point^® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today announced the launch of its next generation Quantum Smart-1 Management Appliances, delivering 2X increase in managed gateways and up to 70% higher log rate, with AI-powered security tools designed to meet the demands of hybrid enterprises. Fully integrated within the Check Point Infinity Platform, these new appliances offer faster, more intelligent threat detection and response through a unique hybrid mesh architecture and integration with over 250 third-party solutions.

“Security teams today face more pressure than ever — from rising AI-generated threats to managing fragmented infrastructures. Our new Quantum Smart-1 Management Appliances simplify that complexity,” said Nataly Kremer, Chief Product Officer at Check Point. “Our new Quantum Smart-1 Management Appliances combine AI, speed, precision, and automation to help organizations manage on-premise, cloud, and distributed IT deployments — faster and smarter.”

With growing pressures on security teams, their management systems need to evolve. The rise of remote work, branch offices, and distributed teams has greatly increased the areas vulnerable to attacks. Check Point Research’s AI Security Report found that AI services are now used in over 51% of enterprise networks every month, widening security risks and making security policies vital. The new Smart-1 Management Appliances are built to give security teams the speed and agility to stay ahead, the appliances unify operations across on-premises, cloud, and remote environments — streamlining security management while enhancing visibility and control.

Key Benefits of the New Smart-1 Management Appliances:
- Scale with Confidence: Manage up to 10,000 gateways — supporting business growth without rearchitecting security infrastructure
- Faster Response, Lower Risk: Achieve up to 70% higher log processing speeds to accelerate threat detection and response
- Built-in Compliance Readiness: Store up to 70TB of logs locally for long-term data retention and regulatory requirements
- Smarter Operations: Consolidate management functions and reduce complexity across hybrid environments
- Open Ecosystem: Integrate with over 250 third-party solutions
Now in their 7th generation, the Quantum Smart-1 Management appliances are available in five models — including the high-performance 7000 Ultra — enabling security teams to consolidate infrastructure, reduce operational complexity, and gain faster insights from a single device. The appliances streamline policy and firewall management and can be enhanced with AI-powered tools such as, Infinity AI Copilot, Infinity Playblocks, Policy Advisor, Policy Insights, Compliance, and Infinity AIOps.

In its recent AI-Powered Cyber Security Platform Benchmark, Miercom recognized Check Point as the top performer across both management usability and security efficacy, validating the strength of the platform that powers Smart-1 Management Appliances. “The Check Point Infinity Platform demonstrated superior security efficacy, consistently outperforming its peers in the test category of comprehensive threat prevention and response, as well as excelling in the AI-powered testing scenarios,” said Rob Smithers, CEO at Miercom. Its AI-driven architecture, hybrid mesh deployment model, and unified security operations prove that Check Point is setting the pace for next-generation cyber security.”

Quantum Smart-1 Management appliances are available now. For more information, please visit our website or check out our blog.

Follow Check Point via:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies
X: https://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware
Blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal

About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (checkpoint.com) is a leading protector of digital trust, utilizing AI-powered cyber security solutions to safeguard over 100,000 organizations globally. Through its Infinity Platform and an open garden ecosystem, Check Point’s prevention-first approach delivers industry-leading security efficacy while reducing risk. Employing a hybrid mesh network architecture with SASE at its core, the Infinity Platform unifies the management of on-premises, cloud, and workspace environments to offer flexibility, simplicity and scale for enterprises and service providers.

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point’s industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

The MIL Network –
May 29, 2025

MIL-OSI: Correction: NBPE – April Monthly Net Asset Value Estimate

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

HEADLINE ALTERATION

The headline for NB Private Equity Partners announcement released on 28/05/2025 at 07.00 am should read – NBPE – April Monthly Net Assety Value Estimate

The announcement text is unchanged and is reproduced in full below.

NBPE Announces April Monthly NAV Estimate

St Peter Port, Guernsey 28 May 2025

NB Private Equity Partners (NBPE), the $1.2bn¹, FTSE 250, listed private equity investment company managed by Neuberger Berman, today announces its 30 April 2025 monthly NAV estimate.

NAV Highlights (30 April 2025)

NAV per share was $27.29 (£20.43), a total return of 0.4% in the month
Approximately 62% of fair value based on private company valuation information as of Q1 2025 or based on 30 April 2025 quoted prices
Based on information received so far, private company valuations increased fair value by 0.4% during Q1 2025 on a constant currency basis
NBPE expects to receive additional updated Q1 2025 financial information which will be incorporated in future monthly NAV updates
$307 million of available liquidity at 30 April 2025
~151k shares repurchased during April 2025 at a weighted average discount of 33% which were accretive to NAV by ~$0.02 per share. Year to date, NBPE has repurchased ~680k shares at a weighted average discount of 29% which were accretive to NAV by ~$0.10 per share

As of 30 April 2025	Year to Date	One Year	3 years	5 years	10 years
NAV TR (USD)* Annualised	0.8%	3.4%	4.1% 1.4%	87.7% 13.4%	160.7% 10.1%
MSCI World TR (USD)* Annualised	(0.8%)	12.6%	39.0% 11.6%	96.6% 14.5%	157.2% 9.9%

Share price TR (GBP)* Annualised	(8.0%)	(8.9%)	3.6% 1.2%	99.0% 14.7%	189.5% 11.2%
FTSE All-Share TR (GBP)* Annualised	4.3%	7.5%	22.6% 7.0%	67.9% 10.9%	75.9% 5.8%

* All NBPE performance figures assume re-investment of dividends on the ex-dividend date and reflect cumulative returns over the relevant time periods shown. Three-year, five-year and ten-year annualised returns are presented for USD NAV, MSCI World (USD), GBP Share Price and FTSE All-Share (GBP) Total Returns.

Portfolio Update to 30 April 2025

NAV performance during the month driven by:

1.1% NAV increase ($13 million) attributable to changes in foreign exchange
0.9% NAV decrease ($10 million) attributable to changes in prices of quoted holdings (which now constitute 5% of portfolio fair value)
0.3% NAV increase ($4 million) from the value of private holdings
0.2% NAV decrease ($3 million) attributable to expense accruals

$53 million of realisations in 2025 year to date

$6 million of proceeds received during the month of April, consisting primarily of full and partial realisations of GFL, Corona Industrials and Inflection Energy

$307 million of total liquidity at 30 April 2025

$97 million of cash and liquid investments with $210 million of undrawn credit line available

2025 Share Buybacks

~151k shares repurchased in April 2025 at a weighted average discount of 33%; buybacks were accretive to NAV by ~$0.02 per share
Year to date, NBPE has repurchased ~680k shares at a weighted average discount of 29% which were accretive to NAV by ~$0.10 per share

Portfolio Valuation

The fair value of NBPE’s portfolio as of 30 April 2025 was based on the following information:

5% of the portfolio was valued as of 30 April 2025
- 5% in public securities
57% of the portfolio was valued as of 31 March 2025
- 57% in private direct investments
38% of the portfolio was valued as of 31 December 2024
- 38% in private direct investments

For further information, please contact:

NBPE Investor Relations +44 (0) 20 3214 9002
Luke Mason NBPrivateMarketsIR@nb.com

Kaso Legg Communications +44 (0)20 3882 6644

Charles Gorman nbpe@kl-communications.com
Luke Dampier
Charlotte Francis

Supplementary Information (as at 30 April 2025)

Company Name	Vintage	Lead Sponsor	Sector	Fair Value ($m)		% of FV
Action	2020	3i	Consumer		83.9		6.6%
Osaic	2019	Reverence Capital	Financial Services		66.9		5.3%
Solenis	2021	Platinum Equity	Industrials		59.8		4.7%
BeyondTrust	2018	Francisco Partners	Technology / IT		47.7		3.8%
Monroe Engineering	2021	AEA Investors	Industrials		44.7		3.5%
Business Services Company*	2017	Not Disclosed	Business Services		40.1		3.2%
Branded Cities Network	2017	Shamrock Capital	Communications / Media		38.9		3.1%
True Potential	2022	Cinven	Financial Services		35.2		2.8%
Mariner	2024	Leonard Green & Partners	Financial Services		33.7		2.7%
FDH Aero	2024	Audax Group	Industrials		32.9		2.6%
Marquee Brands	2014	Neuberger Berman	Consumer		31.4		2.5%
GFL (NYSE: GFL)	2018	BC Partners	Business Services		30.6		2.4%
Staples	2017	Sycamore Partners	Business Services		29.6		2.3%
Auctane	2021	Thoma Bravo	Technology / IT		29.1		2.3%
Fortna	2017	THL	Industrials		28.7		2.3%
Viant	2018	JLL Partners	Healthcare		27.3		2.2%
Stubhub	2020	Neuberger Berman	Consumer		26.4		2.1%
Engineering	2020	NB Renaissance / Bain Capital	Technology / IT		26.3		2.1%
Benecon	2024	TA Associates	Healthcare		25.5		2.0%
Agiliti	2019	THL	Healthcare		25.3		2.0%
Kroll	2020	Further Global / Stone Point	Financial Services		25.0		2.0%
Solace Systems	2016	Bridge Growth Partners	Technology / IT		24.6		1.9%
Excelitas	2022	AEA Investors	Industrials		24.1		1.9%
Addison Group	2021	Trilantic Capital Partners	Business Services		23.8		1.9%
Exact	2019	KKR	Technology / IT		23.3		1.8%
CH Guenther	2021	Pritzker Private Capital	Consumer		21.2		1.7%
Bylight	2017	Sagewind Partners	Technology / IT		19.9		1.6%
Constellation Automotive	2019	TDR Capital	Business Services		19.0		1.5%
Real Page	2021	Thoma Bravo	Technology / IT		18.8		1.5%
Tendam	2017	PAI	Consumer		18.3		1.4%
Total Top 30 Investments					$982.1		77.6%

*Undisclosed company due to confidentiality provisions.

Geography	% of Portfolio
North America	77%
Europe	22%
Asia / Rest of World	1%
Total Portfolio	100%

Industry	% of Portfolio
Tech, Media & Telecom	23%
Consumer / E-commerce	22%
Industrials / Industrial Technology	17%
Financial Services	14%
Business Services	12%
Healthcare	9%
Other	4%
Energy	1%
Total Portfolio	100%

Vintage Year	% of Portfolio
2016 & Earlier	9%
2017	16%
2018	15%
2019	13%
2020	13%
2021	18%
2022	6%
2023	2%
2024	8%
Total Portfolio	100%

About NB Private Equity Partners Limited
NBPE invests in direct private equity investments alongside market leading private equity firms globally. NB Alternatives Advisers LLC (the “Investment Manager”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, is responsible for sourcing, execution and management of NBPE. The vast majority of direct investments are made with no management fee / no carried interest payable to third-party GPs, offering greater fee efficiency than other listed private equity companies. NBPE seeks capital appreciation through growth in net asset value over time while paying a bi-annual dividend.

LEI number: 213800UJH93NH8IOFQ77

About Neuberger Berman
Neuberger Berman is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with over 2,800 employees in 26 countries. The firm manages $515 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger Berman’s investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. Neuberger Berman has been named by Pensions & Investments as the #1 or #2 Best Place to Work in Money Management for each of the last eleven years (firms with more than 1,000 employees). Visit www.nb.com for more information. Data as of March 31, 2025.

¹Based on net asset value.

Attachment

April 2025 NBPE Factsheet vF

The MIL Network –

May 29, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: Ethiopia’s Central Bank: Leading Transformative Reform

Source: IMF – News in Russian

May 28, 2025

Ethiopia has taken historic steps to address macroeconomic imbalances while fostering sustainable growth

Over the past year, Ethiopia—Africa’s second most populous country—has embarked on a comprehensive transformation of its monetary and exchange rate regimes. After decades of tight control, the country has liberalized the foreign exchange regime, adopted a more flexible exchange rate, moved to an interest rate-based monetary policy, and ended central bank financing of government. In parallel, the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) is updating its legal framework and internal organization.

These reforms aim to address acute foreign exchange shortages and inflation, creating conditions for high, sustainable growth. The authorities are also tackling budgetary constraints, financial vulnerabilities in state-owned enterprises and state-owned banks, and a sovereign debt restructuring while mitigating social impacts and managing humanitarian pressures. The IMF is supporting Ethiopia’s reform efforts through a four-year $3.4 billion Extended Credit Facility Arrangement.

During the 2025 IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, Mamo Mihretu, Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia discussed these key reforms with Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the IMF’s African Department. The following is an edited transcript of the conversation, focusing on key highlights (view video).

Abebe Aemro Selassie: Ethiopia is undergoing significant reforms that are reshaping its economic landscape. Can you provide some context regarding the state of the economy before these reforms?

Mamo Mihretu: After two decades of sustained economic growth, primarily driven by public investment, Ethiopia faced unsustainable macroeconomic imbalances. The state’s reliance on external creditors, the large public bank, and NBE led to foreign exchange shortages, limited access to credit for the private sector, high inflation, financial stability risks, and debt vulnerabilities.

Abebe Aemro Selassie: What are the primary objectives of the reform agenda that Ethiopia has embarked upon?

Mamo Mihretu: We launched our Homegrown Economic Reform Program in 2019. The objective of the reforms was to address fundamentally, boldly, and conclusively the sources of macroeconomic instability in Ethiopia and create a much more open, investment-friendly, and private-sector-friendly environment. These objectives are critical for our job creation agenda that will increase income and improve livelihoods.

Abebe Aemro Selassie: Can you elaborate on some of the key reforms in Ethiopia’s monetary policy?

Mamo Mihretu: We have made historic changes, including the revision of the Central Bank Act to prioritize price stability. We introduced a monetary policy rate, implemented open market operations for liquidity management with banks, and established a Monetary Policy Committee to advise on monetary policy decisions based on comprehensive assessments of economic conditions. Interest rates are now positive in real terms. Inflation has declined from 30 percent to 13 percent.

Abebe Aemro Selassie: What about the reforms related to foreign exchange? What changes have been implemented?

Mamo Mihretu: Ethiopia has a market-based foreign exchange regime for the first time in five decades. We comprehensively liberalized foreign exchange transactions and eliminated the requirement to surrender export earnings to the NBE. The early results have been promising; we expect exports to double and have already tripled our foreign reserves, while foreign exchange availability has also increased.

Abebe Aemro Selassie: Communication appears to be a vital aspect of your reform strategy. Can you discuss its importance?

Mamo Mihretu: Building credibility and trust is essential. We are investing in transparent communication and actively monitor market dynamics. By maintaining open channels of dialogue with stakeholders, we aim to foster a supportive environment for these reforms.

Abebe Aemro Selassie: What lessons have emerged from your experience in implementing these reforms?

Mamo Mihretu: Several key lessons stand out. First, preparation and coordination among government agencies are crucial. Second, the sequencing of reforms matters; it helps maintain stability and manage public expectations. Finally, adapting to evolving economic conditions is vital for the success of any reform effort.

Abebe Aemro Selassie: What are the next steps for Ethiopia in terms of reform and economic development?

Mamo Mihretu: We have to deepen the current monetary policy reforms as we move to a fully-fledged interest-rate based monetary policy. We are also working on deepening the foreign exchange market. Most importantly we are decisively addressing macroeconomic instability to create a strong foundation for sustainable growth.

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/28/cf-ethiopias-central-bank-leading-transformative-reform

MIL OSI

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: 28 May 2025 News release Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly concludes: historic outcomes, consequential highlights
Source: World Health Organisation

The Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly (WHA78), the annual meeting of World Health Organization’s (WHO) Member States, came to a close Tuesday, as health leaders lauded vast accomplishments and global solidarity.

The Assembly, WHO’s highest decision-making body, convened from 19 May to 27 May, under the theme “One World for Health”. Member States considered approximately 75 items and sub-items across all areas of health, engaging in lively debate and adopting consequential resolutions to improve health for all.

“The words ‘historic’ and ‘landmark’ are overused, but they are perfectly apt to describe this year’s World Health Assembly,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The adoption of the Pandemic Agreement and the approval of the next increase in assessed contributions, along with the numerous other resolutions that Member States adopted are a sign to the world that we can achieve cooperation in the face of conflict, and unity amid division.”

World’s first pandemic agreement: equity for all

On 20 May, Member States adopted the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement. The moment was met with heartfelt applause, celebrating over three years of intense negotiations by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, comprising WHO’s Member States.

The adoption of the Agreement is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to safeguard the world from a repeat of the suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Agreement aims to enhance global coordination and cooperation, equity and access for future pandemics, all while respecting national sovereignty.

Over the next year, Member States will build on the Resolution, by holding consultations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (PABS), an annex to the Agreement which would enhance equitable access to medical advancements.

Sustainable financing: protecting the future of global health

In a changing financial landscape, Member States united to protect WHO’s critical work by approving the second 20% increase in assessed contributions (ACs). By 2030–2031, ACs will make up 50% of WHO’s core budget, providing more predictable, resilient, and flexible funding.

The Assembly’s commitment to sustainable financing did not stop there; at a high-level pledging event during WHA78, health leaders pledged at least US$ 210 million for WHO’s Investment Round, the fundraising campaign for the Organization’s global health strategy for the next four years (the Fourteenth General Programme of Work). In addition to the US$ 1.7 billion already raised for the Investment Round, these pledges mark a significant step toward sustainable financing of WHO. Since launching in May 2024, the Investment Round has attracted 35 new contributors – moving WHO closer to the broader donor base envisioned in the Director-General’s ongoing transformation agenda.

Action for health: major decisions and resolutions

WHA 78 was steadfast in addressing ongoing health issues and adaptable in targeting threats and conflicts. The accomplishments of the Assembly spanned many areas of health as Member States
- adopted a new resolution highlighting the global health financing emergency;
- endorsed first-ever resolutions on lung and kidney health, highlighting the upcoming UN General Assembly focus on noncommunicable diseases;
- adopted a new resolution on science-driven norms and standards for health policy and implementation;
- adopted a new target to halve the health impacts of air pollution by 2040;
- adopted an innovative resolution to promote social connection with growing evidence linking it to improved health outcomes and reduced risk of early death;
- adopted a resolution for a lead-free future;
- adopted a resolution to address rare diseases, protecting the over 300 million people globally who live with one of more than 7000 rare diseases;
- agreed to expand the provisions of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes to tackle the digital marketing of formula milk and baby foods;
- adopted a resolution to accelerate the eradication of Guinea worm disease.
The Assembly adopted other resolutions on digital health, the health and care workforce, medical imaging, nursing and midwifery, sensory impairment, and skin diseases, among others. Two new official WHO health campaigns were established: World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day and World Prematurity Day.

Strengthening health emergency preparedness and response

The World Health Assembly also discussed WHO’s work in health emergencies. Over the last year, WHO responded internationally to 51 graded emergencies across 89 countries and territories, including global outbreaks of cholera and mpox – a public health emergency of international concern – as well as multiple humanitarian crises. Working with over 900 partners across 28 health clusters, WHO helped provide health assistance for 72 million people in humanitarian settings. Nearly 60% of new emergencies were climate-related, highlighting the growing health impacts of climate change.

During the Assembly, Member States
- considered matters pertaining to WHO’s work in health emergencies and commended the Organization’s leadership in this space;
- noted the Director-General’s report on implementation of the health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) framework and expressed their support for the strengthening of the global architecture;
- considered the health needs of people in Ukraine and the occupied Palestinian territory;
- noted the Director-General’s report on progress made in implementing the International Health Regulations (2005); and
- approved a decision to strengthen the research base on public health and social measures to control outbreaks.
MIL OSI United Nations News –
May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: State visit by Palauan President Whipps concludes; successfully deepens bilateral relations

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

State visit by Palauan President Whipps concludes; successfully deepens bilateral relations

Date：2025-05-24
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

May 24, 2025No. 173President of the Republic of Palau Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. and his delegation concluded a successful state visit to Taiwan on the morning of May 24. Following President Lai Ching-te’s December visit to Pacific allies entitled “Smart and Sustainable Development for a Prosperous Austronesian Region” and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung’s January trip to Palau as special presidential envoy and head of an industrial fact-finding mission, this visit marked the further deepening of diverse and robust cooperation between Taiwan and Palau under the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. It also underlined the significant accomplishments that the two countries had achieved thanks to their staunch commitment to jointly promoting sustainable development. During his visit, President Whipps met with President Lai, attended a state banquet, and together with President Lai witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements on technical cooperation and diplomatic staff training and cooperation. Accompanied by Minister Lin, President Whipps also visited industries related to the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project in central and southern Taiwan. The tour reflected Taiwan’s continuing efforts to strengthen the resilience of Palau’s tourism-centered economy through integrated diplomacy and demonstrated the substantive success of bilateral collaboration.Leaving Taiwan today, the Palauan delegation was seen off at the airport by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Remus Li-kuo Chen. Since establishing diplomatic ties 26 years ago, Taiwan and Palau have enjoyed a solid friendship, mutual trust, and steadfast cooperation across all domains. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to uphold the close and cordial cooperative partnership between the two countries, promote the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, and deepen bilateral relations. It will also work with Palau to advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. (E)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Joins Ossoff, Kelly in Reigniting Push to Ban Congressional Stock Trading

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
May 27, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators John Ossoff (D-GA) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) in reintroducing legislation to ban stock trading by Members of Congress. The Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act would require all members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children to place their stocks into a qualified blind trust or divest the holding—ensuring they cannot use inside information to influence their stock trades and make a profit.
“As Donald Trump continues to corruptly enrich himself and his billionaire friends through luxury jets from foreign powers, suspicious market manipulation and shady cryptocurrency scams, Congress must lead by example to help restore trust and integrity in government,” said Duckworth. “That is why I’m proud to help reintroduce the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act to ensure every Member of Congress complies with this commonsense, ethical best practice.”
The American people overwhelmingly support this policy, with 86% saying they back the measure, including 88% of Democrats, 87% of Republicans and 81% of Independents.
In addition to Duckworth, Ossoff and Kelly, this bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO).
Duckworth has pushed to prevent Members of Congress from being able to trade stocks for years. She first helped introduce the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act in 2023, the same year she helped introduce the bipartisan, bicameral Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act to prohibit members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children from abusing their positions for personal financial gain by owning or trading securities, commodities or futures.
-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China, UAE advance cross-border payment cooperation

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

BEIJING, May 28 — China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) and the central bank of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cross-border payment cooperation, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), China’s central bank, announced on Wednesday.

The signing is expected to improve payment infrastructure and the efficiency of cross-border payments, according to an online statement by the PBOC, which administers and regulates CIPS.

Accordingly, CIPS and the central bank of the UAE will work together to develop a cross-border payment connectivity program, which will provide local currency clearing services for financial institutions in the Middle East and North Africa.

The two sides will also deepen exchanges on risk management and compliance, and make cross-border payment systems safer and more stable, according to the statement.

MIL OSI China News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China promotes digital transformation of electronic information manufacturing

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

BEIJING, May 28 — China has released an implementation plan for the digital transformation of the electronic information manufacturing industry, setting a goal for major enterprises to achieve a numerical control rate of over 85 percent in key production processes by 2027.

Released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology along with other government organs, the plan underscores the electronic information manufacturing industry as a strategic, fundamental, and pioneering sector of the national economy.

With a large overall scale, long industrial chains, and broad coverage, it plays a key role in integrating the real and digital economies, advancing new industrialization and fostering new quality productive forces, according to the plan.

The plan further outlines that by 2027, new information infrastructure will be largely established to support the digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of the electronic information manufacturing industry. This infrastructure will see advanced computing and artificial intelligence deeply integrated into industry development.

It envisions that by 2030, a relatively sound data infrastructure system for the electronic information manufacturing industry will be in place, and an industrial database will be largely completed. By then, a number of flagship smart products will be developed, and a digital ecosystem will take shape.

The efficiency and quality of the digital transformation will see significant improvements, and new breakthroughs in moving up towards the top end of the global value chain are expected to be achieved by 2030.

Efforts will be made to promote digital transformation across the entire industrial chain and speed up the trial and adoption of innovative products such as smart wearable devices and intelligent robots, according to the plan.

MIL OSI China News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: LPL Financial Welcomes Mai Park Capital to Linsco Channel

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN DIEGO, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LPL Financial LLC announced today that financial advisor Mai Park, CPWA^®, has joined LPL’s employee advisor channel, Linsco by LPL Financial, aligning with existing firm Pence Wealth Management, to launch Mai Park Capital. She reported serving approximately $330 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets* and joins LPL from Merrill Lynch.

Based in Newport Beach, Calif., Park transitioned to financial services in 2007 following a career as a high school science teacher. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Park focuses on estate planning, investment management, retirement planning, tax planning and wealth management, taking a holistic and comprehensive approach with the goal of fostering meaningful, multi-generational relationships.

“Every client’s financial journey is unique, shaped by their individual values, goals and circumstances,” Park said. “That’s why I believe in taking a personalized approach to working with my clients, one that prioritizes active listening, empathy and experience. Then together, we create a customized roadmap for their financial journey, providing a clear direction, milestones and accountabilities.”

Why Mai Park made the move to Linsco by LPL
Looking to better serve her clients with enhanced technology and broader offerings, Park chose to move to LPL Financial and join the team at Pence Wealth Management. She was drawn to the Linsco model, which serves financial advisors seeking the core tenets of independence, including owning their client relationships and having flexibility to run their practices, their way. With Linsco, advisors have access to LPL’s integrated wealth management platform and robust business resources, along with the additional benefits of having support from an experienced branch management team, dedicated marketing consultant and other resources that allow advisors to focus on their clients.

“LPL has the size, scale and reputation that will allow me to serve my clients with a boutique-level of service while offering the freedom and flexibility to build my practice on my terms,” Park said. “Aligning with LPL and Pence Wealth Management offers me the ability to focus on my core strength — delivering an exceptional client experience.”

Scott Posner, LPL Managing Director, Business Development, said, “We welcome Mai to the Linsco community and congratulate her and the Pence Wealth Management team on the launch of Mai Park Capital. At LPL, we recognize what it takes to launch and operate a thriving business and are committed to investing in streamlined and integrated business solutions designed to help advisors spend more time with their clients and differentiate their practices. We look forward to supporting Mai Park Capital for years to come.”

Related
Advisors, learn how LPL Financial can help take your business to the next level.

About LPL Financial

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: LPLA) is among the fastest growing wealth management firms in the U.S. As a leader in the financial advisor-mediated marketplace, LPL supports over 29,000 financial advisors and the wealth management practices of approximately 1,200 financial institutions, servicing and custodying approximately $1.8 trillion in brokerage and advisory assets on behalf of approximately 7 million Americans. The firm provides a wide range of advisor affiliation models, investment solutions, fintech tools and practice management services, ensuring that advisors and institutions have the flexibility to choose the business model, services, and technology resources they need to run thriving businesses. For further information about LPL, please visit www.lpl.com.

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial LLC (“LPL Financial”), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC.

Throughout this communication, the terms “financial advisors” and “advisors” are used to refer to registered representatives and/or investment advisor representatives affiliated with LPL Financial.

We routinely disclose information that may be important to shareholders in the “Investor Relations” or “Press Releases” section of our website.

*Value approximated based on asset and holding details provided to LPL from end of year, 2024.

Media Contact:
Media.relations@LPLFinancial.com

Tracking #742801

The MIL Network –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: Richtech Robotics Announces Preliminary Inclusion in US small-cap Russell 2000® Index

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Las Vegas, NV, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Richtech Robotics Inc. (Nasdaq: RR) (“Richtech Robotics” or the “Company”), a Nevada-based provider of AI-driven service robots, announces that it has been selected for preliminary inclusion in the US small-cap Russell 2000^® Index, according to a preliminary list of additions published by FTSE Russell on Friday, May 23, 2025. The newly reconstituted indexes are expected to take effect after US market close on June 27, 2025, as part of the 2025 Russell Indexes reconstitution. Membership in the Russell 2000^® Index, which remains in place for one year, is based on membership in the broad-market Russell 3000^® Index. The Company’s stock will also be automatically added to the appropriate growth and value indexes.

“We believe our preliminary inclusion in the Russell 2000^® Index represents a significant validation of the momentum we’re building at Richtech Robotics,” said Matt Casella, President of Richtech Robotics. “It reflects growing market confidence in our long-term vision and the impact our AI-driven automation is having across the service industry. We’re proud of our team’s commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and delivering value to both our customers and shareholders.”

Russell indices are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. According to the data as of the end of June 2024, about $10.6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against the Russell US indexes, which belong to FTSE Russell, a prominent global index provider.

For more information on the Russell 2000^® and Russell 3000^® Indexes and the Russell indexes reconstitution, visit the “Russell Reconstitution” section on the FTSE Russell website.

About Richtech Robotics

Richtech Robotics is a provider of collaborative robotic solutions specializing in the service industry, including the hospitality and healthcare sectors. Our mission is to transform the service industry through collaborative robotic solutions that enhance the customer experience and empower businesses to achieve more. By seamlessly integrating cutting-edge automation, we aspire to create a landscape of enhanced interactions, efficiency, and innovation, propelling organizations toward unparalleled levels of excellence and satisfaction. Learn more at www.RichtechRobotics.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend,” among others. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Richtech Robotics’ inclusion in the Russell Index and the potential impact, if any, of such inclusion on Richtech Robotics’ stock.

These forward-looking statements are based on Richtech Robotics’ current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, among others, risks and uncertainties related to Richtech Robotics’ products, industry and general economic and market conditions. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in Richtech Robotics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2025, the IPO registration statement and periodic reports filed with the SEC on or after the date thereof. All of Richtech Robotics’ forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date thereof. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible for Richtech Robotics to predict those events or how they may affect Richtech Robotics. If a change to the events and circumstances reflected in Richtech Robotics’ forward-looking statements occurs, Richtech Robotics’ business, financial condition and operating results may vary materially from those expressed in Richtech Robotics’ forward-looking statements.

Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Richtech Robotics assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investors:
CORE IR
Matt Blazei
ir@richtechrobotics.com

Media:
Timothy Tanksley
Director of Marketing
Richtech Robotics, Inc
press@richtechrobotics.com
702-534-0050

The MIL Network –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: Amy Dolan, 20-Year Mortgage Veteran, Joins Rate in Philadelphia, PA

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PHILADELPHIA, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leader in fintech mortgage solutions, announced the addition of Amy Dolan as a new loan officer serving the greater Philadelphia area. With more than two decades of mortgage experience, Dolan brings deep knowledge of loan origination and underwriting to help local buyers confidently navigate the home financing process.

A recognized industry leader, Dolan is a seven-time All-Star Club Award Recipient and has built a reputation for delivering consistent, high-quality service to homebuyers. Her decision to join Rate reflects a shared commitment to streamlining the mortgage process while putting the customer first.

“I chose the mortgage industry because helping people achieve their dream of homeownership drives me,” said Dolan. “There’s nothing more rewarding than guiding someone through one of the biggest decisions of their life.”

Dolan’s community involvement spans well beyond real estate. For the past 14 years, she has led and developed her local youth and high school wrestling program, mentoring student-athletes and building team culture at the grassroots level.

“We are delighted to welcome Amy to Rate, where her 20 years of mortgage lending experience and deep understanding of underwriting guidelines will ensure a seamless mortgage process for her customers,” said Jeff Nelson, Chief Production Officer – East. “We feel incredibly fortunate to have Amy on our team.”

This appointment underscores Rate’s continued commitment to investing in experienced loan originators who are trusted in their markets and dedicated to customer care.

About Rate
Rate Companies is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, Rate has over 850 branches across all 50 states and Washington D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate has helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates, and delivering unparalleled customer service. Honors and awards include: Top 5 Mortgage Lender by Inside Mortgage Finance for 2024; Best Mortgage Lender for First-Time Homebuyers by NerdWallet for 2023; HousingWire’s Tech100 award for the company’s industry-leading FlashClose℠ digital mortgage platform in 2020, MyAccount in 2022, and Language Access Program in 2023; the most Scotsman Guide Top Originators for 11 consecutive years; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years; and Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces list for seven straight years. Visit rate.com for more information.

Media Contact

press@rate.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c2234cbc-d2ee-4e13-b625-b9c17329982f

The MIL Network –

May 29, 2025

MIL-OSI: STEALTHGAS INC. Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial and Operating Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ATHENS, Greece, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — STEALTHGAS INC. (NASDAQ: GASS), a ship-owning company serving the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector of the international shipping industry, announced today its unaudited financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Strong profitability continued for the first quarter, with Net income of $14.1 million corresponding to a basic EPS of $0.38, similar to the previous quarter’s $14.2 million but reduced compared to the $17.7 million record at the time achieved in the first quarter of 2024.
Time Charter equivalent revenues decreased by 4.6% compared to the same period of last year to $36.9 million for the first quarter of 2025 as a result of a more muted market.
Preserved the high period coverage. About 70% of fleet days for 2025 are secured on period charters, with total fleet employment days for all subsequent periods generating over $165 million (excl. JV vessels) in contracted revenues.
Continued reducing leverage, making $34.4 million in debt repayments during the first quarter of 2025 and a further $19.2 million in the current quarter of 2025. Currently, all the vessels in the fully owned fleet except one are unencumbered.
Since the last quarterly announcement the Company has spent $1.8 million in share repurchases. Overall under the current program the Company has spent over $21.2 million in share repurchases since June 2023.
Maintaining ample cash and cash equivalents (incl. restricted cash) of $77.1 million as of March 31, 2025 enabling the Company to further reduce debt.

First Quarter 2025 Results¹:

Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 amounted to $42.0 million compared to revenues of $41.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, based on an average of 28.0 vessels and 27.0 vessels owned by the Company, respectively, as the vessels remaining in the fleet earned higher revenues due to better market conditions.
Voyage expenses and vessels’ operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025, were $5.1 million and $13.5 million, respectively, compared to $2.9 million and $11.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The $2.2 million increase in voyage expenses was mainly due to an increase in port expenses and in bunkers costs as a result of the increase in spot market days for the fleet. The $2.0 million increase in vessels’ operating expenses was mainly due to increase in crew costs and maintenance expenses.
Drydocking costs for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 were $0.4 million and nil, respectively. Drydocking expenses during the first quarter of 2025 mainly relate to the commenced drydocking of one vessel, compared to no drydocking of vessels in the same period of last year.
General and administrative expenses remained stable at $2.2 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.
Depreciation for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was $6.7 million and $6.5 million, respectively, a $0.2 million increase is mainly related to the increase in average number of vessels owned by the Company and to the partial replacement of some of the older vessels with newer and larger ones which have a higher cost.
Impairment loss for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was $0.5 million and nil, respectively. As a result of the agreed sale terms for the vessel Gas Cerberus, with delivery expected in the second quarter of 2025, a non-cash impairment loss of $0.5 million was recognized in the first quarter of 2025.
Interest and finance costs for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, were $1.4 million and $3.2 million, respectively. The $1.8 million decrease from the same period of last year is primarily due to continued debt prepayments.
Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, remained unchanged at $0.8 million.
Equity earnings in joint ventures for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was a gain of $2.2 million and $2.6 million, respectively. The $0.4 million decrease was primarily due to decrease in number of vessels in joint ventures.
As a result of the above, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company reported net income of $14.1 million, compared to net income of $17.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic, for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was 35.7 million and 35.1 million, respectively.
Earnings per share, basic, for the three months ended March 31, 2025 amounted to $0.38 compared to earnings per share, basic, of $0.49 for the same period of last year.
Adjusted net income was $16.1 million corresponding to an Adjusted EPS of $0.44 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to Adjusted net income of $19.1 million corresponding to an Adjusted EPS of $0.53 for the same period of last year.
EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2025 amounted to $21.4 million. Reconciliations of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income are set forth below.
An average of 28.0 vessels were owned by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 27.04 vessels for the same period of 2024.

¹ EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP measures. Refer to the reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in accordance with GAAP set forth later in this release.

Fleet Update Since Previous Announcement

The Company announced the conclusion of the following chartering arrangements (of three or more months duration):

A twelve months time charter for its 2016 built LPG carrier Eco Dominator, until Mar 2026.
A twelve months time charter extension for its 2016 built LPG carrier Eco Nical, until May 2026.
A six months time charter extension for the 2012 built LPG carrier Gas Esco, until Sep 2025.

As of June 2025, the Company has total contracted revenues of approximately $165 million.

As of June 2025, for the remainder of the year, the Company has circa 70% of fleet days secured under period contracts and contracted revenues of approximately $72 million.

In April 2025, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the vessel Gas Cerberus to a third party, with delivery expected in the second quarter of 2025. The vessel is debt-free, and the full proceeds from the sale will contribute to the Company’s liquidity position.

The Company has agreed in principle to purchase back from one of its joint venture partners the remaining share (49.9%) which it does not already own in the two vessels Eco Lucidity and Gas Haralambos. The transaction is subject to entry into definitive documentation and customary conditions and is expected to take place within June 2025. Following this transaction, these two vessels will be consolidated within the fully owned fleet of the Company and only one vessel will remain in a JV.

Board Chairman Michael Jolliffe Commented

The results that were announced today point to a strong start to the year and underpin our confidence in sustaining the momentum we have built over the last years, throughout 2025. It is no doubt a period of uncertainty and in such periods, among other things, there is reluctance by charterers to commit longer term. With the latest developments, we expect trade flows to normalize and sentiment to improve as the fundamentals of LPG shipping continue to be positive. In this volatile environment StealthGas remains steadfast in its strategy and has all but eliminated its financial risk, being net debt free after having made over $50 million in debt repayments during this year and having 27 out of 28 vessels unencumbered. At the same time in order to return value to our shareholders, we have begun buying back shares, spending $1.8 million in share repurchases since March. Overall under the current program the Company has spent over $21.2 million in share repurchases since June 2023.

Conference Call details:

On May 28, 2025 at 10:00 am ET, the company’s management will host a conference call to discuss the results and the company’s operations and outlook.

Conference call participants should pre-register using the below link to receive the dial-in numbers and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.

https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI2ab472844539410f8650314c8df8fdaf

Slides and audio webcast:
There will also be a live and then archived webcast of the conference call, through the STEALTHGAS INC. website (www.stealthgas.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

About STEALTHGAS INC.

StealthGas Inc. is a ship-owning company serving the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector of the international shipping industry. StealthGas Inc. has a fleet of 31 LPG carriers, including three Joint Venture vessels in the water. These LPG vessels have a total capacity of 349,170 cubic meters (cbm). StealthGas Inc.’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trade under the symbol “GASS.”
Visit our website at www.stealthgas.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although STEALTHGAS INC. believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, STEALTHGAS INC. cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, geopolitical conditions, including any trade disruptions resulting from tariffs and other protectionist measures imposed by the United States or other countries, general market conditions, including changes in charter hire rates and vessel values, charter counterparty performance, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled drydockings, shipyard performance, changes in STEALTHGAS INC’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in our financing arrangements, actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, the conflict in Ukraine and related sanctions, the conflict in Israel and Gaza, potential disruption of shipping routes due to ongoing attacks by Houthis in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden or accidents and political events or acts by terrorists.

Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by STEALTHGAS INC. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Fleet List
For information on our fleet and further information:
Visit our website at www.stealthgas.com

Fleet Data:
The following key indicators highlight the Company’s operating performance during the periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025.

FLEET DATA	Q1 2024	Q1 2025
Average number of vessels (1)	27.04	28.00
Period end number of owned vessels in fleet	27	28
Total calendar days for fleet (2)	2,461	2,520
Total voyage days for fleet (3)	2,439	2,500
Fleet utilization (4)	99.1%	99.2%
Total charter days for fleet (5)	2,232	2,118
Total spot market days for fleet (6)	207	382
Fleet operational utilization (7)	97.7%	94.0%

1) Average number of vessels is the number of owned vessels that constituted our fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of days each vessel was a part of our fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.
2) Total calendar days for fleet are the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period including off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.
3) Total voyage days for fleet reflect the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period net of off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.
4) Fleet utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels were available for revenue generating voyage days and is determined by dividing voyage days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.
5) Total charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on time or bareboat charters for the relevant period.
6) Total spot market charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on spot market charters for the relevant period.
7) Fleet operational utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels generated revenue and is determined by dividing voyage days excluding commercially idle days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS:

Adjusted net income represents net income before loss/gain on derivatives excluding swap interest paid/received, impairment loss, net gain/loss on sale of vessels and share based compensation. EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income and depreciation. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income, depreciation, impairment loss, net gain/loss on sale of vessels, share based compensation and loss/gain on derivatives.

Adjusted EPS represents Adjusted net income divided by the weighted average number of shares.

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are included herein because they are a basis, upon which we and our investors assess our financial performance. They allow us to present our performance from period to period on a comparable basis and provide investors with a means of better evaluating and understanding our operating performance.

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are not recognized measurements under U.S. GAAP. Our calculation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS may not be comparable to that reported by other companies in the shipping or other industries. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation.

(Expressed in United States Dollars, except number of shares)	Three Months Period Ended March 31st,
	2024		2025
Net Income – Adjusted Net Income
Net income	17,729,716		14,107,680
Less gain on derivatives	(99,286	)	—
Plus swap interest received	208,127		—
Less gain on sale of vessels, net	(46,384	)	—
Plus impairment loss	—		488,400
Plus share based compensation	1,345,409		1,540,402
Adjusted Net Income	19,137,582		16,136,482

Net income – EBITDA
Net income	17,729,716		14,107,680
Plus interest and finance costs	3,169,061		1,415,605
Less interest income	(753,396	)	(752,471	)
Plus depreciation	6,492,376		6,653,460
EBITDA	26,637,757		21,424,274

Net income – Adjusted EBITDA
Net income	17,729,716		14,107,680
Less gain on derivatives	(99,286	)	—
Less gain on sale of vessels, net	(46,384	)	—
Plus impairment loss	—		488,400
Plus share based compensation	1,345,409		1,540,402
Plus interest and finance costs	3,169,061		1,415,605
Less interest income	(753,396	)	(752,471	)
Plus depreciation	6,492,376		6,653,460
Adjusted EBITDA	27,837,496		23,453,076

EPS – Adjusted EPS
Net income	17,729,716		14,107,680
Adjusted net income	19,137,582		16,136,482
Weighted average number of shares, basic	35,119,500		35,725,720
EPS – Basic	0.49		0.38
Adjusted EPS – Basic	0.53		0.44

StealthGas Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Expressed in United States Dollars, except for number of shares)

		Three Months Period Ended March 31,
		2024		2025

Revenues
	Revenues	41,563,908		42,025,987

Expenses
	Voyage expenses	2,345,200		4,573,956
	Voyage expenses – related party	513,247		518,440
	Vessels’ operating expenses	11,235,359		13,282,235
	Vessels’ operating expenses – related party	241,500		228,200
	Drydocking costs	–		412,620
	Management fees – related party	1,053,719		1,080,001
	General and administrative expenses	2,213,853		2,165,709
	Depreciation	6,492,376		6,653,460
	Impairment loss	–		488,400
	Net gain on sale of vessels	(46,384	)	–
Total expenses		24,048,870		29,403,021

Income from operations		17,515,038		12,622,966

Other (expenses)/income
	Interest and finance costs	(3,169,061	)	(1,415,605	)
	(Loss)/gain on derivatives	99,286		–
	Interest income	753,396		752,471
	Foreign exchange (loss)/gain	(49,044	)	(26,484	)
Other expenses, net		(2,365,423	)	(689,618	)

Income before equity in earnings of investees		15,149,615		11,933,348
Equity earnings in joint ventures		2,580,101		2,174,332
Net Income		17,729,716		14,107,680

Earnings per share
– Basic		0.49		0.38
– Diluted		0.49		0.39

Weighted average number of shares
– Basic		35,119,500		35,725,720
– Diluted		35,247,529		35,764,990

StealthGas Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Expressed in United States Dollars)

		December 31,	March 31,
		2024	2025

Assets
Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	80,653,398	74,392,306
	Trade and other receivables	6,156,300	7,253,738
	Other current assets	193,265	422,168
	Claims receivable	55,475	55,475
	Inventories	3,891,147	3,198,028
	Advances and prepayments	733,212	549,263
	Fair value of derivatives	387,608	280,577
Total current assets		92,070,405	86,151,555

Non current assets
	Operating lease right-of-use assets	—	202,362
	Vessels, net	608,214,416	601,072,556
	Other receivables	370,053	237,561
	Restricted cash	3,867,752	2,734,442
	Investments in joint ventures	27,717,238	27,257,570
Total non current assets		640,169,459	631,504,491
Total assets		732,239,864	717,656,046

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
	Payable to related parties	388,130	3,039,119
	Trade accounts payable	10,994,434	10,485,931
	Accrued liabilities	4,922,587	5,119,206
	Operating lease liabilities	—	120,938
	Deferred income	4,304,667	5,882,276
	Current portion of long-term debt	23,333,814	20,722,094
Total current liabilities		43,943,632	45,369,564

Non current liabilities
	Operating lease liabilities	—	81,424
	Deferred income	213,563	586,577
	Long-term debt	61,555,855	30,251,709
Total non current liabilities		61,769,418	30,919,710
Total liabilities		105,713,050	76,289,274

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ equity
	Capital stock	370,414	371,664
	Treasury stock	—	(1,057,343	)
	Additional paid-in capital	409,912,934	411,808,336
	Retained earnings	215,855,858	229,963,538
	Accumulated other comprehensive income	387,608	280,577
Total stockholders’ equity		626,526,814	641,366,772
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		732,239,864	717,656,046

StealthGas Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in United States Dollars)

		Three Months Period Ended March 31,
		2024		2025

Cash flows from operating activities
	Net income for the period	17,729,716		14,107,680

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
	Depreciation	6,492,376		6,653,460
	Amortization of deferred finance charges	258,295		508,464
	Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets	24,745		29,194
	Share based compensation	1,345,409		1,540,402
	Change in fair value of derivatives	108,840		—
	Proceeds from disposal of interest rate swaps	1,018,000		—
	Equity earnings in joint ventures	(2,580,101	)	(2,174,332	)
	Dividends received from joint ventures	–		2,634,000
	Impairment loss	–		488,400
	Gain on sale of vessels	(46,384	)	—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
	(Increase)/decrease in
	Trade and other receivables	(35,143	)	(964,946	)
	Other current assets	129,193		(228,903	)
	Inventories	353,756		693,119
	Changes in operating lease liabilities	(24,745	)	(29,194	)
	Advances and prepayments	(159,743	)	183,949
	Increase/(decrease) in
	Balances with related parties	(1,390,625	)	2,650,989
	Trade accounts payable	(475,368	)	(508,503	)
	Accrued liabilities	240,202		196,619
	Deferred income	688,600		1,950,623
Net cash provided by operating activities		23,677,023		27,731,021

Cash flows from investing activities
	Proceeds from sale of vessels, net	34,679,584		—
	Acquisition and improvements of vessels	(96,413,470	)	—
	Advances to joint ventures	(1,705	)	—
Net cash used in investing activities		(61,735,591	)	—

Cash flows from financing activities
	Proceeds from exercise of stock options	356,250		356,250
	Stock repurchase	(338,176	)	(1,057,343	)
	Deferred finance charges paid	(22,167	)	—
	Advances to joint ventures	(11,848	)	—
	Loan repayments	(32,045,235	)	(34,424,330	)
	Proceeds from long-term debt	70,000,000		—
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities		37,938,824		(35,125,423	)

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(119,744	)	(7,394,402	)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		83,755,701		84,521,150
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		83,635,957		77,126,748
Cash breakdown
	Cash and cash equivalents	77,085,417		74,392,306
	Restricted cash, current	—		—
	Restricted cash, non current	6,550,540		2,734,442
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows		83,635,957		77,126,748

The MIL Network –

May 29, 2025

MIL-OSI: Trupanion to Present at the William Blair 45th Annual Growth Stock Conference

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SEATTLE, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trupanion, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRUP), a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs, announced today that Margi Tooth, Chief Executive Officer and President, will present at the William Blair 45th Annual Growth Stock Conference on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 3:20 p.m. CT and will participate in meetings with investors throughout the day.

The presentation will be webcast live and can be accessed on Trupanion’s Investor Relations website at http://investors.trupanion.com.

About Trupanion:

Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States, Canada, and certain countries in Continental Europe with over 1,000,000 pets currently enrolled. For over two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet’s recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet parents with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. With its patented process, Trupanion is the only North American provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “TRUP”. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Accelerant Insurance Company of Canada. Policies are sold and administered in Canada by Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. dba Trupanion 309-1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, BC V7J 0A2 and in the United States by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. is a registered damage insurance agency and claims adjuster in Quebec #603927. For more information, please visit trupanion.com.

Contact:

Laura Bainbridge, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
Gil Melchior, Director, Investor Relations
Investor.Relations@trupanion.com

The MIL Network –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: Zero Hash Secures Regulatory Approval to Operate in Argentina, Accelerating Global Expansion
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zero Hash, the leading crypto and stablecoin infrastructure platform, today announced it has secured regulatory approval to operate in Argentina through its approval as a registered Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) with the National Securities Commission (CNV) of Argentina. This marks another significant milestone in Zero Hash’s strategic global expansion plans. Zero Hash was awarded approval after completing a rigorous registration process overseen by Argentina’s financial regulatory authorities, who have established some of the most comprehensive crypto regulatory frameworks in Latin America.

The newly obtained registration enables Zero Hash to onboard Argentinian customers to its growing suite of digital asset services, including stablecoin payments, payouts, and crypto trading services, in full compliance with local regulatory requirements. The achievement adds to Zero Hash’s extensive global regulatory footprint and marks Zero Hash’s continued growth in Latin America following its previous expansion into Brazil.

“Securing regulatory approval in Argentina represents the continued acceleration in our international growth strategy,” said Edward Woodford, CEO of Zero Hash. “This registration allows us to serve the vibrant Argentinian market, reinforcing our commitment to operate within jurisdictional regulatory frameworks to serve customers anywhere, anytime, 24/7/365.”

Argentina has emerged as one of Latin America’s most dynamic cryptocurrency markets. Research shows that 65% of Argentina’s population frequently uses mobile wallets and payment applications for transactions, one of the highest adoption rates in Latin America. Additionally, Argentina has the eighth-largest volume in stablecoin payouts among the more than 60 countries handled by Zero Hash’s global stablecoin payouts rail. Like other markets worldwide, Argentinians use digital assets to protect against high inflation and currency instability.

The extensive regulatory process requires compliance with stringent anti-money laundering protocols, comprehensive KYC procedures, and robust security standards. With this approval, Zero Hash can now:
- Provide compliant digital asset services to Argentinian businesses and consumers.
- Establish local operations to better serve the regional market.
- Contribute to the growth of Argentina’s emerging digital economy.
“We build our business through proper regulatory channels,” added Stephen Gardner, Chief Legal Officer at Zero Hash. “Our approach has always been to work collaboratively with local regulators to ensure we meet or exceed compliance requirements in every market we enter.”

This regulatory approval comes at a crucial time for Argentina’s growing freelance workforce. Recent survey data highlights significant challenges within the country’s traditional financial infrastructure, with 88% of respondents indicating that current local banking and payment systems fail to adequately serve freelancers due to high fees, currency volatility issues, and payment delays.

“Our entry into Argentina addresses a genuine market need,” added Woodford. “Our research shows that an overwhelming 92% of Argentinian freelancers prefer cryptocurrency payment options. We’ve incorporated these options for our local teams in Argentina, recognizing they deserve fair compensation without diminishing their earnings through unfavorable exchange rates. This reflects the real-world utility of digital assets in providing financial stability, reducing transaction costs, and enabling timely compensation for services rendered.”

About Zero Hash
Zero Hash is the leading infrastructure provider for crypto, stablecoin, and tokenized assets. Its API and embeddable dev-kit enables innovators to easily launch solutions across cross-border payments, commerce, trading, remittance, payroll, tokenization and on/off-ramps.

Zero Hash powers solutions for some of the largest and innovative companies including Interactive Brokers, Stripe, Shift4, Franklin Templeton, Felix Pago, Kalshi and LightSpark. Zero Hash Holdings is backed by investors, including Point72 Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and NYCA.

In the United States, Zero Hash LLC is a FinCen-registered Money Service Business and a regulated Money Transmitter that can operate in 51 U.S. jurisdictions. Zero Hash LLC and Zero Hash Liquidity Services LLC are licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Zero Hash Trust Company LLC has been approved by the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks as a non-depository trust company. For information about our global regulatory footprint, including our Argentinian registrations, see here.

Zero Hash Disclosures

The Zero Hash services and product offerings may not be available in all jurisdictions, including in the State of New York. Crypto and stablecoin holdings held in Zero Hash accounts are not subject to FDIC or SIPC protections in the U.S., or any such equivalent protections that may exist outside of the U.S. Zero Hash’s technical support and enablement of any asset is not an endorsement of such asset and is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any crypto asset. The value of any cryptocurrency, including digital assets pegged to fiat currency, commodities, or any other asset, may go to zero.

Learn more by visiting zerohash.com or following us on X @ZeroHashX

Media Contacts
Zero Hash
Shaun O’Keeffe
(855) 744-7333
media@zerohash.com

The MIL Network –
May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The EU has adopted legal acts lifting all economic restrictions on Syria

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

BRUSSELS, May 28 (Xinhua) — The European Union formally lifted almost all economic sanctions on Syria on Wednesday, adopting a political agreement aimed at supporting the country’s reconstruction, the EU Council said in a press release.

The EU will lift all restrictive measures related to trade, investment and finance, except those based on security considerations, the press release said.

As part of the package, 24 organisations, including the Central Bank of Syria and companies involved in key sectors such as oil production and refining, cotton production and telecommunications, are exempted from the EU asset freeze.

According to the EU Council, several media outlets and television channels were also removed from the sanctions list. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 29, 2025

Category: Economy

UK reaffirms its support for Ukraine’s self-defence, while President Putin rejects ceasefire as war deepens Russia’s economic and global isolation: UK Statement to the OSCE

Updates to this page

Invasion of Ukraine

State visit by Palauan President Whipps concludes; successfully deepens bilateral relations

World’s first pandemic agreement: equity for all

Sustainable financing: protecting the future of global health

Action for health: major decisions and resolutions

Strengthening health emergency preparedness and response